"Today we celebrate the life of this farmer." Hats hung from many hands at the grave site. "A man of many dreams, gone before his time." Seven men carried forth a pine box. Not a tear ran down a single face at the mans death. "If anyone would like to say any words on his behalf?" Silence followed.

"I shall say something." Fake heartfelt eyes moved toward the center of attention. "It is all but the least I could do." Young Jacobi stepped forward. His hair looked strung out just revealing beady eyes. Charcoal black clothing covered his body like a stone to the grill.

"Another dream?" Even in dream body, Cory could not muster the strength to move.

"Jacobi held much respect, from his animals." Snickering came from someone in the back. "True he died a beggars death, but think not. Surely someone will be capable to take his place as counsel drunk." Almost all had laughed at mayor Dillinger son. "Today we lay him to peace. Where let us be honest he had passed out in before." Even the funeral director smiled.

"Please push him in the hole," Cory thought. "A strong gust of wind to much to ask for?" Thunder clouds rolled over head, lightning crackled. "Now we're talking." One by one they looked toward the sky.

"Let us cut this short my people. I have assembled a town meeting tonight. We must discuss thy problem once more." Nervous eyes looked out toward the Mayor son. "Not to worry I have a plan." Together seven men dropped the pine box in its final resting place. Throwing dirt hastily on top.

"What a sad way for him to go, would you not agree?" Warm strength coarse through Cory dream body. Looking over at the face of a brunet woman with bright blue eyes. Let us walk shall we?

Lights moved around in a star wars movie kind of way. Cory and the woman seemed to be moving at hyper speed. Stopping finally when voices called out. These voices belonging of each townsmen. Everyone sat just like before when farmer Jacobi had been here.

"A man is killed yet no one questions who." Bile formed in the back of Cory throat.

"Not many care when it is the life of koino prosopo." Translating the her language, common person.

"How do I understand you," Cory asked. She did not answer, instead giving a slight nod toward front. Mayor Dillinger walked out toward a podium. His eyes blood shot, clothes looking as if he had been rolled for cash. "Looks like someone left him in the dryer on spin."

"Hello all." Dillinger voice cracked slightly.

"Father here sit," younger Dillinger encouraged. Eyes gleaming with mischief. "Look now at my fathers weaken state. That man, that hunter has yet to return." All around people shouted.

"Our money."

"What will happen to our live stock?" All around more and more became angered.

"Yes I know we are all upset, but do not worry for there is a solution." Thunder rattled the small building just as the main door kicked in. Lighting cracked behind illuminating .

"You," exclaimed mayor Dillinger. All heads turned. "How are you alive?" Strolling in with a sack on his shoulder. Not a word was spoken as he sat it on Dillinger podium.

"I do believe we have a deal." Younger Dillinger reached inside the bag.

"Aaaa," he screamed in a higher octave. Stepping back allowing a bears head to be revealed. "What is that?" Hunter laughed at younger Dillinger fear.

"That my friend is your bear." People cheered on for the man. Hugging there significant others in joy. "Now I do believe we had deal?" Arrogance gleamed in his eyes.

"Ok that makes no since at all. If I am going to follow this pointless story, could I at least see what happen?" Cory had almost forgotten about the woman beside him.

"It will all come together soon, besides." She peered down at Cory with her piercing blue eyes. "I do not believe you to have much a stomach for horror." Her eyebrows rose in a sort of all knowing type of way. If his dream body could blush Cory was sure it be crimson.

"It caught me off guard that's all." She smiled.

"Watch and learn what you can." Tuning back to mayor Dillinger conversation. It would appear they had been struck speechless.

"Well old man, what have you? I delivered your monster just as promised. Were is my pay?" Both Dillinger's mouths hung agape. Joyful cheering turned to accusing glares.

"I, well we." Mayor Dillinger swallowed hard. "It will take some time you see. Live stock killed, people gone. Something had to be done or we'd starve before the end of winter." Not a breathe was heard in the room. "We could perhaps post pone our deal? Say till harvest." Now the noise started.

"What money."

"I have seen no food." Mayor Dillinger wide stomach became a target board of accusing eyes. Perspiration poured out his balding head.

"It has been stored in the event of an emergency. If we give this man our money we will starve." Dillinger's eyes took on a hungry look, hoping for support. It was not found.

"So, he has saved us." The hunter looked out happily. His eyes holding something more.

"That head is awful small," Cory commented. Hunter held up his hand. "What is he on parade."

