Svan's human body drifted limply in a world of shadows darker than a moonless night. He blinked, or rather it felt like he did, and reached his hand out in front of his face. An invisible scowl formed on his brow. Without any light it was impossible see the very hands in front of his face, or even know if his eyes were really even open to begin with. A heavy breath escaped his lips as he contemplated the abyss before him. He knew this darkness, and more importantly he knew the story that would soon follow. The serpent had spent half a century watching this dream play out again and again ad nauseum. And throughout the hundreds of times he had relived this nightmare, not once had it ever ended any differently.
It was a memory he had long ago plunged into the deepest reaches of his mind, but here in the dark world of slumber the dream could not be ignored. Like a siren it called to him, and he had no strength to deny the pull of its melancholy song. He felt his head turning in the darkness, and suddenly a flash of bright white light illuminated the empty world. As the beacon faded a single ball of dim fire remained. It glowed like a star and radiated the faintest aura of warmth. Like the snake he was Svan fond himself drawn to the spark of light. A hand painted just barely in color by the dull beacon reached out towards the far off ember, and he felt as if he was being pulled closer to the warmth of the flame, and away from the cold darkness. As he did so the size of the light increased in size and definition, and the heat of the flame grew stronger. By the time Svan had reached its source the warmth had become that of a calm summer day. Light illuminated the snake's face and flickering shadows danced on his back to the rhythm of the burning star. As his hand came closer to the ember of light his fingers brushed up against what seemed to be a wall of water. Ripples echoed out from the spot where the serpent's hand had touched, and as they traveled over the light it seemed to take shape. When the water stilled, a figure wreathed in light stared back at Svan. Beneath its glow there was chestnut colored hair, and bright glowing eyes of hazel. In fact, the creature was a perfect reflection of Svan in every way except two. The Dhani did not glow, and he certainly had never looked like a twelve year old child.
But here it was, a childish version of Svan's human form floating right in front of him. The Dhani's hand reached out again towards the strange mirror that separated him and his other self, but stopped just before he made contact. In the back of his mind he knew what would soon follow. He had already lived this tragedy more times than he could count, and there was no reason for him to believe that it could end any differently this time. He knew he should turn away now and hide, but the promise of warmth was too inviting and he soon found his hand moving without him. The snake's arm plunged into the wall of water, and it vanished behind the mirror. He wondered for a moment why he never could turn away. Perhaps it was simply the warmth that drew him in, but he knew it was something else. Each time he relived this memory there was the chance that it would end differently. He had no reason to believe it, but still he did, regardless of how many times his hopes had been dashed.
This time however, there was reason to hope. This time he would not be alone.
But was that enough to change the dream?
...
Svan plunged himself into the water, and darkness overtook him again. Eyes fluttered open and suddenly light filled his vision. As the world came into focus Svan realized that he was lying on the ground and the cavern ceiling of his nest was hanging above him....and between he and the ceiling was the rattle tail of a fellow Dhani. Svan rolled out of the way just as the tail came smashing down where his head had been. Is he petching insane?! That could have killed me! As Svan tried to stand, the other Dhani's tail whipped back up and rocketed towards the brown haired snake. Two small human arm's reached up to block, and Svan was merely sent flying back against the cave wall. He hit it with a thud and the air rushed out of his lungs. His body sunk against its rocky surface and he looked up weakly at his attacker. It was a black scaled Dhani with green eyes that Svan remembered as a major bully in his past life. "If-If you kill me then-"
"I don't petching care! The entire nest is better off with you dead, and there is not a Dhani here who would disagree!" Interrupted his assailant.
"It was just a skunk! I'm sorry I spooked it! How was I supposed to know that it would spray you?!" Svan wrinkled his nose as the black Dhani approached him. The stench of the skunk hadn't only been intensified by the closed in walls of the nest. A muscular hand reached out, and Svan lept out of the way only to have his foot caught by the brute. The brown haired serpent soo found himself soaring through the air, and then crashing hard against the cave floor. He let out a groan and looked down at his bruised body. Strangely, it was that of a small human child. Against all logic Svan was now the very same boy he had seen in the mirror of water, minus the glow. The child scrambled back against the wall opposite to his black scaled attacker.
