She couldn’t sleep. Hadn’t slept. No more than an odd hour or two each night, for the past week. Or more, maybe. She wasn’t even sure anymore.
They came for her. Every time she closed her eyes. Every time she drifted off. Every time she tried to rest.
The nightmares.
She couldn’t always remember them. And even when she could, it was only bits and pieces. Jumbled, disjointed images, scrambled together in her mind in a chaotic amalgamation of sights, sounds, and overriding emotion. Fragments.
Fragments. So many fragments. Of hands, at her throat. Stealing away her air. Holding her down. Of fire, searing her back in stripes. Of tears, hopelessly shed. A throat burned raw by useless sobs. Loneliness. Hopelessness. Despair. And fear. Always fear.
Every night she woke up gasping, her heart pounding, and fear clawing at her soul. And in the darkness, with the walls seemingly closing in, she would sneak outside -- sometimes to the stables -- to find some small solace in the gentle breeze.
It was taking its toll.
_____
“You shouldn’t be out here,†the Miqo’te said seriously, arms crossed, almost glaring at the diminutive figure seated before her, leaning against a tree. “You’re supposed to be at the farm, resting.â€
“Too noisey,†the small lalafell replied shortly, frowning blearily at the horizon. “Too stuffy. Wanted ta be out.â€
“You don’t need to ‘be out,’ Tala,†retorted the Miqo’te, tail flitting about in obvious annoyance. “You need to be resting. Inside. Not out here in the wind. Especially when it looks like rain. Really, what are you thinking?â€
“Lemme ‘lone, M’yr.â€
The tail lashed out angrily. “No, Tala, I will not ‘leave you alone.’ You are sick, you are not getting better…â€
“I AM gettin better,†Tala protested. “ ‘M not fevered anymore…â€
“Yes, but now apparently you are not sleeping.†M’yr took a deep breath and calmed her voice. “Tala, is it the nightmares?â€
A wordless nod was the only reply.
M’yr sighed, pushing her hair back with both hands. She still remembered how, when they had both been younger, Tala had been tormented by nightmares. Every night she’d wake up sweating, gasping for air, or screaming in fear. For years, her sister had suffered nightly.
Until the day of the accident, six years ago. Until the day Tatala had become Talathar.
After the accident, everything changed. Her sister had changed -- her name, her personality, and most especially her memories. Three years worth of memories, altered. Some memories jumbled up, other memories stolen away completely, all by the rush of water that had almost drowned them both. Almost as if the past itself had been washed away.
But something of that past remained. The nightmares. For a time, they persisted. At least, for a little while. But as time passed, so did the nightmares. But sometimes, she knew Tala was still troubled by them.
“Tala, you should talk to Brother E-Sumi-Yan about the nightmares.â€
“... ‘m fine…â€
“Talathar Khalynn Tahl, you are being ridiculous! Now, I’m going to talk to that doctor friend of yours, and then I am taking you to the Conjurer’s guild. And then we will be talking to Brother E-Sumi-Yan, and you will tell him everything about the fevers and the nightmares. And you will cooperate, or I will get Kori on the linkshell, and we will physically drag you there. AFTER Kori lectures you.â€
Tala winced.
And then after that, I will be writing another letter, she thought to herself grimly. Because you are obviously being stubborn again.
They came for her. Every time she closed her eyes. Every time she drifted off. Every time she tried to rest.
The nightmares.
She couldn’t always remember them. And even when she could, it was only bits and pieces. Jumbled, disjointed images, scrambled together in her mind in a chaotic amalgamation of sights, sounds, and overriding emotion. Fragments.
Fragments. So many fragments. Of hands, at her throat. Stealing away her air. Holding her down. Of fire, searing her back in stripes. Of tears, hopelessly shed. A throat burned raw by useless sobs. Loneliness. Hopelessness. Despair. And fear. Always fear.
Every night she woke up gasping, her heart pounding, and fear clawing at her soul. And in the darkness, with the walls seemingly closing in, she would sneak outside -- sometimes to the stables -- to find some small solace in the gentle breeze.
It was taking its toll.
_____
“You shouldn’t be out here,†the Miqo’te said seriously, arms crossed, almost glaring at the diminutive figure seated before her, leaning against a tree. “You’re supposed to be at the farm, resting.â€
“Too noisey,†the small lalafell replied shortly, frowning blearily at the horizon. “Too stuffy. Wanted ta be out.â€
“You don’t need to ‘be out,’ Tala,†retorted the Miqo’te, tail flitting about in obvious annoyance. “You need to be resting. Inside. Not out here in the wind. Especially when it looks like rain. Really, what are you thinking?â€
“Lemme ‘lone, M’yr.â€
The tail lashed out angrily. “No, Tala, I will not ‘leave you alone.’ You are sick, you are not getting better…â€
“I AM gettin better,†Tala protested. “ ‘M not fevered anymore…â€
“Yes, but now apparently you are not sleeping.†M’yr took a deep breath and calmed her voice. “Tala, is it the nightmares?â€
A wordless nod was the only reply.
M’yr sighed, pushing her hair back with both hands. She still remembered how, when they had both been younger, Tala had been tormented by nightmares. Every night she’d wake up sweating, gasping for air, or screaming in fear. For years, her sister had suffered nightly.
Until the day of the accident, six years ago. Until the day Tatala had become Talathar.
After the accident, everything changed. Her sister had changed -- her name, her personality, and most especially her memories. Three years worth of memories, altered. Some memories jumbled up, other memories stolen away completely, all by the rush of water that had almost drowned them both. Almost as if the past itself had been washed away.
But something of that past remained. The nightmares. For a time, they persisted. At least, for a little while. But as time passed, so did the nightmares. But sometimes, she knew Tala was still troubled by them.
“Tala, you should talk to Brother E-Sumi-Yan about the nightmares.â€
“... ‘m fine…â€
“Talathar Khalynn Tahl, you are being ridiculous! Now, I’m going to talk to that doctor friend of yours, and then I am taking you to the Conjurer’s guild. And then we will be talking to Brother E-Sumi-Yan, and you will tell him everything about the fevers and the nightmares. And you will cooperate, or I will get Kori on the linkshell, and we will physically drag you there. AFTER Kori lectures you.â€
Tala winced.
And then after that, I will be writing another letter, she thought to herself grimly. Because you are obviously being stubborn again.
