Eyes in the Fog

Corvus stood at the base of the sacred mountain, Nemuri’s mountain.

Everyone had surely heard the news already. Delusions, Nemuri’s lost, no that wasn’t right, HIDDEN children had revealed themselves.

He had some worries with them suddening showing up. Did they plan to take the mountain for their own? Was it not bad enough that they nearly injured both Dreams and Nightmares alike with all that miasma? Clearly not, they seemed intent upending the cove to no end.

Surely, Nemuri had thoughts on this? She and her messengers weren’t stepping in to stop things, so it would be alright, right?

Still, a bad feeling lingered in his chest as he looked upon the mountain. The thick miasma lingered in the trees as Corvus rubbed his hands together. Sterling himself, he began his quest for answers up the path of the mountain.

🌕🌖🌗🌘🌑🌒🌓🌔🌕

The feeling of unease within him did not albeit as he continued his climb. He felt eyes upon him from within the mist; however, no matter how hard he searched he could not see the source of the gaze. Undeterred, Corvus continued climbing the sacred mountain.

It was soundless except for the crunch of his footfalls on top of the leaves.

His ear pricked as he heard a laugh from high up the mountain deep within the mist. It didn’t sound like Lullaby, and certainly no Yumenari he had ever met before. Just who else was on the mountain right now?

Following the laughing he found himself at the top of the mountain. However, his breath hitched as he saw the scene that lay out in front of him.

A Yumenari sat with Nemuri within her palanquin, one he did not recognize.

They were the source of the laughter that Corvus had been hearing.

Upon a closer look, Nemuri lay asleep, the Yumenari’s strange eyes fell upon him. The feeling was nauseating, yet Corvus found the will to speak.

“You! How dare you so casually touch the goddess! Where’s Lullaby?”

Corvus growled, his eyes narrowed, tails bristling with anger.

This only seemed to be found funny by the strange red headed Yumenari. After a bout of laughter, they spoke.

“Aww, are you going to try to stop me? What could you possibly do? I’ll be taking my fellow Delusions and we’ll make that nice little village down there ours. Then the rest of this land.”

“No!!”

Corvus bolted up, sending his blankets tumbling onto the ground.

His bedroom? He was in his bedroom.

Dripping with sweat, he looked around. Everything was peaceful, yet he still felt uneasy, like those eyes were still looking at him.

Lace, his cloud pet, looked at him from within its own bed, which happened to be a pile of stuffed plushies it had taken over and turned into a makeshift reef.

He stood up on unsteady feet and exited his room, heading to the walk over that connected his own living abode to his neighbor.

The air was cold but the sky was clear.

Could that dream have been a message from Nemuri? Did she call for aid? Was he strong enough to even help her?

He snapped to attention as the door to the other house opened.

“Chasm!”

Corvus pulled him into a tight hug, tears streaming down his face.

“Hey! What are you…!” He paused, noticing the crying and carefully stroking the head of the younger Yumenari, “What’s wrong Corv?”

“I had a nightmare! I think it’s a message from Nemuri and… and I think she’s in danger!”

Chasm looked at him. “You’re okay. And so is she.”

“How are you so sure!?” Corvus' tone was sharp as he lashed out with a snarl.

Charm beckoned him to look down towards the street. The messengers sat in a restaurant they were with Oliver and the Delusion, Howl.

“If Nemuri was in danger, they wouldn’t be relaxing. Now come on, let’s get you back to bed.”

Corvus allowed him to escort him back to his bedroom. Chasm had to be correct. They were no pushovers and the messengers wouldn’t allow any harm to come to any of the Goddesses.

Once they were safe within the walls of his home, Chasm brewed tea for the pair of them, allowing Corvus the chance to calm down and relax.

“Chasm… you won’t tell anyone about this will you?”

He shook his head. “No. And thank you for coming to me with this.”

“Wait… how DID you know I was out there about to get you?”

Chasm smiled one of his rare smiles. “Call it intuition.”

Corvus laughed, earning a small chuckle from Chasm in return.

“Well, regardless, thank you.”

“Anytime. Hey, how about tomorrow, the two of us head up the mountain and put whatever lingering doubts you have to rest?”

“That would be great Chasm.”