Isaka’s eyes opened and she saw only darkness. She felt something brush against her skin and her back rub against gravel as she was dragged across the ground. She groaned and put a hand to her head.

She found her right arm was caught in an iron like grip as whatever had kidnapped her dragged her behind it.

“You are a mighty warrior.” The hyena thing said. Its voice was harsh, filled with a merciless humor. It yipped happily as it dragged her behind it. “Like those we fought with before the long sleep. Long, yes, long long sleep.”

“What are you?” She asked as she reached down with her free hand only to find her hip holster empty.

“We are the pack. The pack yes, the pack. You will make a good prize. Good training for young hunters. We lived here long, long before you lived here easterners. In the days of the stars, and magic. Before fire, powder, wheels and steel. We were asleep last, so we woke up first. But soon more will come. More, yes. More.”

Isaka had no idea what this thing was rambling about. “If you’re so old, then how do you speak english?” It yipped a harsh and bitter laugh.

“I am not speaking your crude tongue. No. I speak the language of spirits. All spirits speak as one. You hear, and think in your tongue. Can’t be helped. No, it can't be helped. But you will taste good after some chasing, and fear pumping through your blood.” the creature yipped happily. Isaka realized then that she heard the gunfire of the firefight only distantly now. There were other shapes moving next to them in the dark, through the grass like sharks through darkened water.

“Make her sleep” another lower voice said from somewhere off to Isaka’s right. “She sees us now, hears us. She can learn too much from the pack.”

“She will be dead soon.” Isaka’s captor snapped towards the new voice. His teeth clacking together in a threat. “The pups will hunt her, learn from her strength. When they are done she will not be able to speak of what she hears or sees.”

“But if she escapes. . .”

“She will not. The humans of this era are weak, they use their steel and their powder as a crutch against the powerful. Soon they will learn, they should have embraced the system's gifts. That is the only way they would have been strong enough to withstand our awakening.”

“Make her sleep!” The second voice said, this time pleading. “Before we say more.” Her captor growled deep in his throat, before dropping her arm and rounding on her. It breathed out a purple haze as it opened its jaws wide. Isaka tried to not breathe in, she held her breath as long as she could. Then, only took shallow breaths. But the haze lingered, and soon her vision blurred. Then, the darkness of sleep took her.