Chapter 49: Into the Dream Dragon Back Up


    Ynda stalked through the bushes. Her pack mates spread out behind her. Movement was different


    within the Dream Realm. There was no sound, wind, or small animal movement to mask theirs. This


    was the reason not everyone worked in the Dream Realm. Danger lurked behind every corner and


    bush. Sounds betrayed you to those harmful things.


    They stalked through the dark mirror realm after one of the worst things in existence. Death here meant


    true death. They followed a Barguest through the bush hoping it didn’t catch their scent and chomping


    down on their bones. Their mission was to find where the Fae holed up. So, they could attack them first


    and catch them unprepared. They wanted to catch the Fae unaware before they revealed the


    supernatural poption to the humans and save lives of the Fae’s human victims.


    Ynda and Catherine were in their wolf-form, tracking the beast as. David and Farah followed a


    distance away, still on two feet. Their weapons at the ready. A person could fall asleep wearing


    something or carrying something. It would appear in the realm with them. After so long, mages who


    studied this realm couldn’t exin. Why or what were the rules. The rules appeared to beplex and


    inconsistent.


    They’d been stalking for close to an hour. How loud was the horn this creature responded to? It must


    be one of those twisted rules again. They were nearing a local pic area. Of course, they set up here.


    This season people wouldn’t encounter them here. There’s a town close to here. But no snow mobile or


    ski trails.


    The barguest stopped and let loose the most mournful howl; it sent shivers through everyone who


    heard it. Everyone held their breath and stopped dead in their tracks. The barguest acted like a dog.


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    Here, within the Dream Realm, it looked like a nightmare dog. It possessed ragged ck confusion of


    fur, glowing, ssy red eyes, and a slobbering mouth. Three times the size of a wolf shifter. A shifter in


    wolf form couldn’t pass as a normal wolf. This monster wouldn’t pass for anything but a nightmare.


    Ynda struggled not to let her heart to beat out of her chest. What summoned the creature? Where


    was the creature’s master?


    ‘I don’t like this. Keep your eyes open. We don’t know where they’lle from.’ Ynda heard this


    voice in her head. It was David, the eldest of them, and the main fighting instructor with the ck River


    Pack. ‘Remember. Theye and go at will.’ She could hear the notes of caution in David’s voice.


    No one believed for a minute they’d find themselves fighting the Fae. Wild magic, and ancient battle


    tactics. Evil indifference to the wellbeing of others. Icy and emotionless one minute. Selfish and blood


    thirsty the next. Generous when it benefits them. Murderous when they imagine someone has slighted


    them.


    Ynda knew everyone else struggled with the fear. They were in an unknown situation. With enough


    facts to know fear was a sensible reaction. But not enough to feel confident they’d survive the


    encounter.


    Within the perpetual twilight’s grey hues, several forms materialized from the bushes around the


    barguest. Two beings glowed with an inner light. Beauty dripped for their every move. Taller than a


    human, these creatures would dwarf any shifter. These must be Shining Ones. Now Ynda


    understood why they’re believed to be aliens or extra dimensional creatures. There was nothing natural


    about their beauty. No one could mistake them for humans.


    Seeing these creatures and what they’re capable of. Ynda couldn’t ept them in the same realm


    as Ian. Her mate wouldn’t be a toy for these creatures. She felt a rush of protectiveness that shocked


    her. The urge to do something stupid. Was overwhelming.


    They had what they needed now. Here is where the monsters’ setup shop. But they wouldn’t open for


    business. ‘We know the area now. Let’s get out of here. We’ll report back to the others.’ Ynda turned


    from the scene ofughter and frolicking.


    ‘Wait. We need to know how many there. More appear with every passing minute. They need to know


    how many are there. I know I taught you better than that. Know thy enemy.’ David was correct. Ynda


    returned to her crouch and tried to remember the names of all the smaller creatures and nightmares


    rampaging through the open space.


    Minutes ticked by and it appeared all that would appear was visible within the field. She huffed for just a


    moment. The Fae made so much noise, Ynda believed it wouldn’t be a problem. The Fae yed


    music,ughed, and sang. Dancing around the field like it was New Year’s Eve of thest year of all


    existence.


    ‘I think we have enough for now. Let’s get out of here., Before one trips over us.’ This time Ynda


    heard the grunt of agreement from David. Catherine bobbed her snout up and down in consent. Farah


    followed their mentor as they left the space.


    One of the odd things about travel within the Dream Realm. Many could learn to do traveling. Traveling


    was an odd thing. If one knew where they’re going. One could travel at greater distances than one


    could within reality. One step by someone skilled in this could move them miles from their body. This


    caused problems, as you must be close to your body or risk leaving the realm and not finding your


    body to return to. No one’s sure what happened to those souls. On their way back. They received a


    message from another shifter guard.


    ‘Dragons have appeared within the Dream realm. Warning. Dragons are here, but in human form.’


    ‘Crap, they shouldn’t be here. They’re our secret back up.’ Dragons were a thing, all their own. No


    one’s sure whether they’re a creature as old as the Fae. Or their first creation. But Dragons could cast


    a form of wild magic. Which made them perfect as a secret weapon. If any Fae asked a human about


    dragons, they’d learn humans didn’t believe they existed. Fae would assume this belief was because


    they were extinct.


    There, by the building where their bodiesy, were five dragons surrounded by other shifters. “What’s


    going on here? Sir?”


    “We’re here to assist should any need it.”


    “Very good. We’re about to return to the other realm and pass on the information we’ve gained while it’s


    still fresh in our minds. Please be careful near the town of Ashton. The Fae are crawling through a


    pic area there. It’s a small hunt with two shining ones hosting the hunt.” A hunt was a group of Fae.


    Out to amuse themselves by hunting anything that amuses them. The smarter the creature is, higher


    the chances of being their next victim. The numbers within a hunt could be as little as a hand full to


    thousands. A host or the leader of the hunt. Here, there’re two leaders and as any army knows.


    Nothing gets done with too many leaders.


    “Two, are you sure?” The spokesperson for the Dragons inquired.


    “Yes, why?”


    “Two of them? They’ll work each other into open war. Once one does something, the second dislikes.


    They’ll split up and start a war. Each will look for people and creatures. To erge their hunt. Then turn


    it on the other.” He spoke without emotion, as if he were reading it off a menu in a restaurant.


    Ynda stepped back, turned away, and ran her hand through her long, dark hair. “Seriously? I just


    want to kill them. Get it over with. Fine, if you wish to rece us while we report in and get some proper


    rest.” This dragon was a cold one. Know wonder people thought they were lizards. “That’s it. I thank


    you for doing this. But I caution you to be careful, please. We’ll head out now.”


    “The three of you go and do what needs to be done. I’ll stay here and assist the Dragons on finding


    their footing.” David stopped by the door to the barracks. “I’ll stay long enough to show them where not


    to go and the locations that must be watched.”


    “Good. We’ll see youter then.” Once in the building it was a matter of closing one’s eyes and willing


    yourself to awaken.


    Ynda opened her eyes and looked around. Catherine and Farah were both awakening too. Bleary


    eyed, they’d sat up and looked around. Going into the Dream Realm for an extended time wasn’t restful


    at all. It sapped the energy from your body. Like it needed that energy to keep you within the Dream


    Realm. Therefore, one never spends long within the Dream Realm. It could kill you if you weren’t


    careful.


    “Okay, guys you head in and get some rest. I’ll report to the Alpha with this news. Don’t show your


    faces until after you’ve had some sleep.” Ynda dragged herself from her bunk and headed for the


    packhouse.