A tremendous paw, so grand in scale that it could firmly engulf the head of man, caressed the surface of a small pool of water, rounding about it in a manner that proved gentle in a way unlike any other. Faint ripples drifted across its cool, clear surface, disturbed by nothing but the earthy toned pelt that so faintly contacted it, yet within that same moment its surface grew still. So still in fact, that even the lightness of the breeze that had found its way among the dense, full forest, did not spoil it. For all its clarity there shifted faint images within, those that did not belong to the shadows of the pine canopy above. They were blurry, indistinct - a waking dream that filled the mind of the observer with imagination, wonder and prophesy.

The eyes the pool poured its visions into from its shallow depths seemed to shimmered with a light of their own, almost reflecting the images they bore witness to. They were keen, animal things, bred and born not of mortal doings but of some other order. However, for all the greatness within their vivid gold, they saw things of terrible importance; murmurs of events beyond, both in time and place. They hung upon the images, drinking them with primal understanding. These figures, these shadows in the darkness, almost appeared to drown out the perfection of the spring before the massive paws.

They moved with fell purpose, wandering some place that was lost, desolate, but as they moved, the others departed while the darkness itself coalesced into a lone figure that slogged itself through a sea of sorrows and old violence.

It was unfamiliar, all of it, but the on looking eyes knew this ill omen, choosing only to watch on as the distinctive silhouette disappeared into the thickest of shrouds. A lone place of emptiness, concealed from even the eyes of nature itself, was this man's goal and just as soon as he met to it, the unearthly still water shuddered. Its flat surface moved but once, ajar with a lone ripple, and soon dispersed all sight from within the waters. Each great paw tensed upon the pure, fresh, damp soil that surrounded the small spring and the forest remained quiet instead of filled with the sounds of all those it belonged to. This absence was not by choice, but product of the vision of this man - this figure of shadows - that turned aside old evils and sought out something forgotten, something forbidden.

Minutes perhaps passed as the still air was filled with contemplative musing and then the magic faded away, nature again filling the arboreal world about in faint, ambient chatter once more.

[i]"You stir my sight."[/i]

The mighty paw reached forward again, a deadly talon unsheathed met with the water's surface, roiling it about slowly in a carefully traced circular motion. The ambiance fell silent at the words - the chatter of distant birds and the stirring of faint creatures came to an abrupt halt.

[i]"Why now, shadow? What is it that you see that you did not before?"[/i]

The touch struck this time in the center and the water regained its absolute stillness. Yet, nothing accompanied the motionless surface that was the crystal spring among the rich earth around it. The golden eyes swept through it, seeing nothing more this time than reflection - great jaws wider than the chest of even behemoth men, flanked by tremendous ivory fangs. The mirror remained still, as did the observer, the two almost determined to compete as to whose will would break, yet neither did.

[i]"So..."[/i] The ebon flesh of the jowls moved, [i]"We have at last seen one another then."[/i]

A paw outstretched once more, this time moving above the surface both soil and water, palm spread wide in a slow arc with each commanding digit spread wide. From the center of the liquid at its depths, bubbles surfaced and the water began to babble; a small, tender young stream forming from it and starting down the earthen ruts, following the most simple of paths. In moments the scrying waters grew into a natural spring, alit with nourishing glint in the mixture of soft sun rays and shadows of ancient trees' canopies.

The form roused itself, standing without a word further, and the world at the mere beck of its richly furred head returned to its former sound.

For all of its sight beyond that which mere living eyes could take in, it knew not who or what it was it witnessed. It knew only that its prey, elusive as it had been, had at last made itself seen. A man, or a shadow of one, was that which had brought this vision to the forefront where so many others sights had failed; a single hand at last dealt the cards of fate to be played. But it all explained so little - so little in fact, that as the noble animal turned away from the stream whose connection it had borrowed, it still knew truly nothing of what was to be done.

But now? Now at last there was a figure to this formless mass and proof that even its power faltered slightly; in the blink of an eye, it hesitated for but one moment of prolonged silence. It, as with anything else, now proved it was capable of weakness where prior it was impenetrable.

Padding away, each stride landing softly upon the moist pine litter and green fern, the legend of the wild world reflected upon what was to come next...