Cassiopeia // 🌌

A blue canine with constellation patterned fur and golden-yellow halos. Cassiopeia, better known as Cassie, is well known for being extremely shy. Often very embarrassed, she stutters causing her to be even more bashful. Out of all the people in Avarici, the only one Cassie considers to be her best friend is Andromeda, who saved her life two years ago.

The dreams started in middle school. Sharp and jarring, the dreams overflowed with blood and tears. Every night, Cassie witnessed families splinter apart and bodies be thrown into the air and gunshots pierced her ears. She ignored the dreams, dismissing them as merely figments of her imagination. But one day, as Cassie was sitting in math class a dream burst into her mind, searing her brain with an immense pain. Eyes watering, she felt herself being pinned down to the floor, sharp claws raking her neck and arms as sickeningly red blood pooled down beneath her. The dream was unlike the others; this one felt so... real. Suddenly, Cassie felt her head snap and her sight fade as she saw two bright neon eyes stare down at her.

Her name was Andromeda. She was the one who stayed by Cassie when she fainted and the one who helped Cassie out of the classroom and into an empty, quiet room. Eyes brimming with excitement, she eagerly asked Cassie what had happened to which Cassie refused. Despite this rough start, Cassie grew a liking for her. Andromeda was an extroverted feline, contrasting Cassie's quiet nature and the two grew to be friends. However as time went on, Cassie began experiencing more and more dreams in which she died a terrible death. Finally, after six months of suffering through her dreams, she broke down crying loudly in front of Andromeda. The pain, the dreams, the violence spilled out of Cassie as Andromeda comforted her. Suddenly, Andromeda stopped talking, looking at Cassie in awe. Cassie looked up from her sorrow and gasped. A beautiful golden-yellow halo floated above her head.

Magic. Cassie never though that that word would apply to her. Magic was something told in stories. Magic was something whispered about in the streets. Magic was simply something ethereal, something unimaginable, something unobtainable. And yet it was obtainable and it was imaginable, Cassie was proof of that. The dreams weren't just dreams, they were visions. Visions of some sort of future. And maybe perhaps her future. But who would kill her? She wasn't dangerous. Or at least, Cassie thought she wasn't. Maybe her magic was dangerous. Maybe she was indeed dangerous. Her worries and doubts crowded her mind as the weeks passed. It wasn't until one fateful night that her fears were confirmed.

A dark alleyway. Cold and damp, Cassie walked down the alley. Alone. Andromeda had told her to meet her there for a gift. It was unusual, yes, but it was a surprise gift. Surprise gifts were always fun. Silence. No sign of her was around Cassie. Soft pawsteps echoed through the alley, causing Cassie to turn around. Suddenly, a loud hiss reverberated through the lane and Cassie felt her body be slammed into the ground. Fear. Dread coursed through Cassie's veins as she felt sharp claws drag across her throat. Then, it stopped. The weight on Cassie's body was lifted and with it shouts and cries sqiraled up into the air. Blinking, Cassie looked up. There Andromeda was, fighting Cassie's attacker and yelling profanities at them. Finally, the attacker ran away leaving Cassie and Andromeda alone.

That was two years ago and since then, the dreams ceased. And yet, Cassie still had many questions about that night that were still unanswered. Why did someone try to kill her? Who tried to kill her? Did Andromeda know about that person? Cassie tried Andromeda to which she refused, telling her to move on from it. Yet, how could she? She should've been dead by now but she wasn't. Why didn't she die that night?