(PrP TDoEW) Dreaming of Ethan Walsh

[Seraphina]

Something else he needed to help heal? If it was the merging of the two Dreams and memories, she couldn’t help. She had sworn to only seek poison and what happened to Ethan. Though she wanted to ease the memories, make them into something less painful. Maybe later.

A shake of her head as she looks around, before settling on the camera, addressing Ram, “There was nothing you could have done.” Her voice soft, “What I sense is that the poison came from the insect attack, they had a venom. Causing Cassandra to sleep, causing what we are seeing here, how distorted it is, and clouding your memory. But it’s not from the Gentry.” Trying to reassure him, knowing he had seemed torn about it. “It’s completely possible that Ethan fell to the venom of the insects and was unable to wake up, the Hedge claiming him.” Which was hard to say, but, sometimes there were harsh realities. “Or he simply wandered off. I am willing to keep digging, keep looking if you wish.” She offers. What she wants is one of those insects. What was that venom?

And then it felt like the Dream was going to rip apart, eyes darting about fully ready to put some of herself into the Dream to stabilize it, but settles.

Back to the camera and addressing Ram, “You have nothing to be sorry for. There was no way you could have known that what happened wasn’t a coordinated attack. You did the best you could and came back in your Dreams to try and figure it out. That’s more than a lot would have done.” Again, her voice soft, trying to sooth.

[James Turner]

It took a lot of energy to keep the dream together, but he managed to pull the seems bac together and everything had returned to normal. Giving a nod of understanding when Ram said he felt fuzzy, John had similar spells except they paralyzed everything inside of him. John looked around at everyone checking that they were all still there and Ethan was gone.


He offered his condolences along with Sera, hand rising, hesitating, then falling back to his side, breaking the fourth wall. "I agree with Sera on all counts. No one's action or inaction lead to any of this, it just happened. It's no one's fault. You cared enough to do this, to look even knowing it wouldn't be easy. That means a lot. We should probably send another patrol out see if we can't find any evidence, see if we can't manage those insects too" Going back into character as he gave a nod to Circe then stood still near the back. Hopefully this helped Ram as well, he deserved to feel safe inside his own mind. He knew it wouldn't be cured over night but hopefully over time he would see some improvement. John was glad he'd come to help, reaffirming his love for what he did.

[Gerrit]

Gerrit was disappointed - it didn't seem like he would get his answer today - but also relieved. Ram surely suffered from this dream, suffered from this memory laid bare to see for everyone. Good thing it got reverted into the thing they were trying to scrutinize, even though they were not closer to finding out about Ethan's fate.

He addressed the camera. "Don't be sorry. I understand what you're saying.." That much was true. Didn't he also feel the Ogre blood screaming for bloodshed out there? Once he was threatened, once he gave in - couldn't he very much relate to the frenzy that threatened to drown out rational thought? "Besides, I can't remember what happened to him either." Which yes, was the reason he followed the others into the Render's dream.. but maybe that's also something he had to get used to: sometimes you don't get the answers you're looking for.

[Ram]

The dream begins to fade again. However, this time it is different. All the Changelings recognize the sensation. Eventually you must wake and they can feel the pull of wakefulness as things start to dissolve.

The Freehold's Hedge gate grows out of the ground and opens. Beyond is not the old tunnels but the bright light of dawn. It brings with it the feeling of acceptance. They may not have found the answers they sought, or the catharsis they wished to grant, but the sunlight offered an odd sensation of closure.

They'd done what they could.

Closing in two days. Last chance to wrap.

[Cassandra Reeding]

Cassandra isn't sure what to say. What really can be said at this point? It's already been said - it wasn't your fault, there was nothing you could do. It was true. This isn't an outcome that Cassandra hadn't expected, but what was sad to her wasn't that Ethan was gone, but rather seeing how it had been affecting Ram. Would any of these empty words help? If he was anything like her, the answer would be no. Not knowing will sap any and all satisfaction of closure and she knows that is going to weigh on him.

Is it weird that it doesn't weigh on her? Ethan disappearing? Was it because he wasn't quite meshed with the rest of the group? Was it because they were all still so new and there wasn't much to miss? That is bad, isn't it? At the same time, we all cope differently. Or maybe it is because you are still very much an ice queen underneath all of that sweet exterior you try to put out there.

When she wakes, she gazes up at the ceiling of the Spring hollow and lets out a slow sigh. She breathes in the scent of lavender from her necklace, which calms her a little bit. This was draining and yet she really did feel as if she did nothing. Well, it's true actually, she did nothing but really observe. Part of it was to be there, right? There is an emptiness that accompanies that though.

Her gaze wanders to John not far from her. You are kind of incredible... The way he handled the dream, existed in it like he belongs to it. She feels lucky to have him being the one to watch her dreams when she needs. And Ram had eyed him with such suspicion before... will he be more accepting of John now?

She sits up slowly, stretching a little bit and fixing her hair, looking around at the others before looking at Ram, "Next we're in the Hedge, we won't lose sight of each other. We won't let this happen again." Looking to the past in this case does nothing if it isn't preparing them for the future, preparing them to make sure it doesn't happen again. But in case it does, don't forget to prepare your farewells...

[Ram]

Morning comes and the Lost wake up one by one. The dawn washing away the last vestiges of everything that had happened. The Hedge, the feeling of the swarm crawling over skin, the sense of regret at not keeping someone safe, and the sounds of the battlefield.

Ram smiles and gives a resolute nod to Cassandra as day breaks and everyone makes ready to move on.

"Not again," he agrees.

Thanks everyone!