Reaper was the first to move forward.
"What are you doing?" Dream mumbled aloud.
"I'm bored, I'm gonna see if I can talk to them." He stated, drifting above the grass and flowers as he approached. Oromis had disappeared into the hut, leaving Blue and Eragon standing curiously behind. Nightmare lifted his skull tiredly, his eyelights lazily following the God of Death before grunting softly.
He pushed off the ground with a tendril, standing with Dream comfortably settled on his backside, still waking up. Nightmare sighed, his tentacle worming into the dirt and enjoying the coolness of the soil. The vines simply separated from it to remain aboveground, yearning for the sun.

Life rested a warm paw on his shoulder. "I believe I will join him. Will you come with, or are you content staying here?" She quested softly.
𝓑𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻, 𝓵𝓮𝓽 𝓾𝓼 𝓳𝓸𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶. 𝓜𝔂 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓽 𝓬𝓪𝓷'𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓬𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓰𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭.
ℑ𝔣 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔱𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔡, 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔴𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔡. 𝔜𝔬𝔲'𝔯𝔢 𝔧𝔲𝔰𝔱 𝔴𝔯𝔞𝔭𝔭𝔢𝔡 𝔞𝔯𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔡 𝔪𝔢. Nightmare retorted, but stood nonetheless, trudging towards the hut. Dream giggled childishly. 𝓘'𝓶 𝓼𝓸𝓻𝓻𝔂, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓾𝓷 𝓲𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓪 𝓭𝓻𝓾𝓰, 𝓑𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻..
He snorted in response, dragging one branching tentacle like a tail, leaves rustling against the grass and plants. The rest hung over their skulls and draped them in soft shadows.

He stood calmly beside Reaper as the God spoke to the elf, Blueberry skipping over to hug him. "You look cute!" The energetic skeleton chirped, holding a grey tablet. "And stunning!"
Nightmare scowled. "I'm not cute." Dream chuckled, tightening his grip on his brother. "I'm not." Nightmare pressed, turning to glare at him. Dream grinned, eyelights a yellowed green. "Right, and I'm a human." Nightmare gaped at him. "You cannot side with him!"
"I've accepted I'm cute, but clearly you haven't." "How dare you, I'm terrifying."
"When you're angry, maybe, but otherwise you're adorable." Blueberry giggled. Nightmare deadpanned at both Dream and Blue, then scoffed. "You're both still Stars." He grumbled, turning and facing Oromis.

"Very well, you may remain as you wish." The teacher was speaking to the gods of Life and Death. The thick, animate branches cast patterns of shade across his sculpted face as Nightmare paused before him. "We do not intend on any disruptions ourselves, so I presume we may remain as well?" The elf nodded. "Indeed, Alalëa and Islingr."
"So be it." He nodded, Dream lifting a hand to wave lazily as he rested his skull on Nightmare's shoulder. They sat in the full sun, away from the trees that made up the hut as their branches yearned outward and upward, vines lifting up in arrangements that resembled twigs that split from the main branches.

Blueberry stared at them from a few feet away, holding his tablet as he studied the strange plant that they were part of. Dream blinked at him, smiling softly as Nightmare didn't even bother opening his eyesockets, instead seeing the other through his brother.

The other hopped over and sat down across from them as Eragon studied a wounded pine not far off.
"Master Oromis tasked us with creating a sort of magic photo on these." He indicated the tablet. "A fairth." He paused, taking in the leaves casting bright shadows over his face. "Can I try to make one of you two? It's very lovely." His voice dropped to a murmur.
Nightmare cracked open his left socket, grinning peacefully. "I don't mind. Dream?"
"Go on. I'm happy with the result either way."
"Okay!" Blue grinned, then his face blanked as he focused.

After a quiet invocation, he glanced down at the moving colors. Like a root, one of the tentacle ends snaked forward and wrapped around Blue's arm, vines following it as they twined up his radius and ulna. "What does it look like?" Both twins spoke at once. Blueberry blinked three times before turning it to face them.

Their own faces stared back at them at the base of the image, eyelights gleaming purplish blue and greenish yellow. Nightmare was coated in gleaming darkness, reflecting the light in pale blues. A faint purple hue surrounded the shadows on his side, and the light was slightly greyed. Dream was glowing with a yellow aura, the shadows less intense and tinted green. Nightmare's black reflected it in shades of green as well. The sunlight blended in to shine brighter than usual with a buttery sheen.

It was nothing compared to the tree rising up from the pair. It was a stunning blend of the elements around the two, the black gleaming surface and the golden leaves that shone brightly in contrast, blinding sunlight blocked by their sleepy glow. The entire picture was cast with blurs all around, but the twins and their tree were shown in brilliant, unnatural detail.
"Is this really what we look like?" Dream asked seriously as Nightmare blinked in shock.
"Yes?" Blue answered awkwardly.

