Ancestors or Foes? [Solo Event]

Her sleep was plagued by restless dreams that led nowhere. She knew the difference between a visit from the dead in Somnium and just simple dreams and nightmares. These were the nonsensical, winding, twisting patterns of unpleasant dreams and she rose each time wondering how her husband was still willing to share the alcove with her when she thrashed about enough to send clods of moss and prairie straw hay in every direction and rumple the furs.

Her parents’ faces. Aramis’ face. Faces she’d never met yet somehow knew as other ancestors that had never set one paw on Boreas or Austerian land. They called, beckoned, warned of danger, and she was helpless to heed what they said. It was never clear, and with each night and ‘day’, her inner frustrations built.

It was enough that she’d have welcomed a bear breaking into pack lands so she could at least sink her sabers into something and know that while she’d be injured, possibly, she’d be doing the right thing and defending her people in killing the bear or driving it off.

It was one such fretful night’s dreaming that shook her awake and she lay for several long moments, ears twisting to take in the sounds of sleep in the other alcoves. At least some were able to sleep soundly, and she envied them.

Finally, she admitted to herself that sleep wasn’t going to come back, as frustrating as the dreams were, and rose slowly, careful not to jostle Red and Ardyn, who had managed to withstand his mother’s flailing paws and kicks without waking. She paused and sniffed at his muzzle, nodding. He’d taken a little Valerian and Chamomile, by the smell of it. She didn’t blame him. If she still hadn’t worked enough sleepiness into her bones by the end of a patrol she’d be brewing a quick tea.

Silently, she padded out into the main chamber, pausing to gaze around at the walls and edges of the alcove. Even here, the crystals that had begun growing everywhere of late, had somehow managed to form. Where the marble had cracks or crevices, glowing blue mushrooms and crystals glittered and glowed, and she’d thought uncomfortably, that some of the mushrooms synced with her own heart when she passed too closely.

Out of the chamber into the ravine, and she paused, examining the spring and only drinking when she was certain the water hadn’t formed glowing algae. Lee had reported the phenomena in one of the creeks.

Aurielle drank slowly, letting the icy chill sting her throat and wake her more fully before she turned and padded down the ravine, stepping out into the woods. All around her a woodland that would have only been cast in shadow and moonlight – and her light – pulsed and glittered with mushrooms, especially in the wetter places, and crystals. Even an old leg bone from when Ardyn and his brother and sisters had been small, teething beasties, had grown a sheen of glowing crystals.

What was happening to the world?

The winter had been one of the most bizarre she’d ever experienced, and she was certain by now that her children were aware of her anxiety. Lee had been quiet, Ardyn guarded and watchful in his usual protective way. How strange to think that they would all be two soon. Spring was still a decent way away, though with how odd the moon cycle had become it was hard to tell just how far into the season it was.

She drew in a breath and let it out in a long sigh as she climbed the path up the hillock, by now trying to ignore all the crystals and mushrooms that glowed in the dark. It was easier when she was outside the chambers. Small animals skulked away, others stopped to stare warily, blazing visibly under the bare-branched moonlight and shadow cast by the dormant trees.

Abruptly, she stilled as she reached the top of the hillock, ears perking. Fireflies danced and glittered near the tower, but it was more than just the buzz and whir of their tiny wings and the wintry breeze gusting through autumn-bared branches below the crest of the hill. Her skin prickled as she caught the voice again. Erani?

“Come close, child.”

The voice and tone were as gentle and affectionate as they’d always been. In Somnium. She’d never heard her ancestress’s voice beyond flickers of memory from dreams. Ever. Taliesyn had reported something similar happening on his trip east. Voices he’d known well, and known belonged to those who were dead.

“How can I know this isn’t a hallucination from lack of sleep?”

A gentle laugh, approving in nature. Still, Aurielle’s paws remained planted, eyes watching the fireflies. They remained localized, as if beckoning, and she remembered Taliesyn’s story. When he’s followed them, a fog so thick it stole the breath had rolled in.

Her mind puzzled over the occurrences. Was the veil between Somnium and the living realm thinning? While she’d give anything to speak to her mother without sleeping, there were problems that came with dead rising. Not all of Somnium’s occupants were benevolent. That had been one of the snippets her great-great grandmother had been able to give about the afterlife.

“Come with care, then. Risk can bring reward, can it not?”

“It can, yes… but it can also bring great ruin.”

The fireflies swirled slightly on a soft breeze, and slowly, carefully, Aurielle stepped toward the blue lights, toes tingling with readiness to bolt if she must. Step by step she rounded the base of the tower, paws crunching in the snow that dusted the hill and the plains below.

Would every winter from here on out be strange? Would the bizarre occurrences just keep happening year-round? As much as she might want to confer with Erani, she thought she might prefer the dreams, where she was safe in her alcove with Red against her back and the occasional son or daughter snuggling up on her other side when they felt the need for closeness. Able to wake from a nightmare if it grew too intense.

Here, where she was pretty sure she wasn’t sleeping… She was edgy and entirely not certain the voice really was her great-great grandmother or just a very nasty trick.

Word Count: 1,048+ words.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Labhair an Sean-Teanga." ---- "Hear" ---- Think