Ok, scratch that...I forgot how long that chapter was lol. I don't really feel like proof-reading it. This is the most action packed one I have so far. I apologize that you can't really see when the animals are talking. In my story on my computer, the print is italicized. I don't really feel like going through the whole thing and italicize it again lol. You'll catch on, I'm sure.

Chapter two

Days later, Saracne had managed to master the art of mind sight. She could now see what animals see. And not even just wolves; she's now seen through the eyes of a deer, a badger, an eagle, and a possum! Feeling very proud of herself, Saracne felt that the "time" was a fun thing. But then it started to get more difficult.
"I want you to become a wolf," Brolo told her.
She looked up from where she still lay. It was only morning and already he was drilling her.
"Does it hurt?" she asked.
"No," he replied. "The first time I shape changed, I felt a tingly feeling," he explained. "But it soon went away, and by then, I was feeling wonderful. Inside the body of a wolf." He stared into space for a moment, but quickly turned his eyes back to her. "So?" he inquired.
"Alright." Saracne stood up and pulled on her trousers. She wasn't ashamed of changing in front of Brolo, he raised her, and he knew it, but he still turned his head in a gentlemanly fasion. "Done," she assured him. He nodded, blushing, and they walked outside of the den. By then, all of the pups were awake and following them.
"Now," Brolo said, "this isn't hard once you get used of it, but it may take a while at first. All I want you to do is imagine that you are a wolf."
Saracne got down on all fours, which was a difficult task when seven wolf younglings are trying to drag your entire body down. "Shoo!" she told them. The pups left, all except Therixz, who hung on tight to her leg. Saracne kicked and Therixz fell off and romped over to join his littermates.
"Imagine," Brolo said. "You can feel your paws...the soft earth caving in beneath those rough pads....strong legs...four of them.....you can---"
Saracne did not have to hear the rest. She could feel power soaring inside of her. She imagined her wet nose, her hanging tongue, dripping after a hot day. She imagined her yellow eyes seeing the hues of yellow, red, black, and white, and the soft hue of grey. She imagined her strong legs, running, each paw falling into the same spot as the last, her tired muscles aching after a long hunt. She imagined her warm shaggy fur, covering her entire body, falling against her sides as she galloped along.
She didn't even feel the change until it was over. A strong tingly sensation. She opened her eyes and looked around. Her sight wasn't likeable, but, oh the scent! She took in a deep breath through her nose and wondered at the interesting things around her. She heard Brolo laughing, gleefully, and she ran up and pounced on him. Not accustomed to this amount of wolfish power, she tumbled him backward into the dirt. She licked his face and he laughed. When she stood up, he, too, morphed into wolf form, and he turned and ran into the forest, Saracne not far behind. The pups also followed, as well as Faeyra and the other adults and yearlings. Saracne was not used of her four legs, and she clumsily tripped and fell, and even crashed into trees, but it did not stop her. On she ran. She ran so fast, even Brolo could not catch up, and she was happy. The "time" must be a happy thing!
When she returned to the den, it was only late into the afternoon, but she was so tired of running, and her magic wore her out so much that she tumbled into her sac and slept right away. She didn't even feel Therixz snuggle in right beside her. Therixz was also smiling inside, and he slept just as she.

When Saracne awoke, it was early the next morning. Brolo was already up, and he seemed to be packing a bag. She lifted her head to get a better look. Saracne watched as he put books, coins, bread, cooked meat, fruits and vegetables into a large bag. "Brolo?" she called. He looked up at her and smiled.
"It is time," he told her.
"Time? But I thought --" she asked.
"Aye," he replied. "You must help a dear friend of mine."
"Friend?" Saracne asked, confused. She had never seen him with another human being so she assumed that he meant an animal.
"Yes," he said. "A man named Kayden. He lives in Sarandale."
"What?" Saracne asked, surprised. She barely even communicated with human beings, let alone travel to a strange city to help one. Sometimes she made the couple hour long trip to the city outside the skirts of the woods to watch the people. She liked to look at the children playing and sometimes she saw a lovely couple kiss and she grew jealous that she, herself, would never be able to have a mate of her own. "Wait," she started, "You want me to go to Sarandale don't you? Because if you do, than I will not--"
"Saracne," Brolo interupted, "I know how you must feel about this, but this isn't a matter of want. There was a prophecy made many years ago, that a child of the Gods would save the people of this very world."
Saracne's eyes widened. "But that isn't me!" she protested. "Is it?"
"It could very well be," he replied. "And in any case, I believe it is you."
"So...what? You want me to go to Sarandale, find this Kayden person, and do what?"
"Help." Brolo told her. "Look at this."
He handed Saracne a rolled up piece of paper. She opened it up in her hands. It was written in something she couldn't read.
"It's code," Brolo said, "so only I can read it."
"Well, WHAT does it say?" asked Saracne.
"It says that they have gotten word from the land of Hikbash." Brolo's voice grew deep. "The Dark King has risen," he told her.
"The dark king?" she inquired.
"Aye," replied Brolo. "a king that was defeated many centuries ago, but not without the promise that he would return."
"But how was he--"
"Listen," Brolo said, his voice rising, "just go travel to Sarandale and Kayden will tell you everything. Right now you have to leave."
Saracne watched as he went back to packing. "Brolo..."Saracne started. He looked at her. She stared for a moment then looked away and went to gather her arrows into her quiver.
Brolo handed her the large bag and a tightly wrapped tent and took a long gander at her. He brushed back her long blonde hair and looked deep into her sky blue eyes. He took the ring from his finger and placed it on her own. Saracne watched as it shrunk to fit her own small finger. "As long as you have this, I am with you."
Saracne threw her arms around Brolo and sqeezed him tight. He held her shoulders and pushed her into an arms length away. "It is time," he told her.
Saracne nodded.
"It is time."

