His dreams were fitful. He lay on the forest floor while sprites circled around him, poking him with sticks. It was storming, and rain lashed him periodically, soaking the fabric of his pants and making his leg hurt terribly. At one point they converged on his leg, pressing into him with herb-scented hands that seared his nerves with fiery pain.
Their rough attentions continued for a time, then they seemed to leave him alone, and blackness descended once more. It was peaceful and warm, like a blanket on a cold day, and he welcomed it, pulling it over him. Just as he was snuggling under it, drifting to sleep, the sprites returned and began to speak to him, insistently.
"Mister, waking up is desirable if you'd like to recover."
He shook off the voice, snuggling under the blanket of darkness, but the sprites were persistent.
"Mister, waking up is desirable if you'd like to recover."
He groaned, stirring, but kept his eyes closed, hoping the sprites would lose interest, fickle creatures that they were.
"Mister, waking up is desirable if you'd like to recover."
He opened one red-rimmed eye to see a round-pupiled violet eye staring back at him. He gasped, would have yelled if he could, the pale round face of the Moonkeeper watching him from less than a fulm away.
Their rough attentions continued for a time, then they seemed to leave him alone, and blackness descended once more. It was peaceful and warm, like a blanket on a cold day, and he welcomed it, pulling it over him. Just as he was snuggling under it, drifting to sleep, the sprites returned and began to speak to him, insistently.
"Mister, waking up is desirable if you'd like to recover."
He shook off the voice, snuggling under the blanket of darkness, but the sprites were persistent.
"Mister, waking up is desirable if you'd like to recover."
He groaned, stirring, but kept his eyes closed, hoping the sprites would lose interest, fickle creatures that they were.
"Mister, waking up is desirable if you'd like to recover."
He opened one red-rimmed eye to see a round-pupiled violet eye staring back at him. He gasped, would have yelled if he could, the pale round face of the Moonkeeper watching him from less than a fulm away.