He shot up to his feet, staring at the portrait in confusion as the branch let him go. Blue promptly handed it to Oromis, who regarded it with a hint of admiration. "Yours is indeed a unique mindset. You see everything clearly already, though you focus on and amplify the natural beauty that is already present. A rare and stunning way of thinking."
Blueberry stared for a moment, then looked away quickly, blushing. "Th-thank you." He stuttered.

Oromis merely handed him another blank slate. "Try again, but this time try to see it all as it is, the good and the bad." He turned away to face Eragon as the human offered his own image. Blue grinned at the twins shyly before staring hard at the clay rectangle. He came back. "Maybe I shouldn't do a person." He muttered.
"It's your choice." Dream encouraged lightly.
"I don't care if you focus on someone or something, though it's likely best you not create another of us, as impressive as it was."
Blue hugged the plate to his sternum and smiled. "Thank you. I'll take it into consideration-" "Hail, Riders!"

Blue yelped, fumbling with the slate and barely catching it as he spun around to see Orik and Arya arriving at the edge of the clearing. The dwarf lifted his arm, grinning. Dream waved back, Nightmare flicking a tentacle, ignoring how it rustled the leaves. Reaper drifted over, grinning lazily as he addressed the dwarf casually. Orik had fresh clothes and trimmed hair, boisterous and easygoing.

After the initial greeting in the Ancient Language, Oromis spoke first in English. "To what may I attribute this visit? You are both welcome to my hut, but as you can see, I am in the midst of working with Eragon, and that is of paramount importance."

"I apologise for disturbing you, Oromis-elda," Arya began, "but-" "The fault is mine." Orik's rough voice interrupted. He peered at Blue and then Eragon before speaking again. "I was sent here by Hrothgar to ensure that Eragon receives the instruction he is due. I have no doubt that he is, but I am obliged to see his training with my own eyes so that when I return to Tronjheim, I may give my king a true account of events."
"That which I teach Eragon and Eldgath Blue is not to be shared with anyone else. The secrets of the Riders are for them alone, with few exceptions due to the case of skeletons." Oromis explained patiently.

"And I understand that." Orik countered. "However, we live in uncertain times; the stone the stone that was once fixed and solid is now unstable. We must adapt to survive. So much depends on Eragon- and now etalthargen Blue, we dwarves have a right to verify that their training proceeds as promised. Do you believe our request is an unreasonable one?"
"Well spoken, Master Dwarf." Oromis responded, tapping his fingers.
"May I assume, then, that this is a matter of duty to you?"
"Duty and honor."
"And neither will allow you to yield on this point?"
"I fear not, Oromis-elda." Orik stated.

"Very well." The elf caved. "You may stay and watch for the duration of this lesson. Will that satisfy you?"
The dwarf frowned. "Are you near the end of the lesson?" He questioned evenly.
"We have just begun."
He lit up faintly. "Then yes, I will be satisfied. For a moment, at least."

Oromis nodded and waved Blue off to make another fairth, the skeleton holding the slate to his teeth with both hands as he waved at his friends and hunted for a good image to capture. "Magic photography class!" He whispered excitedly as he pranced about, grinning wildly.

The teacher had to snap at Eragon to break him out of his trance, gazing at Arya. Nightmare would have snorted if he wasn't in the same position.
𝓣𝓪𝓵𝓴 𝓽𝓸 𝓱𝓮𝓻. Dream suggested.
𝔒𝔲𝔯 𝔠𝔲𝔩𝔱𝔲𝔯𝔢𝔰 𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔱𝔬𝔬 𝔡𝔦𝔣𝔣𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔫𝔱, 𝔰𝔥𝔢 𝔦𝔰 𝔟𝔲𝔱 𝔞𝔫 𝔦𝔫𝔣𝔞𝔫𝔱 𝔦𝔫 𝔠𝔬𝔪𝔭𝔞𝔯𝔦𝔰𝔬𝔫 𝔱𝔬 𝔲𝔰. He argued back, hardly noticing his own glowing tint across his face. Dream shifted until his face was in front of Nightmare's, inches between them as he stared pointedly. He let his vision seep across their link to reveal the blue shading his dark cheekbones.
𝓨𝓸𝓾'𝓻𝓮 𝓫𝓵𝓾𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰.
𝔖𝔬 ℑ 𝔞𝔪. 𝔚𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔬𝔣 𝔦𝔱. Nightmare growled internally. He ignored how the branches above were writhing, shadows dancing all around them.

Dream sighed, leaning heavily on his brother's shoulder as the branches stiffened, the lighter controlling them from within. At that moment their minds merged a little, both Souls beating as one as the opposite's magic encircled each one. Dream experienced how dense and heavy with the magic of the apples his brother was, and Nightmare fully aware of how light and airy his other half was. And they understood.
Nightmare's conflicting emotions and Dream's gentle concern.

A sudden cold splash of fear washed over their senses, flowing out from the elegant figure of beauty as they focused their gazes upon the ever graceful Arya. Two sets of pale blue-green eyelights were directed at her as she lifted a fairth over her head and heaved it downward at the ground, smashing it into a thousand shards like a shattering heart. After a brief pause, she straightened, then strode calmly out of the clearing as if nothing happened.

