When a Man and a Vantha Dream

[Palla Frostfawn]

Palla awoke in a room. A dark room, filled with cobwebs. Cobwebs were in the corners, suspended from the ceilings, and surrounding Palla's feet on the floor. Palla carefully turned around, taking in her surroundings, shaking slightly. Everything is okay. Palla started to calm down, still turning, as the spiders didn't seem to be making an appearance.

The spiderwebs were growing towards her feet, making the circle that she was standing in tighter and tighter. Palla didn't even notice it. The spiderwebs grew closer and closer, until one of them touched her shoe. It grew up her leg and touched her ankle. Palla felt it and screamed. Once the spiderweb touched her skin, the spiders started to make an appearance.

The spiders weren't just ordinary spiders, however. They were huge. The smallest spider was as big as her hand. Each of them had fangs, ones which Palla imagined were filled with venom. They were all colorful, each a pretty blend of different hues. Palla would have been fascinated by the spiders if they were smaller and fewer in number. The spiders moved slowly, but still inched closer and closer to Palla.

Palla was trapped. The spiders formed a ring around her, and there was no escape. Palla yelled for help, but none came. She was on her own.

Palla took a leap, jumping over the spiders. She beat her wings, I have wings? What? and flew over the spiders. Suddenly, the spiders grew wings and they were flying after her. She clumsily beat her new limbs, flying higher and higher until she grew dizzy. She dipped lower and flew faster. The feeling of flying was exhilarating, even under the circumstances. The walls fell away, giving to a sky overlooking a field.

Palla looked behind her and saw the spiders falling behind. She flew until she could see them no more, and she started to land. The spiders followed, and right before Palla hit the ground, her wings disintegrated and she tripped. The spiders started to catch up to her and Palla was frozen in fear. She watched in horror as the spiders started a grotesque transformation, growing fur and turning into... Puppies?

The puppies ran to Palla, tugging at her clothes and licking her. Palla laughed nervously, wondering if the puppies could be evil. They seemed to be normal puppies… Maybe they didn’t know they were spiders? Palla was confused.

Palla saw a figure in the distance-was it a figure?-and got up, still kneeling down to pet the puppies. She was prepared to run, but waved with her free hand. “H-Hello!”

[Kaik Leyr]

Kaik stood in the center of a small room without light, windows, or doors. He could just barely see what looked like a chair in front of him. As he took a step toward the chair a candle on the ground behind it flickers to life. How did that- his thought interrupted by some rope appearing on the chair. Where did that come from? slowly he steps toward the chair. The rope begins to rise, it's behavior like a snake. He steps back. As he does so the rope jumps at him. Kaik puts his arms up to somehow stop it but he was too slow, the rope now coiled around his neck. He desperately tries to pull the rope of his neck but it wouldn't let go. He soon began to loose control of his body. His eyesight began to fade. He looked around, hoping to find anything to help...then he saw Ellen sitting on the wooden chair. He never realized he was on the ground until now, he looked up at Ellen. She wore a white dress and a bright smile. With the last of his breath he uttered her name "Ellen..." the world begins fading to black. After a few chimes air begins to fill his lung, his eyes open to the sight of Arya at his side. He quickly looks at the chair to find Ellen gone. He stands up to see he was in the same room as before, at least now he had his dear creation by his side. He pats her head as he always does to reward her for taking care of the "snake". "Good job," Kaik said. "Thank you Master," She responded. A look of shock fills his face "Y-y-you can tal-k!?" Arya tilts her head, "Yes?" Kaik stared at his creation questioning if insanity has finally caught up to him. Arya should not have the ability to speak, yet she was talking right now. Taking into account the recent string of events that have happened to him so far he concluded one thing...he was dreaming. Still this felt so real the thought of being able to see Ellen popped into his head, he wanted to go look for her...except this room had no door. He looked at Arya and decided to test his luck, "Arya, please get me out of this room" she simply nods in response. Arya goes to the nearest wall and pulls back her arm, just as Kaik was about to say something the wall breaks at Arya's touch. She looked at me with a indifferent look, "Anything else Master?" Kaik chuckled, "No...that will be all." He stepped into the world Arya opened for him, Arya walked closely behind him. After walking aimlessly Kaik soon realized he was actually the same things he does back in the real world. He was wearing the leather armor, gauntlets, as well as his hood, unfortunately he didn't have his dagger on him. Arya looked the same as well with her leather cloak and hood. He pulled his hood up, feeling more comfortable with it on. Kaik continues walking, unsure of where he was going. He actually was enjoying this walk, nobody was around except him and Arya. The thought of living alone with all his soon too be creations brought a smile on his face, he really loved the idea. He wouldn't have to deal with the troubles of real life...he could bring back Ellen and live a happy life. His dreams were interrupted by Arya grabbing his hand. Looking ahead he could see some kind of figure, the stranger looked to waving her hand. Kaik decided against avoiding the figure, hoping this person was an actual person and could perhaps help with whatever danger this place held. The closer he walked toward the stranger, the more he felt nervous. Kaik now stood in front of the stranger. She looked more like man, but with the long hair Kaik was sure she was a girl. Though it didn't really matter to him if the stranger was a guy or girl, Kaik didn't hold any biases against people...excluding the extremely religious...as long as the conversation didn't fall to religion he'd be fine. "H-Hello!" the stranger said. He takes notice of the pack of puppies, ignoring them he says, "Hi...er...my name is Kaik...what's yours?" Pulling down his hood he asks a question, "You don't-...do you know where we are?"