Dream: Displaced

Date: 4/6/2023

I was a young woman named Ermetrya, Erma by those closest to me. I had olive-tanned skin, short wavy black hair, forest green eyes, and a spattering of freckles across my face. I stood about 5'5" with an average build. I often wore men's tunics, pants, and boots as my work led me to the woods a lot. I had traveled across the globe a great deal in my youth. Often working as a medic and helping manage food for people so they had enough. All through the work my parents did. My brother learned to do this work too when he was old enough. I was now a young adult. One day, as I was gathering the herbs needed to make my healing tonics, I seemed to step through time and space. I was suddenly stepping out of a forest with guns aimed at me. I held up my hands and asked "what's going on?" After a moment, one man decided to approach me. The others kept their guns trained on me. "what were you doing in the witchwood?" The man asked. I was stunned. The witchwood was on the opposite side of the country. "I don't know myself. I was walking through the ashbark, collecting herbs for my medicines, when suddenly I was here. I'm not sure how I got here." I explained to the best of my ability. The man relayed what i said to the others in a language I didn't understand. The others lowered their guns and he held out a hand to me. "The name's Credence. You're safe now ma'am." He said politely. I lowered my hands, nodded, and shook his hand, "Ermetrya. You can call me Erma. Most do." "Ok, Erma, so you're a healer?" Credence asked as he let go of my hand. "Yes. I don't claim to be able to cure everything but I have plenty of knowledge to handle a number of ailments." I told him. We continued talking as I was led back to their small town. I didn't know how to feel or what had happened. As time went on, I learned fast that these folk had no way to get me back to the ashbark. I had resigned myself to this factor. Years passed and I began helping Credence make big batches of "ration pies" as he called them. They were about half the size of a normal pie and were stuffed with ground up meat, mashed potatoes, peas, and sliced up carrots. These would be handed out to the village families and stored away in cold boxes (small boxes with a magic spell to keep the inside very cold) to be reheated over a stove or fire during the colder months. It helped make certain the village survived each winter. By the fourth winter, Credence and I got married. Yet I still thought of my home and my family. I would write in a journal every day as if writing to my younger brother, Weiss. After all, Credence only married me to protect me and lower their suspicion about me. Not because we were actually in love. By the fifth spring, I gained a child. Her mother was planning to drown them both in the lake. I managed to save the 1 year old baby, but not the mother. The town wanted nothing to do with the child. Claiming that only a devil-child would lead its mother to such a fate. I named her Constance. She was a quiet child. She only seemed to cry if she was hurt or sick. Credence doted on her while in our home but kept a distance in public. This too was a protective matter... But he actually did love Constance. His "little Connie" he would call her. By the sixth spring, Constance could already walk steadily on her own. She liked watching me make medicine and she liked watching Credence cook. She was very curious. Alas, the sixth summer came. Credence had fallen very ill. Constance would quietly cry by his side any time I would bring him medicine. He had a kind of cancer, according to the town doctor, that likely had been there all along... It just finally chose to end him. As he withered away I began collecting items together in my messenger bag and his travel bag. My journals I'd been writing in were shoved in my messenger bag. Some of Constance's clothes were shoved in the travel bag. Credence being here was what kept me and Constance safe. He told me to gather items and prepare to leave soon. The town doctor was our only other ally. I had copied down all my recipes for my medical tonics, elixirs, and ointments into a journal for him. He gave me some money and warm clothes. I took a picture from our fireplace mantle and put it in my messenger bag. It was a picture of me, Credence, and Constance. That way she'd always know who her dad was. No matter what I wouldn't let her forget him. Credence died at the end of the sixth autumn. Constance and I left the town in the dead of night. I headed into the witchwood. Praying it would be my way back to the ashbark. As we walked through the woods, I felt a sense of calm. It was as if some spirit was guiding me to where I must go. I walked further in, Constance in my arms, and felt that same strange magic envelope us... As it had done to me so many years ago. We were in a different wood now. It was the ashbark. I was finally home. I walked through the woods. Constance deep asleep. I followed the old path I used to walk time and again. I saw the edge of my old town. As I walked closer I saw a young man at the edge. He held a torch, blue flame lighting the night around him. "Erma?" He questioned as he walked closer to us. That voice was unmistakable. "Weiss? Is that you?" It wasn't long before I could see his face. The same forest green eyes as mine. His brunette hair he'd gained from our mother was cut short in a choppy mess. Likely his own doing. He had a deep tan. A reddish tan like our mother would get. "How are you alive?" He asked before noticing the sleeping toddler, "And you have a child?" "Any chance we can talk inside?" I asked with a weak smile, "I've been walking for hours." Weiss blinked and soon processed what I'd asked. "Right. Of course. I should have offered that first." He shook his head, "Follow me. Let's get you home. I don't have a crib that your little one can use though." "If you still live in the family home then there should be one in the basement." I told him calmly, "Mom kept the one you used so she'd be able to pass it down if either of us had kids." He nodded, surprised, "I didn't know about that. How do you?" "She was always so certain I'd have a kid first. Her and those visions of hers." I said weakly, "Never knew she'd be right." We eventually made it to the family home. He led me inside. Told me to set my bags on the couch before heading to the basement to find the crib I'd mentioned. He later brought up the small crib, set it near the couch, and wiped it down. He laid a couple of thick, folded blankets in it to be a makeshift mattress. Then laid a small throw pillow in it for her head.  "That should be comfortable enough for her." He told me. I gently laid Constance in the crib, careful not to wake her, and smiled as she continued to sleep. I pulled out a little rabbit plush and set it next to her. A doll that was given to her by her previous mother. Something that always seemed to comfort her. "So where is her father, and why doesn't she look like you?" Weiss asked nervously. It was clear he had more questions but I suppose making sure I wasn't a kidnapper took precedent. I ran my fingers through her strawberry curls and smiled once more. "Her mother suffered a mix of PTSD and post-partem. She tried to drown herself and Constance to punish both the man who raped and deserted her... And the heavens." I answered quietly, "While I was living in the place I lived... I'd married a man named Credence. He died a couple days ago. He is more her father than whoever had spawned her. And I am more her mother than the one who tried to drown her." Weiss gulped as he took that all in. "I think we may need some drinks for this conversation."  "Water or tea is fine. I don't care to drink much now that I have her." I laid a small, thin blanket of Constance who seemed to shiver slightly. Weiss nodded and left for the kitchen. He came back with a glass of water for me and an ale for himself. "So what happened that day you vanished?" He asked me. I sipped some of my water. Then I told him. I told him how I seemed to step from the ashbark into the witchwood. I told him how Credence kept me safe and how the doctor kept me working. I told him about the marriage of security instead of love. I told him about my time helping the town and raising Constance. I told him about how Credence doted on her. By the time I was done talking... it felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. "Did you ever... Did he..." Weiss seemed flustered by what he wanted to ask. I shook my head, "We didn't. I cut my foot and used the blood from that to fake proof of consummation. Credence and I had agreed on that plan. He didn't want to force me into anything more. We may not have loved each other but we had become friends and we did respect each other." Weiss sighed in what seemed to be relief. "Why were you out there with your torch?" I asked him. "Mother left a journal to me upon her passing. It mentioned your disappearance. It also said that you would return by the end of the sixth autumn." Weiss took a swig of the ale, "I never believed her visions... But I desperately wanted to believe she was right." He smiled, "And then you returned. She said in the journal that you'd return with child. I assumed you'd be pregnant. Not actually carrying a child." "Well she didn't always get the exacts in her visions." I told him, smiling as well. We talked a little longer. He eventually went to bed. I got comfortable on the couch. I kept a hand between the crib slats so that I could hold Constance's hand through the night. Eventually I drifted to sleep. Weeks went by. We had moved the crib into my old room. Constance and I shared its space. She got my brother wrapped around her finger. He doted on her almost as much as Credence had. I helped the town doctor with the medicinal work part of each day. The rest of each day was spent with Constance and Weiss. We did our best to help teach Constance as she grew. More time went by and we were traveling by carriage to a nearby town. We were meant to aid their doctor by bringing some of the herbs he needed. When we got there I noticed a small commotion in an alley nearby. I handed Constance to Weiss. "Watch her. I'll be right back." I left the carriage and took off down the alley, slamming my fists down on the back of one of the goons. "What the fuck?!" The other two shouted in unison. My green eyes glowed with rage. "I should be asking you that. What the fuck do you think you're doing?!" The man they had been attacking was my old friend Avery. He had grown quite tall. About 5'10" I think. He was built like a fighter. Jet black hair long and braided back. Deep russet tan. With amber eyes that looked confused to see me there. The other guys looked ready to throwdown. I kicked one of them in the crotch as Avery blocked the other guy from hitting me. We scuffled with them a bit before they gave up and took off. Avery walked with me back to the carriage. Weiss looked us over and shook his head. "You've only been in town a few minutes and he's already become the reason for a fight..." Weiss was partially teasing and partially scolding. Constance reached her hands to me and I took her back into my arms. "Mama's fine sweetie." I cooed so she would settle down. "You're a mother?" Avery asked in surprise. "Yes. I rescued this little one and now she is my child." I told him. Weiss shook his head, "Need a lift Avery? I handled what we came here to do while she was fighting." Avery nodded, "I wouldn't mind a trip to wherever you