Saracne headed off in the direction that the map Brolo gave her said. She climbed down the rocks and looked back to make sure that Therixz wasn't having any troubles getting down them. Sometimes she had to carry him, whether he liked it or not. Brolo had insisted she bring the alpha pup with her, and she didn't argue. After all, it would be nice to have someone to talk to on this long journey.
Can we rest yet? the little wolf asked.
Saracne shook her head, "No," she told him, "we must keep going until we reach the lake."
Why can't we stop at that lake? Inquired Therixz, referring to the lake that was beside the mountian they were climbing down.
"Because," Saracne explained, "that isn't the lake. We are to go to a specific lake."
Father said we aren't allowed to drink from that lake, the pup argued, and I'm thirsty! I bet we can drink from this lake!
Saracne wondered for a moment. Why weren't they able to drink from the lake? She looked at her map. The Lake of Dreams, it said. Well it certainly sounded nice. But either way, Saracne decided that Therixz was right. They made a left turn down the mountain and headed in the direction of the lake that Therixz wanted to go to.
Once there, Therixz leaped into the water and fooled around whilst Saracne opened her bag and prepared a lunch for herself. She hadn't even noticed the darkening sky as they headed through the woods. Soon enough, it was pure darkness. Saracne pulled the light globe out of her bag and watched as the glass ball lit up the space around her. She pulled the ropes off the tent and opened it and started setting it up, all the while completely aware of the sounds coming from all around her. She heard animals whispering, but she heard sounds that were not animal nor human, and she grew increasingly afraid. Therixz shared her fear, for he made sure that he was atleast touching Saracne at all times. Finally, the tent was set up, and both girl and pup crawled quickly in and sighed with relief that they were out of the outside world.
And they slept.

The next day, they reached The Lake of Dreams and grew interested at the sight of animals sleeping all around it. Therixz made a run for the water, but Saracne shouted and called him back. "This place does not feel right," she told the young pup. "And besides, Brolo told us not to even let the water touch our lips." Saracne heard the crack of a foot coming down on a branch so she ducked down and held onto Therixz with strong arms. They watched as a deer emerged from the bushes a few yards away. Both drew a sigh of relief and watched as the doe took a drink of water from the lake. Saracne's motuh opened when she saw the deer's front legs buckle and its eyes close. It's body curled in an eternal sleep. "Let's keep going," Saracne said quietly.
They had reached their final step past the lake and Saracne looked back at the map. The next stop was the Ridgentale Forest. Brolo had warned her of this forest times before. "There is much trickery there," he had told her.
Saracne turned to Therixz, "Be careful not to eat anything but the ration I give you now, and make sure that you stay with me. Don't follow the illusions your father spoke of, and don't go near the trees."
The pup nodded and said, Well, give me my food then.
Saracne reached into her pack and took out a piece of venison. She ripped it in half and ate some herself. Then she took a long swig of the water that filled up her canteen. She waited until Therixz had finished, and the two took their first step into the forest. It seemed rather normal at first. Nothing unusual happened. There were your ordinary woodland creatures, regular trees, typical stream that ran outside the path. Yet there was an air of something that Saracne couldn't describe. Something magical. Saracne felt the strong urge to morph into animal form but fought it. She had to keep her usual senses until she was accustomed to new ones in these types of situations. Besides, who knew if she would even be able to change back to normal when in an enchanted forest.
"I wonder how long we will be in this forest for?" Saracne told Therixz. When she didn't hear an answer, she turned around. "Therixz?"
Therixz was gone.

