A/N Hey guys! I'm back! In the previous chapter, Lina dream visits Takoda! In this chapter, we go to Conor, who is suffering and trying to survive, along with Meilin and Takoda himself. What will happen to them? Read on to find out! Enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Spirit Animals. Only the plot. And Lina, somewhat.

Conor was running.

Running down a withered field, running into a dead forest. Running across a leaf-littered path, branches stretched out, clawing at him. Ravens cawed, leaping into the sky as he streaked past. Twigs snapped after his stamping feet, crying out in their pained cracked voices. Wherever he looked, he only saw eyes.

Pale, white eyes, oogling at him. The pupils were spirals.

Black, pulsing spirals, twisting and throbbing.

Why am I running? He had no idea. It was merely wild, animalistic instinct- he just had to run.

He sensed something, hot on his heels, with a slathering jaw and sharp fangs. He heard footsteps, thudding behind him. A snarl. A howl.

Above, a full moon.

He burst out of the forest, stumbling, crashing and rolling. He had to get away. The footsteps followed him, and he heard the cries for blood. His blood. He heard shouts, screams, the hate in them overwhelming.

Then he realised where he was.

The fields of Trunswick. He saw his little house where his family lived. Where he had spent his childhood.

But it was burning.

Flames licked at the wooden walls, devouring them. He heard screams- the screams of his mother. His father bellowed, fear in his voice. His brothers cried.

"Conor!" His mother screamed for him, in that little hut. "Conor!"

Conor felt his feet move, move to the burning house. He kicked down the door, saw the messed up living room.

Saw Zerif, with the Wyrm's parasite pulsing on his forehead, holding his mother by the neck, a bloodied sword in his hand. His mother was motionless, her eyes vacant. Behind her, his father and brothers lay dead on the ground.

No! He screamed in his mind. Get away from my family! But his feet didn't move. Instead, as Zerif turned to see who was standing at the door, his mouth curved into a cruel grin. What's happening?!

Zerif saw him, and threw his mother's body onto the ground. Then, to Conor's surprise, the man knelt, his head bowed. His spiraled forehead touched the ground. "I shall serve you. Use me as you desire," he said. Pledging his loyalty.

Conor was horrified. He tried to stumble away, tried to scream. Tried to kick the man who killed his family in the face. But his lips betrayed him, his body motionless. The smile on his face grew wider, more wicked. NO! What's happening? Why is this happening?!

His body turned against his will, and he moved down the fields. The Many, servants of the Wyrm, poured out of buildings, out of the ground. He saw a Wyrm-controlled Greencloak army marching behind him, their spirit animals crying and screeching. At the distance, he saw a ruined Greenhaven, its castle walls crumbling into ashes.

The controlled Great Beasts came out, one by one in their spirit animal forms. Halawir, Suka and Arax. Gerathon, Rumfuss, Tellun and Dinesh. Then Uraza- Abeke's Uraza- slunk out, at the lead. Why is Uraza here? He cried in despair. His face cracked into a smirk. An arrogant smirk.

He had no control over his body anymore.

Then he saw his friends. Meilin, the stubborn one, the one who took care of him. Rollan, his best friend. And Abeke, poor, poor Abeke. A chilling howl split the air. A howl he recognised and grew to love.

Briggan- his spirit animal, his wolf- loped forward, teeth bared, hackles raised. His blue eyes were wild with fury, and in the depths of them, he saw sadness. Pleading.

Those eyes struck Conor deep in the heart, and he sobbed despairingly. Of course, his body did no such thing. Instead, his hand went to his ax, his fingers loosening the collar of his shirt.

And he saw the spiral.

It was marked on his chest, nestled between his collarbones, throbbing with that same life he had seen in all the other controlled victims. It looped in the same shape over and over. Conor felt that same terror and fear, that disgust and loathing.

His heart had been taken by the Wyrm.

And very soon, his mind would too. Why?

Why was he different from the other victims?

I am you and you are me, a whispering voice echoed in his head. It had a slithery tone to it, and he shuddered. He felt a presence lurking at the back of his head, a darkness pressing at his conscience. Suffocating his very soul.

I have taken your body. I took your heart. All that's left is your mind.

Then your soul, your entire being, will belong to me forever.

Conor wanted to scream. The Wyrm itself was inside him, slowly taking over his body, forcing him to watch as he attacked his friends, as he did now. He charged, and the army behind him followed his lead. His friends, went forward as well, leading a bedraggled group of children. He saw Dawson, his face streaked with tears. Devin, shouting something. Karmo, the Niloan boy, getting thrown back by Rumfuss.

