Aislinn

Fire. Green fire. It ate up the forest, closing in on her as she ran. Shapes curled out of the flames, searing hot claws reaching for her.

"No, you can't have me!" Aislinn screeched. Her eyes were wide with terror. She didn't know where she was or what was happening. She knew she was dreaming, but it seemed so real. The pain in her paws, and the flames that touched her pelt; they were all real.

When the dream started, she was in a camp. It wasn't a place she recognized, and she didn't know any of the wolves around her. However, she only had a second to take it in before the screaming started. Green fire sprang to life, melting away the wolves in the clearing.

Aislinn foolishly stood there, staring at the fire. It had frozen, but faint shapes were moving around inside it. Are those the wolves it ate? she wondered.

All too soon she got her answer. They turned towards her, as if suddenly noticing she was there. Too big grins appeared, stretching longer than should be possible.

No, these weren't the kind wolves from before. The wolves that were clearly family, even from just a glance.

The shadows crept towards her, bringing the flames with them. No, no. I need to run! Aislinn turned tail and ran, and the fire ran with her. She knew, deep down, that these were very very real, and if they caught her she would get hurt in real life, or worse.

"Aislinn! Aislinn, wake up!"

The brown pup whimpered, kicking her legs against the fur beside her.

"Aislinn."

Something large and warm wrapped around her, and a cold nose nudged her cheek. Aislinn twisted around, smelling Zohra's familiar scent, and buried her muzzle in her fur.

"There was a fire..." she cried.

"Shh, shh. Go back to sleep, little wisp. We can talk about it tomorrow."

Aislinn pulled away from Zohra's side, looking up at her older sister. "Can we go to the burial grounds?"

"Of course." Zohra licked her forehead. "Now get some rest."

"But what if I have another nightmare?"

"I'll grow a flower to ward against them." Zohra picked a seed out of the pouch lying next to her and put it in her mouth for a few seconds. After poking a hole in the ground, she dropped the seed inside and covered it with dirt. She placed her paws flat on either side of the hole and closed her eyes. Slowly, the plant began poking through the ground, and after several moments it was fully grown.

A small purple hyacinth was now between Zohra's paws. "That'll help you sleep."

Aislinn yawned, stretching her paws out in front of her. "Thanks, Zohra."

"Now, will you finally go to sleep?" she said, nudging the pup.

Aislinn nodded, curling up into Zohra's side and quickly drifting off to sleep.

Zohra looked at her, a troubled look on her face. I don't know how much that flower will help her. If she's cursed, it might be easier, but if she has natural powers....the dreams won't stop.