Rhaëlya knew exactly where she was. She was in a nightmare, the one that kept looping back every few months.
She'd always find herself in the past, reviving the same events over and over again until she wanted to throw up.
She plopped herself down on the street she's seen so many times that she could tell anyone how many pebbles there are on it.
'I guess I shouldn't have take that nap.'
She closed her eyes and tried waking herself up, it usually works.
'This must be one of those forced dreams then...'
It's been a while since she had a "forced dream", it's what she calls dreams she cannot awake herself from.
She simply laid down on the street, as she knew they wouldn't dirty her, hell, she couldn't even feel the temperature. But the sun was out.
Behind her, Baran stood tall and watched. He...liked it. He wanted to watch in silence as he knew that Bloom wouldn't want him here, albeit his presence here was a mistake.
Then he turned around and saw little Bloom, she seemed to be...barely born. No less than four years old.
Her hair was a softer blue than as an adult, and it was very short, not even reaching her shoulders.
Her teeth were so small that she probably isn't even able to eat grass. He tilted his head as he lowered himself to her head level, sitting down and then lowering his upper body again.
Bloom barely reached his knees. He looked inside her mouth everytime she talked, he couldn't understand what she was saying, but he was fascinated nonetheless.
Is this what a female cub looked like? No, it shouldn't. He's been alive for more than three centuries, and he's seen many female cubs. He even helped raise a few.
While slower than male cubs, female cubs develop their teeth and fangs before their transformation. Even the hermaphrodites already had a mouth full of teeth by the time they transformed.
So why is it that she doesn't have all her teeth yet?
The long purple haired male kept staring and following little Bloom around, like a tail.
Since adult Bloom was closing her eyes somewhere, he didn't need to worry about being discovered.
And after following her for a bit, he finally looked at the adult female accompanying Little Bloom. She was two heads smaller than adult Bloom, yet she was very much an adult.
Baran looked the female up and down, noticing that he cannot see her face clearly. Probably Bloom didn't remember.
Then, after walking for more than he could care to count, they finally came to a stop.
He'd noted it when he arrived here, but this place was nowhere on the beast continent.
Hard grey grounds, houses made out of unknown material in square shapes, some longer and taller than others, and running carriages.
He went once to visit the dwarves when he was younger, so he knew that there is technology that the beast continent won't see anytime soon, but it's the first time he's seen this.
He turned his attention back to Little Bloom and the adult, blonde haired female.
They were now entering a house, and Little Bloom had stopped talking.
He kept watching as the adult female talked to a masked male while two bigger males stood like predators ready to attack behind the small child.
The little cub was holding on hard onto the female's skirt while the latter was discussing something with a lacherous smile on her face.
Then, after the female and the male interlocked hands for a moment, she received a bag filled with something and she forcibly unclutched the little cub's hand off of her skirt.
Suddenly the two males behind Little Bloom lifted her up, covered her mouth with a cloth and kept her still until she lost consciousness.
Little Bloom was struggling and crying until she closed her eyes. The adult female was simply walking away, swaying her hips as if nothing mattered.
But she did feel a murderous stare from somewhere around her. She turned around but she couldn't see anyone. She thought it might be her conscience but she decided to ignore it.
Until she saw a pair of blood red angry eyes in the corner of her eyes.
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Azrakai was now wide awake. The memories made his head ache and his heard cold.
He really wanted to forget those times. He struggled to sit up and after managing to do so, he noticed that his wounds healed.
Sighing in relief, he felt the urge to hug Bloom. His mate.
In a hurry he finally came out of his part of the cave, which was separated from the main cave by simply a piece of hide that Bloom put up, for privacy she said.
He could smell Bloom's scent everywhere and it calmed his aching heart.
But now he felt hungry. The slightly warm yet damp cave was starting to feel different.
Azrakai finally relaxed upon seeing his mate's sleeping form, albeit she seemed to be having an unpleasant dream.
Remembering his, Azrakai decided to wake her up. He didn't want her to see something she'd rather not see.
He softly tapped her shoulder, seeing that she didn't even tremble, he started touching her delicate face.
After a few more taps and shakes, she finally started stirring. Her sleep glazed eyes looked at him, and without even batting her eyes, "Thank you."
Azrakai watched Bloom thank him and was glad that he decided to wake her up.
He slid his right hand around her waist while his left went under her shoulders and he hoisted her up in his arms.
"Let's eat." Two simple words, yet Rhaëlya felt peaceful.
That boring dream was over and now she was going to eat in peace.
While looking around however, she noted that two of her residents are missing.
Where did Carmen and Crypt go?
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Meanwhile, in a lake nearby, a snakeman was resting at the bottom.
His lower body was that of a serpent while his upper body portrayed a cold beauty.
His hand was patting his belly, while he was looking into the distance.
He is pregnant.