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 Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 10:56 am
::Dream...Reality:::
It almost seems to be an endless abyss, stretching out to infinity to either side. The surrounding darkness swirls with an occasional whorl of color, dark purple or blue, or by chance a combination of both. The same color continuation appears should you look above, although the colors are more frequent, and could almost be said to resemble the patterns created when one is underwater looking at the surface above.
You find yourself standing on a surface that is remniscent of stained glass, although the picture itself is difficult to see because of the size of it and of your proximity. It appears to feature several scenes from Avryn, including the barracks, cliffs, and plains, along with a few of the major cities. Strangely enough, you can see the glass perfectly well despite your dark surroundings.
A childlike giggle echoes from behind you. A strange person hovers over the center of the stained glass platform smiling at you. They don't appear to be wearing any clothing, other than an odd offwhite sash that hovers around their body from their shoulders all the way down past their toes, almost touching the floor. Their entire body glows with a white light, including their shock of white hair, which falls down to their waist. Their eyes shimmer, changing colors from green to blue every few seconds, and sparkle with a mischievous light.
Even though they appear to be a child of about ten years old, there is something decidedly strange about this person...
"Welcome," they whisper, their voice taking on echoey tones.
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 12:49 pm
As the scenery rushed before the cat boy, all the child could do was tilt his head to the side in perplexity. Despite his short life, Cloud has yet to see anything remotely similar to the majestic scene laid out before him.
The child-like laughter from behind him shook the Zahdl out of his momentary daze. Turning around, Cloud’s brown eyes focused on the child floating at the center. Cinnamon feline ears pricked up as the boy tried to make sense of the mysterious one. In his short two years of life, not once had he seen anything remotely similar to the creature before him. They were welcoming him…at least that seemed to be a positive sign. Judging that they didn’t mean any harm, he offered a warm smile as his way of greeting.
Like the cat Zahdl before her, Midnight absorbed the scene before her. The guardian spirit was puzzled. She had had to be dreaming, nothing more then her fantasies could create such a world…right? However…even then she almost always dreamt of her home world, and Cloud usually spoke in them. So far, she had two strikes against that. Deciding it was best to stay silence, she observed the pair before her.
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 1:05 pm
"It's nice to meet you, Cloud," they say, giving a warm smile in return. They floated downward until their feet touched the ground, losing their height advantage.
The child decided to go with the gentle approach.
"Are you enjoying the holidays so far, Cloud? I heard that it might snow again soon."
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 1:39 pm
Confusion swept over Cloud’s face as the child spoke his name. However, the confusion only lasted for a few seconds, as the boy put the pieces of this ‘puzzle’ together. He had to be dreaming. How could anyone else possibly know his name in the realm of Avryn if he never met them? At least he would be safe from rejection here…
Cloud’s bright grin returned once more, as he gave a nod signaling yes to the child. The boy really enjoyed this time of the year for a variety of reasons. For one, it always brought memories back of when he was first ‘born’. Not only that, he met Midnight that day too, who was one-hundred percent supportive of him. The cold temperatures and snow always seemed to lighten his mood. Perhaps it was from his earliest memories at the tundra, or maybe it had to be because he was of the ice element. Whatever the reason was, it was insignificant. It just mattered he was content.
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:03 pm
"The holidays are one of my favorite times of the year too," the child says, smiling. "Everyone seems to be in such a good mood!"
"So then, do you have any resolutions for the coming new year?" they ask, head tilting to one side.
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:42 pm
Resolutions? Cloud never gave much thought to that idea before. Sure, Midnight had blabbed on about it in the past, but what would he do for the new year? His light brown tail flicked as the boy’s gaze lifted towards the ceiling. Perhaps a goal would be better, maybe one that seems unobtainable. From what his guardian spirit stated before, the creatures of her race generally picked something difficult.
Returning his focus back onto the child, Cloud frowned as he came to a dilemma. Usually when he had to answer someone, Midnight would speak for him. The female didn’t make her presence known, so he had to be alone…right? Anxiety rushed through him, as he tried to figure out what to do. It was a dream…it had to be a dream…so maybe…
“…T…T…T-To be…” a soft, stuttering whisper emerged from Cloud. The Zahdl child was terrified, what if this mysterious child would reject him? He couldn’t handle that happening…but he had to answer. It was a dream…just a dream…
“…accepted…” he continued, quickly shifting his glance to the ground.
Midnight continued to silently observe. The spirit felt pride fill through out her aura. She wanted nothing more then for the kitten boy to be able to speak for himself. She hated to see him so silent all the time. It made socializing hard, but this…it brought her such joy!
