In the spectral fog of Somnium, Aurelia's spirit materialized. Ghostly impressions of Polar Sound manifested around her, ethereal waterfalls cascading into misty pools, craggy cliffs stretching onward toward an invisible horizon, the dormant tundra spreading beneath her lightless paws. The vibrancy of the world she once knew was replaced with fleeting whispers of color and life; an echo of reality. Yet even in her new form—a shimmering mix of silvers, greys, charcoal and off blacks, with patches that recalled the aurora borealis—she was still recognizably Aurelia.

While she still very much despised Absinth, she was grateful that she had taken on her own puppies to raise, and seemed to have done so without any resentment. It didn’t stop the overwhelming jealousy she felt for her- that Absinth was there when they opened their eyes. When they took their first steps. When they spoke their first words. Observing them as they playfully tumbled and nipped at one another in her absence was actually worse than death itself. As they went about their lives- all without her. She yearned to muzzle them beyond a dream, to feel them beneath her paws. To correct their postures and tell them when they’ve gone too far in their scuffles. But now, all she had left were these shared dreams. These fleeting moments of stolen peace. And she would certainly take them.

When they awoke to her- awoke in Somnium- she established them in what had been her healer's den. Curled around them like she longed to be in life, letting their dream selves cuddle into her flank. As they began to stir, she gently nuzzled each of them- the sensation more of a memory for her than a touch. But she hoped it was more vibrant for them. As real as she could make it.

"Aurelia Veratti"

Ravana stirred in the spectral fog, her dream-self slowly waking to the familiar yet ethereal embrace of Somnium. The world around her was a blend of haunting beauty and wistful memory not of her own creation, the Polar Sound rendered in ghostly hues and fleeting impressions. She felt the presence of her dream-mother, Aurelia, before she saw her, the familiar scent of lavender and moss faint but distinct in the otherworldly air. But she had seen the azure beauty in her dreams, all her life.

Opening her eyes, Ravana saw Aurelia's shimmering form, the grays and blues, the piercing blue eyes. Her heart ached with longing, the pain of their separation always a raw wound, even in this dreamscape. But she did not know why. She felt the ghostly nuzzle, the tender touch that was more memory than reality, and leaned into it, craving the closeness she had been denied in life.

“Mama?” Ravana murmured, her voice soft but filled with intensity beyond her youth.

She shifted, nestling closer to Aurelia's flank, the warmth of the dream a fragile comfort against the cold reality of their separation. “Why can’t you be like mother? Why can I only meet you in my dreams?”


ravana

For most of the night, Zagan was consumed by dreamless sleep, his mind drifting into a tranquil abyss devoid of sensation and images. It was like his consciousness was on pause, his body recharging and rejuvenating, and yet, subconsciously his heart ached for the presence of vivid landscapes and narratives. Of his Mother who visited him in his dreams. But as the night progressed, images started to appear in Zagan’s mind, slowly and methodically- ghostly impressions of The Polar Sound manifesting around him, with a notable lack of realism that debuted his crossing over into Somnium.

Warmth, although fleeting and surreal, seemed to envelop him. His mother’s faintly familiar scent teased his senses, beaconing him into her embrace. His eyes open, focusing on charcoal and azure hues, a ghostly nuzzle showering him in motherly affection. Ravana was there too, Zagan could hear her voice- and a sharp, painful streak of jealousy rushed through him.

Pressing closer into Aurelia’s flank, Zagan answers his sister. “Because Father… The Sultan, sent her here.” He says, merely stating facts. Painful facts. “He… He has your skin, Mama. I saw it on him.” A grotesque observation, but Zagan felt it was important to tell Aurelia about it. “I don’t like it but,” He nuzzles harder into her. “At least I can see you when I’m awake.” A small sigh, and he falls silent. He just can’t understand just how grotesque Sephiran is- his young mind won’t allow it.