They knew better. They felt her tumultuous mind, a raging tempest of terror, worry, and sadness. They watched her go, branches shuffling as leaves turned, shifting in waves across the tree.

The base stood, gazing blankly after the elf princess. Dream was feeling lighter than ever, they noted. The lighter twin summoned his Soul on some unbidden instinct as the darker began walking after Arya. Given their positions, Dream had summoned his Soul directly into his brother's ribcage, where the core of his being brushed against the other's. They both shivered at the sensation, stepping into the shadows of the wood, their own branches swaying softly above and behind them.

𝓑𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻.
The word made him stop, realizing what made Dream speak. It was a strange feeling. The lighter's bones were feeling hollow, and he felt as though he was dwelling more within the vines, the delicate lifeblood pulsing within the branches and marrow of the darker. Nightmare felt Dream's Soul beating in tune with his own, right beside his. He reached up and gripped a fistful of cloth from his shirt above his sternum, noting how his breath had picked up speed.
𝔅𝔯𝔬𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯?
𝓘... 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀. 𝓑𝓾𝓽.. 𝓘 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓘 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓽. 𝓝𝓸𝓽 𝓼𝓵𝓮𝓮𝓹, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓼𝓽. 𝓛𝓮𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓴 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓱𝓮𝓻.. 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓭𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾.
𝔄𝔫𝔡 𝔥𝔬𝔴 𝔴𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔡 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔡𝔬 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱?
𝓘 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓘 𝓫𝓸𝓽𝓱 𝓼𝓸𝓻𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓰𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓸𝓷 𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮... 𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓶𝓪𝔂𝓫𝓮 𝔀𝓮 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝓮𝔁𝓪𝓬𝓽𝓵𝔂 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓼.
𝔙𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔴𝔢𝔩𝔩. ℜ𝔢𝔰𝔱, 𝔅𝔯𝔬𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯.
...𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸𝓾.

Dream sighed, long and soft, as he went limp against Nightmare. The darker stood still as he sensed Dream's consciousness slip into the back of his mind, trembling as his brother's energy and magic suffused into the branches, into him. He blinked as his brother's phalanges began flaking, turning to green and white dust that shone with a yellow aura, gold glittering as it seemingly magnetized toward him, dissolving into his black goop and staining it, changing the consistency to something far more solid and coloring it with a faint brown hue.

He gasped, clawing at his ribs as he felt the vines that emerged from his brother's Soul wind around them, merging with the tentacles that came from his own as they nestled around the two apples. A slight stiffness settled into him, as well as the sensation of a light weight, more like helium lightening his own burden. And then, like a lense passed over his senses, he could feel like never before. The way positivity fed Dream. It made him choke for five seconds before he collapsed to a sitting position.

𝓘𝓽'𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓪𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓪𝓵 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓶𝓼 𝓶𝓮𝓻𝓰𝓮𝓭 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓪𝓰𝓪𝓲𝓷. Dream commented placidly from within him. 𝔅𝔲𝔱 𝔡𝔦𝔣𝔣𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔫𝔱. 𝔙𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔡𝔦𝔣𝔣𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔫𝔱. Nightmare pointed out, still catching his breath. ℑ𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔯𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔰𝔦𝔟𝔩𝔢? He added, concerned. Dream's Soul twitched inside him, and the tendrils all trembled in response. 𝓘 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓲𝓼. 𝓨𝓸𝓾?
ℑ'𝔪 𝔫𝔬𝔱 𝔰𝔲𝔯𝔢. ℑ'𝔪 𝔰𝔱𝔦𝔩𝔩 𝔯𝔢𝔠𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔣𝔯𝔬𝔪 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔰𝔥𝔬𝔠𝔨, ℑ'𝔪 𝔰𝔲𝔯𝔭𝔯𝔦𝔰𝔢𝔡 𝔶𝔬𝔲'𝔯𝔢 𝔰𝔬 𝔠𝔞𝔩𝔪 𝔞𝔟𝔬𝔲𝔱 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰.
𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓵𝔂, 𝓘 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓳𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓭𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓯𝓮𝓵𝓽 𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽. 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓲𝓽 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓼 𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓮. 𝓝𝓸𝔀 𝓰𝓸 𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓴 𝓽𝓸 𝓐𝓻𝔂𝓪.
Nightmare hesitated, rubbing the strange texture of the goop on his bones- if it could still be called that. It was barklike texture, rough yet slightly rubbery.

