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Amilar Ereyo	It does take a while for Ereyo to get comfortable and doze off - taking a nap at this time of the day doesn't seem to fit her usual schedule. Finally, her breathing deepens, and her jaw grows slack with relaxation. After performing the spell, Rishi slowly opens her eyes to the Dragon-Blooded's dream, possibly bracing herself for a nightmarish vision of battle... only to find herself in a large, pentagonal chamber with walls of white marble and impecably polished wooden flooring. Enormous shelves, filled to the brim with books, line every wall except one, up to the impossibly high ceiling, stretching into infinity above her. A huge balcony dominates the single bare wall, which seems to face south. Sliding paper doors have been thrown wide open, allowing the midday sun to flood the chamber with white-hot light. Rishi can see no other entrance to the room. Ereyo is sitting cross-legged on the floor, her back facing the balcony. She wears a black kimono with beautiful embroidery, depicting blue herons catching fish from a pond. Stacks of books surround her. One of them lies open before her, and she softly hums to herself while she reads, heedless of the gusts of wind blowing in from the balcony rustling the pages and making a mess of her hair. As peaceful as the scene looks, Rishi can detect something hovering just at the edge of her vision... dark, tiny things, writhing and twisting.
Rishi	Rishi, hidden from sight by the Sorcery, simply watches, moving silently to get a better view of both Ereyo (and her kimono) and the dark writhing things. She briefly considers simply catching and eating them before they create problems....but the whole point of the exercise is to see what problems they create. As well, eating someone's nightmares isn't exactly what the spell is for. Assuming it worked and didn't break the other woman's mind, she might well get suspicious at a Chosen of a Minor God having such an ability. Rishi sighed silently. Keeping all these lies straight was exhausting.
Amilar Ereyo	Whoever crafted that kimono deserves a commendation. The garment has clearly been custom-made to fit Ereyo's body, shimmering black silk with silver thread weaved in. It positively sparkles in the sunlight. The embroidery is just as beautiful, displaying the birds in intricate detail. They are stitched with threads in different shades of blue, the colors of the sky. Whatever those things hovering just out of view are, Ereyo seems oblivious to their presence. Just like Rishi, they only observe - for now... Try as she might, she cannot get a clear image of them. Like shadows fleeing from the moon's light, they always drift away when the Lunar casts her gaze at them. A deep rumble from below janks Ereyo's attention away from the book. She looks up, blinking in confusion. Just a moment later, part of the floor paneling near the balcony smoothly slides away, revealing a staircase - and a man, unfamiliar to the observing Lunar, walking up into the room through the opening. He is light-skinned, bright-eyed, and very tall and thin, a walking beanstalk in simple servant's clothes, straw-colored hair cut very short. Several scrollcases are wedged beneath his right arm. Judging by the look on her face, Ereyo recognizes him. The Air aspect rises, standing on her bare feet, and fixes him with an expectant look. He bows deeply, several times. "Please forgive me for interrupting your studies, enlightened mistress. I would not dare to disturb you without good reason." The dark, writhing things stir and edge a bit closer. Neither of the two seems to notice.
Rishi	Hmmm... Well, if they are trying to avoid her notice, perhaps she should avert her gaze a little. Still paying attention to what is going on, the "exigent" allows her attention to include the books in the library, periodically glancing at titles, to see if any are coherent. Most things in dreams are either simple set dressing or metaphors for deeper memories, but it's not always easy to tell which is which. However, any books that have coherent titles might contain memories. Of course reading such books would be a breach of trust and might well alert her or cause her to awaken...but simply looking over the titles should cause no issues. And some of them might be important enough to take the risk. Rishi Hmmms to herself... The servant is nervous and the nightmares are insectoid...interesting. Possibly she has a fear of bugs? Is this something that happened or something she fears might happen?
