A/N: Hi guys. I am really sorry about my long update time. What with school starting I've had two really hectic weeks. I will try and update once a week again (if possible), and get a few more chapters written. My apologies, and here is the next chapter.

Time passed, and Faolan become used to Skylar stalking about the camp, angry about the way the war was progressing. The atmosphere had changed as well. It became darker, more subdued, because no longer was Karse winning the war. Valdemar was pushing the lines back, and werewolves were dying. They were dying from weapons made and coated in silver, dying as humans, dying as wolves, and dying all over the place. All as a direct result of Faolan's doing- and resulting in giving her terrible nightmares by night and a plague of guilt and revulsion at her own doings.

In the darkness, anything is possible. Something dripped down my arm. Slowly, wetly, winding across my skin. And it was warm. My hands were sticky, warm too, but I saw nothing. Darkness enveloped me like a blanket- and it smothered. I could hardly breathe in that darkness. Slowly, slowly, something was coming into view. Two tiny lights- orbs? Mage lights? No- Vanyel was the last magic user, and he was long dead. And then I saw. They were eyes. Below me, staring, begging, pleading… crying. Yellowish, wolfish. More light came into the area and I saw the face they were connected to. He stared up at me, blankly, half wolf, half human. It was blood on my hands. There was a soft splish as some dropped off one of fingers to land on the ground. Skylar stared up at me, and he was dead. Blood coated both of us, but none was mine. It was his- all his. I was covered in Skylar's blood and I knew, deep inside, that I had killed him.

"Skylar!" Faolan yelled, jerking awake to the calm darkness of the werewolf hut. A cold sweat covered her body and she shivered convulsively, avoiding the images burnt onto her mind. No one had woken from her coughed out scream. She shivered again and took a deep, shaky breath. Skylar was not dead, nor had she killed him. He could die though, from this war. And it would be her fault.

She stood up, wrapping a fur around her body, the soft leather underside against her arms, and she inhaled another deep, slow breath, calming herself down. But I am a Herald of Valdemar, and these werewolves are killing my people. Cautiously, she tiptoed out of the door and into the darkness of the early morning. The sky was red to the east, the kind of red that Bards sung of on the morn of great battles. Faolan sighed- no Bard ever sung songs of the enemy soldiers that were defeated. Of how they had loving families that would mourn their loss once the war was over and a letter arrived at their door… No one ever wrote songs about that.

"Couldn't sleep again?" Ghost inquired, and Faolan jumped, whirling around to see the albino standing silently behind her. Was he here every morning?

"Nightmare," Faolan said with a shiver, remembering the feeling of blood that was not hers dripping down her arms to splash softly on the ground below. That had been the only sound in the entire dream…

"About the war?" he inquired, and sat down on the ground, then waved a hand to indicate she should sit as well.

Fao nodded slowly, sitting down beside him on the soft pine needles, their scent wafting up into her nose. It made her relax, despite her wariness about Ghost. He let out a soft breath and leaned up against the tree, his eyes on the disappearing stars. Faolan pulled her fur tighter around her- the nights were chilly now. Autumn was coming.

Ghost began to speak, "It's something…"

Faolan peered over at him, wondering if he would finish that sentence. A warm breeze blew the trees, rustling the leaves and needles above them. She was insanely curious about him- was he a soldier that had been bitten, or had he met a rogue werewolf, like she had?

"Was your dream about Skylar Bearsbane?" Ghost inquired suddenly, moving his pink eyes to Faolan.

"Uh," Faolan said.

"I heard you call out his name," Ghost explained, albino eyes upon her.

"Yeah," Faolan nodded, "He was in it."

Ghost sighed and ran a pale hand through even paler hair, then shrugged. Faolan wasn't sure why, and Ghost offered no explanation. The sky was getting even lighter- soon others would be waking and moving about, begin the morning chores and rituals.

"Two years ago I led a normal life," Ghost sighed, "And now I reside with those I would have killed. War changes many things."

Faolan could find nothing to say to this, so kept silent. Nor was she certain if Ghost was speaking to her, or himself. He did not seem to expect an answer from her. And then, he stood up. Very suddenly, and in a quick movement. Fao looked at him, but his face was unreadable in the small light. He stalked off, his movements stiff, and almost angry. Soon his white shape had disappeared.

Faolan stood then herself and walked off in another direction, wondering if she'd offended him and abruptly ran into Skylar. He was slouched, and only partly clothed, and didn't seem to notice Faolan at all. His gaze was blank, staring off into the distance, reminiscent of Faolan's dream. She shivered, staring up at him.

"Skylar?" she asked, and the man looked down at her, blinking a bit before Fao felt he actually saw her.

"You friends with Aric?" he asked.

"Uh," said Faolan, "Not really…"

"It's good that you've found someone to relate with," Skylar began slowly, moving his gaze off of her.

"It is?" Fao asked, wondering if Skylar was suggesting she get to know Ghost better.

