All stories have fillers. I've decided that this story will be free of fillers, and completely and utterly devoted to—

—so here's my filler. I hope you all enjoy it, I've been thinking about putting one in, and I finally got a totally original idea. Totally original. Just let it happen…

Another chapter in Twilight's P.O.V.?! Hey, I love the wolf form, and need an excuse to use it. Why not? Next time I'll either do Shadow or Wind's P.O.V.

Chapter Ten

The Five Invasions

IV.

I hang by the back of the group as the villagers slowly make their way up the slope, Time at their head. Sky and Shadow have already greeted me enthusiastically, and Wind was happy to meet new friends.

As I drop farther and farther back as planned, Sky stays with me. I finally press the crystal to my hand and let it be absorbed back into my skin. I shudder as it passes through, and find myself on four legs once more, a wolf. Sky simply glances at me curiously, but from underneath him I can see the mark of evil more clearly. He follows my line of sight and brings his hand up to his forehead.

We set off at a brisk pace, both beast and man silent. Eventually Sky pulls ahead and Wind drops back, dragging his legs. We approach the villagers slowly, keeping just out of sight. Wind stumbles, and I nudge him back up with my nose.

"Why can't we be on a boat?" Wind whines, his childish voice not helping matters. "Walking is so much work and actually requires a lot more effort."

I can tell he's joking, and shove him lightly. He laughs and pushes me back. I give him a playful snarl and bring my front legs upwards until they rest on his shoulders. He slumps beneath my weight, and I get off.

We finally reach the top of the mountain, where I still don't revert back to normal form. The scorching sun sinks agonizingly slowly below the horizon as the villagers set up camp. The heroes all gather, as I am still in wolf form, and we take posts around the villagers.

Wind and I are put together, as the two weakest links (ashashasha see what I did there?). We trail behind the group, ready for any trouble. We encounter no monsters, which is slightly strange. Besides, where did all the monsters that invaded the village come from? I want to ask Shadow, but I refrain from doing so. He is plagued with his own worries as it is.

Wind glances at me with a calculating look. "Hey, Twilight, how much weight can you carry?"

And with that Wind unceremoniously clambers onto my back, much to my dismay. I'm not a pack mule! I'm the hero of Hyrule! I snarl and lift a paw, threatening to shake him off. Wind then reaches forwards and pats my head as if I am a dog. I growl at him, but his childlike innocence overwhelms me, and we now travel like this.

We finally reach Hyrule Field, but it isn't much of an improvement from the mountains. How are we to feed the people? Find them temporary shelter? Shadow suggested one night to go to the forest, and since there were no other options available, we decided to go for it.

The Hero of Wind dismounts from me as we trail into the only green clearing after the villagers. Shadow is sitting directly in the middle of it, concentration etched across his face. Is he sustaining the grass long enough for the people? The people themselves look happier with green grass surrounding them.

Night falls once more and little campfires are lit. Now more men from the village have fashioned makeshift weapons from trees and help the heroes guard. I lay down in the darkness of a bush, the moonlight not touching any part of me. Wind approaches me and slides next to me so we share our body warmth.

Eventually Wind's soft breathing tells me he is sound asleep. I don't dare move as if to wake him, but keep my ears perked for any sign of danger.

Of course, I hear something other than the villagers.

I gently lay Wind down on the ground, trying to keep him asleep. I creep out from underneath the bush, scenting the air. I bark once, softly, so Time, who is close to Wind and me, knows something's up. A moment later the Hero of Time approaches me from behind, his sword out.

We both stare at the bushes, waiting for something to emerge. Soon, I prowl forward, hackles raised. I am past the bushes before I know it, and on the other side, just a half mile across the field, a caravan of wagons and horses are making their way towards us. Enemies?

Time is at my side, sword still drawn. I snarl a warning as soon as they get closer, their faces covered in hoods. They stop in front of us, where we take up fighting stances.

"Now, then…" a voice says, coming from the first person in the group, who is in a small covered wagon. "A boy in a green tunic…could…could you be…?"

The figure throws off its hood, and I finally get a glimpse at its face. No, her face.

Shock sweeps me from head to toe, and immediately I back down. How can she be here? Here, of all places? My breathing becomes hoarse, and although I forgot my crutches, I wish to take out the cursed crystal, to turn into a Hylian, but I am paralyzed to the ground.