Amilar Ereyo	Just as Rishi suspected, most of the books are either too blurry to make out their titles, even if she looks directly at them, or simply don't have anything written on their spines at all. They only appear real and believable if one doesn't peer at them too closely. However, with her Exalted senses, she can make out a few: "How to escape marriage: An in-depth guide" is written on a huge green tome. Another claims to be about "Machinations of a Bygone Age". There's also the dark "999 Methods of Failing to Be A Good Soldier", and a white book announcing itself to be some dream-logic treatise on the Immaculate texts, with the subtitle "Are Anathema Like Us?" Without any of them noticing Rishi's presence, the scene continues to play out next to her: Ereyo's features twist in confusion. "White Shrike? Is that really you...? But... how? Shouldn't you be at the manse? What are you doing here?" Her frown deepens. For a second, it feels like she is about to become aware of her dreaming state - Rishi can feel the walls of un-reality around her shaking, wavering, the sunlight faltering, the wind grinding to a halt... Then, Ereyo blinks once, twice, and the vividness of the dream returns to it's previous state. She smiles brightly, quickly looking around. "Of course... this isn't Great Forks, is it? I'm back home. What do you have for me?" The servant - White Shrike - looks puzzled by her words, but quickly recovers, reaching for one of the scroll cases and handing it over with a deferent bow. "I hate to be the bearer of bad news, mylady. This is a letter from your mother..." Anger, sorrow, and dread all wash over Ereyo's face in rapid succession until she regains her composure. Hesitantly, she reaches out, accepting the case. Clouds rapidly gather outside, and the sunlight begins to fade.
Rishi	Rishi takes definite note of the titles and considers moving the white book to the stack of books to read through, but decides against disturbing anything yet. Such thoughts are put out of her mind when White Shrike speaks. Rishi winces, hoping that Ereyo's issues with her mother aren't anywhere near as bad as Pearly's. From the weather however... She briefly glances over at the impending nightmares, seeing how they're responding to this.
Amilar Ereyo	The edges of the dream fray, revealing more of the dark entities. As the light recedes, they draw closer. Rishi can make out the silver glint of wickedly sharp things in the darkness - fangs? Mandibles? A swift look outside tells her that this isn't a minor cloud briefly blocking the sun. Thunderheads are gathering, a looming mass of dark purple. The gusts of wind grow more violent, ripping scrolls and particularly light books from the shelves and scattering them on the floor. If this disturbs Ereyo, she gives no sign. Neither does her servant, who hovers nearby as she breaks the letter's seal and pours over the writing, gripping the remaining scroll cases tight. Now that the Dragon isn't looking at him, White Shrike's face darkens with worry. The Air aspect looks up, directly at the servant, and her soft face twists into something Rishi hasn't ever seen her show before: Rage. "She can't do this!", Ereyo snarls. The gathering storm responds, punctuating her words with roaring thunder. Lightning arches through the strands of her hair. "She ~knows~ I'm not ready. She fucking KNOWS!" The last words come out in a scream, and White Shrike flinches, scrambles backwards, eyes wide. "I-is there a-a-anything I can do t-t-to help?", he stammers helplessly. Ereyo opens her mouth to respond... ...but she doesn't get that far, because the room is almost dark now, only lit by the lightning arcing out of her anima, and the nightmare creatures choose this moment to pour into the chamber in a great mass of clacking limbs and chittering mandibles and chitinous tentacles. They are far too numerous to count, an endless swarm, and they move too fast. Instead of words, the only sound that leaves Ereyo's mouth is a nearly silent scream, as both she and White Shrike are drowned by the writhing mass.
Rishi	Rishi headtilts in confusion. She was expecting the servant to explode into a horrifying Silver Anathema or something. Instead it seems like what's been bothering her is ...family issues? Either way, the nightmare bugs are drowning out anything useful and simply hurting her so... Rishi pulls out a small handful of fragrant flower petals and blows on them, scattering them in an endless stream across the dream, drowning everything in pink and white, hopefully scattering the bugs.
