Good morning sunshine

She had fallen asleep in his arms, pressed into his body, listening to steady rhythm of his breathing. The smile that had been on her lips followed her into dream land, obsuring the nightmares and softening the gloom that often followed her. Fern drifts on clouds of happiness, feeling the warmth his body offers, even through layers of sleep. Rudy shifts in his sleep, pulling away from her and the darkness slowly seeps back in. The happy dreams start to twist and morph and, when Rudy’s head finds its way onto her paws, Fern starts to dream of being trapped. Her muscles  twitch randomly as the nightmares bleed over into reality. Everything is closing in around her, ready to suffocate the gray girl.

Then the loudest, most horrifying sounds shatter the nightmare and send Fern crashing back to reality. Bleary eyes try to blink away the sleep and Fern realizes she standing, stumbling away from the dying animal. Her heart is hammering hard against her ribs, stealing her breath and widening sleep filled eyes. Adrenaline courses through her veins, driving the last vestiges of sleep from her brain and preparing Fern for a fight. But… there is nothing. Rudy has startled awake, rolling over while muttering something. She looks around for the noise that had awoken her, trying and failing to find the source.

Wide eyes turn to Rudy and she blurts out, “Did you hear that horrible noise??”


"Speech"