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Kyana lay in her hammock staring at the ceiling. She's been having trouble sleeping for months. It really started when Enoch died while trying to help them, but it got significantly worse when Dani died in Tu'narath. They'd had countless close calls before, and even though Finbar brought them both back, somehow both times Kyana felt like something died in her. Nothing was ever going to be the same, and she wasn't quite sure how to deal with that.
It didn't help, that no matter how much their new captain assured them that she was in this fight willingly, she just couldn't shake the feeling that in one way or another, they were still dragging her into this. It was weighing on her, and she couldn't chase the thought out of her mind.
She was feeling cold. Even with the coat she got when they had to get that ice salamander for Hira, her room felt almost painfully cold. She begrudgingly got out of her hammock and opened her door. The hallway was also cold, but not nearly as cold as her room. She let out a sigh. The temperature in Limbo got funky like that, but she felt way too tired to even think about doing anything about it, so she absent-mindedly wandered out into the hallway.
Dani was lying in her hammock, fiddling with a dagger trying to infuse it with shatter again, when she heard a faint knock on the engine room door.
- Come in! - she was expecting VR-LA or Vhas to show up at the door, as neither the mechanite, nor the gith needed much sleep, but instead, Kyana wandered in, looking absolutely exhausted. - You okay?
- It's really cold in my room. Can I sleep next to the engine?
Dani looked at the monk, visibly shivering in her coat. Something was very wrong. She could sense it. She dropped the dagger to the floor and stretched out her hammock.
- Come here. I'm... warmer.
Kyana climbed in and snuggled up next to her. She was really cold, but Dani knew, that she should warm up pretty fast. She seemed uncharacteristically small and fragile. It was a new thing, Dani had been noticing more and more since she got taller. She wasn't sure if it was just because she seemed shorter compared to herself now, or something else.
- Thank you - the monk murmured already half asleep.
She watched her as she fell asleep. Something had to be wrong. When she was sure, she was asleep, she hit the sending stone they used as intercom and whispered into it.
- VR-LA, you there?
- Yeah, I just woke up like two minutes ago, why?
- Can you get Vhas, and check Kyana's room? She's here, but something's off. I might just be on edge, but let's just be safe about it.
- ...Sure.
VR-LA still seemed to somewhat distrust the gith, but thankfully he was showing signs of it less and less. Dani didn't really need more problems to think about. She liked having problems to fix, but her plate was already overflowing, and it was ruining her appetite.
Kyana turned next to her. She had a weird expression on her face. Was she... dreaming? She never dreamt. It was probably just the cold. Dani reached out and touched her face. She was still cold. Too cold. She repressed the urge to wrap her arms around the monk, as she fell back asleep next to her.
The door busted open, and Dani shot up in the hammock.
- What! - she looked at the mechanite and the gith in the door. They both looked worried with maybe a hint of confusion. Seeing VR-LA confused was certainly not something she was used to seeing, but what was even more troubling was Vhas being worried. Dani didn't remember ever seeing him genuinely worried in the short time they knew him. - What happened?
- Why the fuck is it freezing in Kyana's room?
- I don't know, I asked you to investigate it.
- Is she okay?
Dani reached out, to wake the monk up. She was... colder? Why was she even colder? And why was she not waking up?
- Kyana! - she started shaking her a bit harder. Nothing. She reached for a pulse fearing the worst, but she did still find one. It was weak, and slow. But it was there. She thought about giving her a light slap across that round face, but she decided, it probably wouldn't do much. - You guys have healing spells, right? Do something.
- Well, I can try healing her, but I don't think it will actually do anything.
- Then what?
The gith shrugged and looked at VR-LA.
- You got any ideas?
- Let's get Enoch. I don't know much about Limbo, but if this has anything to do with the plane, the githzerai should be able to help with it - it sounded more like a question, but it was probably their best shot.
- Do you have the energy for a sending, or do we have to go?
- I... I think I do. I'll go up on deck, and wait for him.
