Welcome to Gaia! ::

She remembered this. The nightmare that she had about her parents and how they truly felt about her as their one and only child. No. She couldn't go through that. Not again. Grasping tightly onto the card, she trembled as she was made to re-live the dream all over again.

"You should know better than anyone as to why he's like that." Though their paths had never crossed in her entire existence, somewhere deep down Yvette knew who the female figure who now sat opposite to her was. Her mother. She brought the cup of tea she had rested on her lap down onto the table between the both of them. "Did you know that I was dissipated because I insisted on keeping you?"

Yvette blinked. "That's not right..." The words of protest were about to spill from her quivering lips when the older female figure stood up. "That's not what you were told by everyone including him, isn't it?" She set the cup down on the table then slowly circled the table towards her with a soft smile. "That's because they don't want you to know the truth. My body has always been frail and sickly since back when I was a small ghoul. I was told repeatedly that I should never attempt to have a scareling ever as doing that may very well be the end of me."

Yvette quickly got up form her seat and started to retreat from the approaching figure. No. It couldn't be. The Hunters were to be blamed for her mother's absence. "I went through with it nonetheless. I wanted a complete family with scarelings and all. I wanted to be able to give your father at least that as his wife even if it killed me. Your father couldn't stop me even if he wanted to so he had no choice but to go with what I wanted. It wasn't easy. He even wanted me to give up on the idea a few times but it was entirely worth it when I finally saw how tiny and adorable you were."

Her mother started tearing up then. "It was shortly after you came into this world when I fell ill. The healers came but there was nothing that they could do." She suddenly felt a hand rest on her shoulder and jumped to the side, whirling around to find Hywel standing before her. "... Hywel." He shook his head, a wry smile on his face as he crossed over to tug her mother into an embrace. "What your mother said was the truth Yvette. We hid the truth in order to protect you."

"A promise that I had him make. It wouldn't do if you started blaming yourself for my absence you see." Her mother chipped in. "I... admit that I haven't exactly been a good father all this while. It's my own fault really - I can see why you refuse to acknowledge me as your father till this day Yvette. But that's alright..." She found herself unable to move, her eyes going wide as she silently watched the both of them approach to envelope her in a hug.

"Your father has never been good at expressing himself. It doesn't make it any easier with you bearing such a great resemblance to me. But we want you to know that we have no regrets bringing you into this world and that we love you even if we weren't the best parents and weren't able to give you the family that you rightfully deserve." She wiped at her eyes and nodded, hugging them both close for a long time as she allowed herself time to absorb everything that they had said.

"I love you too. Mum. ... Dad."

He had been through this before. The nightmare in which he finally found Kasja waiting for him on the reclaimed island that belonged to the Death Clan, only that she wasn't the same Death mare that he remembered...

Everything was played out exactly as they had from back when he had the nightmare initially. He began his scouting from the sky, dropping to the ground to search on foot as soon as he neared where Kasja's family once lived. He stopped when he saw the robed figure before him, his heart almost coming to a complete stop in his chest when the feminine figure turned to reveal herself to be none other than the mare whom he had been searching for.

"Kasja... how did you..." It was almost as if time had stopped. There were a million questions going through his mind at the same time ranging from how and when did she get here to where and how she had been on her own all this while. Did it all matter now that he had found her though? He supposed not. She crossed over with a smile on her face, obviously glad to see him as she wrapped her arms around him in a hug.

Looking around for a bit, he awkwardly returned the gesture in a similar manner and willed himself to breathe easy in her presence. "Where were you all this while? I thought that you were..." "Dead?" She pulled back slightly to finish his question for him before shaking her head a few times. "Really now Yves... I'm no longer a young mare who isn't able to fend for herself. I've been here all this while waiting for you in fact."

He felt his blood turn cold at her words. "Here? But how did you... with the number of Insanity Titans that we fought to even step foot on this island?" Something was terribly wrong about this - he couldn't quite put a finger on it yet but things were somehow not quite adding up. She pouted at him, lifting a finger to poke his nose so that she had his full attention. "That's not what I meant silly. I was out on a task all this while and only just got back... to this."

