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end of the hallway, I found a giant window far larger than
should have been permitted by the trim dimensions of the
corridor. It looked upon the entrance to a massive and feral
woodland—it was one of the most spectacular forests I’d
ever laid eyes on, inside or outside a dream. The trees were
like an army of leafy monsters that had paused mid-march.
I gazed through the window for some time, searching the
dense tree line, following a wide beam of moonlight that
moved among the treetops like a spotlight. After a time,
something began to draw close to the edge of the forest—
it was gigantic and terrible, older than the light that tried
in vain to penetrate the thick canopy of trees. The lesser
creatures of the woods fled its approach, followed by the
lean and ferocious barons of the forest. Even the moon
seemed to retreat from it. The forest inhaled and held its
breath, waiting. Something stepped from behind the curtain
of silence, and—
I awoke violently to the sounds of gnashing teeth and
throaty growls as something ripped the dream out of me.
I jumped up from where I lay, the hot light of the blazing
sun pouring through the circle of trees. Not a single merciful
shadow fell across me. I was in full view and covered in
the sick warmth of unfettered daylight. I had been left like
the debris of a wolf-kill—scattered, ravaged, exposed. Far
beyond the pain thundering behind my temples, I could hear
the wet sounds of my dream being devoured.
I had yet to completely grasp the logic behind the game
of dream-swapping, but it was clear something had eaten the
dream right out from my skull. I was equally sure the event
was nothing less than another killer who had come to that
point on his list where appeared my name. But this was no
average killer—it was a true Wolf. And from the impression
I got, it was a big one. I smiled at the thought.
I moved on, walking ponderously for some time, rolling
over this new dream-eater in my mind. When I next looked

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