Chapter 3 (pages 49-55)

 "Here is the room its two beds your Brakkron is more welcome to sleep in the hallway and if my sister comes in here to talk to you, tell her to go away." Toren crossed his arms trying to intimidate Zarath and Tharon who both ignored him as they put their stuff down.

 "That guy really thinks he would win if he fought us." Tharon flopped down onto one of the beds quickly making himself comfortable as he let out a deep sigh of relief. "By the ancestors after the last four days an actual bed." Tharon almost passed out after laying down.

 "Well, he is a lot older than us its possible he might win." Zarath slid the boots from his feet stretching out his paw like toes his claws flexing and retracting as he did. "And besides as someone with a little sister I get why he doesn't like me." Zarath sighed as he laid back onto his bed.

 "Really I highly doubt that Zarath, your sister Luneth has all the boys her age wrapped around her little claw, honestly she is a better hunter and fighter than both of us." Tharon laughed as he rolled over onto his side, scratching at his belly.

 "That's not what I meant, what I mean is that I get what he is doing now…now just get some sleep we have to get to the temple first thing in the morning." Zarath rolled over to his side and tried to doze off.

 As the boys lay there sleeping once again Zarath was drawn into that nightmare, only this time he wasn't buried to his waist but only to his knees in the tarlike substance that he had been sinking in through his previous dreams. The Shadow like figure appeared once more in a frantic state bouncing back and forth.

 "No, No, NO! LEAVE THIS PLACE THIS PLACE YOU MUST LEAVE NOW!" The figure hissed as it approached Zarath its faceless form mere inches from his. Zarath could tell something was wrong. As the shadow continued in this frantic state appearing and disappearing from his line of sight as it moved around in the void.

 "You can't sustain yourself inside the walls can you, Vaerthuin is a holy sight for my people the walls are trying to force you out." Zarath smirked thinking he had the upper hand for the first time since this all started. Suddenly he sank deeper into the tarlike substance down to his hips.

 "To pure to much raw magic, not a place for the likes of us, it will not save you boy, you are mine." The shadow seemed to be panicked at the idea of losing what control over Zarath it had. He watched as it kept bouncing around him.

 "Afraid you're going to be driven out." Zarath tried to keep his cool as he continued to sink deeper back past his waist and then up to his stomach.

 "You know nothing, still a child a child yes, I told you, you will be my greatest creation even here I still have my grip on you, and you will be mine." The shadow pulsated as its rage was made clear, whatever this corrupted being was it did not like being this close to such a pure source of holy magic. Maybe Tomorrow this nightmare would be over, and he and Tharon could just simply go home back to their tribe, but something told Zarath it wasn't going to be that easy. Tomorrow would be a challenging day for both him and Tharon and there was no telling what was going to happen to him or his friend.

 Zarath sprang up from the bed panting slightly as a Wolfkin, he didn't sweat like a human but if he could the bed would be soaked as he sat up slightly panicked. He turned his head to see Tharon had already left the room. He continued to look around, seeing a mirror on the wall the sight caught him off guard completely. What stared back at him was his own reflection but twisted the fur around his face had darkened to a tar black, his eyes showed a fiery red and his fangs had grown into long tusks. As he screamed at the reflection, he let out a deafening roar. Suddenly he sprung up again quickly feeling his face and body, this time he was truly awake but just what was that horrid vision meant to be a warning from the shadow that had been haunting his dreams or was that what would happen if he and Tharon didn't find this cure and soon. So many questions raced through his head as he slowly got up from the bed, he stumbled towards the bedroom door only for it to suddenly open, knocking him back onto his rear as it did.

 "Morning your friend Tharon said you usual sleep in so…" Lyra stood there noticing Zarath now on the floor and quickly squatted down next to him. "Oh sorry, sorry I didn't mean to hit you with the door. Oh, hey, are you ok you don't look so good." Lyra reached out and gently touched Zarath on the forehead.

 "I…I am fine I just didn't sleep well ok now just can you back up a bit." Zarath's face was red despite the white fur that covered it, this was twice now that Lyra had forced him into a position he didn't know how to react to.

 "Oh, sorry I just wanted to make sure you weren't hurt." Lyra seemed disappointed as she backed away giving Zarath the space he wanted her tail hanging low as she stood up. She waited for him to stand before she attempted to speak again.

