Occurring two days after the events of {SE} Fear is the mind-killer
He hadn't wanted to talk about it at first. Even the thought of trying to put it into words made his throat clench so hard he couldn't swallow. They had finished the night on the Sea of Dreams and, with the dawn bringing light and heat and life to the world once more, Tal had lifted the Peregrine back into the sky so they could continue their journey.
Over the Suvahasi and its poisonous plants, over the ocean and the islands of increasingly lush trees, until they passed above the crowns of giants, a riot of pale green and new growth in the Flowerbirth warmth. It was the middle of the night when they made dock at the Village and Tal was dead on his feet. He'd secured the skyboat and stumbled back into the little cabin they shared, passing out in his hammock without even taking his boots off.
His sleep was blessedly dreamless, and when he woke again it was to Boreal licking his face with her usual helpful cheer and reminder that he needed a bath, a breakfast, and a friend, in roughly that order.
The Village had enough amenities for the first two, thankfully, and the third had come with him this far already. After a pleasant time spent exploring the Village, Tal recommended they get a room at a guest-house for the night and spend some time sleeping in real beds.
And away from the ship where the nightmares had found them.
The place they found was a cozy little treehouse with two small bedrooms and a shared communal space that served for food and sitting together. The remains of the carry-home dinner they'd gotten had been tidied away and cups of tea had been poured. Though it was time for bed, Tal lingered on the couch that was meant for someone much shorter then him, fingers alternately tightening and relaxing on his cup as he stared into the steam, expression gradually growing tight and strained once more.
Alys
He hadn't wanted to talk about it at first. Even the thought of trying to put it into words made his throat clench so hard he couldn't swallow. They had finished the night on the Sea of Dreams and, with the dawn bringing light and heat and life to the world once more, Tal had lifted the Peregrine back into the sky so they could continue their journey.
Over the Suvahasi and its poisonous plants, over the ocean and the islands of increasingly lush trees, until they passed above the crowns of giants, a riot of pale green and new growth in the Flowerbirth warmth. It was the middle of the night when they made dock at the Village and Tal was dead on his feet. He'd secured the skyboat and stumbled back into the little cabin they shared, passing out in his hammock without even taking his boots off.
His sleep was blessedly dreamless, and when he woke again it was to Boreal licking his face with her usual helpful cheer and reminder that he needed a bath, a breakfast, and a friend, in roughly that order.
The Village had enough amenities for the first two, thankfully, and the third had come with him this far already. After a pleasant time spent exploring the Village, Tal recommended they get a room at a guest-house for the night and spend some time sleeping in real beds.
And away from the ship where the nightmares had found them.
The place they found was a cozy little treehouse with two small bedrooms and a shared communal space that served for food and sitting together. The remains of the carry-home dinner they'd gotten had been tidied away and cups of tea had been poured. Though it was time for bed, Tal lingered on the couch that was meant for someone much shorter then him, fingers alternately tightening and relaxing on his cup as he stared into the steam, expression gradually growing tight and strained once more.
Alys