Saracne? Therixz called. Saracne, Where are you? It was like she dissapeared. One minute she was there, the next-- gone. Therixz's eyes were wild with fright. He ran down the path, desperately calling Saracne's name.
But no answer ever came. His white fur was now riddled with mud, his yellow eyes were bloodshot due to the lack of sleep he had gotten the night before. It was dark now, and Therixz was scared. He began to whimper, and he heard something. Saracne? he called, with hope.
"Well, well."
He heard a voice. It was like windchimes, but horribly crafted ones that sang off-key.
"A little lost wolfling."'
The voice spoke in a sing-song sort of way.
Who's there? Therixz asked.
"Oh, don't mind me," the voice told him, "after all, you wouldn't want to upset that friend of yours."
Saracne? Asked the wolf, cocking his head.
"Is that her name?" the voice inquired.
Therixz remembered what Saracne had said about keeping to himself and her, and backed up.
"Where do you leave?" the voice called to him.
Therixz didn't answer. He just ran.
"Wait!" said the voice. "I know where you can find her!"
Therixz stopped in his tracks.
"That's right," the voice said, "come back here. I'll tell you where she is."
The pup slowly walked back to where he once stood. It was dark, but he could have sworn he saw a red light through the trees.
"She's over here," said the voice. "Come," it told him, "come through the trees. That's right, this way."
Therixz slowly pushed his way between the bushes, and the red light he saw kept getting brighter. It grew so bright that it partially blinded him for a moment, but he could still smell and hear. The smell was absolutley horrid. He almost choked on the "black" scent, for that is the only word that truly described it clearly. All he could hear was laughter. Sick laughter. Laughter that was just not right, not the way a happy person laughs. It was the last thing he heard before tight limbs wrapped around him.

Saracne became frantic as she retraced her steps again and again, searching for the lost wolf pup. She saw where her footprints kept going, and his just---stopped. She fell down on her knees and began to cry, when she heard a noise. She looked up and listened.
"Wolf pup, wolf pup, I've got a wolf pup! HeeHee!"
Saracne cringed at the grinding sound inside the singing voice.
"Who are you?!" Saracne yelled. "Where is he?! Give him to me!"
"Wolf pup, wolf pup, I've got a wolf pup!"
Saracne got up and followed the tormenting voice.
Sometimes it interrupted it's little phrase with a penetrating laugh that sent shivers up Saracne's spine, but otherwise, it went on singing.
"In here," she heard, "The little runt has gotten lost, but I found him!"
Saracne pushed her way through the bushes, following the voice. She wasn't prepared to see the bright red light the suddenly shone on her face. She squinted, and saw something reach for her. She ducked, and the moving thing went above her head. Below the blinding light, she could now make out a sillohuette. The light faded and soon she was looking at the large furry black body of a spider, with two human heads!
She almost gagged at the smell when the spider moved closer to her, leaning off its web. When she turned her head to escape the horrible stench, her vision landed on something white wrapped tightly inside one of the monster's eight legs. Therixz!
She kicked away a leg that reached to grab her,and she stood up. Grabbing the bow that her arm was through, she held it in front of her and reached for an arrow. She shot perfectly, but was utterly discusted when she hit her target; an eye. Blue ooze flowed from its eye, smoking as the monster cried out in pain. She shot again, hitting the heart; or where the heart should have been. It was still alive.
Another leg reached for her, and this time she didn't have enough time to pull away. It held on tightly and hanged her upside down. The unharmed head came down on her leg and she felt its sharp teeth penetrate her leg. She kicked it in the head with her free leg and it dropped her on the ground, almost knocking her unconscious. Saracne then heard a roar coming from the monster and focused her sight properly.
Therixz clung onto the leg of the two-headed spider with his sharp teeth. The spider flung him, and the pup went flying towards Saracne. She tried to catch him but missed and he fell onto the ground. She was relieved to see him stand up, unharmed, and shake himself off.
Saracne reached into her quiver and pulled out more arrows, but nothing would kill this thing, only harm it. She considered just running, but figured that the spider would be able to outrun her once off of its web. She came to her last arrow. She looked at where she had wounded the monster, and then tried to find where she didn't. Her sight falled at where the blue human heads sprouted out from. A single neck. It bobbed as it hissed and screamed, in a sing song voice all the while.
The monster lifted one leg and prepared to swing. It was now or never.
Saracne unleashed her arrow that penetrated the monsters adam's apple. A shrill squeak came out of the monster's throat, and the spider finally went down, blue ooze pouring from its mouth.
Saracne stood there, in shock. She backed up one step, then bent down, picked up Therixz and ran. It wasn't long before her leg started hurting. She took out her light globe and pulled her trouser leg up. Where the puncture wounds were, was surrounded in black. She could have sworn that she saw the black part getting bigger. She looked more carefully. She was right. The black part was slowly getting bigger. If she didn't get help, it would engulf her whole!
All she had to do now was get past Reya Creek and she would be in the safe part of the forest. Then she could cross the field and be in Sarandale where she could get aid.
She ran, holding Therixz, as fast as she could, despite the pain that wanted to hold her back.
I can smell water, Therixz told her.
Saracne ran faster, and then both could see it. She waded through it. It wasn't very deep, only past her waist, and the cold numbed her leg.
Saracne! Therixz shouted. Saracne looked to where his nose was pointed and noticed spikes moving above the water. Just as quickly as she saw it, it went under. She dipped her entire body in the water and swam, as fast as she could. She did not want to see the owner of such a monstrous fringe. She was almost across when she heard a crackling sound coming from a few feet away. She didn't even turn to look at it, but heard another outburst from Therixz. Teeth! Big ones! Saracne! Saracne!
Saracne made it to land and choked on water. She got up and ran, not bothering to look back at the monster that Therixz saw.
The field was large, and she was afraid that she wouldn't have enough time. She could feel the blackness slowly engulfing her leg and she cried. She cried while she ran, and when she finally made it to the gates she keeled over and cried some more.
A guard looked down at her shaking body yelled something. Soon the drawbridge was being released and someone was carrying her. The last thing she saw was Therixz being taken from her grasp.