Masked men with red cloaks followed his friends. A man with a faceless mask was at the lead.

Something was familiar about him. Like Conor had seen him before.

His friends screamed for him, Meilin bellowing, Rollan pleading. Abeke crying. His heart cracked as he faced them, his body moving unnaturally, with the grace, speed and power of the Great Beast spirit animals the Wyrm had controlled. He striked down Dawson- poor Dawson, crying for Rumfuss. Devin roared and charged him, and Conor's hand shot out and grabbed him by the neck.

He heard the sickening sound of bones snapping, and Devin fell, limp. Karmo cried, and the Great Boar impaled him with a tusk.

Conor turned to his friends. Jhi and Essix were there. Briggan too, standing in front of Abeke. His body whirled into motion. He sunk his ax deep into Jhi's body, accurately through the heart. Meilin screamed, as Jhi bellowed with heartbreaking pain.

I don't need all fifteen of the Great Beasts to be powerful.

I am already invincible. The Wyrm laughed.

Conor felt sick to the stomach. Jhi's blood splattered on his face as the panda collapsed. Meilin ran over, screaming in agony, tears rolling down her cheeks. Essix screeched in fury and dived at Conor's face. Rollan cried for her to stop.

Conor's hand grabbed Essix by the neck. He tucked his ax back into his belt, holding the thrashing falcon. His head turned, looking a stricken Rollan dead in the eye. A menacing grin spread across his face.

He grabbed one of Essix's wings and yanked it with such force that it ripped away from her body. Essix screeched in pain, and Rollan shrieked, running forward. Conor kicked the boy in the gut with his heel, and slowly, slowly, crushed Essix's neck. He dropped the limp falcon, and Rollan cried in grief, holding his spirit animal's body.

Blood was all over his body, staining him bright scarlet red. He screamed, he kicked out, trying to regain control of his body, trying to fight back.

Darkness overwhelmed his mind, trapping him in its hold. Drowning him in evil.

Conor's body moved and he saw Briggan, whimpering, and Abeke, her eyes wide with fear. He approached them slowly, ignoring Meilin and Rollan as they mourned their dead partners. The animals he killed with no mercy.

No stop! He sobbed. Not Briggan too! Please no!

The Wyrm chuckled, a sound so deep and loud, resounding through his mind. Foolish child. If you wish to see no part of this, I shall grant that wish for you.

Give me your soul.

Conor thrashed as his body moved, step by step. The darkness crushed him, squeezing the life out of him. Destroying him.

His life flashed before his eyes, but the images slowly disappeared.

Then everything was blank. He stared at the wolf before him, and the dark-skinned girl behind it. He took out his ax.

Howls, screeches, and tears of grief. He saw an ape, with a boy hanging on his back, being overwhelmed by his army. He stepped away, back into the fray.

Away from the dead body of the wolf which lay at his feet.

A laugh sounded, deep in his mind, as he hacked and slashed. A girl with black hair and a striking face came at him with a quarterstaff. A boy as well, wielding daggers. They seemed to know him. But he was very sure he didn't know them.

Soon, as time passed, the battlefield dyed red with blood, he stood alone. Everywhere he looked, he only saw dead bodies.

The two children from before lay at his feet, having been slain by him. At their side was another girl, with dark hair and skin. She too, had screamed at him, begged him. But her words were meaningless.

He stared at the sky. It was night.

There were no stars, no clouds.

Only the moon, dyed red as well.

He stepped away from the bodies, the remaining of his army following him loyally. The three children had known him. But he didn't know them. Why? Were they related? Were they family? Friends? He didn't know, couldn't remember. He only knew he was a servant. He was forever loyal to the creature residing in the depths of his mind. He had no need for any other emotion except devotion.

But as he walked across the stained fields, his curiosity was still piqued. He wanted to know. Who were they?

And most importantly... Who am I?

Conor awoke, screaming. His heart thudded violently against his chest, threatening to burst out. Tears streamed down his face as he gasped for air, his hair and skin slick with sweat. His hands trembled as he stared at them. Images flashed across his mind.

His hands had been bloodied. Covered in that gruesome red colour. The blood of Essix and Jhi. The blood of Meilin, Abeke and Rollan. The blood of Briggan.

I couldn't remember him, he thought, feeling lightheaded. I couldn't remember anyone. I couldn't even remember myself.

I killed all of them.