Dani's ears followed the mechanite's steps to the deck. She had no idea when she picked the habit up, but for a while now, as long as VR-La was moving, she could tell exactly where he was on the ship. Vhas sat down with his back to a wall and seemed to be falling back asleep.
Dani had no idea, how much time passed. It seemed an eternity, as Kyana's pulse got slower and her body grew colder. She herself was starting to feel cold just by laying next to her, but she didn't want to get up, thinking that the monk might just completely freeze if she left her alone in the hammock. Finally, she heard VR-LA's panicked voice, as his steps grew closer. Enoch had a concerned look on his face, as he entered the room. He touched Kyana's face with the back of his hand, and his eyes grew wider.
- Put her down on the floor.
Kyana didn't remember how she got to Sigil. She was looking for the Per Aspera at the docks, but it wasn't there. Where were her friends? She stopped a few people in port, asking if any of them saw a Gallion with red sails and a bubble helm, but even when someone stopped to listen to her question, they couldn't help her. She eventually gave up and headed to Hira's. That was her second-best shot. Maybe some of the guests were still there. Maybe one of them could help her.
Suddenly the city fell away from around her as she ran, and she tripped. She found herself on the mirror surface of the Astral Sea. Was she... dreaming? That has never been a good sign before. She looked around for Suvi. There was something comforting to her about the terrifying creature that she shared her body with. But this time she was nowhere to be found. It was just Kyana. Alone. Standing in the middle of nowhere on the endless, timeless sea. The sight of the stars usually gave her a strange sense of wanderlust, but now something felt off. There was loneliness in the stillness of the sea.
She had no idea how much time passed. It seemed like her dreams were as timeless as the plane itself. Finally, she felt a pull from behind. Like something was pulling her simultaneously up and down. She opened her eyes, to see Enoch's concerned face, her crew behind him, equally concerned.
- How are you feeling? - His voice sounded... distant. Worried, but also... angry somehow?
Dani breathed out some smoke in relief as she saw Kyana open her eyes. She didn't even realize, she was holding her breath. Enoch said something to the young monk, but Dani wasn't listening to him. She could see Kyana still shivering, she wanted to go closer, but she felt like something was holding her back.
Finally, Enoch asked Kyana which one her room was, helped her there, and told her to take a rest. The rest of the crew followed them to the door. They all looked at Enoch as he left the room, and carefully closed the door behind him. To their surprise, he was the first to ask a question.
- What happened to her?
- Well, we assumed you'd know more than us - Dani was getting the feeling that he may have underestimated just how clueless they all were about limbo. He looked at them confused for a second, and then it seemingly dawned on him.
- Sometimes people unknowingly manifest emotions into environmental effects centered on themselves. It's usually not a sign of balance or happiness...
They all stared at him for a long moment, before VR-LA spoke up:
- Recently we have all been... Dealing with our own not-so-positive thoughts. When we rediscovered the mindflayers, it really... boiled over I guess. We all had to ask ourselves and each other some uncomfortable questions. I think some of us may be a bit better after everything, and some of us are still trying to work through... all of that - he looked really fucking interested in the floorboard. Dani felt a weight on her shoulder. She felt like she probably should've checked up on both of them, but she was tired and busy thinking about what their next step needed to be.
- I'm going to assume, it was not a pleasant few days - Enoch was trying his best to not show, but he still sounded simultaneously concerned, and... angry...? disappointed...? Dani wasn't sure how to interpret his tone. She didn't really care, she just wanted to go to Kyana. - Unknowingly manifesting cold around one's self is usually associated with feeling lonely or powerless. I think we can assume it was the latter, right?
- I'll... go talk to her - she didn't wait for an answer. The door opened and then closed behind her, as she approached the still shivering monk. - Kyana...
- Oh, hey.
- Do you mind, if I stay here? - She nodded, as this time Dani climbed into the hammock with her and made no attempt to suppress the urge to wrap her arms around her.