Post by keinjair on Sept 17, 2019 20:40:49 GMT
He dreamt that he was falling.
The forest rushed by as he did, greens and browns and blacks blurring together until he couldn't make out what was tree and what was ground anymore. It could almost be mistaken for flying, he thought, but it was as if the forest had been flipped on its side or maybe he was hurtling through it as if thrown by an unknown force. Either way, it was terrifying. He hated it. Flailing his paws did nothing to fix himself and no matter how hard he twisted his body and tail he couldn't right himself to control his fall. And so he fell. He fell until the trees rushed past and became mountains, until mountains became moors and rivers and marshes. He fell until the sky became stars and still it was black.
He fell until the cold embrace of water consumed him, wrapping around him like a blanket of snow as his descent slowed to a stop and he floated. For a moment more, nothing happened - he floated in silence, unable to move, but he was stopped. He was just beginning to relax when a cracking noise cut through the silence, a noise that shouldn't have been as clear as it was from him being underwater. Rocks shot up around him, encasing him, and still there were more and more springing from the depths of the lake, water churring around him and spiraling and he gasped, trying in vain to move but still he couldn't and once more he was falling, the water sucking him deeper and deeper down.
Reedstar woke with a gasp, scrambling to his paws and hunkering down until he pressed tightly to the ground. He willed the shaking in his paws to go away, focusing on bringing his breathing to a normal speed. It took some time but soon enough his pelt flattened and his breathing slowed and he could move again. What was that all about? He'd never had a dream like that! He needed some air.
The moon was bright and high in the sky when Reedstar slunk out of his den. There was a crisp breeze and he was grateful for the way it ruffled his fur. But it wasn't enough. Even with his clanmates asleep around him, he felt crowded. He'd go out into the territory, that should be enough, and he knew exactly where to go. After letting the warrior guarding camp know where he was going - he couldn't just leave camp without letting another know where he went, enough leaders had gone missing in recent times - he padded out into the territory, breaking into a run and savoring the feeling of firm ground under his paws. After the weightlessness from his dream, it felt good to have something firm under him.
His legs carried him down the river and to the rapids where he finally came to a halt. He crept closer until he was at the edge, sitting and wrapping his tail around himself. The dull roar the rapids created filled his ears. It was calming, but at the same time, it numbed him. What had his father felt when he had fallen in? Was he terrified, as Reedstar had been in his dream? Had he even known what was happening, or had he died instantly? He was sure his mother had felt much worse. Nine lives in one go couldn't have been anything pleasant. When he thought about it - he shivered. He wondered what he would feel if he fell in now. Would it be like his dream? He hesitantly stuck his paw in, feeling the water rush past his toes. He wondered if maybe he should have taken some cat with him. Lilyspark would've made sure to let him know how crazy he was acting. He sighed.
The forest rushed by as he did, greens and browns and blacks blurring together until he couldn't make out what was tree and what was ground anymore. It could almost be mistaken for flying, he thought, but it was as if the forest had been flipped on its side or maybe he was hurtling through it as if thrown by an unknown force. Either way, it was terrifying. He hated it. Flailing his paws did nothing to fix himself and no matter how hard he twisted his body and tail he couldn't right himself to control his fall. And so he fell. He fell until the trees rushed past and became mountains, until mountains became moors and rivers and marshes. He fell until the sky became stars and still it was black.
He fell until the cold embrace of water consumed him, wrapping around him like a blanket of snow as his descent slowed to a stop and he floated. For a moment more, nothing happened - he floated in silence, unable to move, but he was stopped. He was just beginning to relax when a cracking noise cut through the silence, a noise that shouldn't have been as clear as it was from him being underwater. Rocks shot up around him, encasing him, and still there were more and more springing from the depths of the lake, water churring around him and spiraling and he gasped, trying in vain to move but still he couldn't and once more he was falling, the water sucking him deeper and deeper down.
Reedstar woke with a gasp, scrambling to his paws and hunkering down until he pressed tightly to the ground. He willed the shaking in his paws to go away, focusing on bringing his breathing to a normal speed. It took some time but soon enough his pelt flattened and his breathing slowed and he could move again. What was that all about? He'd never had a dream like that! He needed some air.
The moon was bright and high in the sky when Reedstar slunk out of his den. There was a crisp breeze and he was grateful for the way it ruffled his fur. But it wasn't enough. Even with his clanmates asleep around him, he felt crowded. He'd go out into the territory, that should be enough, and he knew exactly where to go. After letting the warrior guarding camp know where he was going - he couldn't just leave camp without letting another know where he went, enough leaders had gone missing in recent times - he padded out into the territory, breaking into a run and savoring the feeling of firm ground under his paws. After the weightlessness from his dream, it felt good to have something firm under him.
His legs carried him down the river and to the rapids where he finally came to a halt. He crept closer until he was at the edge, sitting and wrapping his tail around himself. The dull roar the rapids created filled his ears. It was calming, but at the same time, it numbed him. What had his father felt when he had fallen in? Was he terrified, as Reedstar had been in his dream? Had he even known what was happening, or had he died instantly? He was sure his mother had felt much worse. Nine lives in one go couldn't have been anything pleasant. When he thought about it - he shivered. He wondered what he would feel if he fell in now. Would it be like his dream? He hesitantly stuck his paw in, feeling the water rush past his toes. He wondered if maybe he should have taken some cat with him. Lilyspark would've made sure to let him know how crazy he was acting. He sighed.
