sensitive topics what would you do if you ran into me - nightmare

[vixencrown]

Images of murder, blood, etc! Everything italicized is a dream!//

Thunder cracked.

It lit the sky in an ethereal brightness as rain suddenly poured. In this moment, everything was fine. in this moment, she enjoyed the silence except for the pitter pattering of raindrops falling, and splashing against her face. blue eyes closed as the droplets hit her body and ran down her sides.

But when her eyes opened, she found herself face to face with Sleekserpent. "No," she murmured, shaking her head and taking a step back as his body slammed into hers, feeling the slash of claws against her face.

This time, she wouldn't fight, she couldn't. With everything she could muster, she ran, but her eyes faced horror behind her. Her friends, her family- falling. Skyclaws claws held down Flamestar, blood dripping from her neck over the deceased body with eyes distant, a malicious grin plastered across his face. It disappeared with a lightning strike, and there she was again, facing Sleekserpent, his body and her own doused in blood, not rain.

His throat ripped open, and he stood staring at her, with that final look that she wished she would never see again.

She did this to him. He will never see his children, because of her. But- but he made his decision, right? right?! She was only defending her clan, right? She looked down to her blood plastered paws, her throat swollen with guilt and her chest thrumming with anxiety.

Vixencrown turned away from his vicious form again, the unmoving form, even as the last thing she seen in his eyes was regret. Her breaths were heavy as she moved with heavy steps that felt like mud as she moved forward.

And there was her sister. An elegant light shines down through the clouds, and relief flooded her. "softsight!" She purred, but her sister finally turned to her, and her gaze was fear-stricken. "you murdered him, what if you kill me too?"

Her maw dropped, her ears pinning back as her steps slowed. "what- no, softsight, I wouldnt-" the ivory pelt of her sister would fluff up in anger. Her pink hues turned angry, something Vixencrown had never seen. "You'll murder us all!"

She was choking, shaking her head as tears fell down from her face. "no- it, I was defending myself, he-"

She only shook her head before turning away. And the white and black cat would find herself alone- and she looked around, she was in unfamiliar terrain. Desolate lands with no trees in sight. "Where am I?" She called, but her voice only echoed. "starclan- where, where am I?" She screamed, her broken voice shouted only to meet the echoes of her own-

Is this what exile was like?

-

Her body shot up in the warriors den. Her coat wet with sweat, her claws tearing through the nest. It- was a dream. It was just a dream. Her body panted still though, as if she had been running all night. Her chest was tight, and her breathing was broken. Inhales were sharp daggers through her throat, exhales felt like fire. Her blue eyes did not dare look around to be embarrassed of who could see her like this.

Nightmares were a thing that happened- killing was something that happened- others had killed that day... But why did it still affect her so? Why when she looked at her reflection, she only saw a murderer? She had protected and defended her clan- she did the right thing, right?

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[THUNDERGLEAM]

Thundergleam had not been in bed for long- sleep had not taken her, for she had been whipped up in the excitement of stargazing and had only just retired. Dozing, it was easy to rouse her- even a sharp breath and laboured panting from nearby managed it. Rosy eyes peered through the veil of dark to find the culprit- or, she supposed, the victim.

Dreams were a powerful force. StarClan weaved them so ... when messages came from the heavens, they were bliss-cloaked. It was easy to tell when they were divinely blessed things for her. Not everyone could tell a glowing dream from one wearing the facade of fate, though. Cruel forces of the mind crafted visions, plucked on strings of the heart and snapped them, sent pain shooting through bone and tendon. Only a few times had Thundergleam fallen victim to the accursed touch of a nightmare, but those that glowered with false disapproval had struck her just as deep as any prophecy ever had.

Often, a nightmare was the meaning of a jolt in the nigh. With airy paws and silent steps, Thundergleam carefully picked her way toward Vixencrown and bowed her head. She could be much more precise in the dark. "Would you like to take a walk?" she whispered. "It is quite crowded in here, and the Stars are beautiful tonight."​

penned by pin ☾​

 

[STORMYWING]

Stormywing stirs in her nest, her ears pricking at the faint sounds of movement and whispered voices in the dark. She shifts slightly, just enough to catch the sight of Thundergleam bowing her head toward Vixencrown. It's not hard to guess what had happened - the ragged breathing, the subtle tension in the air. A nightmare.

She presses her chin into her paws, half of her wanting to ignore it. She's no stranger to nightmares, to the suffocating weight of past battles replaying behind closed eyes. She's lived through them - fought through them, even. But this isn't about her. And she knows better than anyone how dangerous it is to let someone drown in their own thoughts. For a moment, she debates leaving it to Thundergleam. Her friend always did have a more delicate touch, more patience with emotions. But after everything that's happened - the battle, the losses, the chaos - it feels wrong to stay silent.

With a soft sigh, she rises to her paws and picks her way toward them, her steps quieter than usual on the cool earth. "Thundergleam's right," She murmurs, her voice just loud enough for them to hear. "The fresh air might help clear your head." She glances at Vixencrown, her gaze steady but not unkind. "You're not alone, you know. I have them, too." Her tone is quieter than usual, lacking its typical sharp edge.
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