Shadows

Daimhin quickly turned around and glanced back they way she had come from. Nothing. Again. The path was empty, like it had been the previous bazillion times. Was she getting crazy? The girl shook her head, red locks swirling around, golden earrings tinkling. Onwards!She kept going, trying to not turn around every now and then. But they were here again. Giant shadows, following her, haunting her. She could see them, but never clearly. They always were just out of sight, avoiding her gaze. Sometimes she even could make out flashes of colour. Two were reddish, two dark, and one some kind of creamy colour. They danced around her, followed her, waited for her around the next corner just to vanish as soon as she reached it.

The girl pressed her fluffy green gloves on her eyes. Did the creamy one just look like a giant wolf? That could not be. It was impossible. She was in Ireland, there was no such thing like giant wolves or even dogs out here. Even if they broke out of some zoo or whatever, it would have been all over the news. Daimhin hurried to get home.

In the cozy warmth of her apartment the haunted feeling vanished. The red haired girl took off the thick winter clothes, hung the cloak on the hook, threw gloves and cap on the floor and kicked off her boots. Thank god, it was friday! That meant two days free of her usual office hours. After a quick meal and a glass of red wine in front of the TV, Daimhin quickly doze off.

The shadows had followed her to her dreams. But they weren’t as unreachable as before. Daimhin stood on a clearing, in the midst of a wild forest. It had no similarities to what she knew from her home. It looked harsh and unforgiving, yet beautiful and enchanting. And around her were the five beasts. Watching her out of piercing eyes. Wild eyes.

There was a big male, dashingly red coated, face and paws as dark as a starless night. Daimhins feet seemed to float over the lush spring grass as she approached him unwillingly. Her dainty, small hand placed itself on his forehead. The girl quickly wondered about all the elegant gold rings around her fingers and the playfully intertwined chains connecting them.

“You are strength, Aonghus. Strength and will.” Her voice said, even though it had something ethereal she still recognized it to be hers. Daimhin was herself, but still had no control over her body whatsoever.

She float-walked to the next beast. This one was smaller, of a brighter coat. Her mane was breathtaking, long fur covering her neck and belly like a giant stola. Once again her hand raised without her doing. “You’re intelligence, Fiachra. Intelligence and Eagerness”

For god’s sake what did she dream? Daimhin asked herself while her so called body was floating to the next giant wolf thing.

The dark fur appeared dusty, but the eyes sparkled. “You’re joy, Dheannaigh, joy and cleverness” - what the hell was going on?

Within a blink of an eye her hand was placed on the next forehead. The black and light grey animal looked at her. “You’re friendliness, Tungulria, friendliness and curiosity”

Did her crazyshamanwhateverdreamalias ever heard of the saying ‘curiosity killed the cat’? Daimhin wondered.

She seemed to face the last one in the row. Another reddish coat, but with a hint of grey and lots of white dots on it. Again that hand on your forehead thing. “You’re creativity, Rionnag. Creativity and Imagination”.

Daimhin did wonder for a moment how such a creature should be able to be creative. Or whatever else her dream-me had babbled to those giant creatures. What the heck.

When she woke, her room was only lit by the dim light of the TV. It must be late, she thought. On the screen was a flickering image of an old man. A professor of languages, explaining some common or not so common irish names. ‘Aonghus was the name of several kings, it is believed to stand for strength or force.’ the old man said.

Aonghus.. wasn’t that the name of one of the beasts she had dreamed off? Aonghus, Fiachra, Dheannaigh, Tungulria and Rionnag. She counted them down using her fingers. What a weird dream. She could remember it surprisingly well, the images very clear and lively. She could still feel the strength of Aonghus body, the intelligent gaze of Fiachra.

She shook her head. Bullshit. There was no such thing as giant, flashy coloured wolf creatures. And they didn’t have names and their own kind of characters. For sure not.

She switched canals. A late night show about wolves. Oh great. One looked like Tungulria, almost the same face markings. Daimhin pinched herself. “Girl, seriously. Stop thinking about it, it was just a dream.” She muttered to herself. Again she changed the canal. A documentary about a painter. An image appeared on the screen, a very vivid sunrise, orange sky with a lot of stars and some grey clouds. Rionnags coat looked almost like that.

“Fuck it!” Daimhin almost screamed, pushed the TVs button so hard her finger hurt and went straight to bed.

But sleep didn’t help. Again she found herself on the clearing, surrounded by Aonghus, Fiachra, Dheannaigh, Tungulria and Rionnag. She sat in the middle of it, legs crossed, her red hair almost touching the lush green grass. It tickled her bare toes. She was wearing a creamy dress, hold in place by various golden rings around her arms, neck, waist and hips. And everywhere were the small chains, jingling with every motion of hers.

Daimhin’s head felt heavy. As if she was balancing a book on it’s top. It was Dheannaigh that approached her first, and in the tea red eyes she could see the rack growing on her head. Endowed with the same jewelry, it seemed to fit there like it was the most normal thing to have a rack growing out of one's head.

It was overwhelming, but felt right at the same time. Daimhin didn’t know what to think or do. And all of a sudden, she grew tired. Oh so tired. The grass beneath her was soft, and so she lied down and fell asleep.

It was Rionnag who approached the sleeping, red haired girl first. She sniffed at her creamy dress and the bright antlers growing out of her skull. Their bases were hidden between the red locks of her hair beneath the countless small golden chains of her jewelry.

Rionnag placed herself next to her, aligning her side to Daimhin’s back.

Dheannaigh was next. The dusty looking female joined her sister, protecting the girl’s front side. Rionnag placed her head on Dheannaigs tale, and so did her sister.

Adding to this inner circle of protection, Fiachra cuddled herself up to the other giant beasts near the girls head, while Tungulria placed herself down to the redhead's feet. 

Aonghus glanced over the lush spring clearing one last time, scanning the woods around. With a huff and a sigh he laid down between his females. It was all good now. They would keep her safe until she had to be found. A sigh heaved Fiachras breast, Dheannaigh's paw twitched as she dreamed. Tungulria even snored softly. The flaming red male closed his eyes as well. It wouldn't be a long rest for him.