Her eyes slowly opened, her vision blurring. She stared at the ceiling of an unfamiliar room. Lazily, Ray blinked her eyes once or twice before rubbing her eyes with her hands. She turned to the side, her whole body shrieking with pain upon movement.
She winced, rolling in the sheets of the bed she laid on. She surveyed the room, her conscious mind taking hold of her. Taking in the sight of the room, she appeared to be in a one room cottage. A small table stood off to the right accompanied by a small wooden chair pushed in neatly. A large bright window accompanied the far wall, a bare, dull forest scene beyond the panels. A small set of cupboards lined the far right corner and on the wall in front of her was a bookshelf of many books. Above the bookshelf though was her point of interest.
A well painted oil of a man occupied the wall. His hair was short cut and silver streaked in black. His face was wrinkled, but the soft smile on his aged lips was welcoming as well as his silver eyes. His angled jaw line was prominent and out right as well as his defined down hooked nose. He appeared to be of scholar status, the hood of a robe settled on his shoulders. Why she had been drawn to the painting, she couldn't tell. But it was distinguished nonetheless.
Ray rolled over, faster than before. Her nerves clipped with the feeling of pain. She swung her legs over the side of the bed. She nearly jumped to the heavens when a sharp growl rumbled through the room. She looked down quickly to meet the silver eyes of a massive black wolf. The wolf bore its teeth defensively trying to threaten Ray.
Ray scrambled for a weapon but was still without one. Her chest heaved with panicked breaths while pulling her feet back onto the bed.
"Oh Kira, won't you be nice?" came a cheery voice.
Ray's eyes, wild with terror, turned to the door she had failed to notice. A human figure walked in. He was tall and average, dressed nicely with a leather vest, billowing blouse and trousers. His boots were made of deer leather. A long green cloak covered his shoulders and swayed to inches above the ground. A bow and quiver accompanied his shoulders.
Ray looked up to search his face only to find a freckled face of a boy no more than perhaps nineteen years of age. His hair longer than most was snowy white and shaded silver that matched his eyes. They reminded her of the full moon illuminated in the summer sky. His smile alone, much like the picture, was heartwarming.
The boy looked at Ray, the dimples on his cheeks showing as he smiled. "Oh good. You're awake," he chimed, his voice looming with an accent Ray had never heard one use before. It differed from those in the countryside.
Ray sat in silence, still confused about her whereabouts and who exactly this boy was. She nodded surveying him with addled eyes. "Who…are you?" she asked, alarmed at the sound of her voice. It sounded echoed and distant.
The boy tilted his head giving a closed eye grin. "Oh! My name is Thane, Thane Lewis Fletcher. It's a pleasure!"
An odd feeling of acknowledgement met her. "Nice to meet you, too," she stated, her lips twitching into a side smile.
"I was worried about you," Thane began again, poking his own cheek then sticking a pointer finger in the air with his witty remarks, "It's not every day one can run from Ravathor and survive. You were quite lucky!"
Ray perked, "That was Ravathor?"
Thane nodded, "Yes! I had been tracking him when you came about. Silly girl, rather naïve, I see," he sighed, still smiling.
Ray stared at the animated figure quixotically. Her mind buzzed with questions. "Why was Ravathor after me?" she asked.
Thane blinked slightly, "Ravathor is awakening and so are you. He probably was trying to lure you out so he could kill you."
"Kill me? Why would he want to kill me?" Ray asked, astounded by the thought.
"I'm not sure. But you're still alive and well, are you not?" He rose to his heels all cheery again. "Can I get you anything? A morsel of bread perhaps?"
Ray shook her head, "No thank you. Can you answer more questions?"
Thane smiled, "I can…the real question is, will I," he answered, swinging a hand in the air before turning on his heels and making his way across the room and to the cupboard.
Ray was a bit distressed at the reaction and carefully slid from the bed and avoided Kira at all costs, gliding across the wood floor towards Thane.
"Will you answer some questions for me?" she asked again, clasping her hands behind her back.
"Certainly," Thane answered and began digging through the cupboard.
"First off, where am I?" Ray asked abruptly.
"You're at my house!" Thane answered.
Ray couldn't help but laugh a little bit and shake her head, "No, no, where is here?"
"Oh," Thane then reached his full arms within the cupboard only to pull out of it a long silver cleaving knife.
Ray's eyes widened as her feet propelled backwards away from him. "What is he doing with that," she thought.
"Why, you're in a dream!" Thane chimed. It was moments later the boy removed a second item from the cupboard. Its rich scent rolled off the roasted skin of a turkey dinner. The abundance of food on the plate was fit for a king. He gently placed it on the table.
Ray thought this was impossible, confused by what was going on. He must have been right. She must be dreaming.
Instantly, her head began to spin and she whined slightly. Her knees wobbled and she started to panic.The scent of the dinner made her dizzy and overwhelmed her senses.
"Oh dear," Thane exclaimed and set the turkey aside. "Are you alright?" Ray could barely nod before the boy helped her back to the bed in the corner of the room. She sat back on the bed.
"I do suggest taking it easy. Ravathor might have done some damage to your soul," Thane warned and smiled kindly.
Ray lay down on the soft blankets of the bed, clutching their comfort beneath her palm.
This boy, Thane, who was he?
She regarded him while he prepared two plates of turkey dinner for the both of them. His gestures were lively with every lance he carved into the dead bird. He was hospitable and kind.
Thane approached the bedside with a plate spilling over with juicy, baked meat and handed it off to Ray to eat. She couldn't say no to such an offering. She devoured it, savoring every bite.
Thane chuckled, "You seem quite famished. Pleasure to make you a meal."
Ray stopped in the midst of a bite then looked away, "Not a lot to eat where I come from. Thank you," she commented. "What do you mean my soul was damaged?" she asked with curiosity.
Thane tilted his head, "Ravathor has been reaching out to different souls for a while now and I've just caught the downwind of him. He's not very nice. You might want to be on the lookout. The gods approach us through dreams and nature. If he awakens, it may not end well for either of us."
Ray nodded then shook her head. "I don't quite understand this awakening thing. Nimer told me about some of it, though. Do you know him?"
Thane smiled. "I do. You should return to him, he is waiting for you beyond the dream where you slumber."
"Beyond the dream?" she echoed before her eyes slid shut.
Ray's eyes slid open, finding herself back in the room she and her companions were held captive in. She lay close against Jex's warm body as he slumbered. She turned around to find Nimer awake sitting up against the wall staring at her with intent.
"You're finally awake," he commented. His hair had fallen from his ponytail and lay about about his bare shoulders. "How is he?"
Ray sat up and leaned over Jex's body. She pressed her cheek against his to get a good gauge of his body temperature. Jex's skin felt boiling to the touch.
"He's burning up," she choked.
"Try and wake him up. He needs to be awake when help arrives."
Ray's eyebrows knitted. "Help?"
Nimer only smirked. "Did you really think I wouldn't plan ahead?"