𝔙𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔴𝔢𝔩𝔩. He finally agreed, standing. 𝔚𝔢'𝔳𝔢 𝔠𝔬𝔪𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔣𝔞𝔯. ℑ𝔱 𝔴𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔡 𝔟𝔢 𝔲𝔰𝔢𝔩𝔢𝔰𝔰 𝔱𝔬 𝔞𝔟𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔬𝔫 𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔢𝔣𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔱𝔰 𝔫𝔬𝔴.
𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓽'𝓼 𝓪 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓲𝓽. Dream responded happily, Soul shaking joyfully as the movement rustled the vines it was couched within. 𝓒𝓪𝓷 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽? He quested curiously as Nightmare began moving through the trees faster. ℑ 𝔠𝔞𝔫. It shook again, bubbling happiness radiating infectiously from it, glowing through the shirt. 𝓦𝓮 𝓼𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓭𝓸 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓶𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓸𝓯𝓽𝓮𝓷.
𝔐𝔞𝔶𝔟𝔢, 𝔅𝔯𝔬𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯. 𝔐𝔞𝔶𝔟𝔢.
𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮 𝓲𝓽. 𝓐𝓭𝓶𝓲𝓽 𝓲𝓽, 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓼 𝓼𝓸 𝔀𝓸𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓯𝓾𝓵.
ℑ'𝔪 𝔰𝔱𝔦𝔩𝔩 𝔱𝔯𝔶𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔱𝔬 𝔲𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔥𝔬𝔴 ℑ 𝔣𝔢𝔢𝔩 𝔦𝔫 𝔯𝔢𝔤𝔞𝔯𝔡𝔰 𝔱𝔬 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰. 𝔑𝔬𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔪𝔢𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫 𝔪𝔶 𝔪𝔲𝔡𝔡𝔩𝔢𝔡 𝔢𝔪𝔬𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔰 𝔦𝔫𝔳𝔬𝔩𝔳𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔄𝔯𝔶𝔞; 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔰𝔬𝔫 ℑ 𝔞𝔪 𝔰𝔲𝔭𝔭𝔬𝔰𝔢𝔡𝔩𝔶 𝔤𝔬𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔱𝔬 𝔱𝔞𝔩𝔨 𝔱𝔬 𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔞𝔟𝔬𝔲𝔱.
𝓑𝓵𝓮𝓱. Dream responded simply, Soul beating in rhythm with Nightmare's. They went on in silence for a few minutes, the lighter one settling into their new shared form.

𝓘 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓼. He abruptly stated. Nightmare froze mid-step. ℑ𝔫 𝔪𝔢?
𝓦𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓸𝓯 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮, 𝓘 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭𝓷'𝓽 𝓫𝓮 𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝔂 𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓼, 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓘? He scoffed at the remark.
𝔉𝔞𝔦𝔯 𝔢𝔫𝔬𝔲𝔤𝔥. 𝔚𝔥𝔞𝔱'𝔰 𝔦𝔱 𝔩𝔦𝔨𝔢 𝔣𝔬𝔯 𝔶𝔬𝔲? He quested, resuming his former pace. 𝓣𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓭 𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓜𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓭𝓲𝓯𝓯𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓽. Dream began. The branches shifted around, by the lighter twin's thought instead of Nightmare's. The darker had slowed down, hesitant.
𝓘 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓸𝓵𝓭 𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓲𝓽𝓾𝓭𝓮 𝓵𝓸𝓬𝓴𝓮𝓭 𝓪𝔀𝓪𝔂 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓶 𝓼𝓸𝓶𝓮𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓼𝓾𝓫𝓭𝓾𝓮𝓭. 𝓘𝓽'𝓼 𝔀𝓮𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓻. 𝓜𝓪𝔂𝓫𝓮.. 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓶𝓪𝓭𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓿𝓲𝓸𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓬𝓻𝓪𝔃𝔂 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮.
𝔜𝔬𝔲 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔨 𝔦𝔱 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔠𝔢𝔡 𝔲𝔭𝔬𝔫 𝔪𝔢 𝔟𝔶 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔞𝔭𝔭𝔩𝔢𝔰? Nightmare asked softly.
𝓜𝓪𝔂𝓫𝓮, 𝓑𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻. 𝓜𝓪𝔂𝓫𝓮.

Nightmare stared at the needle-covered earth, pondering this as his brother dwelled inside his mind.
ℑ 𝔡𝔬𝔫'𝔱 𝔨𝔫𝔬𝔴 𝔴𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔰𝔞𝔶. He finally admitted, scuffing at the pine needles with a shoe and eyeing the dirt beneath.
𝓘𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓪𝔂? Dream answered coolly. 𝓘𝓽'𝓼 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓪𝓼𝓽. 𝓛𝓮𝓽'𝓼 𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓮, 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓷𝓮𝔀 𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓲𝓷 𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓭.
Nightmare smiled. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔫 𝔴𝔢 𝔰𝔥𝔞𝔩𝔩. He nodded, now walking with a new lightness in his step. Their Souls drummed alongside each other, in perfect tune.

