Nightmares

[Thalia]

"Weird looks."
Perplexing. Nimeda half smiled, half looked quizzical. She assimilated that, tried to give herself context for the times that were now versus the times that had been or were yet to come. "It wasn't always that way. Or won't be."
Of that she was sure, but lacked any explanation for the certainty, so the thought drifted. His name she did not repeat, only because she was not sure it would help her to remember beyond this encounter. Jon had felt familiar, also in a way that was beyond her understanding, but Calvin was different. She recognised what he was more than who. And she had come because of the nightmare.

She did not mention the nightmare again, perhaps because of his reaction, or perhaps because its memory had already begun to lose potency for her. Instead her gaze fell back upon the wolf's empty body. Possibly it was only Calvin's belief that kept it here, the soul was gone, the essence that had composed Dawn Wind evaporated from this place. Maybe from all places? She shivered, gathered her knees to her chest. "We shall bury him, of course."
It didn't matter to anyone but him, but the act of honour might help. There were more ways to soothe a hurt than to erase its memory.