Amilar Ereyo	The flower petals make it impossible to see what's going on, but Ereyo stops streaming, and the chittering fades away. Rishi can feel the nightmare receding, the Dragon-Blooded's mind returning to consciousness. Right before she reaches that state, a deep voice penetrates the silence, whispering softly: "You should know what I am." Then, they're back at the temple, and the Dragon opens her eyes wide. Unsurprisingly, her irises are dark, a similar color to the thunderheads in her dream. She sits bolt upright, utters a single, soft sob, then buries her face in her hands.
Rishi	Rishi tries to pull the other woman into a hug and simply hold her, but only if she doesn't try to pull away. If she relaxes into it, Rishi enfolds the other woman with her wings, making soothing noises. Once she's somewhat recovered, Rishi relaxes, moving away to brew tea and extinguish the burning herbs. When she's composed, Rishi hands her a cup of tea. "So, how much of the dream are you doing the remembering?"
Amilar Ereyo	This time, Ereyo goes rigid at Rishi's touch and tries to push her away at first. As soon as she realizes that the other woman is, in fact, just Rishi, she reluctantly accepts the hug. Being this close to the Air aspect isn't exactly a pleasant experience right now; her sweat reeks of lightning, and her skin is uncomfortably cold to the touch. Not that she has removed much of her clothing - only he daiklave, boots, and satchel lie next to the makeshift bed. After a few big gulps of tea, the Dragon's cheeks flush hotly. She doesn't look at the other Exalt as she answers in a soft voice: "Enough. I was in my library back home. White Shrike was there, my steward... with a letter from my mother." Her lips curl in disgust. "Then, everything went dark... there were monsters everywhere, but I couldn't tell what they looked like. I couldn't breathe..." She squeezes her eyes shut for a bit before peeking at Rishi through half-open lids. "Did you see something...? Anything? I think I heard a voice, just before I woke up, but... that wasn't you, was it?"
Rishi	"The voice was not being me, no." Rishi says, quietly. "The monsters were being the large bugs. Centipedes with the tentacles and the antlers. ...But, while I am not being the completely certain they are being from outside of your mind, I was not doing the sensing of any of the ...wrongness of them." Rishi inclines her head to the side, her dark hair flowing across her shoulders, as she considers. "Are you being particularly the frightened of the insects? If so, then it is likely just being the simple manifestation of the fears and the anxieties you are doing the having." Rishi sighs. "Either of the ways...I think I am needing to be asking you to do the telling me about your mother."
Amilar Ereyo	Ereyo's grip on the cup tightens, and her mouth turns into a thin line. She narrows her eyes, which have almost returned back to their familiar violet. "No, I think I'd better not. I'm just starting to feel a bit better. Talking about her is only going to make me angry." In a desperate and very obvious attempt to change the topic, she takes a quick sip, then furrows her brow in concentration. "Bugs don't bother me at all... well, unless they're spitting poison, or trying to eat me. But back then, after the battle that cost me my leg, I was questioned about what transpired during the fight - about what I saw. They told me that others had reported sightings of a swarm of creatures, not unlike what you've just described to me." She shudders. "Only I can't remember. I can't recall seeing them in the dream, either. They are not exactly invisible, just... evasive. Something I can never see clearly, no matter how hard I try."
Rishi	"At some point you are going to be needing to do the talking about her. Holding the anger in is being most unhealthy and, from the little I am knowing of the big families that are having the Blood of the Dragons, being able to be doing the speaking poorly of your elders to the others is not something you can be doing much the often. It is also doing the looking like your issues with her are impacting your other traumas." Rishi raises a hand to forstall any objection. "But you do not need to be doing the speaking of her today. Just...be doing the considering of it. In the future." Rishi brightens, then considers, then hrms. "I did the seeing of the bugs in the dream and I am having the knowing of the Eidolon of Sculpted Seafoam. I could be doing the casting of the illusion and what I am doing the remembering of to be trying to be showing you what I was seeing. ...But I am ...not being much the good at that spell. And, possibly, seeing the bug will do the triggering of the memories." Rishi looks nervous for a second, but her conviction firms. "If you are wishing to be doing the trying, I will do the doing."
