And I Close my Eyes

His mother would tell him when he was older that he had been a dreamy sort of grub and a quiet sort of wriggler-not the empty kind, but the thoughtful she would assure-or, he was when he didn't have his dreams (he always thought they were real, after all, only memories are so vivid). He can remember his first dream, he couldn't have been more than two or three sweeps, a wriggler barely out of his grubhood. It should have been any normal dawn, him snuggling down in his pile and Dolorosa making sure he was packed tight for the morning to come. Kisses and hugs, lullabies and stories (any thing to put off sleep, he wonders some days if it didn't have to do with the dreams) and then, finally his big orb eyes close and he slips into the dark cradle of sleep.

He doesn't even realize at first it's not dream-not until he begins to recognize people-and when he does, oh wriggler, nothing could have stopped him from screaming. Mother comes, she soothes and tells and promises, but none of it matters in the face of these dreams. Mainly because they keep stealing sleep and mother's fretting more these days. To ease her fear and his own, he decides he can't fear them anymore. Going to sleep one night, he lays down in his pile in determination and falls into the darkness's cradle with a solid resolve of bravery and desperate need for understanding and rest.

He wakes up as Kankri, a troll who talks non-stop and wears a sweater as red as his candy-red blood. He's friends with a jade-blood who looks a lot like mother-minus the piercings-he also hangs out with a teal-blood girl talks in a really funny and neat way and she's friends with a fuchsia-blood who's friends with a blue-blood who's friends with...and so on, it may not seem so amazing to anyone else; but, to little a little outcast like him? It means the world can be different, no one has to be culled, no one has to be lesser, no one has to be slaves or queens, they could all be-no can be friends and it feels so beautiful and perfect, he wonders why no one has ever tried before.

When he tells mother of his plan to teach the people of Alternia of this way of life, she looks at him for a long time.

"You are certain?" She asks.

"More than anything else mother." He tells her.

"It's dangerous." Mother reminds him.

"Being alive is dangerous, mother." He counters.

She sighs then, fingers toying with the cape she's been stitching for him for the last perigee. "I don't want you to get hurt." She whispers.

Putting a hand on hers, he tells her what he knows to be self-evident. "I'll be hurt more if you don't trust or let me mother." He explains.

Her Jade eyes meet his immature dark eyes and she hugs him fiercely. "My wriggler, my son, mine, I fear I'd be lost without you." She murmurs.

Hugging her back, he answers in kind. "My mother, I would be dead without you." She cries jade on him, he loves her more for it.

"You have to promise me you won't get caught." She demands.

"I'll try mother." He promises earnestly.

Handing him the little cloak, she looks at him sadly. "I can't help for much else, can I?"

Grinning, he shakes his head and chirps. "Nope!"

The smile she crack relieves him of any more doubts. "How did I ever find myself a wriggler like you?" She says it in a breath and he knows he doesn't need to give her an answer, just being there is enough.

He wakes up with a gasp. "Are you alright?" A voice yawns, womanly body pressing into his.

Sitting up shaking and sweating, he bobs his head. "I'm fine my Disciple."

Breasts pressing against his chest and arms winding around his body, she implores in a sleepy tone. "Just what did you see my Signless?"

He looks away troubled into the coming dawn. "It was different," he starts. She purrs and waits for him to continue, "It wasn't of Beforus this time...but of Alternia."

Blinking olive up at him, she tilts her head. "Oh? What did you see."

He shakes his head, lips tight and unyielding. "I'm not sure we're going to win."

"Why not? Don't tell me you're doubting yourself Signless, you're amazing you inspire so many and-" He cuts her off with a gentle hand to her lovely lips.

"I may, but that's not a recipe for victory...I-" he puckers his lips, "Just don't ever think I don't love you, okay?"

Cuddling in his side, she smiles dreamily at him. "Of course, I'll always know."

Settling back down into their pile, he hugs her close and feels his eyes drifting close. "Good, I was afraid.."

Kissing his temple, the Disciple mumbles, "Dont' be."

He falls asleep and the next time he wakes he'll be chained and dragged to his death.

Well that's the end. Thanks a bunch for reading and please leave a review! :)