Silent Night drifted off to sleep full of bliss and at peace next to the warm body of her mate. She dreamt of the two wandering fields of flowers, exchanging furtive smiles. The two were still very much in the honeymoon phase of their relationship. Though the young mare was confident that phase would last for eons. It was true love at first sight, and no one could tell her otherwise. She was certain that Winter Skye was as smitten with her as she was with him. The two had clicked so completely in every which way, it had to have been destiny - the spirits had guided them.
The dream shifted and they were now before a gently trickling waterfall. The two took turns dashing under the refreshing waters with smiles and laughter. The two were fully drenched. She chuckled at how his bangs nearly covered his radiant red eyes. And just like in the waking world, he attempted to move the hairs with a huff. It didn’t work. Silent Night burst into a fit of giggles. He narrowed his eyes, behind the mop of wet hair, at her and scolded her though his tone was anything but angry. He quickly joined her giggle fest. By the time she caught her breath, Night looked up and her mate’s image had disappeared.
Her dream had shifted again. Now she was alone. The waterfall had dried up and the small pool below had receded to reveal cracked mud. She looked around and the day had dwindled to twilight. The warm colors that she once saw were bleeding away. Everything was turning grey. Her dream was becoming a nightmare!
There was an eerie stillness to this new grey world. A silent mist creeped into the picture, blurring most of the dreamscape. Silent Night could feel the terror bubbling up within her. She shivered despite the lack of a chill. Then the silence is broken with a resounding crack and dark shadows stretched impossibly large reach behind her towards her hooves. The mare backpedaled and stumbled but they kept coming! She neighed in alarm as one managed to scratch her fetlock. That felt far too real!
She bolted forward through the dull mist. A rallying ethereal cry rose behind her. Her heart thumped heavily in her chest as she urged herself faster. The ground began to quake and tremble as the hordes behind her followed. Don’t look back…don’t look back, she told herself but it did little good. The mantra failed, and she couldn’t help but steal a glance at the terror driving her forward into nothing this night. Charging behind her were neverending waves of monstrous soquili. Some appeared to be struck through by large weapons, others missing limbs, and a few glowed with an unnatural light. Some didn’t even resemble equines, let alone anything else earthly that Silent Night had ever witnessed. She didn’t dare waste anymore time and kept her eyes forward.
Snarls, wretched cries and howls erupted behind her. She gulped hard, a lump forming in her throat. The muscles in her legs strained as she maintained her meager lead. Her breath was ragged and she could feel her body begging for her to slow. This was not sustainable! The young mare was certain it was just a dream…but a sliver of doubt was beginning to creep into her consciousness. I must wake up! I must! She tried to yell but her throat was parched and not a sound eked out. She stumbled and mumbled but nothing! The horde behind her grew closer, their battle cries so close she could feel their death rattle on the nape of her neck.
No! No! She would not be silenced anymore! She took in as much air as she could and raised her head high, she screamed! “WAKE UP! WAKE UP!”
With a jolt her nightmarish chase was upended and she was staring straight into her mate’s concerned ruby eyes, his voice echoing in her ears. “Wake up, Silent Night. Night, wake up!”
She sputtered and shook herself as if she were about to bolt again. Her muscles cried in protest. They were so sore, as if she truly had been running. Winter Skye gently nudged her back onto the ground next to him. His eyes never left her face. “It was just a dream. You’re okay. You’re safe with me.”
Night closed her eyes and shook her head in a poor attempt to shake away the nightmarish visions. “A nightmare…it was a nightmare…”, she whispered. She didn’t say anymore and neither did he. He held her closer until he drifted back to sleep but she could not rest… What did it mean?
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