The world was black. And then there was light.
Saracne sat up and watched as Brolo spread sparkles over her leg. The blackness vanished and her pain was relieved. "Brolo!" she said.
Brolo took her in a hug. "So you have found Sarandale I see." he said.
"Yes," Saracne replied, "but how did I get here?" she asked, looking at the den entrance.
"You aren't really here," Brolo answered, "but you are with me."
Saracne was skeptical. She didn't understand.
"The ring I gave you is connected to me. It carries my magic, and so will always carry a part of me," Brolo explained.
"So I'm still in Sarandale?" Saracne asked.
"Your body is," Brolo replied. "but your mind is here with me."
"My journey was horrible!" Saracne suddenly vented, "First there was this--"
"I know," Brolo interupted you, "I was watching. But now is not the time to talk of it. Kayden will soon need you. And you will need him." Saracne looked down. Brolo raised her chin. "Remember the magic I taught you, and your fighting skills. You will need them for what you are about to accomplish."
Saracne didn't even have a chance to rply. She was pulled back to Sarandale so quickly, she jumped up in her bed. A man leaped to his feet and took Saracne by the shoulders, pushing her back on the bed. "You must rest," he told her. She layed back and took a good look at the man.
He had long black hair, pulled back in a half-ponytail. His dark green eyes stared at her intensely. He had nicely tanned skin and was very muscular.
"How are you feeling?" he asked her.
"Better," she replied, patting Therixz who was tied to her bed post.
"You got quite a bite there," the man said, motioning to Saracne's leg. "It's rare one escapes from a speydron."
"Speydron?" Saracne questioned.
"Aye," the man replied, "A spider with two or more heads that lures their prey with tormenting voices and songs."
Saracne knew that much. "What did it do to my leg?" she asked him.
"Speydrons are dangerously venomous," he told her. "When the venom is released into the blood, the body will quickly rot. Kills almost instantly."
Saracne was confused. It must have taken her half an hour to get to the gate.
"But you on the other hand," he continued, "you were able to hold the poison and only your leg was affected." He smiled at her. "Brolo told me you were special."
Saracne's eyes widened. "Are you Kayden?" she asked the man.
"That I am," he answered her. "And you are Saracne."
"Aye," she replied. "and this is Therixz," she said, motioning to the white wolf pup.
"Nice to meet you Therixz," Kayden laughed. "You must get some rest," he told Saracne. And he left. She didn't stop him. She seemed not to care to ask of anything anymore.
Saracne rolled over and untied Therixz. She felt him cuddling and she held him tightly against her chest. After a while, the wolf pup started shuffling. Saracne? Therixz whispered.
"Yes?" Saracne asked.
I was just making sure you were still alive.
I am, thought Saracne, I'm alive.