Nightmares

Posted on Mon Sep 21st, 2026 @ 2:39pm by Green Rider Calarya & Brown Rider G'van

Mission: 3531 AL

“Come on Gavan, lighten up. It's a beautiful day and we're almost to Igen,” Calee laughed as she squeezed her legs on her runner.

The runner jumped into a smooth gallop, leaving Gavan to either do the same or be left in the dust. He groaned in frustration, but also had to smile a bit at his friend’s enthusiasm. He finally let his runner have her head and the dark bay runner happily followed after her friend.

Gavan was just catching up to Calee as her runner spooked at an animal hiding in the brush. He watched in horror as the runner reared, Calee clinging to his powerful neck.

“Calee!” He cried as the runner and rider toppled over backwards.
******

G'van woke with a cry, panting as he gripped his injured arm tightly to his chest. He closed his eyes tightly as his body trembled at the scare.

Calarya woke up with start as she heard the cry but it took a moment for her to realise what was happening. “Hey… hey it’s okay.” The older woman whispered as she sat up wrapping an arm around his shoulder.

G'van continued to tremble, his eyes still holding a wild look to them. “So real,’ he whispered, not quite sure where he was yet.

“It’s just a dream.” She promised kissing his bare shoulder. “Just a horrible dream.” She soothed as she felt Leith wake up worried at the tension in the air.

The brown rider shook his head. It was more than a dream. It had been a memory. he took a shaky breath, still feeling very off.

Dystath crooned softly, trying to calm his rider down. G'van turned to bury his face in Calarya's shoulder.

“It’s okay. Whatever is going on you are awake and with me now.” She whispered running her fingers through his hair confused by his emotions right then and there. He never woke up like that.

G'van gripped his arm tightly to his body as he tried to settle back down. It had been a long time since he had had such a nightmare. “Calee and the runner,” he whispered, trying to wipe the image from his mind.

She closed her eyes knowing that it was an event that had shaped him so much but hurt him all the same. “It’s okay. You are here with me.” She soothed lying back on the bed bringing him with her so he was lying on her chest.

He continued to tremble as Calarya pulled him down against her. He closed his eyes tightly, feeling his racing heart in the wound down his arm. “I couldn't help…her,” he hiccuped.

“Because you were too young and too far away.” Calarya whispered and moved to run her fingers through his hair again trying to comfort him. “What could you have done differently that day?” She challenged softly into the darkness.

G'van shook his head, still clinging to his mate. “Shouldn't have let her race.” In his head he knew he really couldn't have done anything but the dream had brought it all crashing back.

“Like you could have stopped her G’van. You were a child.” She reminded him softly. He had told her his nightmares turns ago but she had not seen him like this in turns. “You told me yourself this.” She reminded him pressing a kiss to his forehead.

Calarya was right. He really couldn't have done anything. He shuddered a bit as he let out a breath. They had both been just children when it had happened. “You're right,” he whispered, slowly looking up at her but still staying close.

“Yes.” She whispered smiling as he looked up and kissed him softly. “But I also know that moment haunts you sometimes.” She assured as she moved his head back against her chest so she could keep him close despite how much bigger he was.

He listened to his mate’s voice, trying to calm himself down. None of it had been his fault. Just like the two dragonets hadn't been his fault. He leaned into her kiss, needing her reassurance. “It does,” he admitted.

“Things happen and sometimes they happen to good people who do not deserve it. She would not want you to play yourself.” She reminded hoping her words were helping him. She knew it was hard to leave the past behind but he could not have changed anything about it all.

G'van closed his eyes briefly, listening to Calayra's soft voice. “I haven't dreamed about her in Turns,” he said quietly. He had thought he had put that piece of his past behind him.

“I know. But your arm has made you think about her and what happened.” She did not judge him as she shifted from underneath him and leaned over him. “How can I help?” She asked softly, not sure how to help him right now other than hug him close.

That made sense when he thought about it. At least once he calmed down enough to think about it. G'van looked up at his mate as she leaned over him, his stormy eyes finally not as wild. “Just being here is helping,” he assured her.

“Always here.” She could not imagine herself being anywhere else other than being there with him. He was the second most important thing in her life after Leith. She could not change his past and the troubles that had but she could change the here and now.

He gave her a shaky smile, slowly coming around from his nightmare. Calarya had been the one to help him through the things in his past. “Good. I don't want to lose you too.”

There was his usual easy going smile, she thoug her relieved that he was coming back to her. “You only have thread to worry about when it comes to me.” She assured him leaning over to kiss him softly.

That was not something he wanted to think about but he knew what she meant. None of them could control Thread. He leaned into her gentle kiss, slowly coming back to himself. “Sorry for scaring you.”

“You never scare me. You surprised me but you have never scared me for a second.” She breathed against his lips kissing him again before she lay back down next to him and pressed a kiss to his shoulder.

“Good. I don't want to scare you,” he whispered. He never wanted to do that. A shiver ran down his spine as her warm lips touched his bare skin.

Calarya laughed softly and raised an eyebrow. “You do not have a bone in your body that would scare me.” She had never been scared in any second of their lives together. “

G'van chuckled softly. He had never tried being scary and he was glad he hadn't done it by accident. “I don't think I could scare anyone if I tried,” he admitted, shifting his injured arm a bit.

“I am pretty sure I am the scarier of the pair of us.” She had never thought of it before but she was most likely the scarier of the 2. She was the one people avoided after drills or sweeps. “Never thought of you that way. You are my soft and gentle mate.” She said firmly.

G'van actually smiled at that. She was right. He had seen riders avoid her at times and thankfully he had never been on the other end of that scary part she had. “I'll take it,” he assured. He really didn’t have a mean bone in his body.

“Are you able to go back to sleep?” Calarya knew that she would go back to sleep but if he needed to talk more or anything she would stay awake and help. She leaned over and pulled the sheets up over them before grabbing the furs dumping them on him.

G'van nodded. “I think so,” he answered. He had calmed down enough that he was pretty sure he could at least try to sleep. He chuckled softly as she dumped the furs on him.

Calarya smiled as she turned away and snuggled onto her side feeling her body relaxing with the man close and the silence returned again. They could pick up anything else that was wrong in the morning.

The brown rider took one more deep breath before settling into the bed and letting his eyes drift shut. With Calarya beside him he felt he could face anything.