6Chapter 8
In the twilight of the forest, amidst the rustling leaves and ominous whispers of the night, the pack stood sentinel, their eyes piercing the veil between worlds. But unbeknownst to them, within the labyrinthine corridors of Jacob Black's dreams, a haunting dance of shadows and whispers unfurled.
In the realm of slumber, Jacob wandered through a landscape cloaked in an eerie half-light. Trees twisted like gnarled fingers reaching for the heavens, their branches casting elongated, grasping shadows across the ashen ground. A foreboding silence hung thick in the air, broken only by the faint echoes of his own footsteps.
As Jacob treaded deeper into the dream, the boundary between reality and imagination blurred. Shapes shifted in the periphery, indistinct figures with eyes that gleamed like shards of obsidian. Whispers, barely audible, slithered through the air, weaving a sinister tapestry of fragmented voices that spoke in tongues long forgotten.
"Watch and learn, Jacob. Understand the weight of your true Alpha lineage," echoed a voice within the tumult of his visions.
Ephraim, a mere boy of fifteen summers, embarked on his mystical journey, delving into the realm of spirits. He treaded deeper into the forest, guided by an unseen force, until he reached the welcoming expanse beneath the willow's embrace.
"Rest beneath my sheltering branches, young one. Find solace among my roots," whispered a presence, unseen but felt, as Ephraim leaned against the wise willow, his face touched by the dappled sunlight.
Yet, as the boy sought respite, the rustle of leaves betrayed a foreign presence. Ephraim tensed, ready to confront any threat lurking in the shadows, when a voice resonated in his mind, "Fear not, young pup. I am not here to hurt you."
His senses heightened, Ephraim surveyed the bush's edge, where a reddish fur and colossal paws emerged, dwarfing even the mightiest of horses. Tension hung heavy in the air as the enigmatic entity revealed itself.
"Hello young one" Ephraim heard loud and clear in his mind "Who are you?"
"To answer your question you must know of the past" Ephraim cautiously sat back under the willow tree staring at the beast like creature waiting for him to continue.
"I was birthed into life beneath this very tree I was one of many spirits that came to be. Mother had gifted us with life to nurture the forest into what it is today. We were curious rambunctious and hellish offspring who lived for her. Many creatures lived within the woods I was tasked with guarding all who dwelled within her dominion I ensured protection from harm both from human and other, when your people came to settle here at the edge of the woods we watched as children played and laughed we watched as your blood kin performed rituals in honor of the bounty the woods have given and asking for guidance and blessings from the spirits. It was strange to see people honoring us and practicing the ways to nurture the bond that they sensed within the woods, I knew then that your people were special people to watch out for and so you too came under our care."
Ephraim enraptured by this tale knew there was more to come.
"The chief of your tribe possessed a power to speak to all living creatures and share there experiences through their minds. Because of this he was chosen to host a spirit warrior
In the darkest recesses of his mind, a whispered prophecy lingered, a cryptic verse that foretold of an ancient darkness stirring from its slumber, poised to eclipse both waking and dreaming worlds. And within Jacob's restless sleep, the portents of this impending shadow loomed ominously, waiting to unfurl their chilling tale upon the unsuspecting realms of reality.
Notes-
Going through a blank with life getting in the way of my creative thinking to pour out. I hope anyone who is reading this finds a moment to just breathe and find a place of solace if things are chaotic for you right now.