There stood Arya, standing in a broad shaft of sunlight like a statue. She was guarding her mind, not that it stopped them. They felt her uneasiness, and her awareness of being followed. The limbs yearned for the daylight just out of reach, shuddering at the taste of it so near. Nightmare closed his sockets, Soul pounding in apprehension. Dream's remained a steady pulse, a simple beat that calmed him.
Thus anchored, he bitterly cursed himself.
𝔚𝔥𝔶 𝔪𝔲𝔰𝔱 ℑ 𝔣𝔢𝔢𝔩 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰 𝔴𝔞𝔶 𝔣𝔬𝔯 𝔬𝔫𝔢 𝔰𝔬 𝔡𝔞𝔪𝔫 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔫𝔤?
𝓝𝓸 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓻𝓸𝓵 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝔂 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵, 𝓑𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻. 𝓙𝓾𝓼𝓽 𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓴 𝓽𝓸 𝓱𝓮𝓻, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓲𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓮𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓽𝓸 𝓱𝓲𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓹𝓪𝓲𝓷....𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓲𝓽 𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓭 𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓽 𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓱𝓲𝓭 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓼𝓾𝓯𝓯𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰.
𝔜𝔢𝔰, 𝔶𝔢𝔰, 𝔴𝔢 𝔞𝔤𝔯𝔢𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔦𝔱 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔞 𝔪𝔦𝔰𝔱𝔞𝔨𝔢. He grumbled.
𝓟𝓵𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓮, 𝓝𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓶𝓪𝓻𝓮. 𝓕𝓸𝓻 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓮'𝓼 𝓼𝓪𝓴𝓮. Dream whispered.

He stepped forward, needles crunching mutely as the front edge of their leaves met the light, fluttering as they cast bronze shadows over the forest floor. The black tressess shifted as she turned her head. A furious dagger of thought attacked them, but Dream deflected it as Nightmare left his mind open for her to recognize.
"Arya." He breathed, his voice not the same as the delicate word left his parted teeth.

She slowly turned around, emerald eyes meeting his lights. So reflective, he saw their own pale round orbs of sky blue fading to lime green gleaming back at him. Dream stared at her as much as he did.
Two Souls hummed.
Dream began to understand.

"Alalëa?" She quested, voice equally soft. It was a whisper nearly lost in the rustling of leaves. A single branch dipped down, a vine delicately brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "Yes." He murmured, a truth by half. The golden Soul slowly began to pick up speed, Dream losing himself to the strange falling sensation that claimed him.

"I wanted to apologise." Nightmare continued, feeling a pit in his own forbidden fruit of a Soul. "I care for you." He paused, studying her features before resuming. "You are so young, even by your people's standards, while I am older than your very world." His face screwed up in loss. "As Eragon is but a child to you, the Rider is not alone in his emotional turmoil, Princess."
Arya went stiff at those words. Nightmare stepped away, even as his Soul screamed to do otherwise. And now, his loss was only doubled as Dream began to comprehend the depth of his feeling, their merged minds at last capable of the full spectrum of emotion, the greatest pain and the highest joy.

Arya furrowed her brows, a sharp zigzag upon her face. "I am sorry I have done this to you. I cannot reciprocate your emotions."
Nightmare smiled as their Souls cracked, a sound that didn't escape the elf's keen ears. "I'm well aware of that." He nodded sagely.
"I only wanted you to know, to better control my own self." The branches were writhing amongst themselves, the wooden textures scraping against each other as they creaked and groaned. Their very aura was seeping into the surrounding area, the great pines moaning as they shifted their tremendous weight in response to the aching little one.

"Go, Arya. I have spoken my mind. Ganga." He started using her home tongue as his boughs slowed and hung low. "Please, Princess."
Her gleaming emerald eyes studied him before she whispered. "As you wish."
She quickly disappeared into the trees.
"Thank you." They responded back, both Souls aching with loss.

They stepped forth, where she had stood. The sunlight greyed as it filtered through their leaves, aura darkening with sadness. 𝓑𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻, 𝓘 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓘 𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓭.. Dream whispered in his mind.
ℑ 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔨 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔡𝔬.. Nightmare sighed. ℑ𝔱 𝔰𝔢𝔢𝔪𝔰 𝔞𝔩𝔩 ℑ 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔞𝔠𝔠𝔬𝔪𝔭𝔩𝔦𝔰𝔥𝔢𝔡 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔱𝔬 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔣𝔞𝔩𝔩 𝔴𝔦𝔱𝔥 𝔪𝔢.
Dream had no response.

𝓘... 𝓘 𝓪𝓶 𝓼𝓸𝓻𝓻𝔂.
𝔉𝔬𝔯 𝔴𝔥𝔞𝔱? 𝔄𝔰 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔰𝔞𝔦𝔡 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯𝔰𝔢𝔩𝔣, 𝔫𝔬 𝔬𝔫𝔢 𝔠𝔞𝔫 𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔯𝔬𝔩 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔶 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔦𝔯 𝔖𝔬𝔲𝔩 𝔣𝔢𝔢𝔩𝔰. ℑ𝔱 𝔬𝔫𝔩𝔶 𝔪𝔞𝔨𝔢𝔰 𝔰𝔢𝔫𝔰𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔢𝔵𝔭𝔢𝔯𝔦𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔢 𝔴𝔥𝔞𝔱 ℑ 𝔡𝔬 𝔞𝔰 𝔴𝔢𝔩𝔩.... 𝔴𝔢 𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔬𝔫𝔢.
𝓦𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓸𝓷𝓮. Agreed Dream mournfully.
Two cracks, like snapping wood, echoed in the silent pines. Nightmare lowered himself until he sat on the needly earth.

