Dreams of the past and Nightmares to come. 1

The sun was bright and it was early in the morning as Zarin opened his eyes and yawned. He slowly sat up in bed trying not to wake Dack who was sleeping naked in bed next to him. Zarin smiled as he leaned over and gently kissed Dack on the forehead, then he pushed the covers away and got up and headed for the private room at the end of the hall. Zarin and Dack had a good night of talking and making love. They had both been exhausted when they fell asleep in each other's arms. Now it was morning and Zarin had an appointment to go out running with his friend Reno. After emptying his bladder and taking a shower, Zarin was fresh and ready to get the day started.
From the private room, he returned to their room and quietly dressed for the day.He put on a pair of soft cloth pants and a linen shirt made just for running and started out just as Dack called out his name.
"Where are you going?" Dack said as he yawned and stretched in bed.
"I have to meet Reno," Zarin said from the door. "We're going for a run this morning."
"Don't forget that the Professor wants to see us later after breakfast," Dack said. "He made it sound like it was important."
"I won't forget," Zarin said. "You get up and take a shower. Reno and I will meet you in the cafeteria in an hour."
"Love you," Dack said as he rolled over in bed and pulled the covers over his bare ass.
"I love you too," Zarin said. "But you better get up. I think it's going to be a busy day."
"No worries. I'll meet you downstairs for breakfast when you get back."
As Zarin shut the door and left, he met Lennix Hook hurrying out of his room heading for his classroom in the main building to start setting up for the days lesson.
"Aiya Lennix." Zarin waved.
"Aiya to you Zarin."He called. "What got you up so early?"
"Getting some exercise," Zarin said. "Gotta keep the body fit and trim."
"That is good advice." He said with a smile. "We must keep up with the young ones."
"Agreed." He waved as they parted. From his room, Zarin went down the hall and stepped on a transport stone and gave it in order to take him down to the Academy lobby. In a flash of light, the transport stone took him from the dormitories to the stone set in the first-floor lobby. There was a lot of traffic there as the school was being set up for the day. Elves, gnomes, human werewolves, and vampires all made their way through the halls to the different parts of the Andrake Academy where they would be teaching or lecturing.  As Zarin headed through the halls heading for the first-floor gymnasium and one of the rear exits, he passed Macon who nodded a good morning and hurried on to the infirmary and a busy morning. As Zarin walked through the halls pass the Cafeteria he could smell the breakfast they were getting ready for the cadets and staff. He smelled the sausage and bacon frying and the eggs, breakfast potatoes, flapjacks and maple syrup that were being set out. The wonderful aroma of the morning gauk almost made him stop in to and get his first cup. Instead, he hurried on into the back of the building and out through the gymnasium to find Reno there waiting for him dressed in linen shorts, and a silver tunic with the Andrake academy's crest of a single chevron, two crowns and the eagle.
"Took you long enough." Reno smiled. "I thought Dack might have you all tied up and you wouldn't make it."
"Nah" Zarin laughed. "I wore him out last night. He was sleeping late today, He doesn't have any classes until late, we'll see him at breakfast. Where's Thalia and Trip?"
"You didn't really expect to see her did you?" Reno looked at Zarin with wonder. "She's more into flying than running. Besides, she and Trip are off to Vasagi visiting Azeal and Tanis. They'll be home later."
"Then let's get this run going," Zarin said. "Once around the island and back?"
"You're on," Reno said. "You ready? Set? Shift!!"
Diving forward Reno shifted from his human form to that of the brown wolf and he was off. Following no more than a second behind him, Zarin took his Timberwolf form and went after him, They ran through the Academy's practice jousting field and on to the single combat squares. From there they hit the circular track field and headed out through the gate and into the forest of Nila.
Nila was a small island about six miles across that goes eight miles in a land with beautiful tropical beaches and several freshwater lakes and waterfalls. On the west side, it had high cliffs and a valley that was perfect for the Academy. There were many roads carved in through the island that lead to different sites including Professor Insa's private caves in the north and a new town they were setting up by the eastern bay as a harbor. There was a place were Dreik had set up fields for farming and a site in the northern hill for logging. The Shyr Ocean was rich with many kinds of fish for trade and the Mer-people of Aquilona would be their close neighbor.
