Penance

*Maverick*

I struggle to control the fall into the world of dreams. The inevitable spiral to the only place in the world, dream or real, that I fear. The darkest part of my mind, the reason for my self loathing and why I look for forgiveness in everything I do, why I started hunting rogues to begin with.

I try to breathe through it all, the rushing of my mind. The twisting of my insides telling me that in a moment, no matter how hard I try, I will open my eyes and I will be back in that field. The same field that started the events of the hell I had to live through.

But when I open my eyes, I’m living it all again. The rogues jump out of the woods, and panic digs its claws deep within me. My first thought should be to use the mind link to warn the pack, but I’ve grown cocky. Years of training have led to this one moment. My first fight, it’s finally my time to put all that hard work and sweat to good use.

The first one lunges for my throat and, without so much as a sidestep, I avoi