Exhaustion (Ithea)

[Merc]

Well that it was connected to Sharess -was- pretty obvious, but Ithea can't think of any particular male talking cats. "Yes, I am. I'm Ithea. And you are?"

[Anastasia]

"Cat," He answers, pausing to lick the back of his paw and wash his ears. "You were calling very much for relief and joy, so I came here."

[Merc]

"Ah. Well that's kind of you. I'm Ithea," Ithea responds, looking around the room. "Am I still dreaming or did I get summoned somewhere?"

[Anastasia]

"Oh, this is a dream." Cat says, standing up and starting to lazily circle around Ithea. "A chance to unwind. You see, Sharess has her eye on you. She's so proud of those that don't forget that the cat has claws - far too many lose sight of that. But she doesn't want you running yourself down to nubs, either. This place can be controlled by your mind. You can see whatever you want, be where you wish and see whom you wish. You can even choose how they act."

[Merc]

"Oh," Ithea notes, having been slightly more excited at first, but losing a little bit of it at the cat's last words. Still, she could see the valleys of Lifasa, her old home, again. See her family and friends (as best she could remember them now, unfortunately) and what could have been if the devils had never invaded and she was just an irresponsible young girl without an idea of her future, a lazy genius without direction instead of a general crushed by responsibilities and expectations. A bit of a fantasy indulgement, but who could fault her?

"So...so I just think of what I want to see?" she asks, still a bit hesitant. "How long does this dream, this fantasy, last after that?"

[Anastasia]

"It lasts until you awaken," Cat says, settling back down and curling up.

[Merc]

Ithea nods and focuses on her faint memories of home, trying to imagine what it used to be like.

[Anastasia]

Before Ithea memory becomes reality. A warm, verdant valley spreads about her. A river runs through it, eye-achingly blue and with fish leaping from it. The sky is a paler blue and clear, the sun above wonderfully bright. Houses are about, her lost home becoming reality once more. Nearby is her own home, beautiful and undamaged. She can her voices in there, voices she hasn't heard in too long. The sounds of friends and family, chattering away as if the world was still as it should be.

Cat is still there, "Go. But know that this is only a dream. An escape, not a reality. Remember that you do have to wake up."

[Merc]

Ithea nods and heads for her old home. Her hand drifts towards the door knob, and she hesitates as she hears the voices. Drawing her hand back, she turns towards the giant oak tree to the left of her home, the tree where she used to play with Rukkig (the goblin, not her cat) as a much younger and innocent catfolk. Maybe she'll feel a bit more ready to face her parents (or at least her memory of them, given what the cat said about them) after seeing her old friend first (or again, at least her memory of him).

[Anastasia]

The oak tree's just as Ithea left it. It's in full green bloom, a familiar face lying beneath it. Rukkig's napping beneath it, resting against the tree and snoozing away. He snores softly, not a single worry in the world marring his face.

[Merc]

Does he look my current age, or however many years younger since Lifasa got enslaved by devils?

[Anastasia]

He looks like he did before it all went to Hell.

[Merc]

Ithea pulls out her glaive and uses the pole end to poke at the sleeping goblin's foot. "Hello!" she says in greeting. Followed by poking him again with the pole end. "Hey, listen!"

[Anastasia]

The poke stirs the goblin, who cracks one eye open and gazes at Ithea. "Whaaaat?" he asks, devolving into a yawn.

[Merc]

"Morning sleepy-head," Ithea greets with an amused look. "Shouldn't you be at work? Your mom's gonna whack you for leaving her alone minding the store again."