I'm choking on my own blood; my breath harsh and gurgling.

I can feel the coldness of death creeping slowly up my body; each part it passes going lifeless and still.

It reaches my heart and I can feel it start to slow, trying pitifully to keep pumping blood out of my wounds as the darkness drags me in.

"Hush, my little one. It is only a dream, it can not hurt you. I am here."

A golden warmth flows over me and banishes the cold. My breathing grows easy as my body relaxes and I'm filled with a scent of comfort and warmth and protection. I turn towards it and it wraps itself around me, pushing back the dark and keeping me safe.

I'm filled with nothing but overwhelming love for that warmth. For what protects me from the dark. For my mother.

I float in it for an indiscernible amount of time, before coherency begins to come back to me as I slowly wake.

I have my arms wrapped around something, with my face resting against it. I can tell thatit's hard and covered in hair. I rub my face against it to try and get a better idea of what it is. Seems like a limb.

I blearily open the eye not squished against the limb to take a look, and find that I have a firm grip on a white foreleg; hugging it against me.

I move my head and look up to find mum staring down at me in amusement, and I dopily smile back.

"G'morning~"

She lets out a small giggle at my slurred, half-conscious greeting. "Good morning Nilas. Did you sleep well?"

"Mmmmyep." I bury my face into her 'lap', wrapping my arms around her waist. "'Cause'f you."

She begins to stroke my head, making me hum contentedly from the back of my throat.

"That is good. What are you going to do today, little one?"

I shrug as best I can, slowly letting myself wake fully. "Mmmdunno."

"Why not go into the village? Spend a day playing with your friends. It has been a while since you have done so."

I mull it over. She has a point. It had been a couple of weeks since I had actually spent a day there just doing nothing. I was either learning from John, practicing archery here, reading mum's books or learning from her. I even spent one day meeting dad's parents. That was interesting, and very awkward.

I will admit that my anti-social tendencies had gotten the better of me a couple of times and I ended up spending some days relaxing alone instead of using it to go into town.

Should probably work on that, really.

It's decided then. Into the village I go.

"Mmm-ok. I'll go in. Later. Resting now."

Mum snorts. "If I let you 'rest', you will not be up until midday. No, you will be getting up now, I think."

She pushes me upright, and I let myself slowly slump back over in that direction; laying back down with my legs pointed towards her. She lets out a long sigh. "Nilas, do not make me put you over my back and drag you down to the river. I am sure the water will wake you up."

I attempt to sit my upper torso upright, my limbs still lagging slightly from sleep making it harder than it should. "I am up. I am up! No need for water."

Mum ruffles my hair and smiles. "Good. Now, go get ready. I trust you to be safe walking on your own, ok?"

I nod. "Ok, mum."

With a kiss on my forehead she gets up, going off to start her own day.

I get up as well, before the siren call of the blankets can lure me back to sleep.

I run over what I was going to do today in my head while I change my shirt for a clean one. I tried not to change them too often if I could help it, no need to give mum more work. I had managed to go down to the river alone a few days ago, but it was hard to go without mum or dad coming along.

Finding out first hand that familial bathing was a common thing among centaurs was an… interesting experience. I had hoped that the first time with mum was just that I was extremely young, but that wasn't the case. Made sense since as a centaur trying to wash yourself fully takes a lot longer and is a lot harder than having another do it for you, especially when you were fully grown.

And they were both fully grown, alright.

Time to think of other things.

Hmm, should I practice my archery a bit before I left?

I probably should.

...Eeeeeh.

But it would be the smart thing to do.

….Yeah, I wasn't going to. Couldn't be bothered.

And I had another day with John tomorrow so I wasn't slacking or anything. Just, taking a small break.

Well, time to grab something to eat quick and head off.

-

"...And frighten all the dogs, on the rocky road to Dublin',One, two, three, four, five.~" I sing to myself as I trot down the road. I didn't get the chance to do so often, since there was no way I was going to sing songs from my old life around where someone could hear.

Especially since a lot of songs didn't translate over well to Plainspeech, and so I had to do the singing in English. And I sure as hell didn't want to have to explain to others how I knew another language that no one had ever heard. I could always say I made it up, but it's easier to just not let it be heard in the first place.

That would be a fun conversation with mum.

I stop and pull up suddenly. My mind finallycatching up to itself.

Mum?

When did I start thinking of her as that?

...Come to think of it, I've been doing it ever since I woke.

I had been thinking of her as my mother, without even realising it.

It just felt… right.

Huh.

And she was my mum.

My amazing, incredibly attractive m-

You know what?

Now that I've accepted who she is, I'm sure that will all go away soon.

Yep.

No more awkward thoughts.

It'll make bathing easier at least.

...Gunna stop thinking about it now.

Moving on.

...You know, I never asked if the village has name. Sena or one of the others might know. Should probably ask.

"Took a drop of the pure to keep me heart from sinkin', that's the paddy's cure when there he's on fer drinkin'~..."

-

Coming into town was still a daunting experience, especially since this would be my first time doing it alone.

I had disliked social interaction with strangers back in a world were people tried their hardest to not make eye contact as you passed each other on then street.

Here, where most people would give a smile and wave or a greeting as they went by, was playing merry hell with my introversion and social anxiety. I did manage a few awkward waves and smiles back.

In the distance I spot two familiar figures walking with their backs facing me. I pick up my pace a little.

"Mira! Matthew!"

They both turn their upper torsos to look at me; Matthew's turn far more frantic and sudden than Mira's.

I slow down slightly when I get a look at their faces.

While Mira is smiling happily at me, Matthew looks like he wants nothing more than to run quickly in the other direction.

I watch as he turns to Mira and starts speaking. I can't hear whatever it is from this distance, but judging by how Mira's expression changes, I don't think he is talking about how happy he is to see me.

Mira glances in my direction quickly before saying something in return, looking confused.

As I get closer, Matthew says one final thing and after looking at me nervously once more, leaves at a trot. Mira watches him go, shoots me an unsure and apologetic look and follows after him.

...Oh.

Well, ok then…

Not sure what that was about.

Guess I'll go find Sena or Aelle, instead.