They always started out the same, and although Imenry figured strongly into the dream it was repeated time and again each with different but familiar faces. He would meet one of them unexpectedly, turning the corner of a town, happening across their campsite. No matter who it was, his mother, Eirlys, Imenry, Kel, or rather awkwardly Imenry's father, they would see each and start to run to each other.
Only to vanish before they could come close, leaving him alone. The fade was a cruel place, full of crueler beings.
When Imp ran up to him he felt like his heart would stop, afraid that she would vanish into wisps of aether. As she nearly bowled him over, his heart started beating again out of relief - it was her. His arms came around her and pulled her to him tight, while she did the same. Between the two of them they were pressed so tightly together he felt that it wasn't possible to ever let go.
He pressed his cheek to her hair, and unshed tears prickled in the corners of his eyes. They gathered because of the relief and joy, and partly because his dear friend smelled quite bad. He did not care. She was speaking into his chest and he could feel the words in his very bones and his skin warmed through his clothes from where her breath touched. All of it, the feel of her, the smell of her, the warmth of her, told him that she was alive.
Raising his head briefly, he closed his eyes and offered up a thank you to the gods that came from his heart, before he looked down at his friend in his arms. He started murmuring things near her ear, a litany of blessings and disbelieving mixed together with her name. He was not ready to ask or answer any questions yet, as they were beyond him at the moment. His mind was awash in memories and emotions that were far more pressing.
Brennan pressed a kiss to her temple and again to the top of her head, while holding on. If this was a dream, although he knew he was not in the fade, he was not ready to wake up.