She can't be here! I left her in safe hands!

But she is. And she's aged, turning into a beautiful young woman. She is taller than she once was, and her eyes have lost much of their innocence.

Ilia tuns her piercing gaze to meet Time's, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Are you the hero?" she asks. Time nods, seemingly speechless. "I…are you, or have you heard of Link from Ordon?"

I quickly shake myself out of my stupor and call on the power of the Triforce a bit too enthusiastically. I turn back into a Hylian, accompanied by startled gasps from the caravan and weapons being drawn. Forgetting about my ankle, I rush towards Ilia.

"Ilia!" I shout, a whoop of joy. Her eyes flash with recognition.

"Link!" Ilia leaps off the wagon and is suddenly enveloped in my arms. I breathe in her rich scent, with a trace of the goats still upon her. The people from the caravan slowly lower their weapons.

Her heartbeat is warm against my chest, and I completely ignore the throbbing in my ankle, excitement pulsing through me. Ilia is here! Ilia! I can't stop laughing, even as she shoves me away playfully. I stumble, unbalanced, and the Hero of Time rushes forward to support me. Only then does Ilia notice my wounds.

"Link! You're hurt!" she says, stating the obvious. "What happened? Why are you here? How were you a wolf? We all thought…" her eyes became moist. "We all thought you had died."

"I'm not dead, Ilia," I wrap my arms around her again, and she doesn't resist. "Don't worry…"

But as I murmur the words, alarm courses through me. Does that mean I die on this journey? That I never see Ilia again? I want to ask her so many questions, but I refrain from doing so. Instead, I turn back to the rest of the caravan.

"Ilia, who are these people?" I ask, slowly releasing her.

"Oh, I found a few friends," she laughs, and gestures for them to take off their hoods.

I don't recognize anyone else from the group, except perhaps an older boy with blond hair. Why does he look so familiar…? He is muscular and carries a sword on his back, the way I used to. I still do, and I finger my own sword simply to reassure myself.

Colin!

My face splits into another wide smile. He is also grinning, but it's more subdued. His eyes have also lost any innocence, but are hardened by years of experience. He's taller than me now, too.

"But Link," Ilia frowns. "You…you still look…younger. It's been fifteen years, I'd expect a little change from you…"

"Oh…right…" I rub the back of my neck. "I…er…I'll explain later…"

"That's what you said the first time, and then you disappeared!" Ilia shouts, suddenly fierce. "We all thought you were dead Link! Why didn't you give us some sort of sign that you were alive?"

Probably because I wasn't… I think, but I dismiss the thought and instead rest a hand on Ilia's shoulder.

"I would have done so if I could," I whisper hoarsely to her. "But I couldn't."

She buries her face into my chest again. Surprisingly, we're almost at the same height now, but she's only a little shorter. "I don't want you to leave again…"

"…and I won't." I finish for her, certainty ringing in my voice. But I glance over at Time, and his eyes reflect the alarm I have.

The others from the caravan are mostly people Ilia and Colin have picked up along the way. But if this Hyrule is fifteen years in the future from my Hyrule…does that mean something disastrous happens in which I am killed and the land turns to this? I shake my head and give Time a knowing look.

Eventually we decide to lead the caravan to the place where we camp. I wait until Time is done leading the others through, knowing I won't make it without my crutches. I am about to take out the crystal from my adventure pouch when I spot Ilia dashing through the trees.

"Link," she gasps when she reaches me, guiltily stuffing my adventure pouch behind my back. "How were you a wolf? What…what happened?"

"Um…it's my twilight form," I say. "I can tell you about my journey later, and why I left for so long…"

"Later, always later…" she mutters. "Well, are you turning into a wolf again or something?"

I nod, and she crosses her arms. Reluctantly and robotically, I take out my adventure pouch again, hastily grasping the crystal and pressing it into my skin.

Once again the feeling of being forced back onto four legs rushes back to me, and I sigh uncomfortably at the unmistakeable expression of surprise and shock that passes Ilia's face—but it soon turns to a pleasant smile.

"Well then, you're larger than normal wolves," she says somewhat cheerily, but I can tell it is forced. I nudge her to reassure her. "Let's go to the villagers, then."

