The lake drew Cole as readily and persistently as it did his brothers, though as usual, he had no desire to break the smooth surface of the water. He preferred sitting on what was regularly becoming known as Gabriel's rock to watch the world go by and to think over this startling tendency to play with lightning. Coming up on Aiden, who looked like he was asleep, Cole quieted his movements so he did not disturb his brother but settled beside him with his knees drawn up, arms draped over them and his feet bare. Loose breeches and a sleeved shirt rolled to the elbows was his usual uniform when coming to the lake. Dark eyes swept around, looking for Gabriel, likely to arrive soon if he wasn't already there.

He stirred slightly when Cole approached but with the merging of himself with the other, he became part of that other time. The Great Wolf took on three of the shadows of his friends, and still came out victorious, though it took all of his concentration. As the shadows faded away, he wiped sweat from his brow then grinned as two of the other young men congratulated him without hesitation while the third did so grudgingly. He heard giggling behind him and turned to see three young women whispering as they watched. One blew him a kiss before they ran off. Chuckling, he joined his two friends. An older woman chided the girls, then waved the three off. "Go on, go fish or we'll go hungry this night." He knew they would create nets of shadows to catch the fish and while he was merged with his past self, Aiden would remember how.

Raphael was aware of the arrival of the Saoi Lasraichean and knew that it might break the connection from the past. There was another that rivaled Aiden and close in heart. As Aiden threw over the others and congratulations given there stood a Dubh Daoine, their arch enemy. It had been cast by the one as a surprise and at first glance it was a good replica. They had the leathery skin with the properties of lead. Something that was hard to penetrate to take them down. They were a large muscular breed but slow in movement and in thought. Why they were so single minded in destroying all other races to become supreme. They had yet to learn of any intelligent one behind them, as any leader. It was suspected there was one in the least. They had one other skill besides brawn and that was the ability to get carnivorous beasts to do their will. Only certain ones that had the same kind of single-mindedness. Those of more intelligent breeds were able to rebuke such attempts. Of course they would all join in the sport, it was a reminder to Aiden of their Foe. He drew him out from his past self to a scene years later where these Dubh Daoine laid waste to his clan. It had been great battle but they were not enough to win such multitudes. Aiden as well a few others knew there were other races.

Gabriel had been in the spar field practicing. Being there was going to be open archery this Wednesday night, he wanted to practice. He had always been of the kind to do his best, become his best. He was doing well until he felt the stirring. He'd been left alone since the last dreamstate, and this one was different, like picking up a distant storm that was familiar but couldn't really touch upon it. Thus he became restless and his concentration shot for the moment as he decided to find out where its source was. It led him to the lake on silent feet as one trying to catch something he wasn't sure of what he stalked. Shoulders eased seeing Cole and Aiden there. Except as he approached he noticed Aiden on the ground not moving, Cole aside him as his heart rate skipped a few beats, he in a run the last distance in case something was wrong. It was probably a small miracle he had kept his silence instead of calling, or yelling, out. Instead he touched Cole's shoulder in a silent communication. He was sure they were aware of him or at least Cole.

Looking up to see Gabriel, Cole wasn't startled or surprised. He'd known with an unshakable certainty that his brother would arrive shortly after he himself reached the shore and discovered Aiden dreaming in the dying rays of daylight. A nod greeted him cordially, before he spoke quietly to prevent disturbing Aiden. "He's sleeping... I think. I found him like this; he is breathing normally, but the eyes are moving beneath their lids and an occasional  movement; I thought it best not to wake him from whatever has him in its grip." Cole remembered Gabriel's dreams and had to wonder if they were descending on Aiden as well, suddenly rather glad he'd been spared them.

His breathing changed with Gabriel's approach, then deepened again. Within the dreamstate, he had been fighting for his life. There were only a few spared, only a few of his people. The Dubh Daoine had left almost as swiftly as they had arrived, perhaps missing the few survivors. His family, friends, all gone, slaughtered. There were still beasts wandering among the ruins of their home. Quickly he began to gather those left, not allowing them to mourn,  silencing their cries with words of warning. His two friends were gone but the reluctant one who had created the shadow of their enemy was there and they worked together with two others to guide and protect those left. It took them several days, to reach the village of the tree dwellers. Bloody, most injured, including himself, it would take only one look for them to know what happened. His words to the People of the Trees were impassioned, heartfelt. They needed to band together with others, with those of the skyfire, and the Elves to destroy the Dubh Daoine and stop them in their tracks. His physical body was showing signs of strain, sweat covering his brow, his breathing fast, as if he had been running.

