Fractured Psyche

As Lacey wheeled Winter away from the infirmary she looked around, she noticed that the shield was no longer up and that people were keeping their distance. Male and female had noticed her presence, there was curiosity but no malice in their gaze. It was a different sensation for her, she was use to malicious and lustful gazes. As they approached a different building, the main doors opened automatically for them and they entered into a common room. It was all glass, plants grew all around the edge of the room. The sweet smell of lilies and sage filled the room, Winter looked around curiously as Lacey wheeled her down the hall. They came to a door with the number three on it, it had a button on the wall beside it. 


"Are you able to reach over and push that button?" Lacey asked Winter. Winter reached forward and pushed on the button, she had just enough strength to manage to activate the switch to open the door. The door opened slowly to reveal a beautiful room. The colours of the room were deep violent, dark blue, and white. The curtains were dark blue edged in white, the duvet was deep violent. The main colour of the walls was white with violet base boards and upper edging. There was a flat screen TV and violet furniture. Winter could see another door off to one side which she assumed was the bathroom. Peace Lilies were planted and violet pots at each of the windows, their scent was soothing.


Winter looked over her shoulder at Lacey, wondering if she should ask about the use of a bathroom including how she was suppose to use it on her own when she could not stand.

”I will be staying with you for a little while. At least until you can walk again." Lacey told her, looking at Winter she added "Do not worry, you are not the first to need help like this. And you will not be the last. There are 6 rooms on this floor specially designed for those who need to use a wheelchair. The first two rooms on this floor are permanently occupied, those in them have learned to live with their injuries.”

Winter nodded slowly in understanding. She was unsure how to deal with this, she did not want help but was forced to admit that she needed help at the moment. It bothered her that she still could not contact Storm, this had happened several times before but now she could not even use her powers and she did not know why.

“There are several of us trained for this. I am just the....least threatening of all of us." Lacey told her suddenly, Winter looked looked at her curiously and she added, "Seventy five percent are men, the other women are otherwise occupied at the moment." Winter nodded in understanding then turned away from Lacey. 


Lacey sighed then told Winter, “I will be in the next room connected to yours, if you need me then use the pack link to contact me. Just focus on me and project your thoughts towards me. Do you understand?” Winter made no sign of a reply, she just continued to look out a window.

Phoenix was seated at his desk when his mother walked in, "She has a long way to go Phoenix. Lacey has her now, I do not know when she will be able to trust a male or even if she will ever trust a male." She paused then looked at him carefully, “I do not know if she is aware of her link to you or if she is aware of the pack link.”

"How does she seem? Mentally and physically." Phoenix asked her.

"Well, she cannot walk on her own or even move her legs on her own." She replied, “She is uncommunicative so it is difficult to judge her mental state, although I suspect it is not good..”

"Do you think she will continue to allow me to help with her nightmares?" Phoenix asked her anxiously, "Will Lacey be helping her gain strength?”

“Yes, I suspect that she will allow you to help her with her nightmares. Yes Lacey will be working with her." She answered, quite amused. 


"Do I need to keep the scouts on alert in case of her control slipping?” Phoenix asked.

“No, Angel has bound her power for now. Once we are able to judge her mental state we may ask somebody to come and unbind her. For now, however, it is safer for everyone if she is unable to access her power.” Inferno looked at him for awhile then added, “I think you need to warn your Beta that he may need to take over the pack, he has a mate. Should we loose her we need somebody able to continue to lead the pack, I know this is the second time I have mentioned this but I want you to make sure that everything is set up just in case. Also, we have not told Winter that Storm told us her name. We all think that she should tell us on her terms.”

"Understood." He told her, truly hoping that it would not become necessary to have his Betta take over the pack.

It was that night as Phoenix was drifting off to sleep that he felt fear course through him, Winter was having another nightmare. 


