Owen's Post:

 

Owen had arranged to meet Speed an hour after sundown, in his home, knowing how he was about punctuality, Speed arrived at the appointed time and after they had exchanged some small talk, Owen led him outside to the small balcony that ringed his home.

 

“I always like to conduct dream lessons outside if I can, for some reason I find it too claustrophobic in doors.”

 

Seating himself on the wooden floor, Owen indicated Speed should sit opposite him.

 

“Now before we begin I have to warn you that entering the Dream before you are prepared can be very dangerous. What happens to you there can affect you in the waking world. You can just as easily die there as you could here, and if you die there you die here as well, there is no second chance.” Owen did not want to scare Speed, but he had to understand this was not without it’s hazards.

 

Glancing at his face, Owen was beginning to wonder if anything could scare Speed, such was the confidence of youth. Owen then started to explain to him how to enter the Dream. “The first step is to enter the Dream itself. Don’t let it bother you if it does not happen at first. It is difficult at best to make yourself fall asleep. The best way is to focus on your breathing. Close your eyes." Owen watched as Speed did as he said.

 

"Do not try to force it. Just relax and drift. Feel your muscles relaxing; you’re breathing easing. Focus on the wolves, and moving to a spiritual place." Owen kept his voice soft and quiet, not wanting to disturb Speed’s concentration. Soon his breathing slowed and his body, visable, relaxed, slumping where he sat.

 

 

Owen waited a moment, making sure he really was asleep, then Owen closed his eyes and stepped into the dream world. Owen had selected the cottage where Wolflover lived as their meeting place and he emerged from the surrounding trees to wait for Speed to make an appearance. As he sat on the bench, Ice came over to him and nuzzled his hand. Owen scratched behind her ears, and the two of them talked until Speed popped into the Dream.

 

Owen

 

The WhiteWolf

 

Ranger Leader

He’d heard people talk about the Wolf Dream, but he wasn’t really sure what it was. But he knew that was why he was meeting with Owen so late. He still had a lot to learn, he knew. For example, he had a hard time figuring out what the wolves were trying to tell him. Even their names were usually indecipherable to him. “You will learn in time,” was all anyone ever told him. He expected he would throw a rock at the next person who told him that.

 

He just hoped learning about the Dream would be more interesting than the herb lessons… and he hoped he wouldn’t almost drown this time.

 

When Owen ushered him to the spot on his porch, Speed listened. Dangerous? He, like all boys, was instantly excited to give it a try.

 

He didn’t know why the pale Ranger was talking a whisper, but it was making him too drowsy to pay attention. He was worn out as an old set of horse shoes from fixing fence all day, and he’d eaten a big supper. If he wasn’t careful, he’d fall asleep before he heard much of anything. With the soothing tones of Owen’s voice relaxing him, before long he lost his fight against sleep and was lost to the physical world… and entering the Dream.

 

He was sitting at a table with a honeycake in front of him that was so big he could barely lift it. The enticing aroma was making his mouth water. He was just starting to reach for it to tuck in, when an old wolf walked through the kitchen looking disgusted.

 

“What?” Speed asked with dismay. He wondered if the honeycake belonged to the wolf, but that didn’t make any sense. Wolves couldn’t cook.

 

The wolf gave a disgusted shake of his head and growled at him, just as he heard the soft buzzing of Owen’s voice.

 

“Aha! I’m supposed to meet Owen!” he remembered, and with a flash, as fast as thought, even faster than he had imagined was possible, he streaked toward the source of the sound.

 

Owen's Post:

 

Owen watched as Speed finally made an appearance in the Dream. “Been off enjoying ourselves have we Speed? It is good to see you still ignore my warnings.” Speed stopped in his tracks, obviously wondering if Owen knew where he had been and what he had been up to. As he stood there his clothing flickered from one style to another, Speed had not noticed yet, his surprise at Owen’s words focusing all of his thoughts.. Indicating he should sit down next to him Owen reiterated his earlier warning about the Dream and the dangers it contained. Owen then started to explain the basics of the lesson to Speed.

