[Open] I have the sense of emerging from a world of dark, haunted places

[the_effect_she_has]

WHO: Katniss Everdeen and You
WHAT: Katniss is dealing with nightmares from leaving so many people in Emprise du Lion. So what does she do? Chase exhaustion and dreamless sleep, of course. Want to help?
WHEN: The first week of Wintermarch
WHERE: All of over Skyhold!
NOTES: WARNING for nightmare fueled material, violence, etc. Possible violence against those who shake her awake.

The Nightmare

She's standing in the middle of the copse of small homes, where she had spent all of her formative years. She is calling out, but no one is answering, and so she goes running through the houses. Banging open the doors, calling out Prim's name, calling out to her father. She runs down the hill, towards her home when she sees them.

Lying in the dirt, broken like dolls. Her father's chest is just a giant hole, where the darkspawn's sword cleaved through. Prim is missing an arm, and her face is burn clean off from where an errant fireball tore it clean. Her throat is slit, from ear to ear, where someone had been using her as a body shield.

Katniss runs towards them, and that is when she sees more and more bodies. First, it is all of her neighbors, with bloody wounds from swords and arrows, frozen limbs and burnt bodies. Now it is her friends at Skyhold - Bruce looking half green and half human, a Templar's sword through his chest. Ariande with her shard ripped out of her hand, darkspawn sword through neck. Pel with demon clawmarks running across her stomach, Zevran with a crow feathertipped arrow right through one glorious eye. Cullen, staring up at an empty sky with slices all over his face and arms, where blood was drained, Clint with dozens of Venatori arrows in his chest, ... Gavin, Korrin, Sam, Salvatore, Salem, Ellana, Ara -- body after body after body. Then the Emprise du Lion captives, frozen to death, their faces locked in a visage of pain and suffering.

Bodies. She is surrounded by bodies, and she is the only one who has survived - why, Creators, why Maker, why Andraste?

"You failed, Katniss." She turns around, and there is her father, staring at her with hate-filled eyes. "You failed all of us. How could you let your sister die? You promised - you promised as I died that you would keep her safe."

"Father I - I tried - I went for help..." Katniss whispered, stepping back away from him as he advanced on her. Beside him, Prim reached out for Katniss, the place where her mouth had been stretching in an ugly maw.

"You ran away. You ran away and left us all to die." Her father accused her, his blight-sickened eyes boring into hers.

"I didn't run away! I would never run away!" Katniss yelled, stopping in her tracks, but then she heard the shuffling steps from behind her, and she turned, to see all of the dead moving towards her, accusation across their pale and bloated faces. They were coming for her, surrounding her, crushing her as she screamed that she didn't run away - she didn't

Waking Up

" - let you die!" She screamed as she jerked upright ...

And depending on where she was? Well, she would either slink off before someone gave her a strange look, or flush with embarrassment at whoever she happened to wake up next to. Which could be anywhere - she was catching 'Kat-naps' (hah hah) everywhere when her energy reserves started to run low. In the tavern, over some bread and soup. Out in the gardens, in Gavin's tree. On the ramparts, in the library, even in her own little hut.

Running Herself Ragged

The only way to stop dreams from coming, outside of taking some potion that meant she couldn't wake herself up easily, was to make herself run to exhaustion. Which she was more than willing to do. Since getting back from Skyhold, there was plenty to be done. She hunted for the refugees for hours, bringing back as much game as she could. She practiced her climbing, vaulting her way up the side of Skyhold's walls with a singular focus. She was out on the archery lists - working on every single shot she had, running and shooting at the same time. She ran through fighting hand to hand with the soldiers - they were teaching her how to fight people off with a single arrow in hand, and she taught them out to get around a slightly lesser rogue.

Keep pushing. Keep moving. If she kept going, maybe, just maybe, she could get more than four hours of sleep at a time. Maybe she could just outrun the nightmares, for a little while.

Comments

Pel

[the_effect_she_has]

Pel is actually going to find Katniss after an at least six hour stretch of sleep -- and that was strictly from running herself through training for four hours before hand. She isn't precisely fresh about the edges, but as she's practicing her shooting from the top of the ramparts, to a target set below (and some very clear signs that said, Everdeen Is Practicing, Watch Yourself

She's standing atop two pillars, trying to see if she can make the shot through a tree, when she hears the scuff of bare feet on stone. Could only be a member of the Ashara clan, and she looses her shot, making a satisfied noise before she turns to see her friend, shooting her a bright smile - that melted in surprise.

"Pel! You look ... amazing!"

[mythalenaste]

Pel is in a few layers of tunics, but her skin is glowing. Her hair, for once, is loose and fluffy without being frizzy, running in waves to her hips. Her eyes are no longer tired, and the dark circles under them are gone. But most of all, she just lit up when Katniss said that.

But first things first. She approaches with a hug.

"Aneth ara, lethallan! It's so good to see you!"