Phoenix/Winter was bound to a bed, silver burned his /her wrists and ankles. He/she could feel somebody digging a knife into him/her, pain was rocking through him/her as some male was pounding into him/her. Cruel laughter could be heard from another male in the room. He stopped briefly and Phoenix/Winter felt himself/herself being lifted upright, his/her arms being strained as they were forced to take his/her weight. Then he/she felt somebody pound into him/her again, another individual started pounding into Phoenix/Winter's ass with brutal force. Both men were digging knives into him/her, Phoenix/Winter was not sure if she/he would survive this.

Phoenix focused hard on that peaceful clearing, it took a few more moments of pain and fear before he was able to pull them both out of that memory and into the clearing. He looked around and saw Storm, or at least he thought it was Storm. Here eyes were different, they were an icy blue.

"You are not Storm." He told her, remembering what his mother told her he asked, ”What is your name?”

Winter simply starred at him, unsure as to what was going on. A few of the occasions that her and Storm were able to talk Storm had told her of this Phoenix person. She said he was trying to help. Winter was not sure what made Storm think this was a safe person.

“You have a voice here. Please do not be afraid to speak with me.”

“Why you able to be in my head?” Winter asked, “You part of sex ring?”

"No. Absolutely not. I want to bring down that entire organization."

“Don't understand”

“What do you not understand?” Phoenix searched her face, trying to determine what it is that she is not understanding.

“I am runt. A mute runt, not worthy of a name. Why you care? Why do you not have a physical form here? Just presence. Nothing else. “

“It does not matter that you are a runt, an organization like that needs to be dismantled for everybody’s sake. I suspect that they do not just use runts, they probably use a wide variety of women. I am just a presence because you have not actually physically seen me. Also you are worthy of a name, I would love to hear what name you would like to be addressed as.”

“You have seen me?.” She seemed rather confused and unsure.

“Yes, I have seen you. I allowed you to be linked to the pack in order to help you heal.”

“What this place? I want to find it.”

"It is a place that I go when I need to find peace and quiet. I can guide you to it when you are ready.” She considered me then shook her head in refusal.

"Why do I have a voice here, but I have no voice when I am awake?”

"The voice you have here is a mind voice, because we are linked we are able to talk mind to mind.”

"Can I do that with anybody else?”

"Yes. You can you contact anybody in the pack that you have met, that includes Lacey and Inferno as well as myself.”

"I understand. Can I speak with you when I am not asleep?”

“Yes. All you need to do is focus on whoever it is you want to speak with and project your thoughts towards them.” Phoenix really did not know how else to explain it, he just hoped that she could follow those directions easily. As with Storm he could hear hints of madness, of insanity, in her voice. She simply nodded and Phoenix left her mind rather reluctantly.

When Phoenix woke up the following morning he was still tired, pulling her out of that memory was far more difficult than pulling her out of others. He began to realize that she would most definitely need a Mind Healer. Mind Healers were rare, and as far as Phoenix knew there was currently only one with the ability and training.

"Mother, can you meet me in my office in an hour?" He called through mind link.

"Yes, I will be there.” Was the quick reply.

If anybody knew how to contact Sapphire, it was Inferno. As far as he was aware, she was the only one with the ability to heal a broken mind. 


An hour later Inferno knocked on the office door and entered his office. "What is it Phoenix?" She asked.

"How do I contact Sapphire?" He asked.

"You do not, she contacts us. Why do you ask?”

"Winter and Storm need a mind healer. Do you know anybody else with that skill?” Phoenix snarled, he was tired.

"No." She replied with a sigh. "I will contact Angel, she may know how to contact Sapphire. Angel was suppose to alert Sapphire to the possibility that Winter might need her help. The shifter packs do not generally contact Dragania or Draganio. Are you certain that Winter needs Sapphire’s mind healing skills?” Phoenix just nodded.

Four months, four very long months, after Phoenix asked his mother about contacting Sapphire there was a knock on his office door, "Enter" Phoenix called. He was exhausted. Every night he had to pull Winter out of a nightmare, she still did not contact him during the day. He knew that she was asleep now, and sensed her starting to drift into another nightmare. Closing his eyes he went after her, only this time he got lost in it himself, he was far too exhausted to pull them out. Abruptly a blue light surrounded the two of them, protecting them both.

