Long Nights

[NomadGaia 930]

Awaiti woke in her bed with a start, her breath shaking like a leaf in the wind. Another nightmare. The 6th one this week, in fact. She cursed under her breath at these dreams that plagued her. She pulled the light blankets around her, sluggishly moving her legs over the side of the bed. She stared down into the fireplace, at the dim embers that sat among the ashes, letting out a short sigh as she watched them.

This nightmare had been plaguing her for days. It had given her no sleep, and yielded her nothing. She couldn’t make sense of it. It was the same, every single time; A hooded figure hobbled to the shrine in Linandria, offering an apple to the brazier. However, when they offered, the flame from the brazier began to spread, overtaking the forest. The woman begged, pleaded for it’s end. But it kept spreading. When she turned around to run, she was barred by the staves. The objects that she and her people carried almost every day. Druidic staves It frightened her. But she didn’t understand it.

She took a deep breath, dragging the blanket with her as she stood. The door to her room groaned with weakness as she left the room. Her footsteps echoed as she moved down the hallway, and onto the balcony, where she leaned against the railing. Her weary eyes peered around the darkened woods. Her mind was in a strange state. So many questions were racing through her mind yet she availed no strength to answer them. The lazy race raged on through her. She burned with a curiosity to know more. Suddenly, she had an idea.

Awaiti traced her steps through the sleeping manor, back into her room, where she began to look around. She looked and looked until she found it. A small jar of nightsap. In the dark, she gathered a spoon of the dark liquid, drinking it. She went back to bed, ready to face the nightmare ahead.

It started as it had, but clearer than before. She was in such a deep sleep from the nightsap that she was able to focus in on the dream. She came to the point where the figure was barred from leaving the shrine. Her heart grew with fear for the figure. They were about to be engulfed in flame! However, instead of waking up, the nightsap kept her under. The nightmare continued.

More cloaked figures emerged from the forest, grabbing the staves. They unhooded themselves, becoming the figures of the some of the Naelaurir. Leo, Artimec, Lyemar, and also herself. And though Awaiti was present in the dream, she wasn’t looking through her own eyes. She was detached, watching herself move. The group approached the figure, drawing swords. The figure stepped back, reaching out. The figure begged the druii to stop their advance, but the group kept going.

A strange darkness came from a ring on the figure’s hand. Whoever it was began to panic, only inciting more dark from their own hands. In one swift move, the druids raised their swords, and tried to bring them down. But the darkness fought back in a violent storm. It crushed both flame and bone alike. And with that the druii were cast aside. The figure ran, and the darkness spread with them. Even with the nightsap, Awaiti was unable to stay asleep and she awoke with a scream that echoed throughout the entire Aureon manor.

[Kaelan 1918]

Khiara Aureon sat on the couch in front of the fire pit in the living room of the manor. She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her leg which in turned supported her chin. Her eyes gazing at the three necklaces she held in front of her, the fire reflecting off of the gold chains and gems of the first two necklaces. The wooden Aureon tree a shadow against the flames of the last necklace she held.

At the scream, she gave a quick flick of her ears. Her eyes darted to the arch that separated the living room with the kitchen and bed rooms.

"At leazt I am not alone in that regard. Zomeone elze zharez my pain." She mumbled quietly, returning her gaze to the necklaces she held before her.

[MrMineLoveDude 299]

Alex's eyes shoot open as he's awakened by the nearby screaming from within the manor. He furrows his brows as he simply groans softly; too exhausted to check where the sound originated from. "I'll check... later." he says, drifting off into his slumber.