The Prophecy - A TTS AU

Extra #1: Dreams of Destiny

The night had fallen like a soft, velvet curtain over the campsite, and the quartet lay peacefully under the stars, their rhythmic breathing a gentle serenade to the surrounding forest. The fire had died down to glowing embers, casting faint, flickering shadows over their resting forms.

Cassandra, however, was far from asleep. She laid on her back, gazing up at the endless sea of stars, feeling a strange sensation prickling at her skin. She couldn't put a finger on it, but for a while now, cryptic messages and feelings had been haunting her.

With the others sleeping soundly around her, she couldn't help but question herself in a hushed murmur. "What's going on? All these strange feelings, the whispers... am I losing my mind?"

The wind whispered through the trees, and for a moment, it sounded like they were trying to respond. She frowned, propping herself up on an elbow, her voice softer than a night breeze. "What are you and the world trying to tell me?"

As if in response, a soft glow surrounded her. It was almost like fireflies dancing around her, but these were not ordinary fireflies. They were ethereal, like fragments of stars. They circled her for a moment, then drifted away into the night.

Cassandra watched them in silent awe. "Am I... am I connected to something in some way? What are you trying to show me?"

She lets out a sigh, unable to tear her eyes away from the embers. She's clearly exhausted, but unable to get a wink of sleep.

And then, she feels something appearing. She turned to look, and a lotus flower appeared, seemingly out of thin air. It lay there, vibrant and alive, its petals kissed by moonlight, untouched by the dust and dirt of the forest floor.

Cassandra blinked in astonishment. "Wha... who put this here?!" Her voice held a mixture of confusion and a hint of terror as she reached out to touch the mysterious lotus.

The flower felt real, with soft petals and a delicate fragrance that hung in the air. She looked around frantically, unable to tear away the feeling that she was being watched.

Her voice is a soft whisper. "Who are you? What do you want from me?" She exhaled shakily, suddenly feeling more uneasy.

She shakes her head, voice slightly determined. "I'll just go to sleep. I can't handle this... whatever this is. Not now." And with that, she closed her eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

But as her eyes closed, a world opened up before her. She found herself standing in a realm of surreal beauty. It was a dreamscape, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight. Lotus flowers, like the one she had found earlier, were everywhere, their petals shimmering with an otherworldly radiance. The ground beneath her feet was lush and vibrant, a carpet of the greenest grass she had ever seen.

Cassandra couldn't help but gasp in astonishment as she looked around. The serenity of the place was undeniable. She felt both tiny and significant, an integral part of this surreal garden.

Amidst the blooming lotuses, her questions returned, whispering in the recesses of her mind. "What is this place? Why am I here? Is this a dream?"

The beauty surrounding her was both calming and unnerving. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of the lotuses, and the leaves of the massive, ancient trees rustled with secrets she couldn't comprehend.

Without conscious thought, Cassandra began to walk, the petals of the lotuses brushing against her fingers. The ground was cool beneath her feet, and the further she ventured, the more vivid the dream world became. She kept murmuring her questions aloud, but there were still no voices to answer her.