three are staying tonight." "We were planning to head home tonight." Weiss told him. Avery shook his head, "You won't beat the storm. Stay at my place tonight. I'm just on the outer edge. I have a barn where the horses can rest and the carriage can be protected from the weather." I looked at Weiss. He sighed but nodded. "You'll have to take the reins then." Avery took the reins from Weiss and we made our way to his home. Once there he steered the carriage into his barn. Weiss then unhooked the horses and led them into stalls where they could eat and rest. Each having a water dish on the door to help them stay hydrated as well. Avery then led us into the house. He grabbed his aid kit and took a seat on the couch. "I can help with that." Weiss told him. "It's fine. I've gotten pretty good at this." Avery told him, "Those guys have been at this for a few months now. They say my dad's land should belong to them. Stupid boys with stupid reasons. They just like fighting." "Have you gone to the council?" Weiss asked him. "No use. Not when their parents and uncle all hold seats." Avery spat as he finished tending his wounds. He looked up at me, "You and your little one can use my room. Weiss and I can crash out here. There's plenty of space." I was about to refuse since he was injured but he just held up a hand to stop me. I sighed and nodded. "For now, do you have anything to eat. Constance will need food soon. We've been traveling for a while." I told him. "I have some things to make a pretty good stew. I already had most of it prepped before I headed into town and ran into those goons." He explained and headed to the kitchen. I set Constance down so she could walk around for a bit. Weiss kept an eye on her as I went to the kitchen. "Felt like helping?" He asked me. "Yes. I don't sit still well." I smiled weakly, "I also wanted to see how you make your stew. It's a meal I haven't had in a while." "Dad made the best stew. I remember you and Weiss always complained that your mom's never tasted quite right." He smirked, "I've nearly mastered his recipe." We talked as he cooked. I helped here and there. We then set the table. I was given a bigger bowl so I could feed myself and Constance. After we ate, we cleaned up. Constance was then left to sleep on the couch beside me as we all talked. I explained to Avery everything I had told Weiss. He caught us up on the passing of his father earlier in the year. The three of us reminisced for a while longer. I then scooped Constance up and we headed to the bedroom. The night was warm as the storm raged in the sky above. I couldn't sleep. Avery's scent was all over the bed. A scent I had missed all this time. I had never told anyone but I had always loved him. A love I was certain was unrequited. I'd actually planned to tell him how I felt after I was done with work on the day I vanished. Now I've been married, been widowed, and have a kid. I don't know if I could ever have the courage to tell him. The night dragged on. I nearly fell asleep until I heard the whining of the horses. Constance awoke with quiet crying. I scooped her into my arms and headed up front. Avery and Weiss both grabbed guns and made sure all lights were out in the home. Weiss headed to the barn, knowing he'd be able to calm the horses better than Avery, who stayed with Constance and I. I don't remember exactly what happened but soon there were malatovs tossed through the windows. Weiss was racing to the door with the horses, no carriage. We were soon on the horses, Constance strapped to me in a makeshift carrier, on our way out of town. But we not only wound up out of town... We wound up just outside the home I had shared with Credence. One moment we were in a storm. The next moment the night sky was clear. "No... Not again..." I whispered. Weiss and Avery seemed confused. "This... Is where I lived when I was gone..." I mumbled. Constance peeked around. She saw the home we used to live in and cooed out, "Home." "Yes honey." I said, a weak smile on my face, "Home." Then I awoke.

AI generated interpretation Dreams often serve as a reflection of our subconscious thoughts and desires. The dream you described, titled "Displaced," seems to illustrate a longing for a sense of belonging and the desire to find one's place in the world. The dream begins with you assuming the identity of Ermetrya, a young woman who possesses qualities and attributes different from your own. This may suggest a desire to explore new aspects of yourself or to escape the confines of your current identity. Ermetrya's role as a healer and her involvement in providing for others reflects a deep-seated desire to be of service and make a positive impact on the world. The sudden displacement from the ashbark to a foreign location indicates a feeling of being uprooted or disconnected from your familiar surroundings. This may mirror a sense of disorientation or uncertainty in waking life. The encounter with Credence, who offers safety and protection, may symbolize the need for stability and support during times of change or unpredictability. The themes of marriage, parenthood, and loss that emerge later in the dream suggest a longing for connection, family, and the experience of unconditional love. Credence's illness and eventual death evoke feelings of grief and the inevitable cycles of life. The journey through the witchwood back to the ashbark represents the quest to find one's way back home, both physically and metaphorically. This journey symbolizes the search for a sense of belonging and a return to a place where you feel grounded and understood. The encounter with Weiss, your brother, highlights the significance of familial bonds and the desire for connection with loved ones. The presence of Avery, whom you have