A Dream Within a Dream

The soothing cadence of his voice, the rhythm of his heartbeat against her own - that was what brought her back. His whispers threaded through her consciousness like a lifeline, guiding her back to reality. She was still trembling as she burrowed into his chest, her tears seeping into his dark fur. His words washed over her, warm and comforting as the touch of sunlight on a cold winter's morn. They melted into her heart, chasing away the lingering vestiges of terror that still had a hold on her soul. She nodded weakly, acknowledging his vow of protection even as her body relaxed further against him, a tired sigh slipping past her lips. Her eyes fluttered shut, the image of Caedes' concerned emerald eyes burned into her lids. The protective circle of his body encompassing her was what she needed, the sanctuary that shielded her from the relentless trendils of her nightmare. She snuggled deeper into his warm embrace, clinging to him, as if her life depended on him. It did.

It didn’t take long until her wherewithal had truly begun to return. The trembling slowly abated, replaced by a sense of exhaustion as the adrenaline that had fueled her frantic state drained away. And as she achieved realization of what she had done, she was overwhelmed with shock and embarrassment. Mariah’s eyes snapped open, fitting with the sudden dread that filled them. "Caedes..." she whispered, her voice just barely audible as she pulled back from him slightly, her gaze filled with regret and sadness. The corners of her maw curled downwards. "I... I didn't mean..." she stuttered out, the words hanging in the air unfinished. Her chest tightened, guilt gnawing at her like a relentless leech. She had given herself completely to the fear that had devoured her sanity and had drawn him into its sinister fold. In that moment, she reached for his wrist- to hold it up in the light so she could see the damage she had done.

"Mariah Mendacium"