Under The Night Sky - Deja Vu

Sentinel Island - Haven

Closing his eyes, Gonyaul tried to banish the lingering fear that threatened to consume him. Yet, even as he willed himself to relax, he couldn't shake the feeling that something sinister lurked just beyond the edge of his consciousness, waiting to drag him back into the depths of another nightmare.

~~~

The stars were putting on a spectacular show tonight, taking full advantage of the clouds visiting the eastern mountain sides of... Fang? The night air was fresh with the smells of a forest on a gentle breeze. The sounds of night, coupled by the strumming of a lute were tranquil, creating a pleasant background ambience for the group of four friends enjoying each other’s company around the warm glow of a fire.

Gonyaul, Boyce, Islana, and Alexis had all finished a hearty meal, compliments of the hunting talents of Islana and the field cooking expertise of Alexis. The only bee stings that remained on Gonyaul were the ones they chose to keep as fond memories or inside jokes. They had all had an honest day's labor in their perspective areas contributing to the success of the Greyriver Steading and were now able to enjoy some quality time.

Gonyaul felt a deep sense of satisfaction and joy. It was a breathtaking night. He was surrounded by friends that he had grown to consider his new family. They were building a place together that was something to feel proud about; more than a place, a home. To top it off, Boyce was playing a soothing melody as after dinner entertainment.

But... this was all so familiar... hadn't this happened already? Gonyaul was in that dream state where you weren't quite fully lucid and everything seemed completely normal.

He was smiling until the music turned to sour tritones of dissonance and slowed, crescendoing to a loud and abrupt end. Gonyaul sat up from his leaning position on the ground where he was looking up at the stars daydreaming about someone he used to know...

When a movement caught his left eye. Islana was returning from cleanup. When he rolled over to face her, something strange happened. Small bulges in her neck started to erupt, like bubbles below the skin and then suddenly, several tiny heads sprouted and grew from her shoulders. They all seemed to be confused and began to argue with each other.

Gonyaul recoiled in confusion and looked to the other's to see their reactions. Boyce sat nearby on a log holding his lute. He sat very still, too still. Fingers no longer strumming strings. Then the flesh sunk in and decayed at a rapid rate until he was nothing but a skeleton.

Gonyaul was on his feet now ready to run and he turned to Alexis for help. She had a concerned expression for Gonyaul and the others, and as she reached out for GOnyaul her entire body was engulfed in red flame of the bonfire. Her heterochromian eyes both turning into that burning ember of the ancient one and she began to laugh a dark and malicious laugh as she grasped his Arisha Ikeburer.

Gonyaul opened his mouth to scream, but a swarm of bees came out instead.

~~~

He awoke once again, drenched in sweat on the floor of the stone hut of the Surathi village.