From the Academy gates, Zarin and Reno ran down the road and took the left into the forest to a private beach they used for entertainment. Reno smiled to himself as he thought about the first night he and Thalia spent there talking by a beach fire. That was the night they had officially become more than friends. He remembered the sparkle in her eyes as he pulled her in for their first real kiss. She shuddered with passion as his hands moved up and down her bare back sending ripples of pleasure through her body. That night he promised her he would always be there at her side when she needed him. He promised no matter what, he would always love and protect her. Then she gave herself over totally to his touching warm hands. That night had ended in an explosion of passion then Reno took Thalia in his arms and they fell asleep. The next morning they woke up to the call of rainbow-colored Tarak's mating call. Reno took Thalia over to a freshwater spring that came running down from the high lands where they both quickly washed up and set out to meet the others back up on the bluff.
As Reno led Zarin through the thick forest, they reminisced about the past year and all the changes that had happened. Their trip to Land's End where Tabor and his crew searched and found the ring of Endrin. Their trip to Pentanthin where they met Luke and Tored Serban and their sisters.The war between the Humans and the Savonti. Finding Tabor and chasing him back home to Keanna. It had been a very rough year but they had all come through it except for Craven who had given his life in the final battle with Gorak. But their adventure on Pentanthin was over and they were all home again. The Academy had been moved to Nila, a more stable place where there would be no power struggles over its ownership of its magic or secrets. The Academy would now be a separate state under its own leadership with a council of six that would be in total control. Professor Insa, of course, would be the headmaster of the Academy with Masters Gaunt, Humbridge, Terryn, Macon and the newest Master, the ex-lord of the Savonti, Maru. The Savonti that returned to Keanna with the Academy had made themselves a comfortable home on the south shore. There was plenty of wildlife there to keep their hunting instincts sharp and there were other islands they could take as their population grew. The only thing that was expected of them was to never hunt Humans again and to try and live in peace with all the others on Keanna. Once on Keanna, Maru made it his business to meet with most of the Elven, Human, Vampire and Werewolf leaders from the mainland and the islands around Nila and sign a peace treaty. He swore an oath to keep his people in line and a promise to come to the aid of his new friends if there is trouble.
From the beach, they ran north through the exotic forest, then down to the lagoon at the south end of Nila. As they stopped for a rest, Zarin shifted and looked out to sea to a small Aquilonian ship that had been given to Lord Maru. He was surpassed to see Maru himself out there manning the nets fishing. Zarin put two fingers to his lips and let out a loud whistle. In seconds Maru lifted his head to see who had called.
From the shore, Zarin, and Reno waved at the master fisherman. Zarin was astonished at how fast the Savonti Lord had made the rank of Master Fisherman. For most men, it was 10 years hard study and many fishing trips to gain the rank. Maru had done it all in less than five years. It was like he had a talent for drawing in the fish to his nets or pole. Many local fishing boats would follow him out to cash in on some of Maru's luck.
From there, they turned in and headed up the shoreline to one of Dack's favorite places. Dree and the palace of Orym Dree and his Coral elves. As they ran up the eastern coast of Taggitia, Zarin waited for the shining towers of Dree to appear. But instead of Dree's magnificent beauty, gray stone pillars appeared.
Zarin stopped and stared up at the dull metropolis. This wasn't Dree and he has no idea what it was. Just then Reno caught up with him.
[What's wrong?] Reno asked as he sniffed at the breeze blowing at them from the city.
[What's that?] Zarin lifted his nose to point at the city. ]I don't recognize it.]
[You mean Aesar?] Reno licked at hi paw then wiped his face. [What do you mean, we pass here everyday. It hasn't changed.]
[Aesar?] Zarin looked at him then tilted his head. [This was Dree. I mean its suppose to be Dree, home of Orym Dree and the Coral elves. Somethings not right here.]
A chill went through Zarin. It was a feeling he had when things weren't going right. He had it before. He had had it just before the Academy disappeared and they ended up











To be cont...