Welcome to Gaia! ::

One of the most surreal moments in her life had been the day she had died and been reborn anew.

Left floating somewhere along that long hallway with a bright light at the end of the dark narrow tunnel and a semi-conscious state that was acutely aware that she was drowning. People often fantasize that a person's life flashes before their eyes in those final moments, but for her… all seemed still and silent.

Warmth welcomed her but frigid shackles held her back from entering that beautifully inviting oasis and she was helpless to fight against them. Forever will she remember the feeling of being watched as something, a beast of some sort, circled her at a distance too far for her to see. Marissa could feel it’s eyes upon her, appraisingly at first but eventually shifted to those of hunger.

All went dark as the currents shifted. When finally she found the will and courage to open her eyes she lay atop a bed silt and sand at the bottom of that frozen lake that should have otherwise been her grave.

Lavendulan placed a bluish-teal paw against the rough bark of the maple tree and sighed, the tail behind her swayed lazily yet she paid it no mind. It was odd to be consciously aware that you’re dreaming. It offered more control over the Dreamscape and yet she couldn’t understand why she had no control over her appearance.

The soft pointed ears atop her head pinned back in mild irritation. “Whatever…” may as well go with it…

How many months had it been since she had looked back on that dark moment? Two, maybe three, if she were to guess. Wolframite was the one she had to mostly thank, as well as both Lopezite and Tinaksite, who had all helped keep her and her mind busy these past several weeks. However, what happened in that haunted house had managed to trigger back flashes of the panicked moment of sheer helplessness which sent her spiraling .

Perhaps that’s why I look like this now. If she were part wolf youma like him, a skilled hunter, then maybe she could also be brave. But even pups run away with their tail between their legs when scared; simply changing the outside did nothing to help her change the inside.

Here on this tiny island, illuminated by the life of the maple tree, Laven felt comfort in knowing that Wolframite was beside her, his strong aura was close and let her know that this place was safe and not some manifestation of a spirit’s imagination.

The ears atop her head swiveled at the sound of her name being called, a familiar voice echoing from beyond the distance where the light from the tree abruptly ended.

Is that my quest then? To find the courage to travel into the unknown and find whoever is lost? What she would have been if Wolframite had agreed to go on ahead to find that little child without her.

The tree shivered as if a gust of wind swept through the open area but Laven felt no such movement of air. From its outstretched branches, it shed a single leaf that floated to the ground beside her. She leaned over to pick it up and held it between two fingers.

Like a living candle, it glowed yet offered no heat or warmth.

Laven turned towards the direction where she had heard the voice calling and began walking towards the edge of the small little island to the still waters edge. There were stepping stones of purple polished crystal that illuminated beneath her as she carefully made her way across them.

When she turned around, Laven canted her head to the side curiously noting how the light had grown brighter revealing a small pond with patches of lily pads with bright pink and purple flowers, rather than the large lake she assumed it to be.

“Interesting.” It seemed this place was not borne from her nightmares after all. But now was not the time to admire her surroundings and with that in mind, and leaf in hand, she turned back towards the shore and continued on towards the thick woods and what resides beyond the darkened trees.

At a distance it sounded like several firecrackers had just been set off causing Laven’s ears to pin back against her head, her heartbeat quickened as she dashed behind a tree. Wide, seemingly pupiless, blue eyes darted about as more of this dreamscape became visible.

When all seemed safe and well Laven released the breath she had been holding only a moment before something ominous flew overhead. With a downward swoop of the large phoenix’s wings the tops of the trees rustle overhead and though she knew this to be a dream, in the moment of startled panic, her hold on the delicate leaf became too much crushing the little light into glowing bits of glitter that blew away with the gust of wind.

Beyond the silhouette of trees she could just barely make out a second trail lighting up in the distance. The path that opened up behind the figure seemed more ominous than her own as if a nightmare nipped at his, or her heels.

Laven approached the group of statues cautiously. Curious things they were; vaguely familiar but only by description not because she had seen anything like these before which made her wonder how and why her mind would include them in a dream like this. A question best left for later, she decided, as she turned around to pursue the person she had spotted walking across the water using the lily pads as stepping stones.

“Who are you?” she asked once within shouting range.

There was a low, near imperceptible growl in her chest as Laven claws curled at her side in preparation for their answer. Depending on wether or not she liked what they had to say she may, or may not, be inclined to attack because, for all she knew, those symbols on the back of the black and almost cranberry red uniform did not look like it belonged to any branch in the Negaverse, at least not one that she was aware of anyway.

Wolframite? Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

No, he bore no resemblance to her boyfriend, at least not from this distance. The uniform design and colors were completely wrong, and that symbol was of one she didn’t recognize. Then again, she didn’t exactly look like herself either.

His question went ignored as she shot back another one of her own instead. “How do I know that’s your name and that you haven’t done something to him instead?” Suspicion laced her voice but she would not yield in her questioning until she was sure.

Dreams were odd in the sense that she wasn’t sure if she should fight him as she was itching to do or trust he was who he said he was and just proceed with caution for now.

“Such vulgar language…” She made a ‘humph’ sound and rolled her eyes unimpressed.

“I don’t owe you an explanation.” Her ears swiveled back, “I don’t owe you anything for that matter.” One moment she was on the shores, the next she stood behind him on the lilypad he would have stood on had she not interrupted his leisurely walk across the lake.

This was a place where she had control of, or at least influenced, the rules. Just because she was a simple Lieutenant while awake didn’t mean she was bound by the same restrictions here.