“Focus….” A gentle, female, voice, whispered in his mind. He focused on the clearing and found them both in it, Winter looked over at him through the blue light surrounding them. She looked very calm, then everything went dark as he was able to return to his own mind.

Opening his eyes Phoenix was startled to find himself looking into a pair of sapphire blue eyes, hands were on his, he had completely forgotten he had asked somebody to come into the office. Sapphire herself was standing in front of him, she was the one who had released them from the nightmare.

"You look exhausted Phoenix. Angel said you needed to see me, I do apologize for taking so long to get here. What problem are you having that cannot be solved by any other Haloing, or even a pack member?" She asked him, she looked concerned. It was not often that a shifter pack asked for her presence specifically. She did recall Angel telling her that Winter may need her mind healing skills, but was not certain if that is what this meeting was about.

"Its Winter, her nightmares are not getting better and it is getting harder and harder to pull her out of them. Whenever I talk with her, or her wolf Storm, I can hear the madness in their voice. That madness is slowly taking over, although they do seem to be fighting it. I think they would benefit from a mind healer, and you are the only one I know of with that ability." Phoenix replied, his voice was ragged with exhaustion.

"You are correct, I am the only mind healer. How goes her physical recovery?" She asked.

"I will get Lacey to fill you in on what she is doing with her there, but last I heard she was able to stand on her own but not yet walk unaided.”

"So, physically, she is getting better?”

“She is, although Lacey says there seems to be some sort of problem. She is not able to really explain it to me, it does not help that Winter is still uncommunicative. With your permission I will mind link Lacey to come here.” Sapphire gestured at him to proceed, "Lacey, could you come to my office please? Sapphire is here and I need you to explain to her what is happening with Winter.”

"On my way Alpha." Lacey replied. A couple minutes later Lacey arrived and sat next to Sapphire.

"It is difficult to explain, but I will try." Lacey started to say.

"No, show me. With your permission I will review your memories of trying to work with Winter, then we can go from there." Sapphire told her, "Perhaps Phoenix should view this as well. Maybe together we can come up with a solution." Phoenix nodded his agreement and held his hands out to Sapphire and Lacey. Lacey took hand then took Sapphire's other hand.

It was a clear, sunny day outside, the wind was warm, the sky clear. Beside them sat Winter in her wheelchair.

"All I want you to do is stand up and walk around your wheelchair." Through Lacey’s eyes they looked down into Winter's icy blue eyes. Winter nodded and stood up carefully, then walked around her wheelchair. Just as she completed the circle she froze and her posture changed slightly. “Hello?” Lacey asked. She looked inter Winter’s eyes and stopped, they were no longer blue but a purple colour. It was Storm.

What is going on?" Storm asked with sign language, she was very confused.

"I was working with your counterpart in order to get you guys physically stronger. You should have been aware of what was going on....what is the last thing you remember?" Lacey ask her.

"Being in the clearing with Phoenix. Have I not told you guys her name?” Was the reply, she was referring a nightmare that Phoenix had pulled them out of the night before

“You have told us her name, but she has not. We would like her to tell us on her own terms. Especially since you guys seem to have so little communication between you. You have no memory of waking up? Or coming outside to practice?”

"No, and I cannot hear her at all right now." Once again edges of insanity could be heard in her voice.

"I think we should stop for today." As Lacey wheeled Storm/Winter back to her room the memory ended.

Sapphire broke the link, then stood up and paced back and forth across the office.

Lacey and Phoenix looked at each other, then back at Sapphire.

"You were right to send for me, Lacey can you take me to Winter?" She asked.

"Of Course." Lacey replied. 


"How often does that happen?" Sapphire ask Lacey as they headed for the guest housing that Winter was staying in.

"Everyday. I did not notice it happen during the physical therapy that first day. It started two or three days after she woke up and started working with me. It does seem to be happening more frequently, and each time Storm cannot hear Winter.”

"Is Winter able to reach out to Storm?”

"No, after the second time it happened I asked Winter to speak with Storm. After I had Winter back of course.”

