Despite being nearly one and a half years old, the eldest prince still finds himself taking naps. Certainly not under the council of his parents, nor in the knowledge of his many siblings (Sviko would laugh at him and Abysm would say something scathing, to which Valdis would probably simperingly laugh and Velk would act too good to get involved, and Warlight, well, she would probably roll her eyes or something undramatic), but rather, all on his own. There's just something about having the sun warm your back as you doze in the long grasses, Rhae thinks; something about it indeed.

It's during one of these naps that a particularly gruesome vision comes to him. It's unusual, too, that it would come while he isn't awake - but it makes sense too, considering that his dam is a dreamweaver. Still, he usually experiences his vision while awake, and this one he almost wishes he would have too.

A girl, white as snow and lined with the lilac of a setting sun, stands upon the waters of the lake as if this were the most natural thing for her. Her eyes, lit brightly like stars, scan the peaks of the mountains in a way that lends itself to Rhaegor's heart; anyone who could look at his mountains with that much admiration in their eyes is a friend to him.

The colt twitches as he dozes, half wanting to exit the dream such that he can meet the girl in real life, but half wanting the dream to never end.

Then, the vision changes. The lilac of her mane takes on an ebony hue, and the sky becomes instantly overcast; in a single step, the angel plummets into the waters, the last of he sees of her being a frantic kick of her legs. Although Rhae watches to see if she comes up for air, she never does - and rain begins to fall.

Utterly awake now as the vision clouds his judgement of reality, the colt stumbles to his gangling legs and makes instantly for the lakeside, towards the point at which it had seemed to be in his vision. Navigating through the lower hills of the mountain is far from easy when one is barely awake also panicking; when the ground beneath him falls into a little cleft where a stream must once have run, the prince lodges his ankle in the dip and twists it badly, scraping his knee against an unforgiving rock as he yanks it free and continues his mad dash towards the drowning angel.

Just as he rounds the corner, he sees the girl, examining the mountains as she had in his dream; and though he tries and tries to call out to warn her, no sound escapes him. I'll have to save her, he thinks desperately to himself as sweat gathers and rolls down his sides, foam gathering around his lips and nostrils. Just as she steps forward, he nears the lake; and, determined to be the knight in shining armour who shall save his damsel in distress, Rhae launches himself into the waters.

Except that they are shallow, not deep.
Except that she raises herself up right as he reaches her.
Except that, instead of saving her, he accidentally tackles her right back into the water, flipping awkwardly himself and inhaling a huge lungful of water.
Except that, instead of being her hero, he resurfaces with water streaming from his nose, and a wide, noiseless mouth gasping for air.

No one ever said your visions would always be true, Rhaegor. You silly, silly boy.

Before he can do more than think briefly about putting his head back under the water and taking a DEEP breath, the girl is speaking - no, not speaking, but giving instructions. The commands take a second to register in the princeling's head, but his body automatically obliges her words, head lowering and lungs doing their thing until finally he feels calmer, and less drowned.

How do you know all that? He wants to ask when he garners the courage to look back up into her eyes; but of course, no amount of wanting on his part will ever bring around words. He has to be very comfortable with his company for that to happen, and as of right now, he doesn't think he'll ever be comfortable with this pretty alabaster creature. He'd practically tried to kill her just now after all - what sort of first impression is that!

Gulping, he clears his nose with a few short snorts, the loudest he can be in times like these; when the girl sneezes like a bazooka, he startles and totters off balance, nearly reentering the waters - but he hops around until he recenters himself, feeling absolutely stupid. Like, literally, the most foolish he's ever felt in his life.

Taking a huge inhale, Rhae opens his mouth as if he can speak. But he can't. And then he's gold fishing in front of the pretty water angel, and then he's burning up crimson in shame, and then -

Then he is gone, hurrying out of the water and stopping only to shake himself off like a wet dog, sparing a last glance to the gorgeous filly before scampering into the mountainside.

Boys. Useless, all of them.