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 2:54 pm
The child smiled softly and walked forward. Moving slowly as not to startle the Zahdl, they placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"You are a wonderful person, Cloud," they whispered kindly. "Anyone who can not see that must have something wrong with them. I'm sure that there are many, including myself and your guardian, who would be glad to have you in their lives."
Giggling softly to themself, sensing the familiar aura of a guardian spirit, the spirit smiled again.
"Are you getting along well with Miss Midnight?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 3:39 pm
Cloud flinched upon feeling the soft touch of the mysterious child. It wasn’t from fear; despite the oddities of everything around him, the Zahdl felt strangely calm. The kitten boy only had only had physical contact with two others. One was Izzie, when the deer Zahdl grabbed his hand as they played in the plains. The second…Myu…when she slapped his hand away.
The child’s words brought immense comfort to Cloud. They were the first one other then Midnight herself that he even mentioned his fear too. He couldn’t help but have a large friendly grin on his face. However, their question struck the young boy as odd. Why wouldn’t he be getting along well with Midnight? She was always there for him, and provided unconditional love. Up until this point, she was the only one he ever tried to speak with.
“…Yes…” Cloud started, as he began to look at the ground again. At least if the boy looked at the ground, he felt more at ease at speaking. He couldn’t make much sense of why that was, but at least it made this easier. “ She…She is always there for me. I…treasure her a lot.”
“Oh, kiddo!” Midnight finally spoke up, unable to stay silent and observe. If she had a body still, she would give the cat child a big hug. The guardian felt contented. It gave her a lot of relief hearing him say it to another too.
So Midnight was here. It seemed Cloud didn’t need to speak aloud, but a part of him felt proud that he managed to do it anyway. The Zahdl smiled sheepishly, as he began to scratch the back of his head.
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:04 pm
"You seem like a wonderful team," the child agreed, nodding happily. It was nice to see guardians and their Zahdl working so well together.
Removing her hand softly from the Zahdl's shoulder, the child swung her gaze skyward. Their brows furrowed in confusion, as if they were receiving some message they didn't understand.
"So soon?" they mused aloud softly to themself. Shaking their head as if to clear it, they turned back to Cloud.
"Please forgive me for my distraction," they said, smiling sheepishly. "It has been such a busy time, so many unexpected visits lately."
"I believe that there is going to be a large snowstorm within the hour. Perhaps it would be best if you awoke and found somewhere warm to be," the child smiled, concerned.
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 4:39 pm
As the child looked up at the sky, Cloud tilted his own head in confusion. Lifting his head to gaze upward, he couldn’t see anything in particular that could communicate to the mysterious being before him.
“Snowstorm...” Cloud mused aloud. Despite his soft response, the brown feline child looked thrilled at hearing that news. However, the word ‘awoke’ part took him by surprise. Sure, he knew he was dreaming, but he never had one of his dream characters acknowledge it themselves.
“Thank you very much, young one. I’ll be sure we get somewhere else, and perhaps warn anyone else that stays in the barracks…but if you’re a dream…how do you know this?” The guardian spirit spoke contently. Midnight never had a dream in particular that warned her about anything. She took comfort in what she heard, and planned on following the warning. It just…it seemed so strange to her. Perhaps dreams as a spirit could harness strange things like this.
Cloud, however, accepted it with ease. Waving at the child, he spoke up once more. “…It…was nice meeting you… Happy Holidays!” He continued to smile widely. At least he would be in a good mood when he would awake. A snowstorm and a pleasant dream! What more could one ask for?
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 5:16 pm
"Who is to say that dreams and reality are unconnected?" the child says softly. "In truth, this is the best way for me to communicate."
"I wish you the best!" the child says, as the dream world begins to fade. "I'm sure that we shall meet again. Until then, please enjoy the winter season!"
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 5:39 pm
Midnight chuckled slightly at the child’s response. Avryn was indeed very different from her own world. At least she got some insight from this. If they can be connected, perhaps Cloud had the same dream as she had? “You too…Thanks again!” the guardian called out at the child. She had so much more she wanted to ask, but the world was quickly fading before her.
Cloud continued waving, not once did his smile break. To him too, the world around him began to disappear. It was then the child began to feel the bitterness of the cold. “…T…Take care!” he cried out with one last breath. Then, all faded as the scenery of his room in the Barracks returned fully to his view.
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 5:50 pm
As you awaken, the snow begins to fall, just as the child predicted. And, not just the weather has changed...
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