Sweet Dreams are Made of These

[Daniel Leto]

It was tempting to just make some stairs built into the cliffs, or grant Robby the ability to fly. But Daniel resolved to let the kid figure things out on his own.

He smiled and laughed a little at Lynn's LARPer comment but a few moments later his expression turn dark. "Do you... do you think that's something we avoid? Fantasy elements and stuff? Try to keep things more mundane so They're less likely to notice him?" It seemed a little cruel to think about removing magic from a little kids mind. Would it even make him safer. Most people he'd heard about being taken, there hadn't been a real strong pattern. Then again most Changeling didn't really talk about their capture. The gravewight only knew the stories of maybe four others besides himself.

A feeling exhilaration suddenly swept around him and the idea of a strong wind blew. Robby had started free climbing the rocks, the phoenix circling close by. The urge to interfere rose again. At least to give some safety equipment.

Daniel shock his head as he began to float upwards to keep pace. Robby was obviously enjoying himself from the feel of the dream's glamour.

"There's the obvious answer. The Sandman was able to do it. Set up a network of dream gates. Not sure if it's the best answer though. Even if we managed it, all those dreams were really intense. It could just have the opposite effect. Instead of never wanting to go to sleep, they could never want to wake up." They also didn't know much about how the Sandman had accomplished the network, though Daniel could always summon the ghost and ask.

[Lynn Mills]

"No, I don't think that begin interested in this sort of thing would attract any interest. From what I've heard, people are taken for any number of reasons. They might choose to take interest just because he has a certain color of hair or is left handed." Lynn remained seated tailor fashion, but floated up after Daniel. "We can't protect everybody, no matter what we do."

"We don't want to create a beautiful dream, you're right. We'd end up with a bunch of kids dreaming their lives away. We need to create some sort of therapy for them." Propping her chin on one fist, Lynn regarded Robby. "I wonder if regular people, using the term loosely, can even create dream gates like that. It seems a very specialized sort of thing."

[Daniel Leto]

She was right about them not having much chance of preventing anyone from being taken. There were too many factors. Daniel sent the sensation of resigned agreement fluttering to Lynn like butterfly, as he kept watching Robby climb.

A couple times a hand or foot hold gave way. The Darkling could feel his own heart speed up along with the dreamer’s each time.

“But how do you set up a dream therapy network?” If it was even possible. “We could try from the mortal side. Offer some sort of counseling for children with nightmares. Without credentials though, I don’t know how successful we’d be reaching the kids we need to. Plus the strain of maintaining a pledge that large.” Honestly, there was probably no answer that would allow them to save everyone. Some kid was going to slip through the cracks and Daniel didn’t know enough about being a real therapist or expert dream weaver to know how to implement a plan; much less plug the holes.

“We’ll have to ask Ava about the gates. I know I didn’t intentionally make the one that appeared in my dream. Just had to find it. Even if regular people can make them, it’s probably not a good idea to have mortals walking the Weave. Without the ability to change dreams it would probably be pretty dangerous.”

A screech echoed along the cliff side and giant eagle appeared through the clouds descending upon the climber. Fear flooded the dream, and Robby clung desperately cliff instinctively. However, then musical notes rang out before the terror could take hold. The phoenix sang as it circled protectively as the huge bird of prey attacked.

[Lynn Mills]

"Easy Daniel, he has to learn that he's able to fight back." Lynn reached out and patted her friend gently on the shoulder, understanding how hard it was to just stand back and not help at all.

"I'd say that we should get together with Ava and see if she's got any advice about what we can do. I know that she wants to help as much as possible as well." Lynn wanted to help in no small part because it was something that she could be doing. So many times in her life that she'd had to sit helpless, this was a time she could make a difference. "If nothing else, I know that I can send specific dreams to people, so long as I can see them. Even a picture will do. So maybe it's possible that by working together, we can craft dreams that will help, without even having to be present in their minds? I'm not sure, but I think it might help."

In front of them, Robby tucked himself into a crack, watching as the phoenix dove at the eagle. Bracing himself on one foot, the boy pulled out a slingshot, placing a rock in the pocket and aiming carefully. With a yell, he let it fly, watching in satisfaction as it blossomed into fire, striking the eagle in the face. It broke away with a horse cry, flapping away clumsily.

[Daniel Leto]

Daniel gave a small smile to Lynn, when her mind touched his shoulder. She was right of course.

"Sorry, absolute power and all that," he said as he consciously willed his dream body to sit down beside her. The temptation still remained strong but at least while cross legged there was a small mental barrier to acting on the instinct to solve every problem and prevent any suffering. However, as Robby pulled a weapon that had always been there, Lynn's point was proved. More often than not, good dreams took care of themselves.

"Getting together with Ava would definitely help. Between her and you, I'm sure we could set something." Dreams certainly seemed more of their expertise. While Daniel took naturally to dream combat, the technical occult aspects still eluded him.

Robby reached the top of the cliff, where an alpine meadow stretched out before him. In the middle was great nest of pine branches, More confidently than before, the child approached and climbed into the midst of the twigs. Once inside, the baby griffin backed into a corner before curiosity took over.

"I guess until we get together, we just keep an eye to make sure no more nightmares surface." Like a kitten with wings and a razor sharp beak, the beast cautiously approached Robby.

Alright place to wrap up? Pretty good for a scene.

[Lynn Mills]

Lynn nodded and watched Robby try and tempt the baby griffin with a bit of jerky. "Sounds like a good idea. This isn't something that we can do without a lot of planning. But it's something that's worth doing." She pulled her knees up and rested her chin on them. "Robby is good for the rest of the night. What do you say, time to wake up and make some plans of our own?"

I'm fine with a wrap up, good scene!

[Daniel Leto]

The griffin tentatively moved forward, sniffed at the jerky. Then with a quick snap that nearly took off a finger, it swallowed the meat whole.

Just like that its entire body language changed, it suddenly trust Robby implicitly. With a smile, the kid reached out and stroked the mythic beast before climbing on its shoulders. With a cry, all three took flight and headed toward the horizon. The firebird sang as they headed into the highlands. Daniel didn't follow

"Yeah, you're right. See you on the other side, then."

He smiled and nodded to Lynn. He spared one last glance at the figures disappearing into the distance. It wasn't much, but at least to night, it looked like Robby would sleep well.

End Scene.