skill: astronomer

Dalmatia tossed and turned throughout her sleep — a dream invaded their sleep, what felt more like a nightmare, her usually calm and peaceful rest beside N​ó​ttin was perturbed. While the plague lifted from the lands, it cursed her dreams, ripped the Dream Visitor from them, where were they? What was usually a safety net amid these twisted visions does not comfort her from the shadows — no, but a tree in the middle of a lake does, a golden light... encasing them all...

Then a bitter cold strikes her, the sky darkens faster than the blink of an eye, and the sole thing lighting her vision is a purple lit flame, festering, keeping all that is close warm, and the rest a bleak wasteland.

Another blink, and she is awake, startled by the flapping wind intruding in the shared den of to-be husband and wife. Snow drifts in, a dusting maybe from the night before. She can feel Nóttin's warmth pressed into her side, but it is not enough to keep her from shivering like it usually does. She shifts, hoping not to wake her love, as she goes to inspect what knocked loose the pelt that shielded their den from the outside...

The spotted woman peered outside, looking for the cause, and finding that the wind, or a mischievous rabbit, pushed one of the rocks stabilizing the pelt overhead had fallen. Just as she ducked out to fix it, she felt as if she had stepped back into the dreamscape; thick, gray clouds cluttered together overhead, creating a blockage, a cage that held back light. It is reminiscent of the week of the Blood Moon, where the world darkens, but there is no watchful eye, just the feeling of nothing. Not even a star blinks through.

Where is the sky; her stars? Panic wells in her chest, as the frost starts to creep over her paws, making them feel numb... Why was it so cold? Was she... Dreaming again? She looks back, stepping frightfully out of the cold, to the safety of her Night. He is there. Her legs wobble, tail tucking, Nóttin...? She reaches a paw to wake him, lest the dream do it first.

No, everything was all wrong. The dream had hit him like a ton of bricks, cascading into his world of perfect dreams and turning them into nightmares. The dream visitor was gone, hushed away by some unimaginable force. N​ó​ttin awoke with a start after that, feeling the absence of his love straying away from him. But she wasn't gone for long. The feeling of her smaller paw against him, forced him to wake further and regain himself. I'm here Dalmatia. What's going on? Did you have the same dream?

N​ó​ttin got to his feet, heading straight for the den exit when he noticed the pelt that had blocked off the outside world was gone. Outside the world was grey and completely clouded over, the cold snap harder then any he had experienced before. Something's not right. Maybe we should call the others. The Pillar was hesitant though, for he did not want anyone else out there in that hell. Blue eyes peeked outside a little further, trying to get a good gauge on the exact condition. Then he headed straight back to his spotted dove, a grimace on his face. I don't like the look of this.

⠀

Her gentle waking doesn't ward off the dream vision, awaking with a snap of his eyes and worry already filling them. It was a sad sight to see. All Dalmatia wanted for both of them was peace, even if just for an hour of the morning. Curses be damned... Yet life was not so simple. It was only because they were together that Dal could even stomach the world as it was now.

Yes, my Glacier, I did... Right now, more than ever, she needed her sturdy ice-man to hold her spirits and hopes up. As much as she wants to curl back beside him, settle into bed, the intruding wind was a clear sign that something was wrong. Something that would keep them awake even if they tried to go back to bed. She shivered slightly, going for the corner of the den where her stash of herbs and other oddities was. She slipped the well-worn pelt over her shoulders to provide some warmth.

Perwinkle eyes flash outward, and to her soon-to-be husband, whose usual stone face is creased with worry. I... I think so too. She whispered, as much as she didn't want to worry the pack even further — once they all woke, they would see the truth too. As he made his way back to her, her eyes did not leave the flustered winds outside, snow being pulled every which way. Neither do I... But all we can do right now is warn the others... And get a plan in place. She tried to channel her inner Aurelia, staying strong even as she shook.

N​ó​ttin could feel the lavender gaze of his beloved right on him, her prized animal pelt covering her body for more warmth. Once he returned to her side, his thoughts began to turn over even more.

My only qualms with calling the others, is that they might be in their own homes already. I don't want to drag them all the way out into this blistering weather if it means they might get caught in it and hurt. What do you think we should do?

Her Glacier usually at least a little bit, knew what to do with some situations. But lately he had begun to doubt himself again, seeking guidance in those that he trusted most. Especially in this case, his beloved wife to be. In the meantime, I am going to fix our entrance.

The shivering male walked over to the entrance and grabbed an old deer hide he had gathered beforehand, hanging it up on the entrance and closing it down with some stones he could find. It was hard work, using his mouth for most of this mess.

But in the end, it was proving to be a success for the time being. There, now we will be a little more warm. We will just have to keep an eye on it. N​ó​ttin joined her side again, snuggling into Dalmatia as he sat back down on to the soft den floor.