Falling in Love with the King of Beasts

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*****

RETH - Anima

He fell asleep thinking of her, praying for her and Elreth, and then dreamed of her.

As his body finally sank deep into fitful rest, his mind began to churn and reach, clinging to his prayers, clinging to his love, yearning… stretching.

In the way of dreams, everything was wrong, but he didn't even think to question it.

She bloomed in his mind from nowhere and he gasped.

Elia was in a large room, very square and precise, with incredibly high ceilings. A human place. From his time in that world he recognized the overly-decorative furniture and unnatural patterns on the wall. The human obsession with perfect lines and sharp corners.

But in his dream, unlike it would happen in the human world, Elia was the curled on the floor, right on the carpet, like a beast—half on her side, her knees drawn up to her chest, head resting on her arms. He couldn't tell if she was asleep, or only resting, but as soon as he saw her, he called. And called.

He tried everything—the mating call, screaming her name—but she didn't hear him.

As he became more frantic, desperation pushed him to the edge. He screamed her name until he saw stars, clawing, then pounding on whatever invisible barrier separated them.

Then, though he saw nothing different than a moment before, she blinked her eyes and pushed up on her hands to look at him.

And her eyes were the golden pools of a lion.

"Love, my love," he groaned, his large hand splayed against the invisible barrier.

At first she only stared, her eyes unfocused and brows pinched. But then her face crumpled and she cried, "Reth?"

"Yes, love, come here, Speak to me. Why are you on the floor? Are you hurt? Is Elreth well? Did you—"

"Reth, are you there?"

"Yes! I'm here! I can see you… can you not see me?"

Around and around they went, the dream tormenting him. She was so close, but he couldn't reach her. And apparently she could hear him, but not see him.

"Why do you cry, love?" he rasped, his heart breaking all over again for her tears. "Tell me what hurts you."

"I'm so scared, Reth. I don't know what to do."

"Just be safe, Elia. Just… be safe. Please."

"But I can't get out. I don't know how."

His stomach dropped like he'd been catapulted. "Elia, where are you? Are you still in the Traverse?"

"No! I'm in the house. But I can't get out. I can't… I don't know how."

"The Guardians?"

"I have to hide. I have to keep Elreth safe."

"But, are they not helping you—"

"They don't know. I can't tell them."

"Tell them what, love?" he croaked. But she made no sense.

Around and around, he pleaded with her to explain. Around and around she spoke in riddles, crying about being trapped, but in the same breath insisting that she was safe. Crying about needing to get out, but assuring him that no one was hurting her.

He didn't know what to believe.

"Reth," she sobbed at one point. "I need you. I don't know how to do this without you."

"Oh, love," his voice broke, and he couldn't find any other words. "Elia, I—"

"Promise me, Reth. Promise me if I don't get out that you'll tell her about me. Promise me."

"Elia, please, what are you—"

"Promise me!"

His face crumpled. "Of course, love. Of course. I would never—but you are going to be fine. You're going to be safe and I'm going to come for you and—"

"Promise me, Reth," she cried. "Don't ever let her forget me. Promise."

"Elia?!"

She was beginning to fade. He scrabbled at the invisible wall in front of him, but the darkness closed in over her, and as he sucked in a great, bellowing breath to scream for her, he woke suddenly, sitting bolt upright, tears on his cheeks.

As soon as he realized it had been a dream, he slumped back to the furs, groaning.

He lay there in the dark of the cave, his heart pounding, trying to let his breath return to normal, ignoring the wet spots on his pillow.

Was he was going mad?

It had seemed so real. And yet… no more solid than vapor passing between his fingers.

He groaned the mating call, then hissed when there was no response and rolled over—all at once, realizing he was still fully dressed, and on top of the furs.

He rubbed his face and sighed. He considered undressing, but he knew there would be no more sleep this night.

Pushing himself up wearily, he resolved to speak with the guards and see if there had been any new attacks while he was sleeping. Then he would… find something to occupy his mind until the meeting with the security council at daybreak.

But as he walked slowly through the cave, images of Elia, tears tracking down her cheeks, haunted him. And he prayed.

And prayed.

*****

ELIA – Human World

Elia would have sobbed, but she didn't have a body anymore. She was stuck in this impossible body, seeing things through these impossible eyes—and yet, somehow, also aware of… it.

It felt that this strange cave was far too big, too much space at back and above. It—she—had curled up in the corner, between the strange tree that smelled liked a nest, and the hard, fixed wall of the cave. There had been no new sound since the prey that was not prey had spoken in the strange sounds.

Elia would have shaken her head if she had one. Every time she concentrated on this beast, she sank into it. And something within her warned her, urgently, against allowing that to happen.

She had to hold onto herself. She had to figure out how to take control, to return.

But the beast growled and remained alert, despite being desperately tired.

Elia screamed and pounded at her, but she would not release.

There was a little one to protect from this strange place. And Elia—the beast thought—was not strong enough to do the job.

**** 

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