The darkness surrounded him, it engulfed him, but he did not feel fear. He felt comfortable within that darkness.

Around him floated five… things. They had no real form, they probably weren’t even really there, but he could sense them, he knew there was something there, just not what.

Have we found him?

The voice did not reach his ears, but rather seemed to come directly from inside his mind. He did not know why either, but the voice felt like a cool breeze.

It has been too long, I do not even know what it is we are really searching for anymore…

This time he could sense a rock, old as time itself.

Leaves rustled as the next spoke.

It must be who we seek. I think he can sense our presence.

Without understanding what was happening he suddenly felt a pressure as if five people were pushing against him from all sides, but there was still nothing there. He turned and twisted his head but could still see nothing.

He can sense us, this time the voice seemed to singe the back of his neck, See how he tries to find us.

Too bad we seem to be running out of time, the breeze spoke again, but we will speak to you again. It is starting now, and you need to wake up.

There was a blinding flash behind his eyes and searing pain. Then he opened his eyes just as the wooden staff swung around again and cracked him in the side of the head. And by the pain he felt, that was probably the second swing.