Memories [plot/private]

Lexi tossed fitfully in her bedroll, murmuring in her sleep as the world of dreams sucked her deeper into a nonsensical place filled with sparks of memories past. Glimpses of her adopted parents flashed by briefly before moving on to a vivid splash of Onyx’ face in her mental theatre. She whimpered in her sleep, keenly feeling the loss of her brother. The dream was so vivid, she could see, hear, even smell him. The dream shifted once more, this time to a familiar landscape from a time she would almost prefer to forget.

Her travels in Heliohapt had been an interesting experience for her, roaming through the desert alone in search of Onyx. She had gained much knowledge in the arid land and had made several friends, including a large group of orphans. But this particular dream was not focused on the children she had befriended or on the disaster that had come from the events. Rather, this dream focused on her last night in Heliohapt. The boat would not leave until morning, so many of the passengers had simply decided to camp near the docks for the evening. The evening was rather cool once the sun had set, offering relief from the parching effects of the desert. As more people gathered, a large fire was built and food and liquor were handed out freely. Lexi had chosen a seat somewhat away from the large group, her mind still swimming with what had happened at the events as she sipped at some sweet wine from a place she had never been to.

She recalled the fuzzy warmth spreading through her chest from the alcohol and noticing as a man approached her slowly. He looked to be attempting to escape the large group of people yet at the same time not wanting to be alone. His brilliant red hair took on a glow from the fire light as he waved to a spot next to her on the large log and she nodded to indicate it was fine for him to sit there. He settled down silently and she made no move to engage him in conversation, leaving him to his thoughts while offering the small amount of company he seemed to desire.

The dream shifted once more, skipping over part of the night before settling on her and the Fanalis man laughing drunkenly together. The night was a blur after that point, though small clips of memory bled through, it was the night she had conceived Nymeria. The next morning, she had gotten on a boat to Reim and the man had caught a different boat, bound for where, she did not know. She woke up from the dream with a small jerk, the memory of the night still playing in her head. She had not seen Nymeria’s father since then and she vaguely wondered if she would ever see him again. Did he know he was a father?

With a small sigh, Lexi twisted in her blankets to glance at her daughter. Nymeria had her father’s hair and eyes, but the small fox tail and ears were purely part of Lexi’s tribal connections. Lovingly, she brushed some red strands from Nymeria’s face and pressed a kiss to her forehead before rolling back over and drifting into a dreamless sleep.

[exit]