[the_effect_she_has]

Katniss hopped down, slinging her bow up on her back. She swings over to her friend, wrapping her into a tight hug. She wasn't nearly as sleek, but her hair was perfectly braided to be out of her face, and surprise, surprise, she was wearing snug new leathers.

"Not as good as it is to see you, lethallan. What have you done? You look so ... well. You look gorgeous." And she did, beautiful and happy and Not Tired. Katniss was a tiny bit envious, but not enough that she would ever take away her friend's joy.

[mythalenaste]

Pel covers her face briefly.

"Vivienne held a spa day for the Council today. Brilliant idea--we're less likely to grandstand in front of each other now we've all seen each other naked. But. It was amazing, Katniss. I've never felt so relaxed in all my life. My back doesn't even hurt anymore. I didn't know backs did that."

[the_effect_she_has]

"Well, it suits you. Madame Vivienne knows her stuff." Which would make their tea interesting - what kind of woman invites you to tea and has spa days? Katniss has only met one other such woman and that was last week. "I ... have no idea. I'm not entirely certain how your back was feeling to begin with."

She grins at her, before going to circle around her, "Pretty hair, pretty face, pretty good attitude. Please tell me you are going to eat in the main hall tonight and not in the library?"

Waking up, Ramparts

[gatheringstorm]

Encountering Katniss upon the ramparts again isn't a huge surprise to Korrin, given their first meeting. Doing while she was napping is a bit...unexpected. Crouching down by the archer, the Vashoth mage debates gently waking her or letting her sleep while carrying her to the nearest soft surface. Sleeping as she is now will just invite neck and shoulder cramps.

But before she gets a chance to decide, Katniss' scream nearly has her stumbling back, eyes widening in shock. Korrin's grateful for having some sense of balance, or that could have gone badly. As it is, she ignores that in favor of focusing on her companion instead. Though she doesn't gentle her voice any, that's done to snap her out of whatever nightmare took place. "Katniss! It's alright, you were just dreaming...on the ramparts."

Re: Waking up, Ramparts

[the_effect_she_has]

You'd be surprised where Katniss has napped this week, Korrin. Right now she is literally curled inbetween two of the stone merlons. When she awakens, she jerks so hard that she nearly rolls, but her hand shoots out and grabs the edge of the merlon. Her grey eyes are wild for a moment, as she focuses in on Korrin with a Qunari spear in her chest, blood coming out of her mouth. Katniss sucked in a breath, grabbing Korrin's shirt.

"Korrin?" She asked, trying orientate herself - Skyhold, the ramparts, she came up to enjoy the cold breezes - and then let go of her friend. "...Maker, I'm sorry. I - haven't been sleeping well."

[gatheringstorm]

"Deep breaths, okay? You're safe in Skyhold." Now that Katniss is at least somewhat awake, Korrin's tone softens. She doesn't yank away from that grabbing, instead giving the girl a chance to unwind at her own pace. It'd take more than that to bruise the Vashoth woman, anyway.

"You know, it sometimes helps to talk about it. I'm willing to listen."

[the_effect_she_has]

She sucked in some deep breaths, in and out, as the woman suggested. She puts a hand to her face, smacking her forehead a few times. Just to get herself centered. After a moment, she wiped some sparse tears from her eyes.

"... Same nightmare, from before. Just worse now." She sighed, her grey eyes weary and sad. "I failed. I couldn't save my father. I couldn't save Prim. We couldn't save those people in Emprise du Lion and ... one day I won't be able to save any of you."

She closed her eyes, "Maker, why did I let myself have friends?"

[gatheringstorm]

Ah, that explains a lot. Korrin's expression softens at mention of Katniss' family, and Emprise du Lion. She's been in a better mood since returning with Cecil and a few other freed prisoners, but knowing that more await rescue gnaws at her. Since Katniss seems to need it, Korrin enfolds her in a gentle hug, mindful of the more delicate human frame.

"Walking away from that was heartwrenching, and though I know it was logical, some part of me will never forgive myself for it. That we're free and they're not...it intrudes on my dreams, too. We can't return there fast enough."

But it's not just about them, and Korrin sighs. "Katniss, don't go down that road. You haven't failed us yet and dwelling on what could happen is just going to wear you down until there's nothing left. I've seen it happen often enough. We'll do the best we can and have each other's backs. I don't expect you to pull miracles out of your ass, alright? No one does."

Garden

[demonicbeauty]

Alastrians slept in trees as a matter of course. But Ariadne had never seen a Human do it. She was on her way to her own particular tree, actually, when she'd picked up Katniss' scent and followed it. It felt so strange to be standing on solid ground, looking up at someone doing the very thing that she was called odd for. But the whiff of adrenaline she picked up quieted such thoughts. Ariadne knew a nightmare when she smelled one.

It was a pity she lacked the telepathic abilities of the Elves from back home. She immediately wanted to reach into Katniss' mind, to soothe her like stroking the fur between a cat's ears. But left without the option, she supposed she'd have to settle for the way her father used to comfort her.

