Dreamwalker 10
SoYa was a prisoner, blindfold and all. Not that it did his captor all that much good, as the mind mage didn’t need his eyes to see what was going on around him. He decided not to let anyone know about that, though.
The creature didn’t actually speak in words, but rather through melodic sounds. SoYa wasn’t sure how it worked, but somehow, he could sense the translation in the creature’s thoughts. It often wasn’t a perfect translation, the speech patterns were strange, and often words that SoYa didn’t know. But it was enough for SoYa to understand what was wanted of him.
I suppose I’ve accidentally stepped on to some sort of sacred ground.
Though SoYa was painfully aware of the arrow at the back of his head as his captor urged him along, the creature was not cruel to him. In fact, he seemed unsure of what to do with the mind mage that he captured. Other thoughts flitted through the creature’s mind, which was acutely aware of everything around — every sound, every smell — in a way that SoYa could not fathom.
Before long, the mind mage began to sense others, many others, of the same kind as his captor. There was a village or camp out in the depths of the forest. He could feel the weight of their stares as the daily-life sounds faded around him. His appearance was drawing a lot of attention and worried hums.
Creatures so large… so many of them. I wonder how we never saw them before.
His breath caught in his throat as he felt a heavy pressure on one shoulder, the paw-like hand pulling him to a stop.
-Stay-stay still.-
SoYa did as he was instructed from under the shadow of the blindfold. The creature had bound his wrists with thin twine as well, the rope itchy against his skin. The gaze of many eyes dropped upon him from all sides, a considering sound to their hums and melodies. Finally, one spoke, addressing his captor.
-Hunt. What have you brought-brought to the Clowder?- The mind-sound was deep, authoritative, though slightly sleepy.
-He was-was at the Zemitree.-
Silence fell for a moment. Then the deep hum replied, -This is-is so?-
-This is-is so,- answered Hunt.
-Pull-pull the obscuration,- came the order.
SoYa realized only after he felt the fumbling, that it was the instruction to remove his blindfold. The world suddenly spread out around him, populated with amazing sights to match all the things his senses told him.
There were many creatures there, of various shapes and sizes, so much unlike his own people, who seemed to have a standard stature and look. At once, SoYa felt as if he was shrinking, the tall catlike forms peering down at him, as they might a cornered mouse. The slitted, jeweled eyes burned many different colors, most opened wide in curiosity as they observed him observing them. Pelts of many different colors and designs, they all bore different styles of clothing, sometimes mis-matched and whimsical.
Looking further, SoYa could see they were inside a natural structure, like a giant pavilion created from blankets of leafy vines interwoven on branches and other tall forest plants. He could see where great care was taken to nurture the plants and vines, creating a beautiful frock of flowers, leaves and flitting butterflies everywhere. Strips of painted hides and long multi-colored ropes hung from the walls, humbly and brightly decorated.
A feeling of sleepy peace and curiosity emanated from the place. Certainly, these were not war-like creatures. SoYa held on to that thought with the hope that he might still find his way out of this situation alive.
A great bulky creature dressed in long, brown robes rose from the far side of the pavilion. Age colored his muzzle, eyes half-hooded, yet deeply aware. SoYa realized this was the source of the deep hum, perhaps even the leader of these creatures.
-Why did it come-come to the Zemitree?- the question was not directed at him.
SoYa gathered his courage and answered anyhow, “I was led there.”
A million ears twitched at the sound of his voice, as if they had never heard spoken word before. The leader’s eyes became unhooded instantly, growing wider as the pupil slitted, almost vanishing in the emerald depths.
-This one can hear-hear and speak-speak?-
Hunt nodded, -Yes, he spoke-spoke to myself.-
-You did-did well to bring-bring such Strangething.-
The captor bowed lithely and took a step back, offering SoYa like a mouse on a plate. The mind mage took a sharp breath, stiffening as the other creature padded towards him. For all the size, it made no sound.
-Speak-speak again.-
SoYa swallowed, “What will you do with me?”
The ears perked forward, then eyes lifted to the rest, proclaiming, -It does-does speak!-
“I speak,” the mind mage grit his teeth.
Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe they don’t eat something that speaks.
-It said-said it was led to the Zemitree?- the creature prodded, walking around SoYa in a slow circle, studying him.
“I was,” SoYa answered, confused as to why the creatures felt the need to repeat the conversation. “I saw something in the forest… it brought me here.”
-Something?-
The mind mage paused before answering.
They won’t believe me if I tell them.
The jeweled eyes watched him expectantly.
Though I suppose a dragon can’t be any stranger than they are.
“It was a white dragon, I think. It led me to the tree,” SoYa told them.
A murmuring sound and buzzing lit the pavilion from all sides.
SoYa couldn’t tell if it was alarm or interest at his information. Likely, they would be afraid to think that a dragon was in the forest.
“It was just an illusion,” SoYa attempted to clarify. “Just a little dragon. It vanished, though. I don’t think there’s any danger.”
-A dragon? That was-was white?- the leader repeated.
“Yes,” the mind mage nodded.
The emerald eyes flicked to Hunt. –Release-release. This one may be-be the Seeker we were told of.-
Before SoYa could ponder what it all meant, the ropes at his wrists were untied, releasing him. The mind mage noted that Hunt took great care in unraveling the twine, rather than simply cutting it. Rubbing his wrists, SoYa’s gaze darted from face to face, unsure of what was about to happen.
-I am-am Burringway,- the large creature told him. -Most called-called Burr.-
SoYa assumed it was the leader’s name, though the word was an untranslated sound of purring music. Finding his voice, he answered, “I am SoYa. I come from the Manor, a place across the river.”
-Yes. We know-know of your Strangepeople. Of the dragon. Of the white wolf.- Burr nodded slowly, eyes growing sleepy again.
Dragon? White wolf?
“I don’t understand,” the mind mage spread his hands.
-If you were-were led here, you must be seeking.-
“Seeking?”
-Your past,- the green eyes widened a bit, intensifying the sound in his mind.
SoYa found himself frozen with the weight of impossibility.
Do these creatures know something about us?
“I… am…” was all he could manage to say.
-You are-are welcome here, for now. We will-will converse. But a meal comes-comes first.- Burr waved a large paw out at the onlooking creatures. Not even a moment of question, they all set to work, fixing what appeared to be his welcoming meal.