"How long did that take?"

“Well, it is difficult to tell. I always know when Winter switches to Storm, Storm will always sign or mind link me. Winter does not, I do not know why Storm is more trusting.” Lacey simply looked at Sapphire curiously, it was clear she was not sure what exactly was going on. Sapphire suspected that she knew, but she needed to see Winter in order to be sure. "Here we are." Lacey knocked on the door then opened it,

"Damn." Sapphire entered behind her and immediately saw the problem, Storm was starting back at them.

"Its okay, I will speak with Storm instead." She told Lacey, she then looked at Storm,

“My name is Sapphire, I am here to help you. I will not hurt you, but I do have some questions that need answering." Storm nodded in understanding and gestured for her to continue.

Sapphire gently put her hands on Storm’s head and reached for her mind. Usually when she did this she connected with both minds easily, in this case she could only easily reach Storm. This was interesting, and disturbing. Sapphire reached further, deeper into her mind, until she was simply hovering above her consciousness. In a healthy Haloing Sapphire would see a connection between the beast, the Haloing, and the pack or group that Haloing was with. In this case, there was no connection what-so-ever. There should have been, Angel had formed one, but for whatever reason the link to this pack was absent or blocked. She could only see two links, one to Phoenix and one to the Dark.

Both Storm and what Sapphire assumed to be Winter were connected to one individual, there was no pack link between Winter and the pack. There was one between Storm and the pack though. There was also no connection between Storm and Winter, which was very unusual.

"Okay Storm, this may be uncomfortable but I need you to not fight me." Sapphire warned her, she knew what she was about to do would not be comfortable. Sapphire was about to dive deep into her conscious mind and possibly into her unconscious to find Winter and reconnect the two of them.

"Okay, I will try." Was the simple reply. Sapphire was very disturbed by the hints of madness that she could hear. If she could reconnect the two of them then that might disappear, but she truly believed that it would not be gone for long without reforming the pack link. 


"Storm, were there times during the time that you lived in the woods that you could not contact Winter?” Sapphire asked.

"Yes. Why?” Was the quick reply.

"I am just trying to determine how long you two have been separating for." As Sapphire was speaking with Storm she was attempting to find Winter within Storm's mind. She then hit a solid barrier, it was not one that Storm had made but Winter. She pressed on the barrier gently at first, when it would not give she warned Storm, "This is going to hurt." Sapphire simply blasted the barrier down, instantly she received and onslaught of disjointed memories.

She/They were tied to a bed with a man buried inside her....now in a cell being whipped with silver.....being cut open....With a grunt of effort Sapphire pulled out of her memories but managed to hold onto Winter. Suddenly a heavy darkness enveloped them both, they were both trapped in Winter’s mind. Sapphire had been hoping to avoid this, she was going to have to fight for Winter’s mind from inside her mind. Sapphire pushed out her power, holding on to Winter as she did so. Winter herself was limp in her minds grasp, she had no energy to fight. Desperately searched for the connection that the Dark had to Winter, finding it she severed it. She then re-linked Storm and Winter, instantly she could see that the newly re-formed link would not hold without a pack link. The Dark was trying to push through the link and break it, without a proper link to the pack it would succeed at breaking them apart again.

"Are you both aware?”

"We are here Sapphire." The response had two voices, both Winter and Storm had answered. Sapphire could hear panic behind Winter’s voice and cold rage behind Storm’s. Most concerning was the weakness behind Winter’s voice, she could not hold for long.

"Okay, listen carefully. I have reconnected the two of you and just doing that will hold the madness at bay. However, you must re-link to the pack in order to remain connected and to continue to recover. In order to do that you must tell the Alpha the your name. Storm has already identified herself, he needs both your names.” Sapphire told them both urgently.

“I am a mute runt, not worthy of a name.” Winter told her. For the first time Sapphire could hear the way she said the phrase, it was an automatic response. She had been told exactly that, and had been forced to tell people exactly that, for so long that it was an ingrained response.

“I need you to try and override that reaction child. Please, what do you like to be called?” Sapphire asked softly.