"But…" Skylar continued, "Be careful with Aric. His allegiance is not necessarily with the pack. You're too young to understand but…" Skylar shook his head and started to move off, but then he paused and looked back at her, "Don't trust him."

Faolan stared at Skylar's retreating back. Did he think Ghost was a spy? Faolan would have laughed if it weren't so serious. Me too young. Hah. I'm centuries HIS senior. But it soothed Faolan at the same time to think that Skylar dismissed her so. Ghost was freaky but Fao doubted he was a spy. Nor did he seem like he wanted to kill all the other werewolves in a fit of patriotic rage.

Bemused, Faolan wandered off on her own, finding a nice corner to have an early morning discussion with Raul, at a time when no one else would notice her strange detachment…. The next night she had another dream, but this one was not her nightmare. Instead, it was someone else's.

Like most nightmares, it was dark. But this was not the total darkness that my dreams began in. It was a pale, misty darkness in a deep wood. I was hovering above, off to the side, watching the dream unravel- which was how I knew it was not mine. In my dreams, I am always there, never watching myself, like some dream.

Dark, misty shapes wove through the darkness, and below, being chased, was Raleigh. He was tripping and stumbling and seemed half blind, but such is the way of nightmares. The shapes were so close they were right on his heels, but just before they leapt he jumped into a tree, climbing, climbing, to the very top. The creatures chasing him could not climb, but they snapped and snarled at the trunk, until finally moving off- though not very far. However, Raleigh couldn't see this and he slowly crept down, only to go into another running through the forest chase. Terror reeked from him like sweat- except he wasn't sweating, because it was a dream. This sort of hide and seek went on for what seemed like an eternity until both of us were jerked out of it right before one of the creatures leapt onto Raleigh. We were back in that misty area that was nowhere but everywhere all at once.

"Is this the Havens?" Raleigh asked me- he was only aware of me here, never in his dreams.

I shook my head, "You have to be dead to go there."

"Aren't I dead?" he asked, but at the look in my face he knew it was not so, "Why can't I be dead? Why am I forced to stay here, in pain, living these memories over and over and over again?"

"I don't know," I said, but I knew it was the reason I came back. Because he wasn't there. Either way, I was glad he wasn't dead, because as long as he wasn't dead, there was a chance he would wake up.

"But they killed me. They must have…" he whispered, and faded away.

"Raleigh," Faolan whispered into the darkness. This time it was morning, and the darkness was caused by the coverings on the windows and doors.

:Faolan?: a voice asked in her head- Raul.

:I'm awake: Faolan said in a muttered mindvoice as she stood and stretched. It felt warm outside.

:Good- I need to talk, are you available?:

:Yes,: Faolan said, sitting back down on her furs. Everyone else was up, no one was there to see that she wasn't still sleeping.

:The front line of the battle is being pushed back towards your valley-: Raul paused suddenly and Fao stiffened- had something happened?

:Were you just dreaming about Raleigh?: Raul inquired softly.

:Yes: Fao said, feeling an ache inside her at the mention of him and she thought of him, lying in his coma, his soul far, far away, in Haven. But somehow, he felt closer.

:And they weren't memories? That wasn't a memory, Faolan,: Raul said, her voice urgent.

:No, it was just a dream: Faolan answered, puzzled. What did this have to do with the front moving?

:I don't think it WAS just a dream, Fao,: Raul said and Fao felt the Companion inside her head.

:What about the front line moving: Fao asked, trying to steer the conversation back to relevant information.

:It's coming closer to your valley- you might have to pack up and leave. I wanted to tell you that if the werewolves choose to stay, and move in with the army, you're to leave them. Forget spying, its too dangerous. In a battle… I'm not worried about your mental experience, it's just that the only thing you're any good at right now is the bow, and you're small enough you might just get trampled. We need you alive to keep spying on the werewolves, not dead. All right, Faolan?: Raul finished.

:But Raul… I'm a Herald. My place is here, finding out what I can. I'm no use if I'm not with them… You said it yourself, I'm making a difference. And I wouldn't be in any battles anyway, the werewolves all think I'm too young too,: Faolan pointed out.

:Don't argue, these aren't just my orders: Raul said firmly.

:But YOU know I'm not just a seven year old: Faolan argued.

:And so does the Queen,: Raul added, :This isn't a choice. It's an order.:

:Whatever,: Faolan said, having no intention of leaving if the time came. But she didn't feel like arguing with Raul anymore.

:Faolan…: Raul sighed, sensing this decision in her Chosen:Just be careful…:

:As always,: Faolan sent back with a grin.

:Well… you get back to being the resident werewolf Herald. I'll talk to you about Raleigh some other time: Raul said, about to finish the conversation.

:Wait- is Raleigh awake?: Fao leapt at what her brain had suddenly comprehended.

:No, he's not,: Raul answered and Faolan felt the Companion retreat away and with a sigh, she stood and walked outside, following the scent of roasting meat.

A/N: Click the button! The shiny button!