"It is alright everyone," he said with car salesman smile. "While you may not be capable of my fee, I will only ask for one thing in return." All heads shook, ready to agree. "Farmer Jacobi has passed I have been informed." He looked over Mayor Dillinger son. "In his possession he held some of the finest hunting dogs of all the lands. For stopping such a beast," he said gesturing back. "I ask you people for a trade. Jacobi dogs instead of money?"

"He won't need them were he's going anyway." Dillinger's son spoke. "Have all his dogs and anything else of his former possession." Everything stretched away from Cory. Light, voices.

Crackling sounds and heat where his first sensations. No light, no voices, just comfort. "Eeaa, ow." Well pain from his earlier fall too. Prying his eyes open became an even greater challenge. Once open he could see he no longer laid outside. "How," Cory knew he should be dead.

"Perhaps yes. How ever today is your lucky day I suppose." Throbbing pain echoed out Cory head. Beside him sat a very beautiful girl woman with dark brown hair, dressed in camouflage. Freckles came down from the bridge of her nose around her cheeks, surrounding crystal blue eyes.

"Who," Cory voice cracked before finishing his question. He laid back flat on a sleeping bag as a fire sat between the two. Looking out Cory noticed a cave entrance.

"You are quit heavy when unconscious, we are away from bear mountain for now." Relief filled Cory so strongly if not for the jabbing pain at his chest he would have slept.

"I, I need to leave." The woman looked over at him. She had been fiddling with a canteen.

"By all means then child, move." An arrogant look crossed her face. Challenging Cory ability to do such a simple task.

"Fine," he said. Grunting out, Cory attempted to first sit up. "CRAP!" Pain flared through out his whole body. Chuckling rang beside him.

"That was indeed something to watch." Cory glared over at the woman.

"I will get up." Pushing again while expecting the pain this time. "Ha," Cory panted from effort. Finally in a sitting position. The woman looked at him. "What," he asked still lightly panting.

"Interesting, tell me boy. Are you capable of standing, our is this the extent?"

Cory wanted to stick out his chest and boast. "This is no challenge," but thought better. Pain still racked his body incessantly, even his eye sight dimmed. "That is it." The woman nodded her head with a slight gleam of disappointment.

"Worth a shot. Drink," she ordered. Handing Cory a canteen of unseen liquid. "I would not bring you hear merely to poison you." Seemed almost to make since, then again what choice did he have? Swigging down a large portion.

"What is this," Cory asked. The water tasted nothing like water. Instead it tasted of warm brownies.

"Nectar." Cory had heard that word before, in some class.

"Not that again," he breathed out. "You are like Thalia?" The woman eyes gleamed with amusement.

"Yes and no. You know that drink?"

"Nectar the drink of the gods. Also what is told in those fairy tales to be the drink of half bloods when injured." Fifth grade history had dedicated a whole semester toward Greek Mythology.

"So fairy tales did these," the woman had some how gotten close to him. Her pale hand reaching out, touching the reddened claw mark on Cory chest.

"Ow," he exclaimed. Moving away only slightly. "Look I have been awake for hours, no food, and hearing voices."

"Yes I do know of the voices." Cory froze.

"You, you were the voice in my head?" A smile appeared on her face.

"You may call me Anna for now. Yes I did in deed guide you toward Thalia."

"Thalia. Thalia needs help, those things have her." Cory attempted to stand, some how making it to his feet before quickly collapsing. "AAA."

"Wow there," Anna caught him just before he fell. Sitting Cory back down atop the sleeping bag. "It is day time right now and those bears will be out more on that mountain. Rest first, then you save her tonight." Cory wanted to protest and would have if were not so exhausted.

"I can't, I can not kill those things." Anna pulled his sleeping bag up.

"Tonight child." Cory eyes closed quickly.

In his dream Thalia laid out on the cliff top. Orieus standing over her, blood caked his fur. Thalia looked worse than when they had parted. Red streaks ran her back and arms. She now had a fairly sized bruise along with a black eye.

"Were is the child?" The bear hollered, kicking Thalia ribs just enough not to break them. Thalia screamed out in pain.

"I don't know."

"Lies," another sharp kick delivered. "Look at Argus." Sitting off in a corner licking his injuries was Argus. Seeming as if he had fallen off a cliff.

"Good for him," Cory thought.

"You two know this will not end well. Think about it, how long till my lady shows up for your heads." Both bear stiffened. Looking between one another nervously.