Nausea rose in his throat at the memory of the dream- no, nightmare. Everything had been covered in blood. Everyone. Especially him, with the blood of those he loved.

His throat burned, his eyes watered. His head throbbed, and his chest ached. Conor pulled his hands to his chest, drawing his legs together, and buried his face in his knees. He pushed down the nausea bubbling in his throat. He could never trust himself ever again.

A wet nose nudged his bicep.

Conor knew that it was Briggan, but he didn't want to face the wolf. I killed my own spirit animal. I didn't even remember him. He pushed down a sob. I don't deserve him caring for me.

There was a whine, then paws- heavy familiar paws- were placed on his back. They thumped him, trying to get his attention. A tongue rasped across his neck, and there was another whine, more urgent than the previous. Conor refused to lift his head, instead pulling his body closer to him.

Then a bark blasted in his ear. Conor cringed as Briggan kept barking, trying to get him to react in some way. The barks were tinged with sadness, and the wolf batted him with a paw.

Conor still refused to look up, and the barks quietened, becoming mournful whimpers. Conor heard footsteps coming towards him, and tensed as they stopped directly in front of him. Hands- Meilin's strong hands, no doubt- grabbed his shoulders and shoved him towards the wall.

Conor's back slammed against the rock, and Meilin held him there despite his squirming. She sat defiantly on his legs, keeping them there.

"Meilin," Conor murmured weakly, lowering his gaze. He lay slumped against the wall, and the Zhongese let go of his shoulders, but continued to sit on him.

"Briggan is worried about you Conor! What happened to you? Why are you pushing him away?" She paused, adding a stern glare. "Why are you pushing us away?" Jhi lumbered up beside her, her silver eyes wide and caring. The panda grunted sadly.

Conor kept silent, unable to look Meilin in the eye. There was a flood of guilt in his mind as he recalled his earlier refusal to Briggan's calls. "Look at me when I speak to you!" Meilin snapped, this time grabbing his head and tilting it up.

He forced himself to look at her. He could see the eye bags under her wide, furious eyes. Her disheveled hair, which had used to be so neat and prim. Her palms were calloused as she cupped his face, probably from all the training she received. She had become thinner, the few fats in her cheeks lost after days of eating inadequately.

Meilin must have seen something in his eyes, as she froze, her gaze saddened, her fury earlier deflating. "... What kind of dream did you have?"

It was Conor's turn to freeze up. My dream...

Immediately, the nauseous feeling returned, and he clutched his head. His vision was swimming with black spots as he recalled the nightmare so vividly. The blood- everywhere, staining everything.

"Conor?" Meilin said, touching his forehead. She had let go of his face. Conor forced his head to stay there as he shook it, unwilling to say anything.

"It's nothing. You wouldn't understand anyway," he muttered, blinking in defeat. He knew Meilin understood the feeling of being in no control over her own body, but he was pretty certain she had no idea how it felt to be enslaved and then wiped of all her memories. Forced to kill those she had loved immediately after that, especially her own spirit animal.

He didn't voice any of those out, though, when Meilin vehemently protested. "Of course I understand what you're going through! I was controlled by Gerathon," she argued. Conor shook his head, now lowering his gaze again.

"It's different Meilin. The Wyrm is more powerful than Gerathon. It's different for me," he whispered, knowing fully well how lost his voice sounded. Meilin stiffened, and she seemed to be struggling with herself. There was a pang in her eyes which Conor recognised.

There was a soft whimper, and Conor turned to see Briggan hunched beside him, some distance away. The wolf looked miserable, his gaze on the ground.

Conor felt even more guilty for not responding to Briggan. "Briggan?" He whispered, calling for his wolf. The Great Wolf didn't move, instead slumping even more, almost lying down. "Brig?" Conor tried the nickname he had so fondly given him.

Yet Briggan didn't budge, settling on the ground, curled up, and turned so his back was facing him.

Conor winced at the rejection and tried to go to the wolf, but remembered that Meilin was sitting on his legs. The Zhongese started, sensing that he wanted to move, and got up.

He crawled over to Briggan, and put a hand on his scruff. The wolf tensed up a bit at the touch, and Conor felt even more guilty. Maybe Briggan didn't trust him anymore. Or worse, didn't want him. "Briggan? Hey, I'm sorry. I... wasn't in my right mind," he said, hesitantly scratching the wolf behind the ears.

Briggan let out an affectionate growl, and turned his head to lick at his hand. Conor smiled wearily. The wolf got into sitting position and began nuzzling him. Conor wrapped his arms around him, hugging him tightly.

