Surrender an Ask Game: Night Terrors
From this ask game. Thank you @epiclamer for reaching out!
Prompt: Whumpee having night terrors and caretaker is an empath and puts out waves of calmness until whumpee falls asleep peacefully.” From @warmblanketwhump
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Caretaker stirred in bed, sleep threatening to drag them right back under. It almost did, had it not been for the screaming that started in the adjacent bedroom. Caretaker bolted upright in bed. Whumpee.
Caretaker ran to Whumpee’s room, where they found their friend thashing in bed, screaming fearful words that made no sense. Their face was scrunched up in fright, and any efforts Caretaker made to rouse them proved completely unsuccessful.
“Whumpee,” Caretaker tried, “it’s okay. You’re safe, I promise. Wake up, please wake up!”
Whumpee continued to thrash around. Caretaker took a deep breath. If they couldn’t wake Whumpee, they’d have to try something else. Extending a hand, they placed it over Whumpee’s head and summoned their power. Caretaker took deep breaths, calming themselves. They transferred calming energy into Whumpee’s mind.
“You are safe,” Caretaker said quietly, their eyes tinged with a slight glow, “you are safe.”
Whumpee’s thrashing died down and their body relaxed in the bed. Their breathing, which had been quick and erratic up until now, slowed to a deep and even rhythm. Their features relaxed as the last dregs of the night terror faded away.
The next morning, Caretaker waited for Whumpee in the kitchen. Whumpee showed up, a sleepy smile on their face.
“Mornin’,” Whumpee yawned.
“Good morning,” Caretaker said, “how did you sleep?”
Whumpee sat down next to Caretaker, where a plate of breakfast had already been prepared for them.”
“I slept great,” Whumpee said, “I didn’t have a single nightmare or anything.”
Caretaker smiled back.
“That’s great to hear, Whumpee,” they said.
Caretaker sipped their coffee as Whumpee ate their breakfast. Caretaker made a mental note to use their power again as soon as Whumpee fell asleep that night, and the next night, and as long as it took until the night terrors went away for good.