NIGHTMARES:
The ground is tainted with crimson, the blood of fallen comrades fresh and bright. A reminder that the battlefield could just as easily be her grave.
But like a good soldier, Tenten stands and fights, determined not to go down easily. Her weapons fly in blurs, and she can barely keep up with the onslaught of enemies. It is all she can do not to surrender right there and hope for a merciful death.
A blur in the corner of her eye, and enormous spikes materialize in the air and shower down. Tenten blocks them with her own weapons as one grazes past, barely missing its target.
Only to turn around and find that Neji wasn't as lucky. He had been impaled, beyond the saving power of even Tsunade, and down to his dying breath.
Slowly, he—
Tenten jolts up. Her heart is racing, the telltale wetness of tears on her cheeks. The nightmares have been scarcer, but when they appeared, they were piercingly real. Tenten has just woken up from a gruesome dream.
Only to find that the reality is crueler.
Author's Notes: So I wrote this to convey the sense that even though Tenten is moving on, her mind will never recover from that ordeal. It also shows how surreal and horrifying it was for her. Reviews always appreciated and constructive criticism welcome! Thank you for reading!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.