 "Sorry I didn't mean to be rude I just don't like people that close to me." Zarath's ears twitched as he tried to lie the best he could about why he was upset because he wasn't sure what the real reason for his reaction was either. But it didn't seem to bother her once he apologized. Her tail started to wag again, and her eyes quickly lit up.

 "Oh, that's ok I'm just glad you're not hurt because I hit you with the door. But breakfast is ready your friend Tharon and your Brakkon Hura have already eaten but once you eat my parents said I can show you how to get to the temple." Lyra finial stopped talking long enough to breathe before she bound down the hallway not even waiting for Zarath to respond to her. Zarath rubbed his eyes once more before following after her. He didn't really want her to go to the temple with him and Tharon, but he also did not want her to go with them. Zarath made his way down the stairs that led to the lower level of the tavern where Tharon was happily stuffing his face with bread as Hura got up from her spot on the floor brushing against her master's legs as he approached them.

 "It's about time you woke up glad to see that our new friend Lyra didn't have to drag you out of the bed." Tharon let out a deep belly laugh as Zarath sat down next to him at the bar, he pushed a plate of food over to Zarath. "Eat up its amazing almost as good as my mothers." Tharon said as he took another huge bite of the bread he had in his hand. Zarath looked down at the food but for some reason he wasn't hungry either from the lack of sleep or the nightmarish vision he saw of himself or maybe it was that Lyra was sitting right next to him as if he needed her right by his side. Her tail never stopped wagging as she grabbed a plate of food herself.

 After the three had finished eating breakfast just as promised Lyra took Zarath and Tharon to the temple of the Vrak'Thura of course making several stops along the way, Lyra couldn't help herself when it came to showing off all that Vaerthuin had to offer she made the group stop at several shops where she knew the shop keeps or where some of the traveling tribes were trading with those that lived in the city. It was about noon when they finial reached the temple just like the city gates two giant Wolfkin stood at the gates of the temple, and a giant cloth wall adorned with blue fabric sown into it in intricate symbols each visible pulsing with magic, beyond the walls was an untouched section of the ancient forest that made up the city of Vaerthuin the trees so thick that you couldn't see more then a few inches past the branches.

 "Here we are the Temple of Vrak'Thura." Lyra bounced in place as her tail wagged quickly behind her, she put her hands behind her back leaning forward just about with a big smile as if to say praise me. Zarath rolled his eyes at her antics but was happy to see she was having fun.

 "Well come one slowpoke's the bathes here are said to be the best in the whole world." Lyra bound towards the gate guards with Zarath and Tharon followed behind her, Hura following behind Zarath. As the three of them approached the gate the two massive Wolfkin stepped forward the cloth covering their eyes just like the ones that stood at the gates to the city. The one on the left lifted his hands towards the two boys but allowed Lyra to continue unimpeded. Lyra didn't even pay attention as she kept walking.

 "You three are not known to us or the temple state your business here." The guard on the right spoke to Zarath, Tharon and Hura.

 "Me and my fellow Krellar of the Iron Claw tribe seek an audience with Grak Tharakar Vos and ask for the rite of purification." Zarath stepped forward to answer the question.

 "Oh, and the third on is a Brakkron by the way." Tharon added just to avoid the same repeat of what happened at the city gates yesterday. He stepped back scratching at his belly under his leather chest guard. Hura letting out a yawn as she sat there waiting for her master to give any command.

 The two guards stepped back towards the massive wooden gate, each grabbing one of the handles and slowly opening the gates to the temple.

 "Sister Lyra may enter and attend to her normal activities you two shall wait for the Grak Tharakar inside the antechamber." Both guards spoke in perfect unison just like the ones that guarded the city gates, Lyra just simply walked past them through the gates of the temple with the boys following close behind her.

 "Sister Lyra, would you care to explain that because you don't strike me as a member of the Thar'Vrak (Guardians of the Sacred Waters.)" Tharon asked a little surprised to see Lyra who was a half breed was allowed to simple walk right past the gates with no questions asked even if she did live in the city next to the temple.

 "Oh, yeah I guess I forgot to mention but the Grak Tharakar is my aunt, see my mother before she married my father was actual the head of the temple guards in fact one of those big guys guarding the gate was actual my uncle to." Lyra's response was so oh matter of fact as she continued down the path to the temple as if it wasn't important that she was related to a key member of the Wolfkin people's spiritual faith.

 "Wait one of those giant's back there is your uncle which one and how is it your mother and you aren't like giant's and such?" Tharon asked even more enthusiastically about the answer now than before.