"Speech"

In the distant reaches of Somnium, he could feel his siblings begin to stir around him. Familiar scents wafted around him, illustrating the presence of his mother. Aurelia. She was an ethereal sense of comfort that he had known for as long as he could remember. His heart clenched at the thought. Wanting, needing her presence as much as he needed Absinth and Aresenn. And as his toxic green gaze blinked open, he was greeted with an affectionate nuzzle. A sleepy grin tugged at his lips as he buried his face in her side.

As the words left Zagan's mouth, a chill seemed to pass over the dream-infused landscape of The Polar Sound. The ethereal waterfalls shivered in their constant cascade, and the spectral grasses seemed to draw closer together, as though seeking comfort in their collective presence. In the eerie silence that followed, Xairo felt a shiver crawl up his spine, more from the stark words of his brother rather than the dreamworld's cold. A knot formed in his stomach, tightening as he comprehended Zagan's revelation. The Sultan... their father, wearing their mother's skin? He had seen it … but hadn’t really known what it was. Not until now.

"Xairo Saxe"

A deep sigh escaped Aurelia, her form shuddering slightly as Zagan's words echoed in the realm of Somnium. She knew she would have to acknowledge the harsh reality her children would be forced to face, but she had hoped that it wouldn’t be so soon. She forced her gaze to meet that of her son's, those amythest and cyan eyes reflecting the ethereal glow of the Polar Sound. Swallowing hard, she steeled herself and laid a comforting paw on his shoulder as she addressed his sister. "I know it's difficult, Ravana," she murmured softly, "but it’s just something we have to navigate. It is not a choice that anyone made, but a consequence of mine and your father’s actions.” It wasn’t the ideal truth, but it was the reality they had to face, and the easiest way she knew how to offer it.

Her gaze lingered on her children, each of them carrying a piece of her within them. She wished so badly that she could be there to protect them, to help prepare them for their lives. But she knew this was going to be the best she was capable of offering them. And she would certainly do so with all the fierceness and determination ingrained in her being. An affectionate grin spread across her features as she stretched herself around them where they lay against her as she pulled her pups into an embrace. “But I’ll always be here when you need me.” She assured them, squeezing them tighter for a brief moment before releasing her hold. “And we will always have each other in our dreams.” If she had nothing else to give them, she would give them that.

"Aurelia Veratti"

Ravana felt her mother’s words wash over her, her young mind calculating even in the dreamscape. She leaned into Aurelia's spectral warmth, not entirely for comfort, but to analyze the emotions she knew she should feel. This closeness. This bond. Yes. She felt it. But so distant it was painful. Her eyes flickered with curiosity, soft yet unyielding against the ghostly touch. “I understand.” She murmured, her voice devoid of true sorrow but soaked in a hollow longing.

Turning her gaze to Zagan, a slight smirk played on her lips at his revelation. She watched him with detached interest, noting the jealousy and pain that marred his features. With a deliberate slowness, she moved closer, not for comfort, but to maintain solidarity as she peered up at him. “Life isn't fair, Zagan.” She said, her voice cool and matter-of-fact. She knew it well, how easy she could kill a rabbit or bird – imagine how easy it would be to snuff her own life out, or her sibling’s. “The Sultan’s actions are just another lesson in power.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly, a spark of something combative gleaming behind her words. “And he has her skin because he wanted it. You want something, you take it.” She glanced at Xairo, reading the shock and horror in his toxic green eyes with a hint of amusement, her lips curling into a faint, almost predatory smile.

“He did it because he could.” She stated bluntly, her tail flicking for emphasis. “It's the truth. It's not about what we want or what's fair. Mother Absinth has told us as much.” Ravana nuzzled closer to her brothers, her touch more a statement of assertion than affection, her determination sharp.

Her eyes met her mother's, sharp and probing. “We'll always have these dreams.” She echoed, her tone flat and calculating. “Won't we, Mama?” She tilted her head slightly, her gaze unwavering, challenging the dream-mother to affirm the only connection she felt she truly controlled.
ravana