Pain, Such Terrible pain.

As if fire had teeth, as if beast were made of stone. Teeth digging into flesh and pulling it- close to tearing. Claws like hooks decorated with blood. A pain both unimaginable and yet so very real in the moment. His neck burned, as if those flame-stoked canines were latched around him. Burning that went beyond the skin, beyond the muscle, beyond the very fabric of the soul. He cried in a way that nobody would hear, unable to keep himself from showing his base feelings.

Someone... help me... I'm scared...

The sound of familiar screaming, of pleas for their lives, of sobs of anguish. Cries of misery, begging to be allowed up to the surface again... begging to see their child again. An echo of clattering supplies hitting the ground, loud enough to make ears ring and heads feel close to bursting with agony.

Mother... Father...

Janus' eyes snapped open. He panted, his throat still feeling as if it was burning, but in a much less dangerous fashion. The residual feeling of air drying out his throat from how heavy his breaths were. When he looked around, he met eyes with Terrence. The other courser couldn't hide the worry on his feature as he looked at Janus, watching his pupils shiver within the confines of his irises.

"Breathe, Janus." Terrence stated simply, a gentle hoof going to Janus' back, attempting to calm him in some way. Janus knew better than to say that he couldn't- he had heard that sort of talk before from his guildmates that he could recognize how dumb it would sound coming out of his mouth. Instead, he calmed his breathing, allowing the shaking to pass through his body with every strong exhale.

When his breath started to calm, Terrence got up from the ground and shuffled through his bag, procuring a small cup and a pot of water, pouring Janus something to drink. Janus didn't need to be told anything before he downed the offering, already grateful for the feeling of the water clearing up his dry throat. He then somewhat collapsed in on himself, his head hitting the ground as he continued his attempts to breathe normally.

"I had a bad dream." Janus stated simply, voice muffled by the way he was faced towards the ground. He felt Terrence's body against him as he laid down, his hoof once again going to Janus' back. "I can tell that much. You wanna talk about it?" The question felt weird coming from Terrence's mouth, but even he could shove his pride away when someone was obviously in distress.

There was a pause, long and ominous before Janus spoke again. "Not really."

"Okay, Alright. We don't need to talk about it then. Just want me to sit here?" Terrence continued, and this time was answered immediately with a small nod from the head planted against the grass. "Please." Janus shivered, glad his face was hidden from view as he felt warm tears escape against his wishes. "Please don't leave me alone..."

He didn't sleep again that night, not wanting to be back there again, in that dark corner of his mind that wondered what it might've been like to see his parents in their final moments. He didn't deserve to be told about it in detail as a child, and even now... he didn't deserve to have the thought burned into his mind.