 

“In the Dream control is everything, and that is what you are going to learn first. Your first lesson will be to control your clothing, at the moment your emotions are interfering with your control. That is why your clothing flickers like it does. Now you need to hold an image of your self, and how you want to look, in your mind. Once you learn to do this then this will not be possible.”

 

“What won’t Owen? ”Speed looked around apprehensively; thinking something untoward was going to appear. When nothing appeared he glanced back at Owen, raising an eyebrow in a silent question. “Check your clothes Speed, I do not think your normal clothing is a dress and stockings.” Owen did his best to suppress a smile at Speeds reaction, but he did not try very hard. “This is your first lesson Speed, try and change your clothes and your appearance back to how you want. Concentrate on how you want to appear here, your clothes and your hair. Picture yourself in your mind and fix that image there. It will take you some time to be able to do this without conscious thought, but we have plenty of time for you to practice.”

 

Owen

 

The White Wolf

 

Ranger Leader

“Agh!”

 

Suddenly embarrassed, Speed quickly tried to make the dress disappear. He was successful, but he looked back down when Owen laughed out loud.

 

The dress’s disappearance had only revealed brilliantly crimson thigh high stockings and a garter belt that he’d seen a woman wearing one time when he’d snuck into a peep show in Tear. He couldn’t see his face, but he felt the flames of embarrassment scorching his cheeks to match.

 

Suddenly the scandalous undergarments vanished, but in his foolish frame of mind they were replaced by a fool’s red-and-green-checkered motley, complete with bells on the tips of the upturned toes of his boots.

 

He was so mortified he wanted to run away, to flee as fast as he could. But before he took a step, he saw that the fool’s costume was transformed into his jockey outfit, complete with his riding crop and white pants tucked into knee high boots. He felt the weight of his helmet on his head, and though he couldn’t see it, he just knew his number was on his back.

 

He refused to look at Owen, because he was afraid the pale ranger would laugh even harder. He just wanted to disappear, to hide so that no one could see his failure. With that thought, his clothes became a curious blend of colors that faded into the background no matter how he moved or turned. Before he could stop himself he blurted out, “Nice.”

 

Owen’s voice returned his attention to the exercise. “Perhaps this will help,” the ranger said as a full length mirror appeared out of nowhere.

 

Speed looked into it, and saw his clothes flashing and changing in a blur faster than he could register.

 

“Think on your normal clothes, Speed,” Owen urged.

 

Just that quickly, he was in his work clothes and boots, although his garments still flickered periodically. Smiling sheepishly to the pale ranger, Speed admitted his difficulties. “This is tougher than it looks.”

Owen's Post:

 

Owen watched as Speed did his best to form a complete image and after several attempts and further encouragement from Owen, Speed’s appearance settled down, although it did flicker still, but that would go with time. Indicating Speed should sit down next to him Owen reiterated his earlier warning about the Dream then started to explain the basics of the lesson to Speed

 

“In the Dream control is everything, and that is what you are going to learn first. Your first lesson will be to control your clothing, at the moment your emotions are interfering with your control. That is why you clothing flickers like it does. Now you need to hold an image of your self, and how you want to look, in your mind. Once you learn to do this then this will not be possible.”

 

“What won’t Owen? ”Speed looked around apprehensively; thinking something untoward was going to appear. When nothing appeared he glanced back at Owen, raising an eyebrow in a silent question. “Check your clothes Speed, I think you might be a little old to be dressed like that, mind you your hair looks cute in pigtails.” Owen did his best to suppress a smile at Speeds reaction, but he did not try very hard. “This is your first lesson Speed, try and change your clothes and your appearance back to how you want. Concentrate on how you want to appear here, your clothes and your hair. Picture yourself in your mind and fix that image there. It will take you some time to be able to do this without conscious thought, but we have plenty of time for you to practice. Until you can hold your image steady, at all times, you will be in serious danger here. What I am showing you here is harmless, what others would show you would be far from harmless. Learn to control your emotions and your appearance, that will go a long way to ensuring your safety here.”