He breathed in the smell of Briggan's silver-gray coat. Somehow it smelled of undergrowth and rocks, like the wolf had gone to the mountains. He ran a hand through his thick fur, relishing the softness of it, and the comfortable feeling.

Briggan licked at his face, and Conor chuckled softly. He held the wolf's face and stared deep into his cobalt blue eyes. Briggan held his gaze warmly.

Briggan's eyes, filled with sadness and pleading.

Conor froze, and the wolf whimpered, nudging his shoulder. Briggan's body dead before him, his ax dripping with blood.

Briggan's blood.

Again that nausea came, stronger than before. Conor covered his mouth, hunching down, trying to suppress the sensation. He breathed heavily, squeezing his eyes shut as sweat trickled down his face.

He felt the Wyrm, throbbing at his cheek, forcing its way up, up and up, trying to claim him. Darkness roiled in his mind, pulling his subconscious towards it. His body shuddered, the nausea hovering at the edge of his throat. Conor clamped his mouth shut even more tightly.

"Conor?" Came Meilin's voice, and she crouched beside him. Briggan whined, nudging him still. "Conor, what's wrong?" Meilin asked gently.

Conor managed a shake of his head. His body was trembling non-stop, his breathing laboured. His hands were already slick with sweat.

His hands, covered in the blood of his friends.

He wondered why such a dream even came to him. Was it a prophetic dream? Or a normal nightmare? Perhaps an omen of what was to come. Does that mean I'll end up killing everyone? Conor didn't dare think of anything other than that.

The darkness probed around at the back of his mind, and he fought it, kicking and lashing, trying to send it away. Flashes of pain appeared here and there.

He sensed Jhi nearby, radiating her usual calm and warmth. He felt her presence enter his mind.

And the darkness lunged forward to attack her.

No! Conor screamed internally, and grabbed at the darkness, trying to pull it back before it hurt the panda. Jhi immediately withdrew, and she made a soft whimper, silver eyes wide with fear. "Jhi, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" Meilin said, concerned for her spirit animal.

His ax, buried deep in Jhi's chest, piercing her kind heart.

Conor let out a muffled sob, tears pooling in his eyes. His chest constricted, and he was very certain he heard mocking laughter in his head. Briggan's furry body leaned against him, providing warmth. His blood felt icy, even though his skin burned like the sun was on it.

"What's going on?" Came Takoda's bleary voice as the boy woke up from his slumber, when they had stopped to rest after being chased around by the Many and the cyrix.

Conor glanced at him from the corner of his eye.

Takoda and Kovo, overwhelmed by the Many, the Greencloaks and their spirit animals.

The ape was seated beside Takoda, his red eyes catching Conor's gaze. Kovo narrowed his eyes, grunting. Conor grimaced.

Conor tried to calm down. It was just a dream. Perhaps it's not prophetic. He pushed away all the images of the gory nightmare, shoving it back into the depths of his mind. The darkness slowly dissipated, and the Wyrm calmed too. His nerves settled, the nausea retreating.

He took in a deep breath.

And the crippling pain came. Conor collapsed on the ground, writhing, and the darkness came back, whispering tauntingly. His vision flickered, from stone to a bloodied battlefield and back to stone again.

In his mind flashed the image of the Many, the cyrix looming behind them.

You can't run forever, they mocked, their screams ringing in his head. He felt the darkness pull, hard, nearly wrenching his consciousness from his body. He barely clung on, and his insides flipped with agony.

Conor felt the Wyrm squirm, and with it came more pain. Bone-crushing, breath-stealing pain. Now he understood how he had passed out when the Evertree contracted its roots. Combined with the pain from the Wyrm, his body had been in too much stress to handle. And with his mind in such a shambled state, he fell unconscious.

I will have you soon, the Wyrm cackled maliciously, whispers in the darkness of his mind. Conor choked on his breath, his bones straining, muscles screaming from the stress of the Wyrm trying to control him and him trying to fight back.

Conor wasn't even aware of what was around him anymore. He screamed in anguish, tears streaming down his face as he shuddered on the ground, spasming uncontrollably. In his mind, he saw the Many. They approached him, their teeth bared, claws out, white soulless eyes staring at him.

The cyrix wrapped its tentacles around his shivering form as the Many pulled him to it, shredding his green cloak, gashing his arm and cheeks with their claws. He thrashed in its hold as it dragged him into its cold void-like body. Then it engulfed him.

Conor gasped in pain. His stomach lurched over and over, and the sickness ravaged his body.