Amilar Ereyo	Several times during Rishi's stern monologue, Ereyo opens her mouth to object, then thinks better of it. Her face tells the "Exigent" everything she needs to know - that she realizes Rishi is right, but refuses to accept that fact right now. In the end, she just heaves an enormous sigh. "I... I'm going to consider it. Telling you about my mother, I mean. Please don't think me ungrateful for your help. I know you are doing your best to help me. This is very much a me problem." The Dragon empties her cup, then sets it aside and slips from the pallet to stretch her legs. The mechanism in her artificial limb awakens, humming softly. Rishi can see the tension in the Lookshyan's face as she straightens her uniform and turns toward the beastwoman, mouth grim, but with a look of determination in her eyes. "Show me the illusion of what you saw. That's what we are doing all of this for, after all."
Rishi	Rishi nods, goes to gather some herbs and water, but, before doing anything she says, "Now, do the remembering that this is being the illusion. Just the light and the water. If you are giving it the sharp smack it is doing the falling apart. It is NOT being REAL. There is being nothing to be doing the fearing. You are being most safe here." the "Exigent" said to the Dragon-Blooded. Mixing the herbs and salt into the bowl, Rishi focuses as she stirs it, the water frothing up, bubbling...and then bubbles and mist float up shimmering in the light until they take the form of one of the dream centipedes, all tentacles and antlers and shadowy menace. Rishi is watching Ereyo carefully and, at the first sign of panic, she'll smack it back into water drops. "Is anything doing the coming back?"
Amilar Ereyo	As the water begins to coalesce into the shape of one of the bugs, Ereyo reaches out for the pallet to brace herself. Her fingernails dig into the soft surface. At first, there is hardly any reaction from her. She just... stares. The creature, long, coiled and many-legged, doesn't look real under closer scrutiny... but Rishi seems to have done a better job at the spell than she has given herself credit for. Light bounces off a matte black carapace, and wicked silver mandibles protrude from the centipede's head. Its antlers resemble that of a moose. The other end of its body sprouts a mass of twitching tentacles, each equipped with tiny suckers. Suddenly, a jolt shakes Ereyo's body, much as if she's jerked out of a dream all over again. Her eyes widen in fear and grow dark in an instant, while her face goes pale. With an undignified whimper, she lets go of the pallet and backs up against the nearest wall. "No. Make it stop." Her voice is hardly more than a strangled whisper at first, until she repeats the words a second time, louder, on the verge of screaming: "Make it STOP!" Rishi can see her drop into a fighting stance, reaching for her daiklave...
Rishi	Rishi's clawed fingers scythe through the illusion, turning it back into harmless water as she rushes towards the other woman, pulling her into a hug, wings wrapping around them. "You are being safe here. It is gone, you are being safe. Nothing can be doing the harming you here, you are being Most SAFE."
Amilar Ereyo	Rishi reacts not a moment too soon; the Air aspect's fingers are already gripping the handle of her sword. The definitely-not-a-Lunar can feel her shaking violently in her embrace. It takes a long while for Ereyo to steady her panicked breathing and let go of the daiklave. "I... remember... something", she breathes. "Fire... there's fire everywhere, but it's colors are wrong, and the silver-demon..." Her breath catches in her throat, with the next words coming out only in a dry rasp. "It ~was~ the creatures. All of them. The swarm... it was a single entity, and it was ~hunting~ us..." Amazingly (and perhaps worryingly), the Dragon-Blooded doesn't cry, although she certainly looks and sound like she should be. When she finally addresses the healer directly, her expression is one of deep grief. "I tried to safe them, but I was too slow. And it escaped. It could be anywhere, anyone... Rishi, I... I'm finished for today. We have to stop. This is too much."
Rishi	Rishi nods, pulls her close, and gives her more tea. "You are not having to do the talking about anything you are not wishing. Rest as long as you are needing and be drinking the tea."