Roses and Thorns

24- Poison For The Psyche

Asha's pendant catches moonlight while she sleeps.

"Who turned me in?" Asha kicks, unaware that I'm at her side, very much awake. "Who turned me in?"

Ace has long left the house (potentially forced out, by the sound of it), leaving me to contend with Asha's worsening nightmares.

Given the little I saw of Asha's dream world, I don't blame him for leaving or the Violaeras for keeping him away.

I'm not completely alone, however. The Defenders often sleep outside, though I've prepared a small tent for them out of pity. I must say I didn't expect them to be so gruff. I haven't heard them talk to anyone besides each other. They're a nuisance to my plans at day, and by night, they snore louder than all the Violaeras this side of the ocean, so our relationship is... less than pleasant.

Asha wakes up beside me with a startled shriek, sending blankets flying up in every direction. Her heart steadies and her breath is heavy as she looks up at me. "How early this time?"

I look out the window. The sky is a violent magenta, dipping the bleeding trees and all their leaves in a strange and alien hue. "Sun will be up soon. You're fine."

"I could feel my wings growing in this time. I don't want to go." She thrusts her head against where her legs were earlier, her Verhamera's horns barely missing my flesh. I feel sore but I couldn't care less. "I'm sorry for keeping you up. I don't want you to go. Please don't leave me."
"It's okay." I lie, too tired to come up with a better way to comfort her. "I never sleep. It's a trick I picked up from Anassa."

"Do you think the Princess has to sleep? I hate my dreams. Ace isn't even there anymore. It's just me."

She's rambling again. I yawn. "The dreams will be over soon." I promise. "Now, why don't you go on to Anue's? Better get ready for the big day."

Asha whimpers, but I still lead her out and past the Defenders, who jump up to her side.

"Where to?" asks the Canira.

"Anue's." I tell them. "I'm going to be busy today. Can't pupsit."

She nods and I walk the other way with a sigh. I can't imagine going back to sleeping alone, and I don't know where else I'd go. Maybe I could contact Duncan about getting a new house, something in the central Glade? It's an honor, but once all this is over, I'll be able to pull enough extra weight to earn it.

I stroll through the town in the early morning to see Rye sitting outside the Pantry, watching the stars disappear from the dawn sky.

"Morning." I tell her, curtly.

"Morning." she replies.

"Are things better now?" I ask, for Ivy's sake more than hers.

She nods. "I'm glad of it. I was worried I might have pushed her away."

I stare up into the red light of the distant sun with Rye, nothing left to say. The morning is crisp and beautiful, but the wind smells of change and the trees look as if they're bleeding, clutching out at the distant sun as the red soaks every line of the bark. Despite this, the warmth and sun are comforting, and I feel my eyes shut themselves.

Just a moment, now.

I hear pawsteps and feel the distant sensation of breath close to my neck, and when I jump to my paws, I'm leaning against a table in the Stocked Pantry. I feel I've lied to Asha and myself about just how little sleep I could take, but I'm deeply grateful that my body no longer feels like it may be just moments from spontaneously combusting every time I move.