"She will not make it, we have precautions." Cory leaned in to listen. "We will destroy you and all those girls," Ories growled. "But first," he reached down for Thalia. Grabbing her by her hair.

"Aaa," Thalia screamed.

"Let us discuss what to do with you." Dragging Thalia by her hair, Ories continued toward an open cave. Pulling Thalia inside. The sun was setting, fog getting thicker. Cory did not need to be an expert to know something was up. Stepping after, Cory feet swept out from beneath him. Dragging him back in to another dream.

One that made no since at all. He stood in a cavern entrance with no other form of life. "Who is there," Cory asked. Nothing sounded off, no instead he could sense a force. Tremendous but slow in coming.

"Such a sweet child," spoke an old femanin voice. "Do not become such a pawn brave hero." Never had Cory considered himself a hero. Who this voice was must be refurring the same way Thalia and Anna did.

"I'm not a hero," Cory said back at the voice. He had no idea were she was so he talked to the opening. Laughter rang out from the opening.

"Soon child, soon you will have to choose." Cold air filled Cory lungs till he was thrown from his slumber.

"You are awake. Can you move?" Anna leaned over Cory with a bow in her hands. Testing his arms then his legs.

"Yes."

"Good, get up then we have company." Cory looked out the cave entrance. Blizard like snow hammered down, moonlight filtering through. "Quickly we haven't much time before," pearcing howls rang out. "What now," Anna demanded. Cory knew the answer without thinking.

"Hunting dogs," Anna looked at him as if he had sprung a third head. "Long story but that sounds like a hunting party. Who ever owns them will not be far behind." Another two howls rang out. "Correction, is most likely on top of us."

Turns out Anna had more than just that bow. Straped inside her thigh was a golden knife. "Not gold child," Anna corrected me. "Celestrial bronze, unhealthy for most of your supernatural headaches."

"Wait most," Cory asked. His head spinning from Anna constant rambeling or maybe it was the concusion. More dogs howled now back from were they had made camp. "Told you we needed to move."

"Yes you did." Anna tossed her bow to me and a black sack. "A gift for your help."

"I really can not take this." That would leave Anna with only a knife against the bear twins. Her camo gloved hands held up in a stopping motion.

"Yes you can, beside it is rude to refuse a gift." Cory grumbled out a thank you. "Now we need to hurry before something happens to Thalia."

"As if, I think there waiting for someone." Anna froze in her tracks.

"Come again child," she asked. So Cory recanted his story from atop the hill. Stopping short of his earlier dreams and the strange lady voice. Anna brow creased more and more till Cory was certain they would freeze together.

"Most concerning. We must find Thalia then return-," dogs howled closer now. "Again."

"Not to good. We need run, like now." Snow crunched behind a tree. Cory pulled for the bow. "Wait I have no shots." Anna shrugged her shoulders.

"You have all you need,"

"RRRRRrr," a dog stepped toward Cory and Anna.

"You wouldn't happen to have a biscuit?" Growling came from another dog appearing by the first side.

"No, I also do not believe in bribery." Both dogs advanced slowly snapping jaws. "Although attempting never hurt." Clearly she did not see those teeth. My pants had a chocolate bar left.

"Nice doggy, want a candy bar." Both dogs were solid gray and equally not won over. "Ok so idea number two, hay what are you doing." Anna pulled out her knife. Its metal shining brightly from the moon in this blizzard.

"My back up plan." Both dogs lunged forward. Anna stepped sideways to cut ones neck then stab the other in the head. Cory was at loss for words.

"You just killed two dogs." True they wanted to kill them but Cory still had morals about domestic animals.

"Yes and if I had not, we had become there chew toys. Now come along child we have," Anna stopped her advance pass me. Looking back at were the dogs lay. "Impossible," she murmured. Both dogs where starting to move again. Snow swirled around them filling there head wounds.

"Ummm, is that normal?" Anna shook her head as both dogs stood.

"RUN!" Run we did, down an small slope out into thicker tree lines.

"We can't out run these things," Cory said. His head beaded with sweat, his lungs burned. Both dogs snapped at their ankles. "Why are they still alive." Anna kicked one in its head sending him in front of his friend.

"I do not know exactly. Death is not working the way it should." Cory looked over at her with a "duh" expression.

"No kidding, I thought it was normal for something to get up after being stabbed in the head." Anna foot accidentally went out, nearly tripping Cory. "Hay," he exclaimed.