Gabriel's appearance was well noted as he would not be able to hold onto Aiden much longer with outside influences in them being there, their very presence. He reminded him of the words from the past as they were being drawn back through a funnel like feel to it; leaving that last impression of their first step to a new life. They would become known as the Saoi-dhean as a whole, warriors, protectors. His race was known as the Saoi sgàith, warrior shadows and the tree dwellers were the Saoi Eunlaith, winged warriors and there was another yet to meet for them aside the Elves and Fae, Saoi Lasraichean, lightning warriors.

The changes in Aiden's slumber drew Cole's attention and with it, a distinct frown of mounting concern. Though he refrained from physically touching or waking him, Cole exchanged a look with Gabriel, one that solicited his brother's on the matter transpiring before them. "Is this what you went through in your dreams?"

He blinked watching Aiden with low words to Cole, "this is what happened to me. I'm certain of it." The fast rolling of his eyes and movements as if doing something at times. "Yes, I don't think we should try and draw him out, let him come of his own. Not sure why but it could be dangerous to him otherwise." They would stand guard over him in the least, luckily no one or beast had bother him when it happened. Some fear for his comrade yet at the same time, had that coil of excitement to find out what he got to see. The fact another also had, would lend to its credence. Dark eyes shifted to Cole wondering if he would be next or not.

Aiden's eyes fluttered open, then he squinted them tightly before opening again. He drew in a few deep breaths and sat up slowly. "I was dreaming." Not in the least surprised his brothers were there. "It was the same as you spoke of, Gabriel. But different too." He rubbed his eyes then smiled slightly. "I need a drink. And I think I have a stone embedded in my back from laying there."

"Welcome back to the realm of the living." He chuckled, more to restore the sense of normality than any particular humor. "You had us worried there for a minute, it seems like it was less of a dream and more of a nightmare." Cole was all the more resolved to block his mind to any such intrusion; he had enough nightmares of his own without some external being or force imposing theirs on him.

"I'll get you some potcheen from the shed if you will wait, organized all you saw," knowing well it felt overwhelming, "then tell me all you saw." He would be able to add it to what he saw then. A hand going to his shoulder in a reassuring grip. A glance to Cole before he was gone and back in a few moments with two such bottles. Might be a night to have a few drinks but less than getting intoxicated.

Organize? He gave a nod as he leaned back on his hands. By the time Gabriel returned, he had things pretty well set. "I started by dreaming I was flying. At least, that's how it seemed, guided by someone I couldn't see. I saw the land below just as you had described, Gabe, and there were great beasts that seemed armored against attacks, others with long necks. I saw a village built in the tallest trees but that wasn't where we stopped." The amber glow had returned to his eyes as he spoke. "We came to a cliff where the people lived, dwellings carved into the cliffs. They all cast shadows and not just those of animals. They used them in their daily lives." He paused and reached for one of the bottles, definitely needing a drink now.

"That is how I went, someone else there although not seen but felt. Someone familiar that I trusted with my life for some reason. So there is a lot more you can do with your gift and this was shown to you. That tells me this was a good journey to wherever that place was or we were?" That part he didn't know the answer to or many others. "I think whoever it is, is not just in the past. I feel a familiarity around at times, elusive but here. That I get the impression of, not inside my mind but outside of it." Unlike the vivid dream, knowing well that it wasn't a dream but didn't know what else to call it. Past life regeneration?

"Aye, someone familiar, someone trusted. But there was a battle, and most of my ... " He hesitated there then continued. "Most of my people were killed. Those who survived made their way to the tree village, and I ...  whoever I was in that other life ... spoke to your people." He looked at Gabe, excitement in his expression. "There were words spoken like the one you spoke. I was of the Saoi sgàith. I think it meant warrior shadows, something like that." He motioned to the wolf head mark on his back. "And I used a wolf shadow to fight."

His head lifted as they talked, scanning the area as the fine hairs on his nape prickled. There had been no sign of impending storms earlier in the day to rouse the sensation of tingling, and Cole didn't see anything either.  Frowning a little, he turned his attention back to Aiden and Gabriel, continuing to listen.

"That is where mine started from so you were brought back even further. I am brathairel, Saoi Eunlaith, if I am pronouncing them right." He was pretty close at least in his mind. That prickling was not just happening to Cole but he was feeling it strong, right up that unmarked line along his spine. "I'm getting hungry," he wondered if Aiden was getting ravenous about this time too?

He was still too caught up in what he had seen to notice anything else, except when Gabriel mentioned food. "So am I." He put his hand over his stomach as it rumbled. "Extremely."

He gave Aiden one of the bottles as he opened the other and took a good drink of it. "Let's head up then," glancing to Cole to see if he was going to do the same. Have a meal, few drinks, socialize.

"For a while," was his answer to Gabriel's look as he got to his feet and shook any lingering sand off himself.

He stood while they waited for Cole to decide and hopped down from the rock. Pulling his clothes on over the now dry cutoffs, and slipping on his boots, he waited for his two friends then headed for the Thistle.

Back to Main....