Stacey jerked awake, a sheen of icy perspiration sodden his back and forehead, his dark red eyes flitted around his small apartment room. He still heard the screams from his dream. His friends...the wolves…

He looked around again as if monsters would seep in through the walls.

Despite the winter blizzard that was slowly slipping into the inn, the ex-soldier felt hot. Too hot.

He needed out.

Now.

He jumped out of his bed, ignoring the trembling protest of his knees, he dressed and somehow made it down the stairs without meeting anyone, he burst out into the cool air, his heated body automatically relieved of warmth.

He paused, where is everyone? He wondered.

He turned around at a scraping sound, he reached for his sword but closed on empty air! He readied his fists instead.

He expected a monster or at least a rival, instead, a small tan doe hobbled out.

Feeling a small trickle of shame for almost hurting the pretty young doe, he made to walk off but when her silky voice broke through the dawn winter air he stopped.

“Stacey? Stacey, what’s wrong?”

Stacey closed his red eyes in pain and rubbed his temples. What was wrong? Ever since he had that dream...he felt...different.

“I’m fine.” he lied.

The little girl frowned and limped over to the tall buck. “Are...you sure?”

He snarled and stalked away from her, couldn’t she just let it go?

OH BOY I AM BACK B A B Y