morning after the mass dream

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skill: soothsayer

The sunlight peaks over the horizons of the Highshear Cliffs, casting its golden rays over the Druid's Rise. Long shadows stand still and tall, the monument of large stones unwavering, but holding down only darkness that the sun does not reach. The search had run the Moon and Sun ragged. Aelia, no matter how many puddles of rainwater she slurped, still felt weak and dehydrated. The water didn't cure the slight burns that crept up Aelia's tufted ankles, nor fatten her starting on her emaciated form. Not many prey animals stuck around after the river turned to poisonous ooze; they were having to resort to desperate measures for food. Insects, plant matter, whatever they could pick at. All in all, it was looking bad for the Highlands. Who knew how much time longer they had left before the plague spread to the furthest reaches?

It had been a stark awakening; the dream that overtook her sleep was a restless one. She'd tossed and turned, but never woke, the past being played out before her very eyes — trying to tell her something. This time, the dream was not sent as a warning, but as a helpful notion in their hunt for runes.

'Search the broken edge.' — 'It is the hunger.'

Her lunar eyes flash awake, the voices still echoing in her head. 'The broken edge?' Her thoughts immediately flash back to the memory of meeting Thaddeus on the edges of Behemoth's Brim and then the wicked territory that lay further past it — Leviathian's Sepulcher. She remembered stories about that place as a kid — where the wolf dragons lived. She wondered if they were still out there, haunting the jutting landmark. 'Could that be it?'

She can't sleep with it on her mind, so she left the outcropping of rocks (separate from the monument farther off) and walked herself towards the fresh water source that she'd stumbled across. A small part of a lake that led into the Great Woodlands, a place she'd never been, but truthfully, was seeming like a better option than the Highlands... Could she get her mothers to move just for a little while? Maybe this dream... It would encourage them. It was a sign, the tides were turning, secrets were being revealed, and in time, this curse would lift. It had to. The Five wouldn't let them drown in the ooze.

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it is assumed Amaris is somewhere nearby since they are currently traveling together!

Kirain rose from her den with a long, weary stretch. Sleep had eluded her, chased off by strange, unsettling dreams that offered more questions than answers.
Who was that? What did they want? What was happening?
She felt adrift, lost in a fog of confusion.

As she wandered through the Rise, her thoughts returned to the fragmented images. Were they warnings? Memories? Prophecies? She wasn’t sure, but something about them seemed connected to the changes she and Lestan had begun to notice, tainted water, the stillness in the air, the absence of life where once it thrived.

It hurt to see the land she loved sickening. The Rise had always provided—clear rivers, vibrant growth, life. Now, she walked beside the poisoned stream, watching the once-bright flora wither into brittle husks. A quiet dread settled in her chest.

It pained her to seek water and food elsewhere. This place was her home. Still, she clung to hope: the Rise had endured before. Maybe it would again.

Turning from the river and traveling out of the Rise, she headed for clear waters.

Then, in the distance, she spotted a golden figure standing at the lake’s edge. She slowed, heart tightening. Curiosity stirred, but caution kept her rooted.

After all she had seen in her dreams, she hesitated to call out.

skill: orator

It was odd; she did not know a lake that didn't lap with the echoes of a waterfall. Only the one she grew up near, which was now poisoned and oozing, beckoning for any close to it to come and take a sip. It was hard to resist, she wondered how her mothers were fairing with being next to the lake... It worried her. All she felt nowadays was worry and hunger. And, lack of sleep. And maybe a little dehydration. Yeah, the present really sucked. Though her faith in The Five did not waver, it couldn't. Otherwise, what would she have to keep them all afloat with?

The Daystar lapped at the clean water, the freshness of it making her stomach flip. It felt weird to enjoy water that wasn't partially oozing or infected with dirt and minerals due to it being rainwater. It ached in her throat, feeling the inner workings of rust from lack of talking washing away... Her eyes closed, letting herself enjoy a moment, free of her thoughts, just cool water...

A few seconds later, she opened her eyes, somehow finding herself up to her ankles in the water (which only took a few steps to do). The burns along them stung in the clean water, but it felt good. She wanted to drench herself in it — and would have if it weren't for the movement out of the corner of her eye. Previously, her moves were more sluggish, aching with each step she took — but as soon as she saw someone else, she was wired, her body flashing around and eyes pinning the suspect who was a little ways away.

Her guard lessened upon seeing how petite the stranger was, and how neither of them rushed towards each other out of aggression. Aelia felt the water swoosh around her ankles from her moment and looked down, seeing her reflection in the watery, small waves. This stranger had probably come for the clean water. Aelia lifted her head again, It's quite refreshing. Her voice came out crackly, even though the water had helped her dry throat, it had been a minute since she'd spoken out. She cleared her throat and tried again, I think it might be the only viable water source left nearby. Better.

That wasn’t what she’d hoped to hear. Was it really that bad? How far had the poisoned water spread?

There’s more tainted water? How far? Where did you come from? Why are you here? The questions tumbled out in a breathless rush, anxiety tightening her chest as her ears pinned back against her skull.