𝓐𝓻𝓮 𝔀𝓮 𝓫𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰? Dream asked fretfully. 𝔄 𝔩𝔦𝔱𝔱𝔩𝔢. Nightmare admitted. The scent of apples and tree sap permeated the air, fresh and sweet with the tangy afternotes. With a pained smile, Nightmare struggled to summon their Souls. Dream hesitated within, before the cage of vines twisted under the ribcage. The branches above lowered until Nightmare was encased in the leaves.
It really did look like a tree now.

Nightmare lifted his shirt as the plants pushed through, seeing that the shimmering gold fruit had the greenery sprouting from it all over. They turned a dark mahogany bordering on black as they wrapped around his own Soul. In fact, they looked entirely different in some places… no. Roots. Root-like growths sprouted from his Soul and twined with the vines from Dream's.
𝓝𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓶𝓪𝓻𝓮.. 𝓶𝓪𝔂𝓫𝓮 𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓹𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽. 𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓲𝓯 𝔀𝓮 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪 𝓽𝓻𝓮𝓮? 𝓜𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓸𝓷𝓮, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓪𝓵𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼..
𝔈𝔳𝔢𝔫 𝔰𝔬, 𝔫𝔬𝔴 𝔦𝔰 𝔫𝔬𝔱 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔱𝔦𝔪𝔢. 𝔗𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔞𝔩𝔰𝔬 𝔡𝔬𝔢𝔰𝔫'𝔱 𝔢𝔵𝔭𝔩𝔞𝔦𝔫 𝔴𝔥𝔶 𝔴𝔢 𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔟𝔢𝔠𝔬𝔪𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔬𝔫𝔢 𝔱𝔯𝔢𝔢 𝔯𝔞𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔯 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔫 𝔱𝔴𝔬- 𝔦𝔣 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔫 𝔦𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔠𝔞𝔰𝔢.
𝓑𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽, 𝓱𝓸𝔀 𝓭𝓸 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓲𝓭𝓮𝓪?
𝔜𝔬𝔲'𝔯𝔢 𝔞𝔰𝔨𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔪𝔢 𝔱𝔬 𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔦𝔠𝔲𝔩𝔞𝔱𝔢?
𝓘 𝓪𝓶.

The darker half sighed softly, brushing his phalanges over the nest of twigs and leaves. He could see several wide cracks in both apples, blue-tinted darkness roiling in the purple fruit and greenish white swirling within the gold. The liquid seeped out into the open, dripping on the twigs and roots and staining them.
Dream saw this from inside.

𝓑𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻, 𝓘'𝓶 𝓼𝓸𝓻𝓻𝔂. 𝓘 𝓭𝓲𝓭𝓷'𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓲𝔃𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓷.
ℑ𝔱 𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔭𝔢𝔫𝔰. Nightmare smiled wistfully. ℑ 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔡𝔫'𝔱 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢 𝔰𝔱𝔬𝔭𝔭𝔢𝔡 𝔦𝔱 𝔣𝔯𝔬𝔪 𝔪𝔶𝔰𝔢𝔩𝔣, 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔦𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔢𝔫𝔡, 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔪𝔢 𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔬𝔫𝔢. ℌ𝔬𝔴 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔡 𝔦𝔱 𝔫𝔬𝔱 𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔭𝔢𝔫 𝔱𝔬 𝔶𝔬𝔲 𝔞𝔰 𝔴𝔢𝔩𝔩?
The leaves fluttered as the brighter Soul tilted to one side. 𝓘 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀. 𝓘 𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓭𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔀𝓱𝔂 𝔀𝓮'𝓿𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓮 𝓸𝓷𝓮, 𝓑𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻. 𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓭𝓸𝓮𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓶𝓮𝓪𝓷 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓾𝓼? Dream asked.
𝔐𝔞𝔶𝔟𝔢 𝔰𝔬𝔪𝔢𝔡𝔞𝔶 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔞𝔫𝔰𝔴𝔢𝔯 𝔴𝔦𝔩𝔩 𝔯𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔞𝔩 𝔦𝔱𝔰𝔢𝔩𝔣 𝔱𝔬 𝔲𝔰. 𝔅𝔲𝔱 𝔫𝔬𝔴, 𝔩𝔢𝔱 𝔲𝔰 𝔥𝔢𝔞𝔩. Nightmare told him.
𝓐𝓵𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓷, 𝓝𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓶𝓪𝓻𝓮. Dream relented, trusting him.

Nightmare took the lighter twin's golden Soul in his hands, cupping it as he pulled it to his lap, purple light dancing around it as he healed the wounds. It dripped onto him, causing him to shiver as the thick sap sunk into the bark covering his bones.
The vines had covered his own Soul, Dream doing his best to heal it with his own yellowed magic, working from within him as the scent of underripe apples wafted from the purple Soul.

