Entry #3. 2006.


He is within me, now.

His taunting and cursing- his arrogance and audacity.

It is all within me.

As we prepped for the trial, through some means he refuses to reveal to me, he trapped Tonya and me in stasis. He took my place, deceived my packmates, and nearly caused their deaths on multiple occassions. Had Nails not been able to withstand his pull- I fear for what may have happened. I remind Sam of this frequently.

Tonya tapped into her dormant abilities, and by means of cooperation from Shadow Wind and Rain, we were freed; and I, donned with a new tool.

We landed in time to see the trial unfold into battle, and Marcus taking the form of what I can only assume is a Phoenix. I have yet to ask him what happened. Turning my attention to Sam, we fought for a short period until our lives were threatened.

Even Sam must give in from time to time. He saved us all. Ironic, almost.

Eternal Balance has taken a great burden upon himself, abusing his powers most wildly. He too, channeled some form of time stasis, and as such we were saved. Then he chose to spiritually teleport us back.

"He's your problem now," he said. What has he done to us? We are one.

I can keep tabs on him now, but at what price? He can take control of our body, and he retains his abilities! Physically we appear no different, but our spiritual essence overpowers this visage. He is just as strong as he ever was, and I, just as smart. Our spirits remained attuned to the commanding mind, and as such, I can use my weapons and abilities, and he the same. We can simply... switch.

This leaves us at an impass, however. I know tha-

Eric is correct. We are at an impass. I do not want this body. You are an inconvenience, brother. I would happily end you, but that wouldn't work to well- me being dead and such, now would it? I sha...

And the struggle continues. My will surpasses Sam's by far, but his ability to dominate is troublesome. I have formulated a plan.

We've come to an agreement.

For now, it does us no good to struggle for control. If he attempts to escape, he will be overpowered by my pack or myself- not to mention, once I regain control, it may put us in incredible danger considering where... or to whom he might take us. I cannot constantly restrain him, either. I need the entirity of my focus to function properly.

Thus, we agree to work together for the time being. I will release him, and allow him full, unrestrained use of the body provided he does no harm to my companions or myself. In return, he behaves. We can utilize each other's abilities to quickly find a way to undo this... curse.

Curse, brother? I believe its been too long since we've spent quality time together.

A curse, indeed, Sam. I fear you will not listen.

I told you I'd play along. I want out of this just as badly as you. We have the same goal, don't we?

It's a shame that one of us will have to die.

Such a shame.

-ES/SS

This parchment was recovered within the Shadow, but pieces have been lost due to exposure:

(text is damaged)... in my possession now. He has created defenses against the most potent of my abilites, and the only way to conquer him, is to beat him using his own... (text is further damaged)...mates are of some threat, but can easily be distracted.

(blood stains cover the text)... she uses. I fear if she accompanies him, this will add to their power. I am not one for planning, but... (parchment is stained) power in numbers. My strength surpasses... (missing text)... of the Pure.

Dear Eric. This fight is mine. It always has been.

(text is too damaged and thus indiscernible from this point)

Entry #2. Date unknown.

All of my initial thoughts held true.

After Killer took her away, she was brought back to me. She was beaten.

Through what I can only imagine was sadism, he hurt Tonya, and then made her deliver the message. "One of you is to die..." Such arrogance! As if we wouldn't find a way to exploit their foolishness! Dear Tonya, she nearly fell for it. I'm not losing her again.

Again, I am troubled with Tonya. Having been reuinited for only a moment, I sensed something troubling. The way she talks to me now... it's dismissive. I wonder why she speaks to me so?

We saved her. In a moment of what I perceived as ill-planning became the best execution of pack mentality I have ever seen. Marcus aggravated Nails, but didn't push hard enough. I took the next step, and impugned his intelligence. For a moment, I thought he believed me. He grabbed Tonya, and then threatened to kill me. As I welcomed it, I saw his eyes... he knew what he was doing. Marcus intervened as Nails feigned a hit, and with a quick stab he was unconscious. How on earth did he know how to make a sleeping toxin anyway?

With some poor acting we managed to convince them Marcus was dead. As Killer stepped down, Nails pinned him as I snapped his neck. It was quite satisfying.

Unfortunately after this, chaos broke loose. The building became a warzone with the arrival of "Magaloth", whom I believe to be of little threat despite the discord he created. After several grenades and some zombies, we managed to return power to the building. We then found the Essence.

It held such power.

Magaloth wanted something, but then... Tonya. She's more powerful then she initially let on. Perhaps she'll talk now that we have a moment's peace.

