[S] Chase [Reverie]

[fluo]

It was out of the ordinary, but they were just leaving the spooky season and festivities. Perhaps a kin had forgotten to take down their decoration and was letting the swamp do its thing natural wearing away and erosion. Or it could be a warning sign she was trespassing, but no one had said anything to her yet. Red glowing eyes looking out from a thicket and skull was her last thought as Reverie soon found herself asleep by a willow tree and running water.

The dream started out banal enough- she was walking through a similar looking forest that she fell asleep in. She is walking along the river without a purpose and both the current and time move slower. It's languid like her heartbeat and sense of caution. An easy glance on the path before her and stream confirm she's alone. There's not even fish, bugs, or birds about. Calm and quiet, she enjoys her leisurely stroll. There's flower to sniff, a gentle breeze, and even the loam of this forest is soft on her hooves. This is paradise within a dream and she's happy. Overjoyed, she wishes this dream would never end.

That's the funny thing about hindsight. It doesn't quite work in real life or dreams, and Reverie had no need for regret. Just then, two red things came bounding out and nipping at her ankles. She tried kicking one, but the other would aim for her other hooves. The one she batted away first came back with a vengeance and was tugging on her tail with its teeth. She tried shaking them off, but the one on her tail wouldn't stop, and she couldn't quite reach it with her teeth. These things had claws. Running to a nearby tree, she shimmied her back as if scratching an itch on her butt and when that didn't work, she reversed course to swinging her butt side to side hoping she could dislodge it. Finally free, she ran from them but they chased her nonetheless. Their stamina was matched by her desperation to get free. All the compliments she paid the dream forest were revoked on her cursing lips as every root and tree found its way to stab and trip her along the way. Anything that could happen to slow down, did. And the red twin things had claws and were using them to propel themselves faster after her. She was horrified and just as soon as the dream started, it ended.

Reverie woke up with a start, her heart racing and a sense of something was in the air. She moved her legs and inspected them for any bites or scratches. They were blemish free, but while she moved, she felt something at her back. A certain furry something. With dread she looked back and it was one of the red things that had chased her in the dreams, but this one was soft brown to match hers with a little mohawk. It looked much cuter when it was asleep. Careful to nose it away, she was surprised when it snuggled closer and made sounds into her back. It was awfully cute and it wasn't red like the ones in her dream. It was early still and Reverie had a lot of catching up to do in terms of sleep and would deal with the furry thing in the morning if it was still there.