 "Well duh isn't it obvious him and my mother have the same fur color." Lyra once again made it seem like it wasn't some big deal that her uncle was three times the size of your average Wolfkin. "And I can't tell you how all I know is that gate guards undergo some secret ritual when that involves them cutting out their eyes and poof in exchange, they turn into well giants' kind of." Lyra kept skipping down the path as she knew exactly where to go.

 "So basically, you have no idea what any of the rituals are you just come here to bath in the water." Zarath quickly caught on that despite being a family member to a temple gate guard and the daughter of the former head guard Lyra actual had no idea what any of her spiritual practices or rituals where.

 "Heeey that is so not true my mother and aunt forced me to study at least the basics of our peoples magics so I can do somethings other than bust tables and besides both my parents trained me how to fight so I can take care of myself." Lyra turned around to respond to Zarath's jab at her knowledge.

 "But you still admitted that you have no idea what it is do you." Zarath smiled as he took another jab at her. Lyra pouted as she stared daggers at him. The two of them were clearly at odds over this point for some strange reason.

 "Come on Hura let leave these two to well whatever this is." Tharon walked down the path patting Hura on the head as she followed beside him, not sure what to make of his friend and Lyra's strange argument.

 After another thirty-minute walk the group reached the temple, a massive structure made from ancient logs and cloth walls, many of the areas were open in concept with many Wolfkin wearing long white clothed hooded robes that covered their faces. They tended to the many vines and curtains of thick moss that hung from the logs that made up the ceiling of the temple along the outer area, others were mending the cloth walls that one could only assume prevented access to the lake of sacred water or the Vrak'Thura. Lyra waved for the boy to follow her into the temple as she walked past the Tharakar bowed in a respectful manner as she passed by them and many quickly took note of Zarath's white fur quickly recognizing him as a Grak'Shrak which made him feel even more uncomfortable, the people of his tribe never treated him like this despite being a Grak'Shrak they knew he never had much to do with the spiritual world. As the three stepped up onto the wooden floor of the temple, a gong was sounded three times. a feminine figure slowly emerged from behind a curtain of cloth and moss draped in pure white almost see through robes as she approached the three Lyra bound over to her giving the strange women a massive hug.

 "Aunt VOS! I am so happy to see you again have the flowers we planted been growing well?" Lyra's tail wagged franticly behind her as she completely forgot about Zarath and Tharon.

 "I am happy to see you again my beloved little one the flowers are quite well, and you must mind your manners after all we have guest." Vos waved her hand in a gentle motion towards Zarath, Tharon and Hura. Her eyes landed on Zarath as she gave the boy a soft smile.

 "Oh, my I see we have one blessed by the ancestors with us today." Vos pulled the almost see through hood from her head, her wolflike ears perked up as she did. As the veil lifted from her face Zarath and Tharon were amazed to see that Grak Tharakar Vos had snow white fur and heterochromia eyes just like Zarath.

 "Before you ask yes child, I am Grak'Shark just like you the only difference is I embrace my role as a spiritual guide to our people hence why I am here." Vos gestured for Zarath and Tharon to follow her back behind the curtain of moss, gently pushing her niece Lyra in front of her as she did.

 "Now come sit and join me by the fire and we shall discus what needs to be done now that you are here." Vos sat down on the wooden floor opposite the fire, its low glow show casing her ethereal features as she did. Zarath and Tharon followed suit sitting across from her and the fire. The whole temple seemed to fall silent as the group was now in the very center, the heart of the temple. Vos spoke softly the words that left her lips where unlike anything Zarath or Tharon had heard before a low note, as if spoken from a great distance, suddenly all the light faded from the room except the glow of the fire, nothing, but murky blackness surrounded them until eventually they couldn't see more than a few inches in front of them and then nothing at all.

 "What is going on I don't understand, Zarath, Hura where are you two what the hell is going on." Tharon sprung up to his feet and he instinctively reached for his spear that he didn't have with him looking around the black void.

 "Do not be alarmed Tharon Iron Claw I have simple cast a spell to allow me to speak with both of you in private." The voice that cut through the void was that of Grak Tharakar Vos but as she appeared into view, she seemed different from the white furred beauty she was in the waking world.

 "I have simply used the veil (the magical barrier between the mortal world and the spirit world the source of all magic.) to create a space for you and your friend but both of your bodies are still in the temple." As Vos's form appeared before Tharon, she was much heavier set now and her fur had turned a soft gray taking on the form of Tharon's mother.