Chapter 6 - Entering the Wolf's Dreamworld

Gerwyn glared at Ceri, but her ocean-blue eyes glared right back at him.

"You're putting our boy at risk for no reason," he accused.

Ceri wagged a finger at him. "Oh no you don't. This was YOUR idea, having Maddy enter the eyethwyd. The dream world of the wolf is a dangerous place, and I'll not have my future daughter-in-law going in there alone. Rhydian's going with her, and that's that."

The smells of the primeval forest of the Trossachs drifted into the tent. They were waiting for the shaman to come, to begin the ritual which would put Maddy and Rhydian in a deep, deep sleep, and let them enter the dream world of the wolf. There, Maddy's wolf could finally face its greatest fears and its grief at the loss of Maddy's parents—with Rhydian by her side.

Rhydian's parents were wearing the bedraggled clothing of wild wolfbloods to blend in while they stayed with the wild pack. The Trossachs wolfblood pack was known to have the best shaman in the UK. Ceri had insisted on nothing less. They were allied with Alric's pack, which had made approaching them with this idea that much easier. Yet now Gerwyn, of all people, who Ceri could usually count on to be adaptable thanks to his 'Deal-with-whatever-comes' mentality, was getting cold feet.

The wolfblood father peeked out of the tent, watching Rhydian and Maddy goofing off at the edge of the clearing. Rhydian had Maddy in a headlock, but the girl squirmed free, twisted like an acrobat, and pounced on him from behind. The two went down in a flail of arms and legs with only laughter to be heard.

"It's safe enough. She'd be fine. She's strong, Ceri. She could overcome her fears by herself," Gerwyn insisted.

"Listen to yourself," Ceri scoffed. "You're not even being consistent, love. You say it's safe enough for Maddy to go alone—but it's not safe enough for our boy to go with her. Do you hear yourself?"

Gerwyn scowled as he laid out the second of the two pallets which Rhydian and Maddy would be laying on as they were inducted into the trance.

"I hate it when you're right."

"Which is always, so get used to it," Ceri grunted with a feral grin. Gerwyn rolled his eyes, knowing he'd lost yet another battle with her. You'd think he'd learn, but he knew this wouldn't be the last time he'd fight with his mate, and it certainly wouldn't be the last time that she'd win.

A new scent snuck their way as the pine-infused breeze changed directions.

"The shaman," Ceri said softly. "He's here."

Gerwyn's face soured. "Let's get this over with."

A Short Time Later…

Maddy was nervous. They both were. She and her mate could no longer pretend that this was just a camping trip…or just another friendly visit to the wild pack. No, now it hit them, how real this was. They would be entering the dream world of the Wolf. Put into a trance, their minds would tap into a world that existed beyond the five senses, beyond the physical reality humans understood. It was a hazy-fluid-mysterious world, and only wolfbloods could grasp it.

"Mads, it's going to be all right. I've got your back." Rhydian reached over and took Maddy's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze as they lay side by side. This felt so weird.

Maddy and Rhydian were both naked, just covered by a thin blanket.

"This is so awkward," Maddy whispered. "Being naked in front of your parents. I mean, we've got the blanket over us, but still."

"How do you think I feel? They're MY parents," Rhydian griped with feeling. He turned back to Ceri.

"Is this really necessary, Mum? Can't we just keep our clothes on? How's her wolf or mine going to know the difference?"

"I respect Cedren's knowledge. He's the wisest shaman on this island. If he says that not wearing human clothes will make your wolves feel more comfortable, and if that will help your journey in the dream world, I won't be arguing." Ceri gave her son a bemused look. "It's not like you two aren't covered. Stop acting like a pair of babies."

Maddy and Rhydian exchanged a look that said 'I can't believe she just said that!' and then the two teens burst out laughing because this whole situation was just so insane. It felt good to laugh—to ease the tension. It didn't last. Now the wolfblood shaman entered the tent, and his dour presence wiped the grins right off their faces.

Cedren carefully placed a series of burning candles inside the tent. They gave off a strange aroma, something neither Rhydian nor Maddy could quite place. As they breathed it in, the world grew hazier yet also more vivid. It was like a drugged cocktail. Maddy felt a rush of contentment, but also need, like she had the power of ten wolfbloods and just had to use it! She looked aside at Rhydian. His blue eyes were yellowing, just like hers.

"Rhydian."

He looked at her. "Mads."

"Thank you. For doing this. I love you."

He squeezed her hand so tightly. "Right back at you, smelly girl."

Then the shaman's seamed, ancient face was right in front of them as he knelt beside the wolfblood couple.

"Listen to my voice. Focus on just my voice," he intoned. The two wolfblood teens obeyed. Their eyes swiveled to him. They found it impossible to turn away.

"Inside the eyethwyd your wolf will be dominant. It will be hard to stay in human form, and even when you're in human form, you'll still act much more wolf than human."

"Okay," Maddy said. "What else do we need to know?"

"After you enter the eyethwyd, you will face challenges. Obstacles. Threats. You will also know the fiercest joy, your wolf running freer in that world than it ever could in this one. Trust your wolf's instincts, but most importantly: Stick together."

"What happens if we don't?" Rhydian asked.

"Then one of you may return without the other." The shaman's bleak eyes seemed to say it even more bluntly. Then one of you may never return at all.

"One more thing. When you have overcome whatever torments still plague your wolf, you'll sense the difference. You'll know the difference. At that time, think as hard as you can of home, of your pack here, in the physical world. Focus on the people you love in this world and on the places you cherish most. If you do that, you should wake up."

Rhydian and Maddy locked hands underneath the blanket.

"Now drink." Cedren gave each wolfblood teen a sip from a flask bubbling with a special dol-drink concoction. It tasted awful. This makes Mam's rescue remedy taste good Maddy thought before she could stop herself. She sighed, a stab of grief poking through. She closed her eyes and Rhydian closed his.

Moments Later…

They awoke in a different place, under a full moon stark and glaring, like an angry eye looking down on them. Rhydian's sandy-furred wolf turned to see Maddy's chocolate-brown form right beside him. He nuzzled her wolf, but before they could orient to their new surroundings a terrible howl filled the night. The two turned and saw a dark shadow flying towards them from the top of the hill. It was a wolf, but bigger than any wolf they'd ever seen. Its eyes were yellow flecked with scarlet. As it bore down on them, just one thing consumed them.

Fear.

And then, worse than that, Rhydian saw something else, felt something else. Recognition.

A/N - Hey wolfblood fans & friends. I'm back from another trip. I was up hiking in the cascade mountains of Washington state and surviving without Internet - no easy feat! It's SO good to be back. I apologize for the cliffhanger, but to make it up to you I promise that the next update will come much sooner! Thanks for all the kind words of support, they've helped lift my spirits. As ever, please comment if you want to! Even one comment here or there just brightens up my day much like running into a random puppy (if that analogy makes any sense lol!).

Oh, and this isn't necessarily wolfblood-related, but I'm curious if anyone has gone on any interesting trips this summer. I'm thinking of having Maddy and Rhydian go to an unexpected/exotic place in a future chapter/story, and I would love to get some new ideas. So if you feel like it, please put in the comments a place you'd like to see them explore, or a fun place you've been to.

-J