We trot through the undergrowth, and I stop short of where the villagers reside. Ilia stops with me, and only then do I remember Wind. I sneak back underneath the bush, where the boy still sleeps. Ilia gets on her hands and knees and smiles toothily at the sleeping form.

"One of your friends, I presume…" Ilia trails off when I circle behind her and push her with my nose. She stumbles forward and collapses on the ground next to the boy. My message couldn't have been any clearer: rest.

Ilia sighs and relaxes on the ground next to the boy, seemingly content not to sleep in her wagon or with the rest of the villagers. I curl around both of them contentedly, making sure both are safe. I keep a silent vigil around them, raising my head and scanning the landscape. Time's boots appear beside me, and he crouches down.

"Twilight, rest for Nayru's sake," he growls. "We can watch over the others. Besides, your Hylian body needs to recover."

I let out a huff as Time stations himself next to the bush, reluctantly closing my eyes and succumbing to the darkness of sleep.

Of course, I am immediately pulled into a nightmare. Why not?

I am back in Hylian form, but no longer injured. I stand in Hyrule Field, but it is brighter, like Wind's Hyrule. Beside me stands Epona, who is still supposed to be within the boundaries of Shadow's forest. I pat her and she shivers at my touch. She doesn't turn to look at me, though, just stares ahead. I frown and move directly in front of her. She doesn't respond.

I mount her, and again she doesn't move except flick her tail. I nudge her lightly with my heels, but she doesn't budge. I quickly dismount her and move away.

I find myself running through the field. Now it surrounds me, and everywhere I look is sunlit grass. Epona is nowhere in sight. I sprint until a figure appears on the horizon. It rapidly approaches, even as I slow to a walk. The sun blinds me, and I can't make it out completely.

But then the figure seems to multiply into many.

Zelda stands with her brown hair flowing in the wind. She gives the others a soft smile. Beside her stands elegant Midna, but not in her imp-like form. Instead she is the beautiful woman with flaming hair and twilight robes on. Ilia stands with them, laughing. What are they saying to one another?

I grin and jog up to them, but they don't take any notice. They continue talking as I near them. I reach out a hand, confused for a moment, as if to touch Ilia's shoulder.

She doesn't stop talking, but twitches when I touch her. She turns her gaze towards me, and for a moment the thrill of success races through me. It quickly falls into a feeling of dismay as her eyes trail past me. Am I invisible?

I blink once, then try to get Midna's attention. The slender woman doesn't respond, and neither does Zelda. I throw my arms up in despair. What kind of dream was this?

Suddenly I am teleported into Hyrule Castle. No, it can't be. I am in a long corridor with large mahogany doors at each end. On one side, dark windows are drawn tightly shut, the glass tinted. On the other is velvet wallpaper covered in intricate designs…the same design Sky wears on his head.

The mark of evil.

I let the words wash over me for a moment before one of the double doors burst open and I see a Link rush through. I'm not sure which Link it is, but it's not Wind or Shadow. It's either Time, Sky, or me. No, it can't be me…

The other Link's clothes are a darker tone, which suggests it might not be Time. He doesn't wear the mark of evil, but I can't exactly cut Sky out. The other Link wears battle scars on his face, a large cut above his eyebrow. He doesn't look like he burst through the doors willingly…he was pushed.

The Link sprints for the back of the room, but it's clear he's exhausted. He is about to grasp the handle of the other doors, but seems to decide against it and instead turns with the Master Sword out, the blade gleaming with the usual sacred glow mine now lacks.

Another bursts through the doors after the Link, but I can't make out who it is. I squint and pace forward to see who it might be. The person is dressed in a long, thin robe, trailing after it. Its face is shadowed, only the small curl of a smirk showing.

The Link raises his sword weakly, again, and the figure charges at him. The figure brings its own sword—only a blur of silver—down upon the Link, whose instincts are the only thing to save him. The stalemate that follows the clash of sword against sword lasts for mere milliseconds, the Link clearly weak.

The figure laughs, a low, strange sound. Almost familiar, yet more demented. I stare, rooted to the ground, as the figure brings the sword down once more on the Link, who hastily raises his shield, where a mark is left on the image of the Triforce.

The clang rings out through the hall, but the figure quickly takes his sword and jabs it at the weaker Link. The Link, unable to deflect it this time, doubles over just as the blade enters his stomach.