Once Killer's form returned, we again taught him manners. He controlled Tonya's body for a period, and as I had warned, he would pay for mistreating it. I am not one for brute force, but I believe that punch to his face was more satisfying than snapping his neck.

Ah, listen to me. Ever since the Wolf became me I am ever more hostile. This is all part of who we are, however. It is inescapable.

Marcus prepares for his trial. They've opened access to their library, and I shall do everything within my power to assist him. I feel victory is possible, and truly, there is no other option. I've formulated a plan to make this a stable event.

I certainly hope we won't need Plan B.

-ES

Entry #1. Date Unknown.


We've been in this realm for several days, possibly weeks now. Time passes differently in the Shadow, and without operating time pieces, it becomes anyone's guess. I've confiscated this book amongst the spirits' library, and it will now serve for my notes.

I noticed as we entered this realm that our spirit was draining. Our natural and spiritual abilities have become hindered by an unseen force, to which we've already inquired. Our essence remains locked from within us, and at the moment we are at the mercy of our captors. I believe, however, that they underestimate the Wolf, as most of them are wont to do.

To rescue Rids, they would have us complete a series of seven trials aptly named "The Seven". As one would expect minor riddles and duels, each test has put our lives in jeopardy. I find this vexing.

We've completed four trials as of yesterday. The first was simple enough, though I'm not sure if I respect or hate the use of pun; it appears figurative "escaping" serves as equal methods to its literal definition. The biting attitudes of the Ethros is infuriating, primarily that of their little puppet "Killer-of-Lies". He announces the trials, and always with a sharp tongue. "The Traitor", "The Manticore", "The Secret". He interferes personally with me by means of another.

Tonya... or "Rain" as she calls herself now.

Magick is surreal to me, it bends and breaks past the realms of normal Urathan power. It's fascinating. This is why I don't question the events that have lead to the present.

By means of these magicks, as I theorize (though of which I am still unsure), the old man in the sewers is a practitioner, and through the Shadow he changed the past.

Oddly, though, I remember both events clearly. They overlap, as if two sections of history were simply superimposed over the other. Intriguing.

I remember her death, and remember her life. Troubling still, is the fact that she still left my life at the same time. In my youth, she died. Yet in that same time, she lived, and she was gone. I'm not sure when she left our hometown, or where she had gone. Somewhere in the timeline, she became a caster.

What happened to you, Tonya?

She seems so distant from me. From the third trial, we were introduced to "Rain" as Tonya. She speaks to me, but she seems preoccupied. I am ecstatic to see her again, but will she feel the same? She worries me greatly, and now that I've found her, I have more issues. I simply cannot lose her again. She mattered to me, and I've lost enough as it is in this life. I don't care for much, but as far as family goes, she and my pack are my most important burdens.

My pack. The Healing Scars. Something about the way we operate- we seem preordained to take certain roles, and we do so naturally. We communicate without speaking, it seems- taking our places as if we had been choreographed. Marcus, professional lawyer and social savant, speaks for the group, maintaing rapport with those we meet. He has a bit to learn, but he's coming along nicely. In due time, the foreign idea of Uratha will be his first nature. Nails, an inscrutable fellow of brutish spirit, seems capable of taking the brunt force of a tank. He's a bit brash from time to time, especially when he and Marcus have an "exchange"- but he is surprisingly loyal. He has his own purposes, whatever they may be, but provided orders do not conflict with his own, Nails will do as you ask him, without hesitation. Then, as I can do none other, I think. I always try to assess patterns and methods, then I formulate. I think, I solve. It would seem that as a pack, we are one with a voice, body, and mind respectively. I have, indeed, grown attached to them. This is why the trials are affecting me so. The Ethros have hurt my pack, by what is seemingly their own amusement- excuses of "our way is different" aside. Killer has even taken to taunting me with the well-being of Tonya. "When I am done with her..." he said.

As of that moment, I have decided I will kill him. We are, by nature, hunters of prey. Just as we hunt, we protect as well. Killer-of-Lies is a bane upon the Shadow and the Spirit, and has treated my pack's lives as toys. The Ethros claim these trials are to be respected. To be respected, one must be respectful- and Killer, in his arrogance, does not understand the severity of the situation. He is expendable, and the Ethros will replace him. In the Shadow, without use of our Essence, I fear that Killer will survive. We can destroy his form, but can we purge him? Regardless, as Father Wolf had done before us, we will punish the spirits that are incapable of proper conduct. As I've always taught myself, however, patience is a virtue, and one must think before acting. There will come a time.

The door opens now. More on this later.

-ES

This will be the future home of posts concerning Healing Scars packmate, Eric Sky.