The train came to a gentle stop. I lifted my head sleepily and Chase's head snapped up. He yawned loudly and I brought my hand to my face to rub the sleep out of my eyes. The hand still entwined in Gray's was now sweaty and uncomfortable. I gently rustled his hair and he opened his eyes slowly. We gathered our backpacks from between our knees and filed towards the doors with the rest of the passengers, our eyes peeled for trouble. Gray kept his hand on my shoulder and I kept my hand in Chase's. Getting separated now could be catastrophic if the nightmares were truly following us.
We exited onto the platform and made our way towards the small town, less than a mile from the station. We followed one winding, thin road deep out of the town and into the forest at the base of the mountain. We walked at least a couple miles in before the foliage became dense. I paused as we approached a very large, thick oak tree. I put my hand on the trunk, closing my eyes and breathing in deep. The air was different out here. Calmer. Brighter. The rain was so diluted by the trees, I had almost forgotten it was storming. I lifted my head to the sky. The boys stopped and turned back towards me, watching me intently. I turned to look at them, dropping my hand to my side again. They seemed to be staring past me. I turned and to investigate, only to see the ghostly outline of a stag far off in the distance. It stood easily a man's height at the shoulders, the antlers sharp and long. It was a hazy, transparent white. I could see the foliage through its glossy coat. I couldn't tell if it was because it was from the dream realm, or because of the rain.
As I blinked, it appeared closer. I took a step towards the boys and they each reached a hand out to steady me. I didn't take my eyes off the deer as it walked past us and further into the forest.
"Are we supposed to be following it?", I asked, barely loud enough to hear over the rain.
"Absolutely. That's the forest totem. My elders spirit guide. He is expecting us", Chase responded, also in a whisper. We kept our hands joined as we ventured deeper and deeper into the forest after the creature. We approached a small clearing after walking for what felt like hours. The sky had darkened significantly. My legs protested with the steps I took uphill. Chase was now in the lead. He seemed very familiar with the territory, which gave me comfort. At least we weren't lost.
As we approached the clearing, the trees seemed to take shape into a circle, intentionally planted as a base. The treetops created a dome; an outdoor cathedral. Chase reach a hand between some trees and his hand seemed to dissapear. The air between the trees rippled like the surface of touched water. He squeezed my hand gently, his eyes now glowing that vibrant leaf green again. He smiled ear to ear and passed through this unusual barrier. My hand dissapeared as well as I followed Chase through. Gray followed close behind. The small village looked like any ordinary human village; minus the humans. It was a multitude of animals, fae, half-breeds of animals and humans, and exceptionally old humans at easily a few hundred years old each. My eyes darted between all of them. They varied a range of reactions towards us, but mostly shock.
"Are they staring at me....?", I whispered as I clutched Chase's jacket sleeve. He laughed heartily.
"I told you, you're truly nothing like anyone I've ever seen before. Of course they're looking!", Chase said, composing himself as we followed the stag through a narrow street of the village. We eventually came up on a humble house atop a small hill. This must be it. My nerves began to get the better of me as we ascended. I couldn't help but fidget. Gray threw an arm around my shoulders, holding me in a quick hug.
"Let Chase do the talking. If the elder has any questions, then you speak. If you don't know the answer, squeeze my hand", he said, looking down into my eyes. His face seemed so stoic, but his eyes were alive. I nodded. Chase knelt outside the door, touching his head to the stone at the base. Gray and I followed suit. Chase rose when he heard someone inside stirring. We were met with a human looking man, old enough to have seen the invention of time keeping itself; his eyes were sunk, his hair white where it still clung, his wrinkles deep like cuts in his skin. He barely looked alive, but his voice boomed with a power beyond his body's years.
"Chase! It's been so long! I was starting to think you'd forgotten about me, or hoped I died, boy!", the elder encircled Chase with his frail arms. Chase chuckled, patting the man's back. Chase turned and gestured to Gray.
"You remember the warrior of lightning, don't you?", Chase brought the two men together. I let Gray's hand drop as they came together. I awkwardly stepped out of the way, to the side, clasping my hands together in front of my legs. I looked down at my feet. The men exchanged more words, and I felt their attention shift to me.
"Now, what do we have here?", the old man asked, grasping the small white hairs on his chin. He took two steps towards me, his dirty, taupe robes billowing in an unseen breeze. He reached a hand out to me, and I placed my hand in his gracefully. He brought it to his lips, but didn't touch them together. I gazed down at him and tilted my head to the side, our eyes meeting. He seemed exceptionally amused by me. I gave him a weak smile, followed by a bow after he released my hand. He motioned for us to sit on the floor on one side of a central table. As we took our seats, he motioned to cups that were filled with tea.
"Now, I believe you're here about her... condition", he said, while staring deep into my eyes. I eventually looked down at the table, embarrassed by his unabashed gaze. He let out a sigh, scratching his chin. Chase placed both hands on the table.
"Have you ever seen anyone like her before?", Chase asked flat out. The man seemed unchanged by the lack of tact. He shrugged.
"Only once before, a creature of both light and dark. The offspring of the light elemental and a female nightmare. But she seems to be a mixture of all clans, ruled by the sign of light outwardly. Our warriors have always been male, but that's not to say we aren't able to conceive a female warrior. It does beg the questions though; who has created her, and why now did they decide to unleash her without training?", he finished thoughtfully.
"She is by far the strongest living weapon I've ever encountered in my time. As for history, I'm not sure. She looks identical to the DayDreamer, but she's part human, in the shell. That's the only difference. The fact that her inscriptions change is what perplexes me the most, though", he added.
I met his eyes again, finding strength within myself I didn't know I had. I felt it bubble up in my chest and spill out through my skin at an increasing pace. DayDreamer? Where did I know that from? Why is that familiar? As my mind started to fly, my body left hotter and hotter like a fever. The light slowly grew lighter and lighter until it was entirely filled; no shadows escaped my light. It was so bright, I couldn't see either of the boys or the elder. My mind started to go blank again.