Kirlan was standing in a cave. As a cave should be it was dark, though he could just vaguely see my the light of a small lantern he'd set down on the floor. How did he get here he wondered, and where exactly is here. Seeing no other option he strolled further down the tunnel and kept his eyes peeled for anything amiss. Still all he could see was empty dark space surrounded by rock. Occasionally there were stalactites that popped out in front of him. He cracked his head on one the first time and had to deal with the smarting bump on his forehead for a time. Beyond that however it was very peaceful.
At length he came to an underground lake. Not a big lake as far as lakes go, but it was too large to see across in the darkness. Feeling thirsty and tired from his walk he set down the lantern and took handfuls of cool, clear water and drank. The cave formations were much larger and more pronounced here and the occasional bat fluttered by. He watched them for a bit before turning back to the water.
He gasped as he saw his reflection. His skin was red like blood and horns like those of a goat swept back from the back of his head. No longer were his eyes blue, but glowing red and orange like fire. He watched as his face distorted into a shape reminiscent of a goat's skull only when he opened his mouth he saw incredibly sharp teeth with a literal tongue of flame. His skin hardened to armour-like strength and his clothes tore as his muscles swelled. His fingernails lengthened into claws and his feet became cloven hooves, but with a claw-like look to them.
Wildly he looked around himself as he felt wings break through his shredded shirt and saw the cavern was lighting as though on fire. The water began to turn red and although he still looked 10 years old, he was also a hideous monster and he screamed at the sight of himself before the water erupted into flame and boiling lava,
----
Kirlan sat up straight in bed, the scream still echoing from his throat. Sweat soaked his nightshirt and his heart was racing in panic. His brother Jearis pushed open the door and turned the switch that turned on the lights. Kirlan looked at his arms and saw normal tanned skin and normal human muscle for a boy his age, which wasn't much. Jearis came and sat on his bed and asked: "Are you okay?"
Kirlan nodded. "Nightmare, the same one again. The one where I become a monster." He looked to his brother who had a youthful look to his face and yet also looked grown-up and brotherly. At fifteen he was also in pretty good shape and his skin was tanned like his brother's. But Jearis' platinum hair remained his most striking feature and Kirlan knew some of the boys at school thought Jearis's ancestors were elves.
"It's just a dream you know,” Jearis said. “It’s not real.”
“I know that,” Kirlan said, taking deep breaths to calm himself. “But there was this lady in the park, a gypsy. She said that if you have dreams a lot then they can mean something.”
“You know gypsies are a little crazy. She was probably just trying to scare you.”
“It worked.” It was clear Kirlan truly was scared and Jearis gave him a hug.
“Even if you were, what’s it matter? You’re still human at heart and you still act human. Just looking like a monster doesn’t make you one. What about that corrupt judge that got locked up last year? He looked human right, but did act like?”
“No way! He was a monster for sure,” Kirlan said, beginning to cheer up. It was also the middle of the night and so he began to feel tired again. “Jearis, do you like your hair looking so weird?”
Jearis chuckled and answered positively. “It’s fun and I like being a little unique. Besides I think it’s from an elven ancestor and so people don’t make fun of me for it.”
Kirlan yawned and fell asleep as Jearis turned off the light and left the room. Kirlan’s sleep was now completely dreamless and when he woke the next morning he wasn’t troubled with the dream at all.
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