James had a time of it in his dreams, it was almost as if the fight became more real when he entered into the subconscious level. James could almost feel himself physically wrestling with the beat from with in. The worst of it was when James attempted to leave the subconscious and become conscious. The wolf with in threw up a stronger fight. Yet James could not refuse what was going on in the conscious world. He was being gruffly shaken.

"Remus! Wake up! Curse you!"

"What?" asked a bewildered James as sleep cleared from his eyes to focus in on a gruff man in his mid forties. The man obviously hadn't shaved in a day or two and he was in need a shower, but his round face seemed to exude friendship or at least comradeship.

"You know better than to stay out here!" grunted the man as the moonlight from the waning reflected off of the man's black eyes.

It was clear to James that this man knew Remus. James only wished that he had taken the time to mention him.

"The wolfs have been about."

"I am aware," grimaced James all too aware of Remus' curse that was now his own.

"Then you have run into them?"

"Not tonight," responded James, not sure what this man knew and did not know.

"You ran into them then? I'm surprised they didn't take you out then, you are fortunate my friend."

"Take me out?"

"Remus! Have you hit you head? The wolves are not very fond of you, they want your blood, and they are beginning to thirst for mine as well seeing as I am helping you."

"Your help, which I am eternally grateful for," recovered James, as he realized that this man knew more than most.

"Help that won't last with the way you are acting," grunted the man.

"It's been a rough moon," admitted James as Remus.

"You're telling me, the whole time spent running from Fernis, not fun."

"Never is," mumbled James feeling for Remus. James wished he knew where this friend was leading him, as well as this friends name was.

"No, it never is, hopefully Rhea can help."

"Rhea?" asked James unthinkingly.

"You sure you didn't hit your head Remus? Remember, Rhea is the only wolf who can hold the ear of Fernis."

Suddenly memories of legend came back to James, of course everyone had head of Fernis, especially him seeing as Fernis bit Remus. Rhea was less heard of but still known by those familiar with werewolf activity. It is said that she hold the heart of Fernis, whatever little there is of his heart.

"Now allow me to do all the speaking when we see Rhea," warned the man who befriended Remus.

Before long James stood before a well-constructed leanto. He guessed immediately that this was the home of Rhea. As the man knocked on the door James could hear a deep rich voice call, "Come in."

"Rhea, it is us, Jacob and Remus," called the man who James finally learned whose name was Jacob.

"Come in then," sighed Rhea.

"Rhea kills all who enter, unless she knows them before hand. Kill first and ask later."

James nodded as he followed Jacob in. Despite the raggedness of the leanto on the outside the decorations on the inside were well decorated and magically more spacious than appearance would allow. There were read and black banners hanging all over, Rhea sat in the back of the leanto in a tall wooden chair that was almost like a throne.

"Rhea," greeted Jacob, "You are looking lovelier and lovelier every day."

"Let's just skip the pleasantries Jacob and get down to business. Time is valuable."

"Yes, Rhea, we came to ask…"

"Let me guess, you want me to convince Fernis that Remus is now a real wolf, and that you see that and that is why you are with him?"

"Well?" asked Jacob.

"No can do."

"Why not?" demanded Jacob surprised by Rhea's out right no, she was a tough woman, yet she had understanding for her wolf brothers and sisters.

"Fernis would never believe me, about the only way you are going to convince Fernis is if Remus here bit someone, but that will never happen.."

"But if he did, we'd be back in Fernis' good graces?"

"I wouldn't call it good graces," half laughed Rhea, "But yeah, life would become easier for you two."