Erik continued on without another word to anyone, disappearing into the woods in search of a quiet place to meditate. Ever since he left his homeland, he hadn’t been able to connect with the spirits of his people. He felt isolated and alone, his communication with the spirit realm completely severed. This, however, did not stop Erik from completely his ritual every fortnight.

The Alpha found a spot near the river, then gathered wood and brush for burning. Using the flint rocks he carried with him, he set the small mound ablaze and let the flames grow. He removed the fur-lined cloak he wore, followed by his shirt. Untying his hair, Erik settled on the ground in front of the fire. He reached into the pouch he kept tied to his belt and pulled out a small amount of a gray, dust-like substance. Erik threw it onto the flames, the metallic powder turning them an icy blue. From the fire came a plume of soft blue smoke that grew and expanded until the Alpha was consumed by it. Closing his eyes, Erik let the crackling and popping of the wood lull him into a trance-like state.

Even without the connection to the spirits, there was still peace in the void. Erik let the silence wash over him, opening his own spirit to the world around him. Time slowed, his body becoming one with his surroundings. The smell of the wet earth beneath him, the touch of the cool mist floating in from the river…. Erik experienced all of it more intently. Then, all at once, the silence was filled with noise. The rustling of leaves, the chirping of insects, and the calls of birds from above… all of it filtered /through/ the Alpha. Erik was now fully immersed in the void, his senses focusing as he called first to his mother, and then to his sister, Danica. He was met with their familiar silence, his hope for a reunion replaced with grief and anguish…

“The dead are never truly gone…” That was what Erik’s mother used to say. The spirit realm overlapped the mortal plane, and, through the void, one could connect to them; feel their presence. But in the year since the death of his family, Erik had felt nothing. It was as if his mother and sister had never existed, their souls completely erased. He prayed to the gods that his return to his homeland was the key to reuniting with not only his mother and Danica, but with all the spirits of his ancestors. Now, more than ever, he needed their guidance.

Erik’s sadness rippled through him, its sharp edge cutting him particularly deep. With his revenge taken and his sights set on home, memories of his family haunted his dreams and shadowed his every waking moment. The Alpha knew better than to let emotion cloud his mind while in the void, but the pain was so sudden it overwhelmed him. That’s when the vision slammed into him, his eyes flying open as the scene unfolded…

Erik stood on the rocky shores of his homeland, staring out at the fleet of ships looming on the horizon. The Wolf King’s flag danced in the wind, announcing his arrival like the horns of war. In the face of such an army, Erik felt no fear. The Winter Islands were strong; stronger than the Alpha sworn to protect its lands and people. Without a proper knowledge of the tides, the ships would be thrashed about in the surf, their wooden hulls smashed on the ice and rocks. And that was only the beginning. Even if one ship managed to land, the men aboard would be met with unpredictable weather, wild beasts, and an unforgiving terrain. No, Erik of Blackwater felt no fear. He wanted to laugh at Duncan’s arrogance and boldness, but in that moment of triumph, the scene changed.

Erik now stood on the snow-covered hills of Valdune, 20 miles from the mountains where his people had made their homes. The smile slid from his face, the image before him so gruesome, his first instinct was to look away. Bodies and…parts of bodies littered the ground, patches of crimson painting the pure white snow. They were Erik’s men; his people! The Alpha lunged forward, shifting into his wolf form as he raced towards his village. The faster he ran, the further away it appeared, but it was still close enough to see the smoke in the distance, and the orange flames licking the storm gray skies.

And then it happened again. Erik was yanked from the hillside and dropped into the center of his village. This time, it was women and children who littered the snow covered earth. The smell of death burned Erik’s nose and turned his stomach. Shock hit him like a sledgehammer to the chest. Fear. Real, unbridled fear ripped through him. He raced towards the mountain, praying to the gods that at least some had sought shelter within its womb. The Alpha raced up the steps carved into the mountainside. He was screaming someone’s name; someone important to him. Someone precious… He rounded the corner and came face-to-face with Ariyan. His pale green eyes were filled with tears, his mouth moving as if he too were screaming something. All at once the world went silent; the only sound that of his mate’s desperate shriek…

“RUN!”

Rather than flee, Erik ran towards his mate, desperate to save him. To protect him. But he wasn’t fast enough. Duncan’s blade plunged into Ariyan’s back, splitting open his narrow chest…

Erik was ripped from his vision, the word “War…” echoing in his ears. The Alpha practically jumped to his feet, swaying violently as he fought to clear his lungs of the hypnotic smoke. He gripped the nearest tree, staring into the withering flames as he tried to reconcile what he’d just seen.

Erik quickly put out the fire, grabbing his clothes and heading for the river. His skin was feverish, every inch of it covered in sweat. Not bothering to remove his pants, he dropped his clothing at the shore and dove into the river. He remained submerged, letting the gentle current carry away his panic and fear.