When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,
For all the day they view things unrespected;
But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,
And darkly bright are bright in dark directed.
Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright,
How would thy shadow's form form happy show
To the clear day with thy much clearer light,
When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so!
How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made
By looking on thee in the living day,
When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade
Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay!
All days are nights to see till I see thee,
And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.
– Sonnet 43, William Shakespeare

Somewhere in the dark forest of the Rephidim Nobles' Quarter near Darkside,a wolf sleeps fitfully under a tree with her knees drawn up before her. Theforest and details are blurry, as if seen through a fog.

The wolf starts awake suddenly and stares into the forest. She holdsherself taut and ready to flee.

Her belly rumbles and the wolf fliks her ears nervously. "Any bugs nearwould have heard dat. It's OKie… I'm safe," she thinks to herself. Shelays her head on her knees and tries to go back to sleep.

A ghostly presence approaches. It studies the wolf curiously, not makingany sound. It settles down next to her, curling a phantom tail around her.

The wolf wears heavy leather pants and a tunic. She has a piercing in herright ear but wears no ornaments. Her fur is clean but has not been brushedin at least two days. Behind the wolf against the treetrunk is a rolled-upbedroll with leather carrystraps.

The presence watches. "I know it's you," it says. "What happened? Are youhere, now? Are you real? But no… I can only be dreaming."

The wolf sleeps lightly. It's clear that the presence is not affecting thedream in the least.

The presence reaches up to softly brush a translucent paw along the wolf'sshoulder.

A twig snaps nearby.

The wolf awake in an instant, testing the air. A 'J'-shaped knife is inher left paw.

The presence speaks softly. "Can you hear me, if I try?" It tilts its headto the side, concentrating. It notices for the first time a strangenessabout the wolf's eyes, and is startled by their color. "Amber… your eyesaren't amber… " The presence looks further into the wolf's eyes, and drawsback from the unexpected edge there. "What's happened to you?"

No adversary appears to harry the wolf. She scents the air a moment longer,trembling as her instinct for flight masters her. She reaches down for thebedroll, hikes it up onto her back and runs away from the sound, headingdownwind.

The presence watches as the wolf disappears. It glances at the sky. Theclouds and trees become blurred and surreal, taking on impossible colors.

The presence turns away, pained with a vague sense of loss. The world fades.