A bunch of Skyborn fics I posted on ao3

Memories and dreams

Nox was curled in bed. His black, crow wings curling around himself. He had slept peacefully for a while, his mind blank, and suddenly he was five again, standing outside his house, his mother at his side, her wings wrapped around him.

They stood on the porch. Nox's father ran into the house next door, which had been set ablaze. He was saving them, he was probably the reason anyone had survived the fire, Nox and his father unscathed my fire.

The Goldwings arrived, hauling his father away from the flames, pulling him away to the gallows in the city's center district. His mother cried out, lifting Nox into her arms and flying after the knights. His mind went blank again.

The dream came back, but now his mother was being pulled away from him, his father's limp corpse hanging from a rope. His mother cried out for Nox, but she sounded so distant, distorted. His vision flickered and now he was curled up in a sunflower field, and then tortured in the talon's basement.

Every painful memory flickered before him up until his mother laid in his arms, he held the skystone tightly in her fist, looking at the crumpled mess that used to be her wings. He muttered something, but every sound felt distorted. He felt his mother go limp in his arms as she flickered away. Each memory felt like a tidal wave striking Nox. Twig's wings, his grandfather's shop, till they finally stilled.

He woke up in a cold sweat, his breathing erratic. He covered his face with his hands, his breathing quickening as tears fell from his eyes. He heard the door creak, soft light flooding the room. "Nox?" He knew it was Ellie, but her voice sounded so distorted, just like the dream.

"Ellie..." he stumbled over sobs, his wings flaring. "Hey, it's okay.." she sat in front of him, rubbing his shoulders. "Everything just—" She cut him off, brushing her brown wingtips against his black wings. "It's okay."

"Focus on your breathing. In.. and out" Nox breathed as she instructed, calming down enough to actually speak. "Sorry for waking you up" he mumbled. "It's fine, you shouldn't suffer in silence." Her thumbs rubbed his shoulders.

Nox huffed, leaning against Ellie. "I'm so tired.." He felt Ellie tense beneath him, gingerly stroking his wings. "Why don't you lay down," she laid him on his side, bringing his blanket up to his shoulders. "Wait, Ellie.." He grabbed Ellie's hand, "please, stay here.." skies, he felt so pathetic. "of course." Ellie crouched next to his bed, holding his hand tight.

Eventually, Nox did fall asleep again, curling into the mattress as his eyes grew heavy. Everything was dark, and he felt his dream creeping up on him again. Nox heard a voice from far away, anchoring him down to the peaceful darkness of his mind. Nox squeezed Ellie's hand, finding peace with her at his side.