I cry out, rushing forward, but there's nothing I can do. When I swing my blade, it rebounds off the figure, who takes no notice.

It's just a dream, I try to tell myself. It's just a dream…

But it seems more and more realistic as the blade is withdrawn from the Link's stomach. Sticky, dark blood rushes from the wound, and all the color drains from the Link's face. He glances up at the figure, his eyes wide and horrified. I find myself gaping as the Link keels over stiffly and falls to the floor with a sickening thump. His green hat falls from his head and lands farther away from him. His fingers give one last feeble twitch and become rigid. His eyes are soon unfocused and his gaze flickers to the figure one last time. Then he seems to stare straight at me, and our eyes meet. He blinks once, calmer, and musters the ghost of a smile as the light fades from his blue eyes.

Horror fills me as the figure turns away, a large grin plastered to its face. He strides away, and I am left with the dead Link. I kneel over him, grasping his hand in mine. His fingers are cold and hard, and he doesn't react. How can he be dead…what if this is Time? Sky? Me? Wind when he grows up? Shadow when he receives his tunic? I shudder uncontrollably, pressing the other Link's hand farther into my own palm, holding it so tightly the blood drains from my fingertips.

No…one of us can't die…we mustn't! I realize that although I've only known the other heroes for a little while, I have developed a strong bond with them. I close my eyes, the dead Link's hand still in my own. A feeling of serene calm washes over me as I call upon the power of the Triforce. No…I can't…this is a dream…

But as I watch the hero's fingers give a twitch in my own. Excitement rushes through me as the wound in his stomach slowly heals, new, soft skin draping over the blood. His cloudy blue eyes become clear once more. The Link shudders a few times, and lets out a gasp of air. I sit back, smiling. But what is it supposed to mean?

I watch as the confused and shocked Link reaches for his hat and fixes it to his head. He lies on the ground, gazing about him, drinking in every detail of the place of where he died.

"Thank you," he whispers hoarsely.

I smile and nod as if he can see me, but he can't.

Sunlight shines upon my fur—and I awaken.

Beside me, Ilia and Wind sit up, both yawning and stretching their backs. I get up and stretch each back leg in turn, marveling at how lean the muscles are. Ilia smiles and reaches out a hand to stroke her fingers through my fur. At first I am tense, but the soft combing of her nails straightening the hairs makes me relax.

I let my tongue hang out of my mouth as I gaze at her, content. She gives me a soft smile back, but then the moment is gone and she heaves herself to her feet. I notice the green of the forest has reached us, and if I don't look at Hyrule Field I can almost convince myself that I'm back in my time.

Instead, I sneak closer to the villagers to see Shadow. He sits in the midst of them, cross-legged. His face is coated with sweat, and he has dark circles under his eyes while the villagers gaze in wonder at the green trees and grass surrounding them.

I soon notice a couple of mice in Shadow's lap, but he doesn't seem to mind. Then again, he is concentrating on keeping the area able to sustain more life.

I listen as Time orders the more able men to hunt, and he glances warily in my direction. When he sees me, he gives me a small nod and I set off. Passing Ilia and Wind, they call out to me in greeting. I give them a small nod back and continue through the undergrowth, scenting the air.

A rabbit has passed through recently, leaving a clear trail of fear-scent in its wake. I follow it cautiously, keeping downwind. Padding through the brush, I hear a soft scuffling ahead. A large brown rabbit chews tentatively on a stalk of grass, its wary eyes scanning the scenery.

I wait until I get slightly closer, setting down my paws as lightly as I can. The Hero of Twilight, reduced to wolf form, hunting. It's for the greater good! I remind myself.

I crouch down, my limbs coiling. I then lunge forward smoothly and deliver the killing blow to the rabbit's neck before it has a chance to react. It falls to the ground, and I think of the Link I saw, dead on the carpet. This is how the figure killed him. Granted, he was stabbed in the stomach, but as the stench of death reaches my nostrils I choke on it.

I pick up my kill in my jaws, trying to block out the scent. After the rabbit, I manage to bring down two wild cuccos (which raises my self-confidence as well as my confusion levels, I thought those things were un-killable), and a monstrous elk. It really could have broken all the bones in my body, but again I am more fast and agile in my current form.

