More dreams, Nepal

He swallowed and set the glass down. Waiting for Cheshin to return, Nepal slinked back into bed to get a little more sleep. He was tired. The psychic stuff could wait until later. He was hungry, though. When he got hungry enough, he was sure he would wake. Sleep overtook him the second his head hit the pillow.

The pantry was full of food, but a deeper hunger filled his loins. He turned off the menu from the monitor.

He pulled the jacket close to smell of it. The sent of flesh carried with it a desire to be satiated. He opened the desk drawer to find the photo. It was gone. Where did he see it last? Ah, yes. The courtyard. The city would have to forgive him.

He wanted what was rightfully his. He knew that would cost the city, but he had his rights, too. His pale green scales glistened with beads of sweat. There was a knocking at the door. Gaining his composure, he passed his hand over a lighted panel on his desk. The door to his office slid open, and a woman with scales the color of his own stepped inside.

She was crying. “I'm afraid I have to leave. There is nothing left for me to do here. I want to explore further out.”

He thought she was mad, but her tears were real enough. He could not turn her away. “How can I help?”

She said, “I cannot leave without telling you, my son. You are not like the others. You're love is beyond. One day you may discover this, but for now ponder what I say. You are of my blood, my kin, of a far off place. How complete you may become, if you follow your path,” she could not finish, because the tears came further.

Humoring her, he nodded an affirmation that won him the hearts of so many in the past.

She was not fooled. “Watch as I make my journey and leave you with this gift.”

Her scales faded translucent. He was frightened. She was sick, he knew. She was like a ghost. He could see right through her. She was transparent as glass. Only her outline held where she had been. Her clothes collapsed to the floor, but she was gone save for a lingering voice that said, “child of me. Find the one you love. Never deny that.” Then there was silence.

He did not know when he had lost the hunger in his loins, but he had been distracted from it. The woman had taken that moment away from him, but she had left something in its place.

Another knocking at the door made him stir, but this time Nepal sat up in the bed. “Wow. What a dream.”

Cheshin turned red, “oh, yeah. Nice dream?”

“I'm not sure. Strange. Very strange.” Nepal looked at the clock, and was surprised. “I've slept for half an hour?”

“Here, eat some food,” Cheshin said shortly, still blushing. He set down the tray of eatables and a small pitcher of water.

They ate hungrily, and when they finished, Cheshin informed Nepal that Jueqel and the Yogan were about to encounter Karden.