Chapter Text
She was flying above the top of the trees. Their canopies were speeding away under her as she watched. It was as if she were a bird, or perhaps on board a ship.
The land was dark; the sun could not be seen in the sky. Instead, millions of stars twinkled above her. Linsal looked at them, seeing the patterns, recognizing the constellations. She had visited this planet many times, but always in dreams.
The trees below her looked like a jungle or a forest, and they were quiet. Once the jungle was teeming with the noise and life of the animals, but this night it was quiet.
Linsal found herself dismayed.
Suddenly a scream pierced the night.
Pain shot through Linsal, freezing her, making her blind to the sights before her. She could feel her body convulsing far away, as her mind fought the pain rising from the planet below.
The scream stopped. The jungle was quiet again. Linsal opened her metaphorical eyes.
What had caused the scream? What was hurting her jungle?
Again the scream. Again, pain shot through Linsal’s being. It was unlike anything she had ever felt before.
Strong arms gripped her. Gently shook her body.
Linsal opened her eyes and found herself in her own bed. The planet, the jungle, the pain it was all a dream, it was all in her head.
Doc was kneeling beside her, his brow furrowed in concern. “You were making noises,” he said quietly. “And not the good kind.”
Linsal shook her head a little and smiled weakly. “It was a bad dream, that’s all. Thank you for waking me.”
Doc shook his head. “If that’s a ‘bad dream’, I’d hate to know what your nightmares sound like.”
Her smile grew stronger, after a moment Doc’s expression softened as well. “Get some sleep, handsome.”
“You too, beautiful.”
As she lay in her bed, listening to Doc’s steady breathing, Linsal couldn’t help but dwell on her dream. It had all seemed so real.