#seroh

The milking shed was dark, fit enough for just the two of them along with a few animals. Luckily that was all they needed. Sigrid, picking up a bucket full of milk, looked up at Seroh, who continued to clean their horse.

“I can interpret it for you. What was it about?”

“Actually, forget it,” Seroh frowned, distracted by the methodical motion of the cloth brushing against the horse’s coat. “It’s not worth it.”

“What? Seroh, that’s practically my job,” the woman got up, carrying the bucket along. “You can tell me. It must be important if you saw it today.”

He paused for a second, contemplating Sigrid’s suggestion.

“...Okay. I’ll try, but I don't remember much.”

As the two of them walked out, traversing the hill on the way home, carrying milk along, Seroh spoke.

“I was alone, in a field with a house. When I approached it, it began to burn. But for some reason, in my dream I just… kept going. It made sense to me then, though it doesn’t now. The screams I heard as I got closer didn’t seem to bother me, coming out of the fire. They had no face to them. I didn’t know these people. And yet the flames grew stronger, and when the smoke began to envelop me, I accepted it. My vision was obscured by the light and dust, but through it I could make out a silhouette, walking out of what was left of the house, crumbling around us. Before I could see the person’s face, I woke up: all I remember is the blue cape shining through the red fire… I think that’s it.”

By that point they stood against the entrance to their home. When Seroh looked at Sigrid for an answer, there was no response. They walked in, Sigrid still silent. The silence unnerved Seroh, but speaking would mean disturbing her, so they remained the same, taking care of the buckets they brought in.

“The fire means a disaster, uncontrollable and sudden,” Sigrid finally responded, as they stored the food together. “It will be brought on by someone, and will harm ones around you. You won’t be able to stop it. Death will follow.”

Their gazes met.

“But why did I walk towards it?”

Sigrid’s thin brows furrowed.