01-23-2019, 01:23 PM
Her fall to the earth is gentle, like a leaf slowly drifting left and right to the ground. The transition is smooth, so smooth (like she did not fall asleep). In reality, Naia is amongst the countless bodies slumbering amongst the picturesque flowers; unfortunately, that is not the reality the appaloosa finds herself in. Her dream begins the second her eyes rest - immediately transitioning to just another blink.
Naia finds herself standing amongst many equines rising wearily from a deep sleep. She turns her head slowly from left to right, perplexed gaze very clearly trying to understand why all but her have been asleep. Were they not the very same individuals traveling just seconds ahead of her? The girl gulps and takes a single step back, disturbed by the unnatural silence from moments before - and disturbed by the groans of those lifting to their feet.
Their moans are growing in volume when Naia finally smells the smoke. Her head snaps to its fullest height, sharp brown eyes glistening with controlled fear as they widen. In the back of their meadow is a tree, red and orange and yellow - and black, so horribly black. A soft, panicked whicker rumbles in the back of her throat, tumbling like a rockslide from her lips. Her hooves carry her several steps backward, into another, when she realizes the fire is at each end of the clearing. The combination of their collision and the heat of the fire growing just feet away cause her to whip around on her back legs, lips pulled back in a vicious snarl. The equine she hit is ignoring her, walking calmly toward the fire.
“What . . .” she whispers just as the mechanical creature puts their first hoof into the flame. “No!” It is a harsh, quiet exclamation, quickly followed by “NO!” This time it is much harsher, fearful, perturbed.
“No, no, no - what the fuck - fucking what the fuck,” her horror is garbled and rushed as it pours from her mouth.
Are they reflecting what she was feeling amidst her trek here?
Naia cannot bear to watch this.
Suddenly, she leaps into action, galloping to the middle of the clearing and screeching. Her call contains no words, just mortified and powerful instinct. None seem to notice. “Fuck,” the girl says again, choking on a combination of a sob and smoke inhalation. Naia gasps, breathe wavering up and down as she burst into action once again.
I can still save some of them.
Just before another equine steps into the flames, the appaloosa darts in front of them and rears. Their only reaction is to take a wide berth around her flailing hooves. The trepidation in her eyes intensifies to searing tears down her cheeks.
Another is quietly walking toward the now roaring wall of fire. Naia runs to their side, desperately trying to shove them away. When that does not work, she latches onto their tail, only to tug and tug until she rips all the hair away.
Eventually, amongst the smell of burning flesh and unbearable heat, she sees how it does not matter. They are all surrounded.
I’m going to die here.
Naia does go screeching, head to ground, rejecting the pain of resolution. She attempts to ward off the smoke, to see even a tiny break in the flames. Finally, her body is on the ground, succumbing to the lack of oxygen.
--
“NO!” she cries, sticky eyes flowing tears as they blink awake.
It was all a dream?
Naia finds herself standing amongst many equines rising wearily from a deep sleep. She turns her head slowly from left to right, perplexed gaze very clearly trying to understand why all but her have been asleep. Were they not the very same individuals traveling just seconds ahead of her? The girl gulps and takes a single step back, disturbed by the unnatural silence from moments before - and disturbed by the groans of those lifting to their feet.
Their moans are growing in volume when Naia finally smells the smoke. Her head snaps to its fullest height, sharp brown eyes glistening with controlled fear as they widen. In the back of their meadow is a tree, red and orange and yellow - and black, so horribly black. A soft, panicked whicker rumbles in the back of her throat, tumbling like a rockslide from her lips. Her hooves carry her several steps backward, into another, when she realizes the fire is at each end of the clearing. The combination of their collision and the heat of the fire growing just feet away cause her to whip around on her back legs, lips pulled back in a vicious snarl. The equine she hit is ignoring her, walking calmly toward the fire.
“What . . .” she whispers just as the mechanical creature puts their first hoof into the flame. “No!” It is a harsh, quiet exclamation, quickly followed by “NO!” This time it is much harsher, fearful, perturbed.
“No, no, no - what the fuck - fucking what the fuck,” her horror is garbled and rushed as it pours from her mouth.
Are they reflecting what she was feeling amidst her trek here?
Naia cannot bear to watch this.
Suddenly, she leaps into action, galloping to the middle of the clearing and screeching. Her call contains no words, just mortified and powerful instinct. None seem to notice. “Fuck,” the girl says again, choking on a combination of a sob and smoke inhalation. Naia gasps, breathe wavering up and down as she burst into action once again.
I can still save some of them.
Just before another equine steps into the flames, the appaloosa darts in front of them and rears. Their only reaction is to take a wide berth around her flailing hooves. The trepidation in her eyes intensifies to searing tears down her cheeks.
Another is quietly walking toward the now roaring wall of fire. Naia runs to their side, desperately trying to shove them away. When that does not work, she latches onto their tail, only to tug and tug until she rips all the hair away.
Eventually, amongst the smell of burning flesh and unbearable heat, she sees how it does not matter. They are all surrounded.
I’m going to die here.
Naia does go screeching, head to ground, rejecting the pain of resolution. She attempts to ward off the smoke, to see even a tiny break in the flames. Finally, her body is on the ground, succumbing to the lack of oxygen.
--
“NO!” she cries, sticky eyes flowing tears as they blink awake.
It was all a dream?