They paused briefly when they sensed someone approaching, but resumed as they recognized the mind. The dwarf seemed shocked at the bush-like mass of wood and leaves wrapped around a figure, stopping and staring in fascination as they finished repairing the cracks in each other's Souls.
Then the wall parted, startling Orik as he took several steps back before regaining composure.
"Nightmare!"

He nodded, smiling calmly as the nest withdrew back under his ribcage. "And Dream." He added to the statement, tilting his skull to the side. The pain of their love was lessened greatly by the sensation of completion. The branches reordered themselves behind them until they were in the shape of two enormous wings, magnificent in their regality as two more boughs curled around them on the floor like scarves or tails, splitting as the leaves shook upon them. Orik stared incredulously. "You've changed."

"Indeed." Came the reply.
The dwarf tried peering over their shoulder before speaking once more. "Where is your brother? I can't see him."
The treeskeleton sighed, boughs shifting lightly around them. "Dream is resting." He answered truthfully, feeling his brother's pulse in his limbs.
"I suppose." Orik nodded, before eyeing them suspiciously. "But normally he hugs you from behind. I see his leaves, but where is Dream?"
Nightmare snorted, then lifted one arm. The tangled brush beneath his ribs shifted, poking through his shirt and revealing the golden apple, streaks of green glowing upon it's semi-corporeal skin. "Right here."

It took a moment for the dwarf to process. "Is he dead?" He abruptly asked, shock lacing his words. Nightmare blinked, then put his face in his hands, laughing quietly. The leaves all fluttered in laughter, the twigs rattling softly as Dream laughed as well.
"No-" He finally said, wiping his eyesockets as he snickered. "No." He grinned, the exposed Soul shaking humorously. Orik patiently waited for him to recover, still baffled.
"He's resting within me." Nightmare clarified, infected by Dream's bubbly happiness.

Orik stiffened in shock. "How is that possible?" He questioned severely. Nightmare shrugged, glancing around and up at the canopy as sunlight filtered through his own leaves and illuminated his face. "We don't know. It just happened. But it is how it is." He slowly unbent his legs and stood, the sound of wood creaking accompanying the movement. It was a small thought before, but now it was clear that he was much taller in this form. He smiled down at Orik.
"There's no reason to worry. We have always been deeply connected. We are only halves of each other."

He made his way forward, brushing past the dwarf. "If it's any consolation, this isn't permanent; we will separate later." Orik stared unbelievingly before shaking his head and taking off after him. "Is Dream in any way cognizant? Or is he just gone in this moment?"
"He is perfectly aware, my friend." A branch draped itself over the dwarf's shoulders, folding it's twigs and leaves to avoid tangling in his hair. Orik glanced at it tensely, before regarding Nightmare.
"If you could lower your guard, he can talk to you in your mind." Nightmare explained calmly, still wrapped in the feeling of contentment.

Orik hesitated. "Then I will. On a matter of trust, I expect you to remain peaceful and not control my mind for nefarious purposes."
"We have nothing to gain from you." Nightmare responded simply. Orik grunted, defenses lowering. Dream reached out, timidly at first, before relaxing. 𝓘 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓷𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓱𝓾𝓻𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝔂𝓸𝓾'𝓻𝓮 𝓪 𝓰𝓸𝓸𝓭 𝓹𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓸𝓷! 𝓐𝓷𝓭 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓸𝓷𝓵𝔂 𝓭𝔀𝓪𝓻𝓯 𝓘 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀, 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽'𝓼 𝓪 𝓫𝓲𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓭𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓪𝓷𝓽.

Orik gasped. "Your voice!"
Dream cringed internally. I'm sorry, I forgot to tone it down. Are you alright?
Better. The dwarf replied mentally. "But that was a strange experience. As if a thousand voices were whispering behind a million more that spoke as one. What causes that?" He continued aloud. "It is just the way we are." Nightmare explained. "Our minds are vastly different from mortals. As you can see from the contact with my brother, we have elements that can scar others permanently. That is what I did to the Twins back in Farthen Dûr. You remember. I threw them into my consciousness and flooded into theirs. Even if the memory is erased, they will still experience aftereffects."

Orik squinted as he remembered that scene. "How exactly did you do that to both of them? Only one had been present at the time, yet both were affected."
"Their minds were connected, I merely traveled through it and enveloped the second one with my mind." The dwarf grimaced. "That description doesn't make for a very pleasant visual."
"Did you want them to suffer less?" Nightmare countered. Dream grumbled, not appreciative of the idea of such suffering. The other shrugged. "Knowing what I do now of those devilish traitors, I don't want them spared any kindness or amenity."
"Good." Nightmare nodded.