 

Owen

 

The White Wolf

 

Ranger Leader

Speed sat down across from Owen, and listened carefully. When the pale ranger smirked again and mentioned pigtails, he didn’t react as emotionally as he did the last time.

 

If what Owen said was right, and the young wolfkin had no reason to believe otherwise, letting his emotions go was what got him so carried away last time. So he purposefully did NOT reach up to feel his hair or look to see what silly outfit he was clothed in this time.

 

He’d seen more than enough of that already in the mirror Owen had provided earlier.

 

No, this time he forced himself to close his eyes and take a few deep breaths and picture himself as he was when he was working in the stables with Red. His favorite shirt, his work pants, and his boots. Before he opened his eyes again, he was calm. He even smiled because he could feel his toes inside his comfortable boots.

 

Looking into Owen’s ghostly face, Speed grinned broadly.

 

“This is going to be tough, but I think I can do it with a little more practice.”

 

In his mind Speed felt confident that the ranger would prepare him for the dangers, so there was no need for unnecessary worrying. If trouble came, he would do what he always had. Confront it, or run like the wind if it was too much for him to handle on his own.

 

 

Owen watched Speed intently as he tried to change his clothes to the ones he wanted. It took a while until he was absolutely satisfied with his appearance. But just as Owen was about to compliment him his clothing suddenly changed until he was covered from head to foot in furs, including his hands and feet. Waiting until Speed had changed himself back Owen asked him what had happened then. Speed explained to Owen that he had suddenly got a picture of mountains in his mind, snow capped mountains and obviously that was why he suddenly appeared dressed from head to toe in furs. “This is a very good example of why we must concentrate fully here Speed. A stray thought can lead to consequences you are not aware of. focus is all important here, even more so when you are new to this.”

 

Speed looked crestfallen at Owen’s admonition of him, but he realised he was not being spiteful, merely helping him to understand this new environment he was in. Owen stood up, after Speed had assured him he would try harder in future, and indicated that he should walk with him. “The next part of this lesson is slightly more difficult, but again at its core is control.” Owen showed Speed a rock he had picked up. “Now what I want you to do is try and change this rock to something else, what it is, is up to you.”

 

Just then the rock in Owen’s hand changed into a lifelike image of Iris, complete with her carrying Irlen. “Now obviously your first attempt will not be like this one, so I suggest you try something simple for now and see how you get on.” Owen handed the now normal looking rock to Speed. “Now just picture an every day object, or an object that is very important to you, hold that focus as intently as you can, and aim it at the rock. This is not an easy task for someone new to this, so expect to need a few goes at this. If necessary we can come back here every night until you are happy. So take a deep breath, compose yourself and begin when you are ready.”

 

Owen

 

The White Wolf

 

Ranger Leader

 

Speed looked at the rock. He concentrated. He furrowed his brow. He bit his tongue with effort. And it still looked like a rock. Just a normal, every day, boring rock. Was it mocking him?

 

“Uh, Owen? Why isn’t anything happening?”

 

The pale ranger just looked at the boy and smiled. “Keep trying, Speed. I told you it would be difficult.”

 

Speed stood there for what seemed an eternity, looking at the rock like an idiot. In his mind it was something simple, the bridle that he used with Red every day. That seemed natural and easy, but apparently it was harder than he thought.

 

After a while, he began walking in a circle around Owen. He was concentrating so hard that he never noticed the occasional flicker of his clothing, but the rock in his hand remained the same. The only difference as far as he could tell, was it became a little slicker. But that was due only to the sweat from his hand.

 

This was hard!

 

After what seemed forever and a day, Owen said, “Take a break, Speed. Then try again.”

 

Sighing with relief, Speed turned and walked toward Owen, intent only on relaxing for a moment. He didn’t notice the bridle swinging from his hand until he dropped to the ground and felt the steel and leather plop against his leg. Gasping with surprise, he grinned and held it up to Owen… only to be holding the rock.