"Someone like you deserves to die. Siku herself would be pleased to find your head on a pike."
Too weak to fight back, and too terrified to run, Svan did the only the only thing he could think of. He opened his mouth, and screamed for help.
It was a memory he had long ago plunged into the deepest reaches of his mind, but here in the dark world of slumber the dream could not be ignored. Like a siren it called to him, and he had no strength to deny the pull of its melancholy song. He felt his head turning in the darkness, and suddenly a flash of bright white light illuminated the empty world. As the beacon faded a single ball of dim fire remained. It glowed like a star and radiated the faintest aura of warmth. Like the snake he was Svan fond himself drawn to the spark of light. A hand painted just barely in color by the dull beacon reached out towards the far off ember, and he felt as if he was being pulled closer to the warmth of the flame, and away from the cold darkness. As he did so the size of the light increased in size and definition, and the heat of the flame grew stronger. By the time Svan had reached its source the warmth had become that of a calm summer day. Light illuminated the snake's face and flickering shadows danced on his back to the rhythm of the burning star. As his hand came closer to the ember of light his fingers brushed up against what seemed to be a wall of water. Ripples echoed out from the spot where the serpent's hand had touched, and as they traveled over the light it seemed to take shape. When the water stilled, a figure wreathed in light stared back at Svan. Beneath its glow there was chestnut colored hair, and bright glowing eyes of hazel. In fact, the creature was a perfect reflection of Svan in every way except two. The Dhani did not glow, and he certainly had never looked like a twelve year old child.
But here it was, a childish version of Svan's human form floating right in front of him. The Dhani's hand reached out again towards the strange mirror that separated him and his other self, but stopped just before he made contact. In the back of his mind he knew what would soon follow. He had already lived this tragedy more times than he could count, and there was no reason for him to believe that it could end any differently this time. He knew he should turn away now and hide, but the promise of warmth was too inviting and he soon found his hand moving without him. The snake's arm plunged into the wall of water, and it vanished behind the mirror. He wondered for a moment why he never could turn away. Perhaps it was simply the warmth that drew him in, but he knew it was something else. Each time he relived this memory there was the chance that it would end differently. He had no reason to believe it, but still he did, regardless of how many times his hopes had been dashed.
This time however, there was reason to hope. This time he would not be alone.
But was that enough to change the dream?
...
Svan plunged himself into the water, and darkness overtook him again. Eyes fluttered open and suddenly light filled his vision. As the world came into focus Svan realized that he was lying on the ground and the cavern ceiling of his nest was hanging above him....and between he and the ceiling was the rattle tail of a fellow Dhani. Svan rolled out of the way just as the tail came smashing down where his head had been. Is he petching insane?! That could have killed me! As Svan tried to stand, the other Dhani's tail whipped back up and rocketed towards the brown haired snake. Two small human arm's reached up to block, and Svan was merely sent flying back against the cave wall. He hit it with a thud and the air rushed out of his lungs. His body sunk against its rocky surface and he looked up weakly at his attacker. It was a black scaled Dhani with green eyes that Svan remembered as a major bully in his past life. "If-If you kill me then-"
"I don't petching care! The entire nest is better off with you dead, and there is not a Dhani here who would disagree!" Interrupted his assailant.
"It was just a skunk! I'm sorry I spooked it! How was I supposed to know that it would spray you?!" Svan wrinkled his nose as the black Dhani approached him. The stench of the skunk hadn't only been intensified by the closed in walls of the nest. A muscular hand reached out, and Svan lept out of the way only to have his foot caught by the brute. The brown haired serpent soo found himself soaring through the air, and then crashing hard against the cave floor. He let out a groan and looked down at his bruised body. Strangely, it was that of a small human child. Against all logic Svan was now the very same boy he had seen in the mirror of water, minus the glow. The child scrambled back against the wall opposite to his black scaled attacker.
"Someone like you deserves to die. Siku herself would be pleased to find your head on a pike."
Too weak to fight back, and too terrified to run, Svan did the only the only thing he could think of. He opened his mouth, and screamed for help.