His eyes went wide then at the sadness that was reflected on her face. Before he could respond or do anything however, he felt something thump against his chest and lowered his gaze to find her clenched fist resting on it. "You're real, aren't you? Who else is left..? Is there anything left for us at all?" She asked in a muted tone.

The War stallion merely nodded, his hand moving to wrap around her fist before giving it a squeeze. "I'm here. Our clans have lost a lot but this victory..." He gestured towards the landscape around them. "This hard won victory is only the beginning. With you by my side, we can rebuild what we once had." Threading his fingers gently through her hair, he leaned in to take a whiff of her scent and finally allowed himself to relax as he held her close to him, grateful that his prayers were finally answered and she was now returned to his side, spared from the destruction of their homes and otherwise unharmed.

She was a blessing and gift that he would treasure for as long as he lived.

Nightmare:
"But - aren't we all supposed to you know - have our own rooms?" The question had been met with an icy look from the school's secretary. But everyone else /did/ have their own room. And the way she looked at him said everything. If you have the lowest scores in the entire school, you're not a real student. So you don't get a room for yourself. He dragged his bag to the door of her office, then looked down at the climb, down the vertical shaft that plummeted down into the center of the school. To the bottom. Heaving it over his shoulder, and casting a mournful glance back, he started to climb down the metal rungs. As he went deeper, he glanced in through the open doors, of the other students rooms. Big, luxurious even. Beds well made, you could see by the gold stickers and a+'s scrawled all over them. He had flunked bed-making class in the first week, when he had forgotten to bring the pillow slips.

Finally, arriving at the bottom, he stepped off onto the small platform, and pushed the door open to his new room. There was a students bed, but it wasn't his. He looked listlessly at the small habitarium in the corner, with his name pinned on it. It was so cramped! How was he going to even sleep at night?? Turning back to the bed, he jealously squinted at his roommate, lounging listlessly on it. Staring back at him, distastefully, his roommate rolled over and began to lick itself in front of him, tail whipping back and forth as it groomed. "Mrrt! Prr prrft!" Kwasi felt his ears began to heat up and turn red from embarrassment. Imagine it! The only kid in the entire school who's minipet had better grades than him! And now, he had to -share a room- with it!

Dream:
Kwasi lay on his bed, in his room. His window was open, and a warm breeze was coming in. He looked up around at the twinkling of lights on the ceiling, and smiled. Classes today had been good, he had done well in the one where you ran in circles and caught the ball, the one where you sat and talked about what you thought about stuff, and also the one where everyone had sat around and played video games. All his friends were coming over soon, and they'd sit around and laugh and do all sorts of fun stuff. And then they'd go off on fun adventures around the school. Amityville Academy was the best. And the best thing was, he'd never have to leave. Because they were like family - they were family. And life would always be like this, one big great fun friend filled adventure.

He looked over at his treat mini who curled up beside him, purring quietly. "Hey you - get off the bed, you know you're not supposed to be on it!" Reaching over, he tickled it behind the ears, then lifting it up, walked over to the smaller collection of pillows beside. It hung limply in his arms, and purred as he climbed into the pillows, growing smaller and smaller. Or were the pillows larger and larger? Either way, he climbed in, and up to the top of the room, until they were on the ceiling, surrounded by the stars, which weren't stars, but were little azde like him, each of them circling around as he walked past, calling and waving. And everything was perfect, and he was happy, and life was good.

