Exton

Alise starts to dream. Visions of the girl she saw raped and murdered, the sight and smell of the blood, the sound of everyone laughing and the feelings of overwhelming remorse that there was nothing to be done to help her. As she relives that day in her sleep, she starts to thrash and moan, waking Stoney.

He tries to hold her, *“Non, non Bebe, Je suis ici, son juste un rêve.”

Alise sits up and starts to scream, dream and reality confused in her mind until she hears Stoneys voice, sees the fire and her surroundings.

She sighs, covering her face with her hands, “I am sorry. I keep seeing that girl, the one they... raped and killed. She was so frightened.... Her family must be so worried, not knowing what has happened to her”

Her robe has slipped down over a slim shoulder and the back, revealing the crisscross pattern of whip marks on her back. Stoney sighs, amazed that after all she has been through she still can worry about people that she doesnt even know.

“When the others return we can try and find out who she was. The shifters may have some idea..”

Alise smiles and just as quickly frowns, putting her hand over her mouth she starts to retch. Stoney grabs a bowl off the table and holds it for her, her stomach rebelling against the bread she ate earlier and the water she has been sipping. When she is done, he brings her a cold washcloth and gently wipes her face, noticing how pale she is and the bruises in sharp contrast to her white skin. He offers her some broth, but she takes only two sips and shakes her head.

“I dont want any more. I am so tired, I just want to lay here with you and sleep.”

Stoney adds some wood to the fire and returns to his place by her side. Curling up against her, he notices that one of the wounds on her hip has started to bleed again. He pulls her close, worry creasing his brow, letting her sleep for now.


*I am here, its just a dream