Penumbral

Chapter 9: Smith

Alimur opens his eyes and is surprised that he wasn't denied rest by the nightmares, however he soon notices that something else woke him up, crying, he looked behind him and saw Aurora sobbing in her sleep, he got up and went to check on his friend, getting closer he noticed a small grey furred creature with small legs, large hands, sleek hairless tail and a long snout, the thing was clinging to the side of the Demi-Human's head and had it's tail wrapped around her neck, Alimur formed a black dagger and pierced the creature's lower back severing the tail, the creature shrieked in pain but didn't let go of Aurora's head, her friend was angered by that, he formed his arm and pulled the creature away severing whatever connection it had to his friend, holding it with his dark hand he formed various spikes on his hand and fingers piercing the creature to death, it released a final gargling shriek and was thrown into the still burning bonfire by the man, Aurora got up and held her chest while she hyperventilated, Alimur shifted his focus to his friend and kneeled down to comfort her.

-I was... having a... wonderful dream, and then it turned into a horrible nightmare-

-Don't worry, no need to tell me what it was, I think I know what happened- Alimur points to the carcass burning in the bonfire -That thing was causing your nightmares, like the Yumiths from Darkan folklore-

-What do they do?-

-Feed off dreams leaving nightmares in their place, though the description doesn't quite match, in the old tales they were tall, have eight eyes, have a beak, claw hands and curled horns-

-So that thing is like a Yumith?-

-Lets call it that, what do you think?-

Aurora that was now calm and collected smiled and gave a thumbs up.

-Good, now let's pack up and head out-

Aurora nods and along with Alimur they pack up, check their belongings and leave the cave, after a few hours of silently walking the Demi-Human talks.

-Are you not curious to what I was dreaming about?-

-Thought it was better not to ask since you were crying-

-Makes sense, maybe I'll tell you sometime, you're my friend after all-

Alimur smiles but Aurora doesn't see it -Good to know-

-Hehe, so... you have anymore stories to tell?-

-I can tell you about my parents wedding, it was pretty funny-

-Your parents weren't married when you were born?-

-I was six when they decided to officialize their relationship, they were practically married already, but never had a party, though I was an unexpected surprise and they had to settle down-

-Wow, your parents seem weird-

-You tell me, anyhow, want to hear about the wedding?-

-Sure-

-The cerimony had just started, my mother's father was bringing her in and tripped on one of the guest's tail and fell face first onto the ground, me being a mere child laughed at it and got promptly shut down by Daniel my Darkan uncle, father's adopted brother, he formed a shadow gag to shut me up, everything proceeded as normal until I was called to deliver the rings, then... I tripped and fell face first, while my grandfather laughed at me, my father grabbed the rings that flew at him while my mother rushed to me and checked if I was hurt, after things were settled and my grandfather was gagged by grandma the priest continued reciting the vows until my parents kissed, but before they could cut the cake uncle Rathan, that only recently I learned his name, had gotten drunk and started a food fight, my father then used the cake as ammo, it was a happy day, mother was fuming for a few weeks after that, but she eventually started looking back upon it fondly rather than angrily, after the food fight was over the Stowrfling guests collected all the food that fell to the dirt and ate it, everyone else took the opportunity for a BBQ and roasted two cows and a pig-