 

Again.

 

“Blood and bloody ashes!”

Speed’s first attempt only lasted a few seconds and it was a flickering image not a solid one, but even so Owen was able to recognise what he had tried to change the rock to. But yet again he had forgotten one of Owen’s instructions, the one to try something simple, this was twice now that Speed had not done exactly as Owen wanted, but then again Owen did understand how easy it was to get carried away here, so he did not mention this one to Speed, but would do if he persisted in flouting his instructions.

 

The pair of them talked for a while, Owen explaining how to make the transformation of the rock easier and how to hold on to the transformed rock. With further practice Speed got better and better, especially now that he stuck to what Owen wanted him to do. Owen let Speed try a few more times before calling their lesson to a close. “When we are in the Dream, our bodies do not get as much rest as they would if we weren’t, so I think now would be a good time for us to return to them and get some real sleep. You first.”

 

Speed protested slightly, but it was good natured and he did as he was told, Owen took one last look around, smiling at the memories of his first lesson here, then he too disappeared. The two of them met every night for the next seven nights, and by the end of this time, Speed’s control and focus had improved greatly. He was still prone to random thoughts, which caused him to lose his focus, but these episodes were growing less and less.

 

On their last night in the dream, Owen and Speed were walking along a tree covered path, the branches of the trees forming a canopy above their heads and the light around them had a green tinge to it because of this. As they walked further along the path, Ice disappeared without Speed noticing and quickly the female wolf made her way through the trees, knowing exactly what White Fang wanted her to do. Eventually she found a spot that would allow their plan to work, and made her way into the lower branches of the tree, laying full length along a branch and watching the trail. Eventually, Owen and Speed came into view, the trail here had narrowed and Ice waited for Owen to pass, before pouncing on Speed as he passed under the branch Ice was on. The weight of the wolf bore Speed to the ground, and as Ice stood on his chest, her long red tongue came out and started to lick at Speed’s face. All the time this was happening Owen stood off to one side, a smile on his face, although he and Ice played this trick many times, it never failed to make him smile as he observed the reactions from the one who had been pounced upon.

 

Owen

 

The WhiteWolf

 

Ranger Leader

 

“GAH!”

 

In an instant, he went from enjoying a leisurely stroll with Owen to getting knocked to the ground, attacked by one of the many dangers the tall, ghost-like Ranger had warned him about. He couldn’t move, which was odd even pinned to the ground as he was.

 

It took him a couple of moments before he realized the “attack” was really only a joke that Owen and his companion Ice had played on him. The long, warm licks on his face were certainly not threatening now that his initial shock was gone, and he heard Owen laughing out loud just a few feet away. Even the look in the wolf’s face seemed amused at his predicament.

 

Turning red with embarrassment, Speed joined in the laughter. It was funny, after all. “I’m pinned like a turtle on its back,” he admitted, laughing at himself all the more. “But what is that clanking sound?”

 

Looking down at his still immobile body, the young Wolfkin saw that his entire body was covered in the thick, steel plate armor often worn by Children of the Light. “So that’s why…” CLANK!

 

To add insult and more humor to the situation, a metal faceguard fell into place suddenly. So I’m wearing a helm, too. Blood and bloody ashes, he cursed in his head.

 

“I’ll never live this down, will I Owen?” he asked sheepishly, the grin on his face both amused and embarrassed. Chuckling at the scene, and at the happy wolf still standing on his chest, he added with a long sigh and almost uncontrolled laughter, “Like a big shiny steel turtle, indeed!”

 

He hoped Owen didn’t hurt himself laughing so hard.

Owen had come to realise that training Speed was not going to be like any other training he had ever done, and once his laughter had subsided and Ice had stopped showing her appreciation for Speed Owen helped the young man to his feet. Owen explained to Speed about control and focus and slowly Speed changed his clothing back to what he wanted to wear and not what his emotions dictated for him to wear.