“Winter…my name is Winter.” Winter told her after a moment.

“Than you. Remember, you are worthy of a name. I promise you, you are safe here.” Sapphire told her gently.

“I will try.” Winter replied before fading into the background.

"What must we do?" It was only Storm speaking now, but Sapphire could tell that Winter was listening in.

"I am going to call Phoenix in here, once he is here he will link you to the pack. I am not 100% sure how you become linked to the pack." Sapphire sensed fear rock through their mind, she could also tell they were speaking to each other privately.

"You will stay here?" Storm asked, Sapphire could hear fear in her voice.

"Yes, I will stay here if it makes you feel more comfortable."

"Then okay, we will do this. But we have a question first."

"Ask."

"Is it not only Alpha's who can bring people into a pack?"

"Phoenix, I need you in Winter's room please." Sapphire mind linked Phoenix, then answered them out loud "Yes, it is only Alpha's. Phoenix is the alpha of the Haloing pack."

"You asked for me?" Phoenix said from the doorway. Sapphire looked at Winter, she was slightly tense with him being as close as he was.

"Yes, she must be brought into the pack instead of just being connected to you and partially linked to the pack. I do not recall how you bring somebody into the pack, could you refresh my memory and fill her in on what needs to happen?” Before Phoenix could answer Sapphire mind linked him, “Be aware, there could be a jolt when you do this. The previous link did not take properly because she is also connected the Dark. The Dark has been able to overwhelm the temporary link that was formed simply because Winter and Storm were separated prior to the temporary link.”

Phoenix nodded in understanding then answered Sapphire’s question, ”Of course. It is fairy simple. I make a cut on my hand, then a cut on yours. We then shake hands while making eye contact. Through the mind link I then welcome you into the pack. In order to do that, I need you to tell me your name.”

Sapphire looked at Winter, she was quite pale. She had snapped out her wings when Phoenix had mentioned making a cut, fear rolled off of her. She looked over at Sapphire who nodded at her reassuringly, "Remember, I will not allow anything to happen to you. And I promise you, should Phoenix try anything I am quite capable of turning him into inanimate ash." Winter smiled softly when Sapphire said that then looked at Phoenix for a long moment.

“I am called Winter.” She told him in sign language.

“Okay, Winter, may I approach?” Phoenix asked. She nodded permission and held herself as steady as she could.

Sapphire then watched as Phoenix made a small cut on his hand, then on Winter's. They shook hands while making eye contact, Sapphire could not hear what happened in their mind link. However, what she expected to happen, happened. Winter collapsed. Phoenix caught her and lay her down on her bed before turning to me.

"Why did she collapse?" Sapphire heard a new voice ask her, she looked at Phoenix and realized that it definitely was not Phoenix she was facing but the red-gold eyes of his wolf Flame.

"Easy Flame, when you guys joined her to the pack the link to the Dark was severed. She will be okay now.”

“Why was she linked to the Dark?" He demanded.

"I do not believe it was a link she made deliberately but rather one formed of circumstance. When she destroyed The Black Rose she did so out of fear and rage. Fear is one thing, we all react out of fear. It is the rage that linked her to the Dark." Sapphire paused and watched as he took in this information. Slowly his eyes resumed their normal gold colour, rather than the fire red of the wolf. She looked back at Winter, "She will likely sleep for the rest of today. With any luck at all she will be more communicative and will be willing to use the mind link. Keep in mind that she will probably always have nightmares to a certain degree, warn your pack not to surprise her. Especially the men. How long it will take is anyone's guess." Phoenix nodded his understanding as Sapphire left the room. All she could do was hope that she was right, then she remembered something. "Phoenix, I need all Clan leaders to Dragania in two weeks. Given the circumstances you can either come alone or bring your mother. I do not expect to see Winter. I will come unbind her powers in six months. One more thing, she will be prone to the Dark for the rest of her life. I may have severed the bond, but the pathways that allowed the bond to form are still there. Be careful.”

"Very well, I will see you in two weeks." Was the short reply.