visions ...

   Thal had been gone for more than a week when Lyri woke from her sleep with a cry.  Her dreams were often premonitions of things to come, but she'd never told her parents or anyone else about them.  They made her afraid, and even more afraid that she would be judged by the others and cast out of the forest as a witch.

  Sometimes the dreams were like an onion, and she would only understand the meaning of them after all the layers had been peeled away.  This had been one of them.  Flashing images and faces.  Gnolls.  Kael.  Thal.  Her parents.  The forest.  And blood.  Lots of blood.

  Her mother, Nimlisk, upon hearing Lyri's cry, rushed into her bedroom and sat at the edge of her bed.

  "What is it, child?  What has frightened you so badly?"  She touched the back of her hand to Lyri's forehead to check her temperature.

  Lyri shook her head.  "Nothing.  Just a bad dream."

  Nimlisk looked at her daughter carefully.  Could it be that the gift had passed to her?

  "Lyri, I want to ask you a question, and it's very important that you are completely honest with me.  Do you understand?"

  Nodding her head slowly, "Yes, mother.  What is it?"

  "Do your dreams and nightmares sometimes come true?"

  Lyri's eyes widen, and she gasped.  It was all the confirmation that Nim needed.  She sighed heavily.  "It is time I told you about the women in my family.  But first, I need to get something."

  She left the room, and moments later returned and placed what looked like a blue piece of glass, polished smooth on one side and rough on the others into Lyri's hand.

  "This is my seer stone, passed to me by my mother, and to her from her mother, and as far back as we can remember.  Normally it is passed to the seventh daughter of the seventh daughter, but unfortunately, your father and I couldn't conceive any sisters for you after you were born.  But you were technically the seventh daughter since I lost six before they, and you, were born.  You were a blessing to us, and I never expected the gift to pass on to you.  I thought I would be the last in our line."

  Lyri peered into the stone, thinking that one of the shadows within looked like a tiny elephant.  "So you don't think I'm a weirdo?"

  "Oh, heavens no, my sweet girl!  You are beautiful, wise, kind, and amazing!"

  "But these visions.  They frighten me when they come to pass."

  "As they did me in the beginning, before I understood what they were.  My mother had this very talk with me when she gave me the seer stone, and I will help you grow and understand your gift.  Now.  Tell me what it was that you dreamt last night."

Words for Wednesday. Cheer on other participants here.