The Heartwood i could cause an extinction-level event.

losing time to the waking world was a blessing and a curse in equal turns.

his dreams were often fevered and frenzied. always facing the bear, always facing his turmoil and guilt. he thought he could feel shardik at his throat. the pain there the same as the pain he had felt in his rear. the tugging, the pulling.

the dream felt fast, over in moments.

he had not realized that the night had blown through in his time asleep. that when he woke with a pained jolt, too much time had already gone by. somebody was there against him. somebody kept him warm in the cold forest.

yet he was choking on his own gasping need for air, and his eyes felt like they could widen no more in his sunken features.