"My bad," Anna smiled. "Beside that we need a plan. Either out run or kill those dogs." Cory thought how easy that would be if death wasn't taking a vacation.

"I thought we were close." Anna looked around our surroundings.

"This is not right, we should be only fifteen yards out." Both dogs returned at Cory heels.

"Hay now," Cory shouted. Nearly leaping out of his skin, managing to kick one in his head. "I have an idea, I think." Stopping to kick another dog.

"I am open for suggestions." If the dogs could not die and if they could not out run them. "This direction," Cory ordered. Pulling Anna toward the west side of the tree line. Neither one of there pursuers eased up.

"Were are we going? Cory?" He ignored her questions while he drug her toward his best chance.

"Stop here."

"Why?" Both dogs ran at them. "Cory, CORY."

"DUCK!" Just in time Cory dove at the ground pulling Anna with him. Cory watched as the dogs flew over his head and over the ledge they stood in front of. Splashing in the lake.

"Good idea but dogs can swim." Cory body still ached and Anna sarcasm was not appreciated.

"Maybe if not for this," Cory reached into his old camp spot. Before leaving he had stored a rope. "Here help me." Anna took the other end of the rope while Cory tied two loops then. "A nice rock," he told Anna. Picking up a heavy stone he tied then lassoing both dogs and tossing in the stone. "That should hold them. Little in humane but." Slowly both dogs sunk toward the bottom.

"For now at least. We must hurry, drink this." Anna handed Cory her canteen again. Just as before its flavor tasted like Cory favorite desserts. "Still unwilling to believe in your self?" It was not that Cory did not want to believe, he just worried about what all this could mean. Those stories of all those heros. Each one died a lonely heros death. Anna stared at Cory intently, trying to read his expression. "Not all heros died the same." Cory eyes widened when he looked up at Anna. "Some died young, protecting families and people otherwise to weak to do so themselves. While others protected and lived to a ripe old age."

"Lets go. Before Thalia dies even younger." Feeling whole again, Cory trailed off toward the mountain. "I won't die a pointless death," Cory thought to himself. "I will not leave without knowing one thing."

Snow continued to pound down on them. Cory started to wonder how such a drastic change in weather was possible. "What," Anna asked.

"Are the fates real." Cory moved back beside Anna who trailed behind. "Is it possible that they are the cause of all this madness? That is if they are real."

"Yes."

"Yes, yes to what."

"Yes that they are real, yes they can control part of our lives." Anna and Cory ducked beside a large rock. "How ever these problems you seem to have are caused by some one else." They had reached bear mountain again. "Ready yourself child." Bears walked between all openings.

"Looks like their searching for us," Cory whispered. None of those bears appeared to be willing to let anything pass.

"Yes it will be most difficult, what are you looking at." Cory shirt and jacket still had Oreius claw marks. That was not what ran his blood cold.

"They killed him." Laying in a pile of blood and fur beside the path. "They killed him because he helped me."

"Cory, stop," Anna reached out a hand in an attempt to grab him. "He is a bear, it would have happened eventually." Cory kneeled beside the bear. Checking his injuries, noticing identical claw marks.

"Not like this."

"Like what?"

"Not for pleasure, a trophy, not to hurt an enemy. He should not have died in such a way." Cory placed a hand on the bear. "Rest easy my friend, you are free." A brilliant light came from the bear body till he was no more.

"Amazing," Anna whispered. Cory did not feel amazing, he felt dirty. Sweat beaded down his neck.

"Lets hurry before Thalia is hurt," Cory ordered.

"Great idea only one problem." Anna pointed out each bear on patrol. "I highly doubt we can just march up that mountain." True and not what Cory wanted to hear. All he wanted now was Oreius and Argus heads. How though was the question. "We could fight our way up."

"No," Cory answered with finality. Anna did not seem to appreciate his tone. "We will not sink to their level. Only if we are attacked and only then."

"Fine, how would you propose we start up this cliff then?" Snow continued down on both of them. Covering Cory feet.

"What the," Cory thought. Atop his feet laid brown wool. "This," he said. Picking up the fur and dusting it off.

"Great so you have lost your mind." Cory felt it when he touched the cover. Magic, strong old magic. "Fine stay here then." No idea what really to do with it. "I will go up and rescue Thalia." Tossing the wool over his shoulders like a blanket. Stay she did. Anna did not move with him, instead throwing her hood up to walk beside a tree bank. "Coward," Cory thought. "I will go save Thalia," he looked down at the path. "Then have a talk with those bear twins."