I drag my catches back to the bush Ilia, Wind and I slept underneath and revert back into Hylian form after locating my discarded crutches I received from Wind. I prop them underneath my shoulders and bring the cuccos and the rabbit into the clearing full of villagers. Time comes to greet me, his features showing obvious exhaustion.

"Twilight, good to see you," he says, his voice not betraying his tiredness. His eyes flicker to the cuccos. "But those things are worse than Ganon! How did you do it?"

I shrug. "Honestly, I have no idea. But I can pretty much say no one has ever had cucco meat so…"

Time glances at the cuccos with a glare. "Good riddance those things are gone, the monstrosities…" he mutters a few curses under his breath, and a small laugh escapes me. Time shoots me a dark look which makes me laugh only harder until I double over, clutching my crutches for support.

My sides aching, I tell Time where I left the elk. He nods and fetches it, and I move away to the side. I hobble back to where Ilia and Wind wait, within the circle of villagers. My ankle still throbs faintly, but not as bad as before. I test my weight on it, and a small shiver of pain is sent up my leg, and I lean on the crutches again.

Shadow is still in the middle of the clearing, but now he is no longer straight-backed. He slouches, and he opens his eyes as I approach.

"Hey," I say, smiling for his benefit.

"Hi," Shadow replies, barely able to smile back. He opens his mouth in a huge yawn, but at the same time his stomach growls. He raises an apologetic eyebrow.

"You need food and rest," I say, precariously leaning forward and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Stop overexerting yourself."

He nods, but the conversation is short lived. He slowly tilts to the left and he falls asleep before he hits the ground. I smile, remembering when, before I was the hero of Hyrule, that I slept in heavily.

I then limp over to the other villagers, striking small conversations to them as Time prepares food along with others.

"Where did you and your brothers come from, anyways?" a beefy man asks, crossing his arms over his hairy chest, his yellow t-shirt exposing the brown hairs. "Assuming you're brothers."

I smile. "We come from lands distant yet seemingly one in the same," I say, speaking in riddles. Perhaps I should have gotten the Triforce of Wisdom… The thought sends an amused feeling through me, but I don't let it show.

A woman pipes up next, "And why are you helping us? What's in it for you?"

"What's in it for us?" I shake my head. "No, we're simply trying to restore Hyrule to what it once was, and protect its people."

"Why haven't you been here before, then?" the first man accuses. His voice is filled with anger. I have to calm him before it spreads to the other villagers.

"We have," I say softly, and he leans in to listen. "We have witnessed many battles, and have taken part in all of them. We have our own evils to fight, our own destinies to fulfill."

The man nods slowly, and the woman rushes to pick up where he left off. "But, can you at least tell us your names?"

I glance at her, surprised. "We haven't said our names yet?" She shakes her head. "I'm referred to as Twilight. The boy sitting in the clearing who has special abilities to keep the forest alive is called Shadow. The smaller boy is Wind, the mute called Sky, and lastly the other Time."

"Twilight, Shadow, Wind, Sky, and Time…" the woman murmurs. "Strange names, but they seem to have a deeper meaning…"

A smaller girl approaches me, her blue hair wildly cascading over her shoulders. Her ears are pointed. So Hylians still do exist in this realm. I think of Shadow. Of course they do!

"Have…have you seen a boy named Link?" the girl asks timidly. Link? As in Shadow? On instinct I want to glance over at the sleeping form.

"No, I haven't," I lie, thinking it might be best to keep Shadow's identity a secret.

The girl's face falls and she glances back forlornly. "I've been asking the other heroes, but they haven't seen him…" She turns back to me, her eyes glittering with desperation. "He was in the village the day we were attacked! What if he didn't make it out? What if he died trying to defend the…the…"

She chokes on her own words and runs away from the small group I'm in, tears streaming down her face. Sadness consumes my insides. I want to tell her Link is alright, that Shadow is with us, but I refrain from doing so.

"So much loss," I mutter to myself instead. "How will we combat the evil if we don't even know what it is?"

I lean on my crutches and stare blankly at the ground, as do the other villagers.

Suddenly a rumble shakes the ground beneath my feet. Unsteady, I topple to the side, helped up by the woman I spoke to earlier. I nod to her in thanks, but the ground heaves again, throwing me off balance. This time, the woman and I go down together, as do the other villagers standing. We collapse in a heap, where she lands painfully on my ankle. I try to suppress a scream but instead let out a groan through my gritted teeth. The woman, seeing my pain, quickly rolls off of it, giving me a few seconds of relief.