Cadences struggled against the invisible ties, they seemed loser this time around, she couldn’t look back or turn around but she could at least back up. But did she want to? She wasn’t sure. The silver hallway was thin, narrow and sleek. It felt cool to the touch, as she found she was able to move her arms more than the last time she had this nightmare. What should she do? Should she head forward or retreat into what she couldn’t see behind her, was there even anything behind her she wasn’t sure so she moved forward. It was easier than stepping backwards there was no resistant so she took off running, running to the end of the hall. She slowed when another room came into sight she approached it slowly and when she was a few inches away from it she stuck her hand out, and hit the invisible wall. It didn’t hurt though, she was able to force her way through, she could feel her fingers on the other side of the barrier but it was hard, the wall was giving so much resistance it was nearly impossible to push herself though. Then she noticed the room, was her room this time and then she saw him, her brother. He looked confused, and possibly a bit amused. Which was much better than the blank look from the last time. “Help me!” She called to him, not really expecting an response. So when he reached out and wrapped his fingers around her own, she was shocked. Even more so when he pull his arm back and she slid easily though the wall and out of the mirror. She turned and looked back at it, and was greeted with two reflections. Cadence smiled softly, she was not a reflection of her brother, or anyone other than herself. Sometimes people needed help, and that was okay, it didn’t make them any weaker or the other person any stronger. In the end, they were just themselves.

WRONG PLACE WHAT AM I DOING HERE

You have to take care of them.

She was on the training ground, sweat glistening on her brow as she demolished another dummy. There was a pile of broken bits at her feet, splinters and debris all around her, and Warrick was gleeful presence in her mind.

Shouting pulled her attention away from the next dummy, and she turned to see Taym striding across the field towards her. He lifted a hand in a greeting, and an almost feral grin split his features. "Haven't you destroyed enough of hose yet?" He sounded amused, and Peyton rolled her shoulders in a small shrug before offering an answering grin. "Maybe, but I'm pretty sure I heard them talking smack, so they had it coming."

He laughed a started, abrupt sound, and the scenery changed.

They were walking through Central park hand in hand. It was warmer this time, spring was in the air, but Peyton stayed pressed to his side. There were people all around them, walking, riding bikes, skateboarding, and above the usual hustle and bustle they could hear someone playing guitar and singing somewhere up ahead.

Make him happy.

As they got closer the song became recognizable, and without thinking the girl leaned her head against Noah's arm and started singing. Pale eyes rolling up to watch his face as she serenaded him, only slightly over-embellishing.

He laughed, bending to lay a kiss on the tip of her nose, and the scenery changed.

It was summer, and there hadn't been a kraken sighted in weeks. The girls had taken the opportunity tp enjoy a little sun and surf. Towels had been laid out, and the dress code was mandatory bikinis. Peyton was laying with her arms crossed behind her head, eyes hidden behind a pair of dark glasses, and she was answering questions read aloud to her by the red head lounging beside her. A pencil in hand, she was recording the answers for the both of them as they went through the quiz. Something about being a bad girl? You're not quite sure, but the questions and answers are enough to have you both giggling.

Keep them content.

At the end America hands over the magazine after circling the results and Peyton reads them aloud. "you are a 'Bona-fied bad girl'," she starts, laughing. "You get off on being as mischievous as possible."

She laughed, loud and unrestrained, and the scenery changes

A quick one handed hug.

A brush of lips and half flushed cheeks.

A piggy back ride across the sand.

7 of Clubs

Nightmare

She reached out and took hold of a card, the lighter one, holding it loosely in her hand. There seemed to be importance here, though what that might be she knew not. Then a voice spoke. A feminine sounding voice. And as it did, urging her to remember, she realized the voice was hers. Remember. She had to remember.

Taani, her name was Taani, and she was destined for greatness of one form or another. She remembered dancing and shadows, movies and studying (studying and more studying). She remembered her family and leaving them all behind, and then she remembered the nightmare. The nightmare that had started it all, but somehow it felt different, like the words were not quite right.

"Do you hate me sister?" In his voice was an edge of fear, confusion in his eyes, and yet somehow she was simply glad to know that there was something there, some feeling about the situation.

"Why would you think I hate you?" The thought was distressing, and even if she didn't spend as much time with him as their parents might, she still cared for him. She still based her decision to fight the shadows on his well-being, and for others like him.

"Don't you hate me for bringing the shadows out?" He was so quiet she could barely hear his words, but when she did her face began to crumble. "I could never hate you. And it is not your fault. It has never been your fault, and it never will be." She moved toward him and knelt down, pulling him into a hug. "Don't worry I will always make sure you're safe."

She felt his arms wrap around her, and for a minute all she felt was peace.