Struggling with all the might a baby wolf could muster, Eli whipped his body around in crazy complicated twists and turns, leaps and skips. He screeched like a mad hawk, slamming himself on the rough sanded ground, looking for the nearest rock or reef to slam himself into. The pain was absolutely unbearable. Eli didn't know whether to cry or just give up and let the demon do its thing. This voice was not his, he was not in control of himself; the only thing he could do was focus on the searing pain and what was going on within his fragile body.

Eli heard a malicious laugh in his head. "Stop trying, you little idiot! I am in control now!"

In the midst of all his screams, Eli cried, "Master save me!!"

All at once, there was an immense ripping pain in his chest, then the spasms and pain diminished dramatically. There was a grating screech that echoed throughout the ocean waters, and Eli was still. The echoes of the screech lasted for a while. Eli, on the ground, opened his eyes to little amber slits. His vision was blurry. A dark red object spun out in midair, out of control. Then mysteriously, the figure burst into flames underwater. They were not normal flames from a fire; they were supernatural flames. Like a miracle.

His ears were ringing loudly, but the little wolf noted a faint, deep voice resound in the ocean space.

"This is not the last of us. THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN!"

That was the last thing Eli heard before everything was succumbed to the dark void of unconsciousness. Or the dark claws of death.

* * *

Fire. Fire and more fire. dry, hard, and cracked red Earth beneath his feet. No water in sight. Feet aching, heart, pounding, thick smoke clogging his nose and lungs. Mysterious sounds echoing off the red imminent cliffs hanging over him like frozen tsunamis. Weird sounds, scary sounds. His impaired eyesight did not notice before that the fire was coming up from within the dead earth as flaming geysers. Involuntarily, he walked right into one.

He flew back as soon as one hair on his body felt the abnormal heat form the wall of fire. Pain came back once again to bite him in the behind-- or, should he say, burn him in the behind. He lie on the rough earth while hidden creatures surrounding him laughed callously. Tears came to his hurt eyes- which were almost blind- but they evaporated immediately. Where am I?? He finally thought.

Another fire geyser erupted behind him close enough that it just missed him. Another laugh, but this time it was deeper. Finally he began to run. He had no idea where he was running, but as long as he kept moving, he could probably escape this hell.

Faster and faster he ran, his improved hearing helping him dodge the geysers and mysterious little claws that tried to rake across his body. But the heat persisted.

He could hear footsteps. They were on his tail, he knew it. Not sure what was chasing him, but whatever it was, he was the prey.

"Wait, stop! Is that you? Wait!"

A random voice made him stop, regardless of the beasts behind him. He could no longer feel the ground vibrating with the pounding of their feet on their chase. His eyesight was completely blurry; whatever was calling him, he could not see. This could leave him vulnerable. He decided to turn back.

"No wait, stop! Please come back! I miss you and I'm so sorry!"

As he was fleeing, he paid closer attention to the sound of the voice. It was a female voice. A very pretty one in fact. It almost sounded comforting to him. But with what he had gone through so far, you couldn't trust everybody. Yet that tone...

"Please come back! I will do anything to make it up to you!" The voice in the distance behind him started to crack with sorrow. "You can be mad at me, but please, come back!"

He slowed his marathon to a quick trot, then a slow walk, then was finally still. He stood for several minutes, waiting for the voice to return. But it didn't. He lifted his front paw forward to take a step, until he heard, "WAIT!"

He turned around slowly, bracing himself for an instant assault. No such thing happened. He heard some soft footsteps trot over to him. He noticed a drastic change in the air's scent. It went from pungent and dour to light and sweet, like a tropical mist. With the little ability he had left to see, He saw a bright blue figure contrast the black, red and orange behind it. The figure was so close now he could feel a cool radiance from its (maybe her?) body. She was like a walking seaside breeze. "Who are you?" He asked, stammering so much he was nearly inaudible. The figure stood still, blurry, blue, and undistinguishable.

The blue beauty before him came closer...

She nuzzled the scruff of his neck. Somehow, he didn't think this was a devious trick; this heartfelt snuggle was pure and unfeigned. She spoke again, soft like an angel.

"I really miss you. Please forgive me and come back."

And he woke. Not in a fiery arena, but surrounded by the familiar scent and feel of water. Alone as ever.