The ground shakes violently again, and I hear the creak of wood. Suddenly a tree from the far side of the clearing topples to the ground, but luckily the villagers are an okay distance from it. The sound of branches snapping erupts all around me.

And then it stops.

Everyone gets to their feet, shocked and confused. Then a voice rings in my head.

OH GREAT HEROES OF LEGEND, WHY ARE YOU NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO FACE US? IS YOUR COURAGE LACKING?

All around me identical screams erupt from the heroes guarding the villagers, and I soon realize one is coming from my own throat. The woman goes to help me, but I lash out at her involuntarily and drop my crutches. The voice is going to crack my head open…

YOU HAVE NO WAY TO DEFEAT US NOW, AS YOU WAIT IDLY FOR TROUBLE TO COME TO YOU! NOW WATCH AS YOUR BELOVED HYRULE FALLS FOREVER INTO OBLIVION!

I find myself on the ground, writhing in agony. Yells from clenched teeth all rise in our throats, all at the same pitch. We all twitch and turn on the ground, even though I can't see the others.

MY DEAR HEROES, DID YOU THINK THIS WAS GOING TO BE EASY?

The voices are changing from one voice to another, each yelling out threats that echo in our heads. My skull is going to split open before this is over…my head throbs uncontrollably and I let out another bloodcurdling scream, as do the others.

NOW WATCH AS YOUR BELOVED HYRULE CRUMBLES INTO NOTHINGNESS!

I feel my consciousness slipping from my grasp and I struggle to remain awake. I stop moving, lying motionless on the ground. I gasp for breath, inhaling oxygen in vast amounts. I feel my body convulsing in small spasms, but I can't stop it.

Sky…Time…

I transmit to them, but I doubt they can hear it over the ringing that still torments my head. I take a shaky breath and sit up slowly, the woman supporting me. I am drenched in sweat.

Suddenly a loud crack! sounds and I glance up wildly.

The sky seems to throb, the yellow clouds moving in irregular patterns. Suddenly, erupting from it—

Several large, silvery islands appear high above the clouds, each radiating a dark aura. I shiver glance around. The other heroes have come to my side, each staring at the sky. I lean on Time for support.

Sky's eyes are wide as he gazes up at the islands. "The spirit realm," I hear him murmur. He talked!

Before I get to even feel shock, Castle Town, or what's left of it, seems to throb as well. I frown and watch it, pointing to it to get the other heroes' attention. They all look at where I'm indicating, just as a large boom! interrupts our thoughts.

The town is suddenly whole again, as is the castle. But…it's darker. More foreboding. A bubble seems to surround it, cloaking it in black darkness. Time sucks in a horrified breath.

"But Ganondorf's gone!" Time says, as if trying to convince himself. "Castle Town is restored…"

Back in the direction of the village, another, stranger sound reaches my ears. The only way I can describe it is…as the pounding of a drum, but amplified to destroy Hylian ears.

I whirl around and can hardly believe my eyes as a barrier of…of Twilight appears and surrounds the area the village is in. I let a gasp escape me, and the others turn to glance curiously at me.

"The…the Twilight realm…" I murmur. "How can it be here…"

Then another crash gets my attention. In the direction of Lake Hylia a great wall of water suddenly surrounds the trees, stopping to form a wall. Wind suddenly stumbles into me, his eyes wide with shock. The water looks like an ocean, but the sun's rays don't reach it.

"The Great Sea…is cursed…" Wind whispers, dismay etched across his face.

Suddenly another rumbling catches my attention. In the direction of woods to the southeast, the trees start withering and burning on the spot. I gasp as smoke billows up into the air in a mushroom cloud, until it completely covers all of the trees.

"Death," Shadow breathes hoarsely.

We all stare at the five challenges: the dark spirit realm, the ruined Castle Town and Hyrule Castle, the Twilight realm, the cursed Great Sea, and Death. I glance at the other heroes, shock all reflected on their faces. Dread and hopelessness rages inside of me.

The Heroes of Time, Twilight, Wind, Darkness, and the Chosen Hero…are we enough?

We all glance at each other with wary eyes before we all close them in unison and fall back into the abyss of unconsciousness.