Style Quest: Get Out Of Bed!

    Varick had begun to have extremely vivid dreams about the lich that tortured him as a child. Every night the mahogany Clydesdale would wake up screaming in a cold sweat. His blue volai companion, Layla, tried her best to comfort him, but Varick was not getting anywhere near enough sleep. Lack of rest and the recent tragedies of being betrayed by a lover and his home planet exploding left Varick overwhelmed and depressed. Locking himself in his guild room in the dark alone for days on end became the norm for the tailor.

    “Open up! You aren’t sleeping all day again,” Varick’s friend, Bridgette, shouted as she banged on the door with her magitech right hand. With a sigh, the horse put a pillow over his head, trying to drown out the noise. “Layla! Open the door! I have sugar!” Hearing that a treat was at stake, the cervine creature perked up and nosed the lock on the door open. 

    “What do you want,” Varick groaned as he rolled over on the bed. As the lights went on, it illuminated the Clydesdale, who looked terrible. The tailor had been sleeping in the same pajamas for a week and hadn’t bothered to bathe. If it weren’t for Layla’s need for food, Varick wouldn’t have left the bed.

    “You can get out of that bed and shower on your own, or I can kick you out of bed and bathe you,” Bridgette threatened as she fed Layla a sugar cube. Varick knew she could and would follow through with it, so he reluctantly rolled out of bed and got cleaned up. “We’re going for a walk, so dress appropriately.” 

    Drakethorpe was only slightly chilly this time of year, and Varick’s clothes were enchanted, so he just dressed in his regular clothes. Layla trotted beside the blonde Clydesdale and Bridgette as they walked through the park. Despite his reluctance to leave his room, Varick did have to admit that this walk did make him feel better. Fresh air was what he needed to break up the funk.

    “Mom told me most of the story, but if there’s something you want to talk about, I’m here,” Bridgette offered as they found a bench for a short break. “If you don’t want to talk, that’s fine too.” They sat in quiet for a moment before Varick broke down in tears.

    “I’ve become the vessel for a portion of The Necromancer’s power, and now he’s showing up in my nightmares trying to convince me to revive him by sacrificing myself,” Varick sobbed into his friend’s shoulder. “The Archdruid examined me, and for now, there’s nothing she can do about it, but she promised to research more options. I’m afraid I’m not strong enough to hold him back.”

    “You came back from the brink of death and saved yourself. You are stronger enough to keep that dead dick bag contained,” the wolf reassured Varick as she hugged him lightly. They sat there until the brown horse sniffled and wiped his eyes.

    “Saying it out loud helps,” Varick smiled as a snow leopard with blue and green spots walked by, leading a purple volai. “Raine? You have a volai too?” The snow leopard turned to reveal feminine features that looked different from what Varick knew. “I’m sorry you looked like a friend of mine. Are related to Raine?”

    “I’m his sister, Shyne,” the leopard said. “Are you Varick? He said he’d like to see you again soon.”

    “Send a raven. Varick is free most nights,” Bridgette cut in before the horse could answer. “He’s done wallowing in the dark alone.” Shyne smiled and confirmed she’d have her brother send a raven soon before leaving with her volai.

    “Great! Now I have to be dressed and ready every day just in case,” Varick feigned annoyance at his friend before adding softly, “Thank you.”