 

“I know this is very difficult and alien to you Speed, but you must learn to concentrate here, and concentrate fully otherwise you will not only be a danger to yourself but to those who accompany you here.” Owen was not lecturing, nor did he show any disappointment in his voice, as he had said what they were doing in the Wolf Dream was not something that was easy to learn.

 

“I think for now you should return to your body and get some real sleep. All the time we spend in the Wolf Dream we are not getting the same quality of sleep we would get without dreaming.”

 

“But Owen I was just……..”

 

Before he could finish speaking Speed winked out of the dream, sent back to his body by Owen, who gave a slight chuckle at the thought of Speed’s disappointment and then turned to around to face the figure he knew would be waiting for him.

 

“Hello old friend, it is good to see you again.”

 

The next night, and for several nights there after, Owen and Speed would meet up in the Wolf Dream and work on Speed’s control of his emotions and his concentration. As the nights passed Speed improved and soon Owen was trying more and more devious ways to test the young man’s control. Some managed to break his concentration and Speed would suddenly appear in the most startlingly of clothes and hair styles, but more often than not he managed to change back without missing a beat.

 

One night Owen led Speed along a now familiar trail, but tonight was going to be different, tonight would be Speed’s greatest test so far, and one he would have to face alone. As they walked Owen talked about inconsequential things, making sure the conversation was as normal as was possible, although Speed kept on asking questions about the Wolf Dream, but Owen did his best to steer the conversation back to mundane things. As they walked the trail got narrower and narrower and the branches from the trees hung lower until they were almost touching the tops of their heads.

 

Eventually there was only room for one person to walk, and so Owen signalled for Speed to go ahead of him. As he did Speed started to ask another question of Owen, one concerning the Wolves and how he could find a companion like Owen had. When Speed stopped talking there was no answer and so the young man turned around to see where Owen was only to find he was alone on the trail. After a moment he decided to make his way back, figuring that Owen had stopped for a reason and he would go and find out what was keeping him.

 

As he went to take his first step, his foot would not move, nor would his lower leg. Looking down at them Speed realised that somehow he had wandered into the middle of some sort of quicksand. Looking around himself he tried to reach for one of the low lying branches, but for some strange reason they all now seemed to be out of reach, and all the time he was sinking slowly the quicksand reaching to his thighs, and Owen was no where to be seen.

 

Overhead, Owen seemed to float watching Speed as he tried to decide how to get out of his predicament, Speed’s clothing flickering, but not changing, not yet anyway.

 

 

 

Owen

 

The WhiteWolf

 

Ranger Leader

 

Speed began to panic, flailing and flopping about like a fish in a boat. But as the quicksand rapidly sucked him waist deep, a calm voice in the back of his mind that sounded eerily like Owen’s said, Is this how you are supposed to get out of a mess in the Dream, Speed? I don’t think so…

 

“You’re right,” Speed said out loud to no one. But the calm voice had been right, and the young wolfkin quit fighting against the quicksand, and as quickly as that he quit sinking. Taking a few deep breaths to calm himself, he asked aloud, “What would Owen do if he was me?” Unknown to the boy, his tongue found its way between his teeth and stuck out of his mouth as he concentrated, his brow furrowed in thought as he contemplated a way out of this mess he had somehow fallen into.

 

He thought furiously, unaware that in his concentration he was thinking out loud. “In the Dream anything is possible, so that means if I focus like Owen tells me to, I should be able to just climb out.”

 

As if by magic, the hold of the quicksand loosened, and Speed took a step forward. As if by magic he was standing once again in the trail, though he couldn’t remember crossing from one place to the other.

 

“It is magic,” he announced, in awe of the powers in this place. “Now, I need to find Owen. I hope he didn’t get lost without me around to keep him out of trouble.”

 

Laughing at the thought, the young would-be Ranger jogged on down the trail looking for his teacher and confidant, completely unaware that his clothes hadn’t even flickered since the calm voice spoke up in his head.