At least the she-wolf seemed friendly. That alone gave Kirain the courage to step forward, slowly and cautiously, giving the stranger a wide berth so as not to crowd her.

I live in Druid’s Rise, she said, her voice softening with the weight of sorrow. We don’t understand what’s happened to the water. It used to be a place of peace. Now… everything feels wrong.

The thought of her home twisted something inside her. Kirain’s shoulders sagged slightly. Her eyes drifted to the lake’s clear surface, and she dipped her head to take a few refreshing laps. The coolness helped, if only for a moment.

Lifting her gaze to the stranger again, she studied the thin frame and couldn’t hide the concern in her voice.
Do you need help?

skill: soothsayer

Hope was dwindling; she could see it in the faces of those she met, their drained eyes and thinning waists. Aelia wondered how much worse it could get — and she remembered seeing the decayed world in her dreams, where shadows grasped whatever they could get their dark hands on and feasted. She prayed to The Five that it wouldn't be a case like that. That something, someone, somewhere would make a break in this thing. She hoped it'd be her and Amaris, but at this damned point, anyone would do.

The alabaster stranger's mouth moved a mile a minute as questions whirled out of her mouth. She almost felt as if she were being interrogated, and there was a flicker of annoyance — but that also could have been the lack of sleep. The tufts of the tops of her ears swept in disapproval, airplaning slightly behind her before she took a deep breath, settling her flickering aura. I come from Elysium, just North-West of here. The Howling River runs right through the territory we live in, it's poisoned and oozing. Not to mention the loud thoughts that came along with it — though she hardly thought the stranger would believe her. I came in search of water, I used to frequent the Rise often, Back when she was trying to find the right frequency to speak to the Five, meditating on rocks and practically begging for a sign — I remembered there being a lake here, I came to see if it was poisoned as well.

The levy weighed up a little in the stranger's voice, the softening of her tone making Aelia's ears rise back to their original form. She was just as lost as Aelia was — in terms of all this plague business. She wanted to easily blame it on the Five for something they all did, but this didn't feel like them. No, the dreams she got were from something else. Something deep within Mythris. Something's awakening — have you... Had the dreams? Her voice lowered, feeling almost crazy asking her that question, but it was an important one.

'Do you need help?' Aelia couldn't bear to look herself in the eyes of her reflection, now that the waters had settled, she was afraid of what she would see peering back at her. No, I'm just fine. Almost all of her ached to say differently. She wanted to break down. Curl up in a ball and sob for her mothers. Cry for the Five to take it all away from her. She'd been through so much in the past few months, and she felt as if she was on the edge of the world — a rope holding all of her family back from falling off, all of their sanities wavering. Her luminous eyes set on the stranger, If anything, I figured you could use more help than me. Being alone out here, in an oncoming wasteland — it wasn't like their family was much better off but at least they had places to go, allies to rest with, if she could ever get her damn mothers to leave the Respite.

So, it had spread far beyond what she and her mate had imagined. The realization hit like a punch to the gut—so many others were being affected. Were they falling ill? Suffering harm? The very thought was nearly unbearable.

Elysium? Howling River… and water that oozes? Kirain's voice wavered, worry threading through her words. Are your people okay? My husband and I haven’t come across anyone since arriving in the Highlands. We had no idea… Guilt bloomed in her chest. While she and Lestan had only just begun to feel the subtle effects of the water, there were others, an entire pack, already knee-deep in the thick of it.

She let out a quiet sigh, her ears twitching as her silver gaze sharpened on the golden stranger. Dreams? she echoed, a flicker of hope and frustration dancing in her tone. You’ve had them too? Do they make any sense to you? Do you know what they’re trying to say? Mine feel... fractured. Like puzzle pieces that don’t quite fit. I don’t know what I’m being shown. Another sigh followed, this one edged with annoyance. She hated the cryptic nature of these visions, hated being toyed with by some unknown force. And yet, knowing she wasn’t alone brought a quiet, bittersweet relief.

Then came the stranger’s refusal of help, and Kirain blinked, unconvinced. The woman didn’t seem well. Even if Kirain didn’t have all the answers, she could still offer care, still do something.

Me? Need help? she asked, caught off guard. A short laugh escaped her. Things aren’t exactly normal, but my husband and I are managing. We’re wanderers, well, we were, before we settled in the Rise. But survival? That we know.

Rune Discovery: 「 Partial Success! — +5 modifier towards your next search 」
Aelia Kirain

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In the midst of your conversation you hear a new voice, it’s clear and unmistakable, it is the Dream Visitor. Kol yia fal ut? ut can’t sepa fer. It’al canind iat ali sepa fialn… (Can you feel it? It can’t be far. It’s calling out to be found…) As their voice fades from your mind, you can feel the small, yet present pull the Dream Visitor must have noticed.

While it’s weak, there’s no denying this soul-pulling gravitation. Yia muk kak surthind… (You must keep searching…) It’s unclear if you should travel north, east, west, or south but the best you can do is keep trying. Perhaps you will have better luck next time?

You can feel the Visitor's presence fade just as quickly as it arrived.