Her heart thundered within her chest. No matter how fast she ran, they were gaining on her. Biting. Snarling. Snapping. The relentless mage slayers barked their hunting song as the village burned around her. They were gaining on her. Frost-laiden breaths huffed from ice-blue maws. They were rounding up their numbers. There were more than there were before. Once they overtook the village, they came for her. Pain in her ankle only urged her onward as teeth tore through leather and sank into flesh.
She cried out. But none were left. None but the child, who stood like a beacon in the distance. A taunting beacon, calling out to her. Ever asking 'why?' How could that small child still be alive? Why had the scourge not consumed her as well? Haelolin turned to face her aggressor, having nowhere else to run with the burning elven bridge in ruins. The cliff jump meant certain death whether delivered from the icy waters below, or the fall upon the jagged rocks where the small village dwelled just above. She was deprived of weapons. All but her wits.
There was pain when she turned, and she'd have looked down to see the four long slashes that caused it, had another hound not jumped upon her throat and administered the killing blow. Crimson life spattered across the pure, white snow. It was over. Her life faded..and she awakened to find herself in her chambers once more. The dream persisted. Each time it showed its ugly face, it got longer..more detailed. Perhaps it was not a dream at all?
Haelolin forced herself out of the warmth of her bed, her adrenaline still coursing through every vein. She was wide awake now. It was time to leave the dream behind..again. It was time for another day with the Ocheliad.
She cried out. But none were left. None but the child, who stood like a beacon in the distance. A taunting beacon, calling out to her. Ever asking 'why?' How could that small child still be alive? Why had the scourge not consumed her as well? Haelolin turned to face her aggressor, having nowhere else to run with the burning elven bridge in ruins. The cliff jump meant certain death whether delivered from the icy waters below, or the fall upon the jagged rocks where the small village dwelled just above. She was deprived of weapons. All but her wits.
There was pain when she turned, and she'd have looked down to see the four long slashes that caused it, had another hound not jumped upon her throat and administered the killing blow. Crimson life spattered across the pure, white snow. It was over. Her life faded..and she awakened to find herself in her chambers once more. The dream persisted. Each time it showed its ugly face, it got longer..more detailed. Perhaps it was not a dream at all?
Haelolin forced herself out of the warmth of her bed, her adrenaline still coursing through every vein. She was wide awake now. It was time to leave the dream behind..again. It was time for another day with the Ocheliad.
