Herja suddenly found herself back on the dragon boat seated beside her husband at the oars, among the other men and women of her raiding party. They were on their way home with copious bounty from this run of raids along the coastline, like shearing overly fat sheep of their golden fleeces. There was some idle chatter, but for the most part, everyone had their hearts and minds set on home. Soon, the port came into view, and they slipped into the natural bay without a problem, the dragon boat returning to its roost. Everyone was eager to see their families and spread the wealth acrued. Herja spotted her mother, barely restraining Herja's 3 children from tackling Herja and her husband. The eager children, fired up with the excitement of the landing, would no longer be held back, and Herja was joyously attacked by 3 very small warriors, the oldest asking eagerly if Herja had brought them anything special from the heathen homelands. Herja smiled, her heart light and overflowing with love for her family.
Suddenly her husband's face turned blank, as well as her shipmates. Her children started receding rapidly away from her as she floated across the water, further and further from her home. She reached out desperately to them," no! Don't go! I want to be there! I was home again! Home!"
Faster and faster she flew in a straight line backwards, like a puppet being drawn by a string in her back, until she saw the strange coastline where she had washed up, saw the cold bodies nearby while the underlying ocean lapped unapologetic nearby.
She woke with a start, sweating profusely from her nightmare, her shoulder pain reminding her that this was the real world now.
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Yay! Bantam returns. Love it. )
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