"So what does your godly voice sound like?" Orik asked after a moment of consideration. 𝔜𝔬𝔲 𝔪𝔢𝔞𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔰? He quested mentally, causing Orik to flinch slightly.
"Huh." They walked in silence for a moment.
"Honestly, I was expecting it to sound more menacing than that."
Nightmare scoffed. "You do not want that experience. It's intense and even dangerous. That is my natural voice, but you are asking for my tainted voice."
"Tainted?" The dwarf regarded him curiously. Nightmare stared at him seriously. "I told you of my past. Do well to remember that and figure out what that could be from. Because I have no desire to repeat my explanation."

They trudged on in silence as Dream tried to subtly hint at what Nightmare was trying to say, the darker turning a blind eyelight to the action. But he steadily grew more irritated with it as the gap in conversation stretched longer. Then something snapped. Not angrily, but snapped nonetheless.
𝕴 𝖈𝖔𝖓𝖘𝖚𝖒𝖊𝖉 𝖒𝖞 𝖒𝖔𝖙𝖍𝖊𝖗'𝖘 𝖕𝖔𝖜𝖊𝖗 𝖇𝖊𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖊 𝕴 𝖐𝖎𝖑𝖑𝖊𝖉 𝖍𝖊𝖗 𝖒𝖞𝖘𝖊𝖑𝖋 𝖎𝖓 𝖆 𝖋𝖎𝖙 𝖔𝖋 𝖎𝖓𝖘𝖆𝖓𝖎𝖙𝖞; 𝖔𝖓𝖊 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖉 𝖊𝖔𝖓𝖘.
Orik immediately froze, turning deathly pale upon hearing that sentence.

"Are you alright?" He asked gently. Orik didn't respond. He seemed paralyzed. Nightmare paused, waving a leaf in front of the dwarf. He didn't move.
𝓝𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓶𝓪𝓻𝓮, 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓫𝓻𝓸𝓴𝓮 𝓱𝓲𝓶.
ℑ 𝔰𝔢𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔞𝔱, 𝔇𝔯𝔢𝔞𝔪.
He sighed, wings of green and wood unwinding to take more natural positions as they reached for the smaller figure. They wrapped around Orik's waist and hefted him up. 𝓦𝓱𝔂 𝓲𝓼 𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓸 𝓱𝓮𝓪𝓿𝔂?! Dream cried in shock. 𝔚𝔢𝔩𝔩 ℑ 𝔤𝔲𝔢𝔰𝔰 𝔥𝔢 𝔦𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔢𝔡 𝔦𝔰 𝔬𝔣 𝔰𝔱𝔬𝔫𝔢.. Nightmare muttered in response, arranging the dwarf at the base of his tendrils, seated comfortably on one side as the rest leaned the opposite direction to counter his strange density. Orik was beginning to come out of the trance, blinking in shock.

"Eh? What are you doing? Why am I up here?" He started, regaining his wits. Nightmare was walking again, noticing a strange sound echoing through the forest ahead of them, sensing two people not far ahead. "You were in a trance, so instead of walking off without you, I took you with us. Comfortable?"
Orik regarded him, rapping the branche beside him curiously. "Dwarves aren't meant to be in trees, this is a right unnatural wood. But I'm hardly above the ground and you're not exactly like any tree. Strange either way. How do you manage to carry my weight so easily? You don't appear to be unbalanced whatsoever."

Nightmare chuckled. "You forget; I used to carry my entire team at times. Though, I will admit, you are remarkably heavy. However, I've carried far greater weights before; yours is no issue."
Orik rubbed his beard thoughtfully. Then he grunted. "You wouldn't mind bringing one of those branches up close, would you? Call me curious, I'm fascinated by them."
He wordlessly offered one to the dwarf perched on him and let him pick at the leaves in fascination. It was actually a pleasant sensation. He approached the white cliffs of Tel'naeír with half-lidded sockets.

"Nightmare."
"Hhm? Yes, Orik?"
"Why are your branches trembling like this? Oh- it stopped."
𝓘.. 𝓭𝓲𝓭 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓲𝔃𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓼 𝓱𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓮𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰. Dream stated awkwardly.
"I have no idea why they were shaking." Nightmare answered truthfully, peering around the massive trees as he spotted two of the Wyrdvrangr busy with the cliff. Orik hesitantly began brushing his fingers through the twigs and leaves again, causing the other to blank out and feel the hand trace the length of the branch, sifting through the leaves and running over the individual twigs.
"You seem to enjoy that." Orik suddenly spoke, snapping apparently both Dream and Nightmare out of the reverie.

"No, I do not." He shot back. Orik chuckled. "That shaking sure makes a sound akin to purring, my friend."
"No, it doesn't. More of a rattle."
"Dude, Orik's right." Dust's voice interrupted. Nightmare narrowed his sockets at the other, who was taking in his new appearance. "Now you have a cute passive form, too many tentacles, you're turning into a fucking tree, and you can actually make a cat impression."

"Really." He deadpanned at his subordinate.
"Yeah."
Nightmare opened his mouth to retort, but Dream's presence weighed on his mind.
"Damnit."