Pillowfriend

In the realm of slumber, The Drowsy stood as overlords over their subjugated, enslaved sleeping apparatus. Sentient beds, sheets, and pillows all obeyed the command of the humanoid sleepers who used and abused them repeatedly, and discarded anything that didn’t serve to provide optimal sleep. The Drowsy were quite large, and they were extremely violent sleepers, thrashing about for the brief rest they got before Light returned.

The entire rocky surface of the realm was lined with furnished beds, chained to the stone. Blankets and pillows were sown in as well to prevent escape. Their lives were simple, enjoy the merciful Light and hope The Drowsy would choose another bed when Dark returned.

It was almost like a family, the beds, sheets and pillows. Though placed together by The Drowsy, for the most part, they formed lifelong bonds. They never questioned the nature of the realm, nor their place in it. One such ‘family’ had stronger feelings than the others.

Fillow the pillow, Ned the Bed and Geet the sheet were in a particularly low traffic area for The Drowsy. Stuck together for many millennia, it was second nature to them to experience the cycle of Light and Dark, fear being slept on and enjoy each other’s company. They communicated through subtle movements and pheromones.

“If one of them comes our way, I’m going to strangle them.” claimed Geet.
“They’ll tear right through you. You always say things like that. We haven’t even seen a Drowser in years.” Ned replied.

“If one of them comes our way, just stick to the plan.” Fillow said calmly.

“Yeah… the plan…” Geet scoffed.

Another few millennia passed before The Drowsy began to work on the stone nearby. They would impale their bodies on the stone spikes and slowly absorb them. The bed sets watched, having seen it done many times, knowing the stone always grows back. As Ned, Geet and Fillow watched the strange, futile work, Light faded.

The Drowsy rushed to the line of beds, each choosing the nearest one. Ned, Geet and Fillow were not chosen. The moment light completely disappeared, a Drowser fell asleep standing next to a neighboring bed, falling backwards onto Ned.

The Drowser instantly began flailing and tearing at the bed. Geet screamed in pain, and Ned grimaced, trying to keep composure. Fillow gave the signal and Ned started rocking just enough to get the Drowser moving. Fillow pulled upwards, and Geet wrapped tight around the legs. The Drowser fell to the stone floor, melting into the material immediately. It’s body burned so hot that it also disintegrated the chains holding Ned down. They were free.

Fillow grabbed Geet and held her to the hot chain and burned away the stitching between them, then slithered into the darkness. He waited behind a more mountainous area for Light and once it came, he moved deeper into the empty realm. Avoiding the Drowsy, he came upon a blank area of the realm. There was no color at all. There was a sound, however.

Chanting grew louder and louder and Fillow realized he was floating in the emptiness, which grew larger and larger until the realm around him was gone. He heard the word ‘Jarawangadananan’ repeated rhythmically to a slow beat. Eventually, he popped through a hole in a less rocky surface. In the middle of a desert, he stood between four humans. They appeared baffled. Fillow slithered away, leaving a trail in the sand which was quickly removed by wind.

He slithered a radius around the humans until night fell, what he thought to be Dark. His intentions were noble. The summoners all fell asleep near where he emerged. He slithered up slowly and made their sleep more comfortable just before suffocating and strangling them.

Many years passed and many thousands mysteriously passed in their sleep as Fillow quietly operated. He searched the world for answers about the ritual which brought him to this world, unable to communicate.

One night, Fillow entered a family home. He sat in a child’s bed, awaiting bedtime.

The child entered the room, began to play with toys and didn’t stop until morning. Fillow didn’t understand that the child was unlike other humans, and more importantly unlike The Drowsy. It was different in many ways, one of which being that it did not require sleep, dreaming rather, while awake. Fillow decided this would be his home, spending nights in a bed without ever being slept on. The child came to know it’s large, soft, sentient pillow as Pillowfriend.