Nickolai, snored....and his sleep was restless.
Nickolai was within his mind. And what he saw worried him.
His mind scape was a deep, vast, and impossibly wide river. It was night with no moon. The only light came from sparse candles throughout the river. The candles rested on lily pads. The only other light was the light that came from the lantern, hanging from the stern of the boat he stood in. More of a ferry than a boat.
"Uh...huh..."
"Surprised?" Nickolai nearly fell out of the boat. He didn't see the robed man that sat behind him, an oar in his hand. The boat started to gently roll forward. Nickolai recovered himself and then glanced at the "oar". when it flash out of the water for a second, he saw that it was no oar, it was a thick blade.
"Is this my mind?" Nickolai asked the crafty looked hunched over man.
"Yeah, I suppose so....Kinda dark, but thats why I'm here...to light the path and guide us all." The Ferry man started cackling. He wiped the single tear from his eye.
"whew...funny."
Nickolai then noticed the pain in his chest...even thought he was in his mind, his hurts still followed.
"Thats fixable. You should remember the blasted medicine next time. Good thing I have some." Nickolai stared at the man, a smug look.
"Don't knock it till you try it." The Ferry man laughed again, a grating cackle.
Nickolai cringed and took a proffered vial, saw the familiar green liquid in it, and smirked...might as well. He drank it and felt the same relief that he normally felt. "Why now?" Nickolai asked.
"Why not?" The Ferry man cackled again.
Nickolai did not like this man, he somehow felt wrong, and was very rude.
"Ok...different question...Watashimori. How do I summon you?"
It was a blunt question but the Ferry man laughed again,
"I already told you. Now go back to your world, you're crowding my boat" He flicked out a gnarled and and "Banished" Nickolai to the real world,
He awoke with a start...that was weird, and gave him no answers.
"Alright....then...." He stood, the pain in his lungs was gone...
"Hmm, it worked." He was surprised.
"Alright, everyone, time to se up camp, Ijin gather the rest to us. The rest of you set a picket, and collect fire wood. We stay here til second wave comes. Then we plan" Nickolai took the power here, Somone had to lead, and he planned on surviving, with everyone else. The rest looked to headstrong to lead.