With expert precision, she grabbed a lower branch of the tree and swung herself up on top of it. One branch at a time, she climbed up and up and up until she was above Katniss. She settled herself into the crook of two branches and took out her flute.

Her father had composed many melodies, but Ariadne had a favorite. And she started to play it now.

Re: Garden

[the_effect_she_has]

Katniss often slept in the woods overnight, when she was hunting and she knew Prim would be safe staying with their neighbors. Some of the best game came out at night, when they thought all the humans were sleeping. She would tie herself to the tree, like now, and sleep the night through, lulled by the sounds of the forest.

Except, of course, when she was waking up from a nightmare -- but the music she heard as she shook herself out of that dark place? It calmed her. Made her breathing ease, her body relax. She opened her eyes, slowly, breathing deep as she looked around, and found the sound of the music.

"Airy ... " She whispered hoarsely.

[demonicbeauty]

Ariadne smiled. As if there were nothing more natural in the world than finding a friend asleep in a tree. Just an ordinary morning.

Or...well...afternoon, anyway.

With a little flourish, she ended the song, tucking the flute away into her pack. "Hello," she said cheerfully, sliding down to a slightly lower branch and leaning over Katniss so that her braid almost brushed against the girl's face. "I saw you up here and it's been forever since we talked, so I thought I would wait for you to wake up."

[the_effect_she_has]

Katniss narrowed her eyes a little groggily on her friend, before her lips twitched up at the corners. "So you decided to wait for me in a tree. That seems ... very you."

She rubbed her face, before going to unstrap herself from the tree branch. Then she took her friend by the cheeks and leaned their foreheads together. "Hello there, friend."

[demonicbeauty]

She was about to point out that Katniss wouldn't like her any other way. But then Katniss made physical contact and Ariadne realized that it had been a very long time since anyone had touched her.

Other than that one demon who tried to kill her.

Alastrians needed touch. So she had to suppress a delighted noise in the back of her throat as she smiled. "Hello there, friend."

running

[snarksman]

Katniss could try and keep herself occupied, try and not let things get to her, but Clint knows the look in her eyes, the one that tries to hide that something's going on, something that eats away deep inside that she doesn't want anyone to see. Clint knows that pain, and while he can only surmise what's eating away at her, he's not going to allow her to do that to herself.

He catches her by the arm, giving out absurd apologies to those who she was helping, and drags her to the side. "What's got you in a twist?"

Re: running

[the_effect_she_has]

Katniss is abruptly pulled away from a young teenage boy that she is showing the finer points of skinning to, and then away by ... well. Clint.. She pauses, notably at his statement before she sets her chin a little.

"Well, it could be that someone dragged me off while I had a knife in my hand." She said tartly.

[snarksman]

He looks down at her hand a moment, sighs, then lets go of her arm. "That's not what I meant."

He takes a step back, presumably to give her some space and to get out of arms reach so she doesn't well, stab him.

[the_effect_she_has]

Katniss gave him a flat look, but hey, Clint respected her enough to back off when he thought she would stab him. Not many men would do that and mean it. So, out of respect, she cleaned off the hunting knife and tucked it away.

She gave him a long, hard look, before she huffed out a breath, sending a lock of hair away from her face as she muttered, "Not here ... not in front of everyone."

[snarksman]

"C'mon then." He leads her over to the walls, away from prying eyes and ears. He's quick to make sure no one's around them, because he's certain she doesn't want her secrets out as much as he doesn't.

"Tell me what's going on with you."

the latest ever zzz

[amygdalae]

[Making poultices was always a fairly messy business, which was why Bruce rarely did it inside of his tent - he'd rather not mess it up inside, and at least outside it was easier for him to discard the stuff that he needed to get out as soon as he could. It made things at least slightly more easier to handle.

Right now he was outside of his tent, sitting on a stool as he ground the herbs with his pestle and mortar. It was hard work but at least he didn't sweat so much, given the relative chill of the air in Skyhold. He had already been at it for a while but he probably was going to need a while more before it was fine enough to use. Making poultices always took time, but the end result was always worth it.]

Re: the latest ever zzz

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss came back from a long hunting session, clearly exhausted beyond reason, but she wasn't tired enough yet not to sleep. Besides, after all, she needed to make sure that Bruce was of course taking care of himself before she looked after himself.

So with the brace of rabbits over her shoulder, she walked over to the healing tents, calling out.] Bruce? I've got some game for you ... did you need the skins for anything?

[amygdalae]

[Bruce looks up at the sound of his name, taking a moment to place it as Katniss' voice, and he waves her over to where he is.]

Not any at the moment, but I appreciate the thought. [He pauses after that as she gets closer, quick to notice the dark circles around her eyes and the tired way she carries herself.] Are you alright? You don't look well.

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss nodded, as she walked up to him. Her lips pressed together at the question, before she shook her head a little.]

Just feeling a little tired, is all. I'll be fine. I came to check on you, though

[amygdalae]

You know you don't have to do that.

[He can take care of himself, Katniss. He'd rather you turn that concern towards yourself and other people who need it more.]