He fought it all back with every ounce of his strength. Fighting, kicking, lashing out at the Wyrm. Cursing it.

At last, the Wyrm calmed, and he lay on the ground trembling, drenched in cold sweat. "They're coming again," he managed to rasp out, and through his hazy vision he saw black hair and blue eyes.

In the distance, there was a clamour of screams. Hungry sounds. Footsteps pounded on the ground around him, and a hairy hand grabbed his arm, pulling him up.

Dazed, Conor could only stay limp as he was hoisted onto Kovo's back, the ape's coarse hair tickling his skin. He heard shouts from Meilin, and there came the sound of thwacks. Enraged screeching followed after.

The Many had arrived.

The darkness continued to press against Conor's head, and he whimpered in pain. I can't do anything. Takoda's scream rang in his ears, and after a moment, there was a burst of brilliant light, blinding Conor.

Kovo began to move, dashing down a rocky path, his body moving up, down, up and down. His thick muscles rippled underneath Conor. An anguished howl cut through the air, and Conor felt a jolt of fear as he recognised it as Briggan's.

He tried to turn his head back, craning his neck. He felt ill, even more than the past weeks. Huffs sounded behind him, as well as raspy breathing. Even further back, there were frustrated cries, and scrambling. The Many were still chasing them.

Chasing him.

Conor didn't know what to do. No... I can't do anything. I'm worthless. A burden on everyone.

That's right, foolish child, a whisper said in his head. You're only dragging your friends down. They will be killed because you stay with them.

Conor shuddered fearfully, recognising the voice. It was the Wyrm's. Go away.

The Wyrm chuckled with genuine amusement. Words alone cannot push me back, dearest Conor. And your puny resistance is futile. You will become my servant in the end, no matter what you do. The only purpose of your existance is to serve me, till your very last breath.

No, Conor tried to shut out the whispers that had begun to intensify in his mind, but it was useless.

The Wyrm hissed with a mocking tone. Try all you want, but I told you it is futile. I am you and you are me.

Conor froze. Those words were the same as the ones in his dream. We are not, he protested, trying to shove the Wyrm back into the darkness, where it belonged. I am Conor, son of Fenray. I am a Greencloak, and the summoner of Briggan the Wolf. I have a family. Meilin, Rollan and Abeke are my friends. I'm not you.

The Wyrm laughed once more, taunting him yet again. Oh, but you are. As long as my parasite is inside you, everything that is yours is now mine.

Your thoughts are mine.

Your memories are mine.

Your heart is mine.

Your body is mine.

Your mind is mine.

Your soul is mine.

Eventually your friends, family and spirit animal will be mine.

The boy hero, 'Conor', will cease to exist, because you will be mine forever.

Conor's breath hitched in his throat. He felt Kovo come to a stop and drop him. He landed on the ground, but didn't get up. He couldn't get up. The Wyrm's slithery voice boomed in his mind, contrasting from the earlier whispers.

Mineminemineminemineminemineminemineminemineminemineminemine...

MINE.

Conor couldn't bite back the scream that escaped his lips. He clutched his head, thrashing on the ground as the Wyrm laughed in his mind, and the darkness came like a deep, black void of no end.

The evil was forever.

He couldn't feel the hands on his body, shaking him, as he stared blankly at the rocks around him.

Couldn't hear the mournful howls of a wolf, and desperate shouts of a girl.

Only a numbness, spreading through his body, leaving him cold and stripped of every single sense. The light faded, slowly, as a cloud of darkness seeped in, trapping him in.

He didn't fight. Couldn't fight.

His body couldn't move either, his sight fading as he slowly fell unconscious.

Be afraid, Conor. Feel fear. Feel despair. Know that your future has already been decided. You will belong to me.

Mine.

Conor's eyelids closed on their own. He could no longer resist, or even say anything back. His energy had been sapped. But the Wyrm had been wrong about something.

In his numbed state, just like how he lost his five senses, Conor couldn't even feel any emotion anymore. He could only think, and at last found a solution.

I can help them, he realised, just as his consciousness slipped away. There's only one thing I can do.

I must leave them.

A/N Ahahahha... ._." A super negative chapter... What am I doing. So yeah. Practically a lot of despairing. Conor's suffering a lot... So there you go guys. Next chapter goes to Abeke in Oliveira! And there they find something, at last! What trouble awaits them? Keep a lookout for the next chapter. See you soon!

Reviews help me work faster, so do review and give me your thoughts! I will work even better and update as soon as I can! Thanks everyone!