“You’re just a figment of my imagination.” She lunged at him. Together they fell sideways, water being her element Laven was unafraid however rather than finding themselves submerged the surface tension shattered beneath them in millions of tiny droplets as they found themselves on the other side of the reflective surface.

The water rippled and the lake began to glow from a light within.

Without needing to glance around she knew where they had been taken. It was a dome like structure reminiscent of the inner sanctuary she had been carefully hidden away in before Wolframite had shattered the glass barrier and caused her youma side to stir. On the far side was a deep crack and beyond that more darkness but she unconcerned and unafraid.

Laven sat atop his chest, legs straddling his hips and hands around his throat. “Who are you?” She growled again, unconvinced of who he said he was.

“Wh-what is this? Stop it!” With panic-filled eyes, Laven struggled to pull free from the blades of grass. Sharp as they were she felt no pain from them as this was just a dream turned horror-filled nightmare.

“You’re not my Wolframite! Let go of me...” she shouted. “Let go!”

This dome had been her sanctuary, a place where she felt safe where she should have been able to overcome him. But now it had been defiled by the bloody image of this man’s throat being cut into.

Red stained teeth, he smiled at her. Had this truly been Wolframite then this wouldn’t have been the reaction she would have received. No, her Wolframite accepted challenges head-on, he would have grappled with her, perhaps nipped at her. Or, as she hoped, touch her cheek tenderly and tell her to wake up.

Outside of the Dreamscape, Laven whimpered in her sleep. Escape a surreal funhouse with a ghost only to be thrown into a house of horrors. Terrified by where this nightmare was going she curled herself against Wolframite’s chest.

Unable to pull herself out of this warped and twisted world her body shook as her hand closed into tight fists to hold onto his shirt or comforter that had been haphazardly tossed across the bed.

“Give him back!” She yelled at the decapitated body that smiled up at her eerily. A loud roaring sound echoed around them.

The crack in the glass dome fractured and webbed until the pressure from the ocean surrounding them crashed down upon them. Her ever-watchful guardian swam close but its body was different, changed come how but she knew it to be hers.

Fear raked sharp claws down her back, rending flesh beneath its pointed nails.

Laven winced and from her, it pulled a pathetic whimpering sound unbiddenly. The ears atop her head pinned back, flat against her head. Her eyes traveled from that wicked grin of his down the length of his arm to the chain he held.

Pulling her hand back, she took a step away and in response, the snakes that slithered beneath the white lilies lifted their heads and hissed. Laven jumped away from them but the vibration of her actions caused them to lunge towards her at a speed so quick she had no time to dodge with this dress she now wore.

Sharp fangs bit into the delicate flesh around each of her wrists and even though this was a dream it did not stop her from letting out a sound of pain. Their bodies, like the others, changed from scaled serpents into heavy links and while their heads in fact turned to metal like the rest of them they did not become like normal cuffs and instead retained their shape.

It was the weight of them that brought her to her knees in a puddle of purple silk. Relentless as they were, she was not permitted to leave, not yet anyway or so it seemed. Without needing to look down, Laven knew that her wrists were bleeding from the wounds that were made to stay open.

“Stop this,” She barely managed to say. Her eyes squeezed shut, refusing to look at him, at the blood or the dress he made her wear. “This isn’t you.” Even if they perhaps shared the same name, this wasn’t the Wolframite that she knew. He liked to fight, that much was true, but never did she associate such carnage with the half-youma.

“Why waste your time and energy trying to help me escape from that haunted mansion only to torment me here?”

Her lips curled into a snarl warningly when he lapped at her wounds knowing that it was not a gesture done out of concern for her but rather an action pulled from a more primal or carnal nature.

“And if I said no,” she challenged him back. “Then what?”

“Would you walk away from me because I refuse to treat you like a lap dog or a pet,” Laven spat out the last word as if it were acid on her tongue. “Or would you lay down and beg for something you have not earned?” Lifting her free hand, she laid her palm against his taught abs. The snake bite held fast and like her other arm, warm blood ran freely down to her elbow and onto the dark fabric of the dress.

It was a bold move to make but Laven rose to her knees and leaned forward to capture his lips with her own in a dispassionate kiss that ended with her bitting him firmly as he had all but asked her to do. Yes, what he said was true, she had more bite but she was also certain he did not mean that quite so literally.

No more cowardice.

When she pulled back, her hand slid down until her fingertips touched the belt around his hips. “Heh… and here I thought you were an alpha wolf.: Laven hooked a finger through the leather strap and gave it a tug towards her before releasing him. “I can’t help but wonder how disappointed your youma must be in knowing that the man it took into its pack prefers being an Omega…”

“Only disloyal or disobedient beasts require leashes. Is that what you are, Wolframite? Should I worry that you will falter or stray too far away? Are you so short-sighted that you’ll become easily distracted and forget your goals or dreams you shared with me?” The home he wished to build or desire to become a sovereign, were those just sweet words meant to deceive or were those things he truly wanted to achieve for himself?

“You said I can demand whatever I want, so I demand this.” Just as he had done to her, Laven took hold of his chin and leveled her gaze with his. “Never allow anyone to treat you like you are some animal meant to be trained. Your loyalty is your virtue and that is all they can ever ask of you.”

“Pets aren’t leaders, and leaders do not beg. You will lose my respect if you ever hold a leash out to me again.” She didn’t want to be his master or force him to be with her. She wanted to raise in rank to be able to stand at his side and fight with him, not use or abuse him by holding a foot over his head as if he was some disobedient sub. “Have more self-worth, Wolframite.”