...

Both Will and Halt searched for the wolf he had seen. To his annoyance the wolf was gone and for a moment he thought Halt would laugh at him and claim it was a dog. Across the river however they were able to find tracks. The tracks were large, larger than a normal wolf's but there was no mistaking it. Nor was there any mistaking the freshness of the track.

"A wolf track," breathed Halt his eyes searching the ground, "This is a large wolf. An adult male if I had to guess. No wonder you looked like you had seen a ghost. I'll alert the farmers and the Castle about it. If it doesn't attack the livestock then we won't hunt it. Good eyes though."

Will stood slightly straighter at the compliment. Halt he could already tell wasn't one to give out compliments lightly. He didn't say anything in return instead he bowed his head in thanks. Then his eyes trailed to the forest with the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end again. They were being watched.

Halt crouched at another pair of tracks but Will's entire attention was on the forest. His hand was twitching for the knives that he had grabbed before they left the cabin. Drawing one wouldn't be the smartest idea he ever had. Eyes on him didn't necessarily mean they were animal. Nor did it mean they were human. The only thing he currently knew was that it wasn't a creature of the Shadow. A pressure began to form in the back of his mind. It was slight and barely noticeable.

"Brother," came a breathy whisper that sent a shiver of fear down his spine.

Instinctively Will swallowed and turned in a circle trying to figure out where the whisper had come from. Halt looked up at him with a grown but Will's eyes were searching the trees. He hadn't heard the whisper.

Nothing. He was positive that there had been a breathy voice.

"Brother," came the voice again.

There wasn't any malice behind the voice but Will was beginning to wonder if he was losing his mind. What was calling to him? Why couldn't he see the person?

The pressure grew and for a moment his vision blurred. Around him the world sharpened and he could see the wolf in a wavering form; like looking at it through a ripple in a river. Then it changed to a deer across the river and it taking a drink. Only for the deer to raise its head in that moment the large wolf lunged from the shadows and tore it's throat out. Will tasted the blood and gagged.

"Brother," it came again and it sounded closer this time, "Brother come."

What? What was this?

Will had seen many things within the White Tower during his training. Nothing had been like this. Not even the descriptions of the bond between Aes Sedai and their Warder.

Will shivered and took a step back. He was unable to stop himself from drawing his knife. The scrape of metal on metal got Halt's full attention.

"Brother..."

"Will!" Came Halt's shout forcing the youth to blink and the world returned to normal.

Halt gripped his wrist and forced his knife away from them. It brought him back to reality and the rippling figures disappeared. This left Will shaken as he pulled his wrist free and sheathed the blade.

A voice and a vision. Just what was going on?

...

Halt in the end gave him the rest of the afternoon off. Dinner had been a simple stew that was oddly tasty. Will did the dishes since Halt cooked before he retreated to his room. In his room Aiden sat on the window sill. Aiden cooed at him before flapping his wings.

"Yeah yeah," muttered Will, "I know. I shouldn't have left without you this afternoon. You're right. Maybe if I had taken you with me you would have been able to confirm I was losing my mind."

Aiden left out an annoyed sound. Without a thought Will reached out a hand to scratch the top of his head. That settled his little friend but he didn't notice. He was still disconcerted about what happened. Drumming his fingers lightly on the desk he considered his options.

He could wait and see what happened with this. That meant he would have to watch his back from both a stalker and a wolf. Neither gave off a feeling of malice but that didn't mean it wasn't hidden. Darkfriends were good at doing that. Hiding their intent until the very last moment. Darkfriends unlike Shadowspawn could hide from a Warder's senses.

That probably wasn't in his best interest. Which left sending a letter to Moiraine. Despite his best efforts his face made a pained look at the thought. She was going to be annoyed with him if he sent a message about this. However she was the only Aes Sedai that would answer his letter. The others would treat him as a child. At least with Moiraine would listen to his concerns.

Still he hesitated rather than grabbing a piece of parchment and quill. Moiraine would be busy now. The Dragon Reborn would be hitting his majority soon. Her entire life has since she was a young member of the Tower was dedicated to finding him. Find the Dragon and guide him so that he wouldn't fall to the Shadow. If anyone could pull it off it was Moiraine.

Will was going to turn away and head to bed when he felt it again. The feeling of being watched and he ran to the window. Eyes searched the outside for a person who was acting as a stalker. Only to find within the shadows a wolf standing in the tree line. It's face was upturned towards Will.

Again?! How did this wolf find him? What did it want from him? Was it rabid?

"Brother..."

Will turned around finding his room empty. Nowhere could there be someone hiding. That meant it wasn't being spoken out loud. It made his decision for him. He had to bother Moiraine.