Shadowsight felt horror flood his body as Ashfur pounded nearer. Gasping with shock, he felt the dark warrior crash into him, before he was swept away by unconsciousness.

He opened his eyes into what felt like a dream. Silence surrounded him, the air thick, as though a storm hovered close. He was standing on four steady legs. Looking around, he saw that the gloomy meadow had disappeared. There was no battle here, no tangled thicket of trees, only gray cloud above, around, and below. It enveloped his paws and swirled around him. Am I dead?

Not yet. Ashfur’s voice answered him, filling his thoughts like an owl crying in the night.

Shadowsight jerked around, scanning the grayness. Ashfur’s eyes flashed in the murk, and the dark warrior padded forward, gleeful spite in his gaze. He stopped in front of Shadowsight.

“Where are we?” Shadowsight fought back rising panic.

“In your mind,” Ashfur mewed. “We’re connected, don’t forget. This place is as much mine now as it is yours.”

Shadowsight shook his head. “Get out!”

Ashfur purred. “You’re dying,” he mewed. “If I leave you here, there will be nothing left to tie you to life.”

Shadowsight stiffened with anger. “If I’m dying, let me die.”

“You don’t have to die.” Ashfur padded around him, trailing his tail along Shadowsight’s spine.

A Light in the Mist, Chapter 17