In front of him stood Scarlett, a smirk flickering from her soulless face.

What do you want from me?

"Hush child." She whispered. Her smile growing wider, exposing her fangs.

I'm not afraid of you!

"You will be!"

Suddenly a howl broke his trance, he looked back and saw that Shadow was trying to snap him out of it.

"Don't let it take control!" He shouted.

Scratch listened as he ran with his pack, desperate to get out quickly.

As he ran through the tall grass, he heard something brush past to his left. He looked at what appeared to be another wolf, covered in streaks of black. It's eyes looked soulless. It bared its teeth at him, waiting to devour him.

Stolen story; please report.

Scratch was again deep in trance, his fear getting the best of him as he cowered with his tail between his legs. It appeared to be a gray wolf like him, only larger. Scratch backed away slowly as he stared into the eyes of the beast. As he studied it, it almost looked like.........

"SCRATCH! THAT ISN'T YOUR BROTHER! SNAP OUT OF IT!" He could hear Shadow say.

He couldn't help it though.

The beast nearly swapped Scratch as he dodged; he then began to strike. Before he could land his claws on him, Shadow intervened, scratching him instead.

"Shadow? WHAT THE HELL!" Scratch said, taken aback. Shadow panted. "I'm sorry....I had to stop you......" Scratch then realized what he was about to do.

Howl stood in the place of his brother, or what he thought was... He appeared to be shaken. "I tried to wake you up, but you didn't listen."

Scratch stammered. "I - I didn't even know that was you!"

"When I tell you to ignore them, you ignore them!" Shadow exclaimed.

"What ARE they?" Scratch said, turning to the black wolf.

"Your own thoughts." Shadow said simply.

"Is this what she created?"

"No, it's a natural phenomenon. Let's go, before we lose ourselves again."

They wasted no time getting out of the valley.