A-Dream.Txt - 5/9/2004 By SwampRat A dream that woke me demanding I write it down. Please feel free to use or add to as you wish. It began thusly - Tyril, deep in the mines, calls to the others. - Grab what you can and run. - But what of you? - I will stay and hold the beam as long as I can. And so they grabbed all the ore they could and ran towards the surface, saddened at the loss of such a one as Tyril.. Shamefully glad it was not They who held the broken beam. < So - Playing Hero again.. What would you have of me? > He was not shocked to hear the Voice. Gods were always present in his life. - Rescue my friends from their plight. < Done. > * * * * 3 friends in a deep pit Sigh and stare at the markings on the wall, knowing they will die soon of hunger, having reached the end of their provisions. They clasp hands.. And suddenly appear on a patio high above a city. - What? - How? - Who cares! We are free.. Laughing they embrace, and chatter about what they shall do now they are alive. They divide what they have left into 4 portions, inviting the only other being who had stayed with them - a bird like creature they found and nursed back to health. - Masters? They laughed. - You are not owned... We found you in the woods, hurt and starved. We brought you home, fed you, kept you warm. You are a friend, not a slave, and may come or go as you choose. The 'bird' leaps up and down, trilling a song of happiness. The males laugh and eat, not understanding the song - But another listener, lower down in the terraces, Does. * * * * Tyril sighed softly and let the beam go, ready to let his life pay for the others. But when the beam breaks and the roof meets the floor, there is no body to feed the dry earth. In the Village of the Mind, in the gourd of a worker, he appears. Scratched, weak, but still alive. The worker pulls back from the apparition, fearful but also intrigued. Such an interesting creature. The Mind gestalt's for a moment, recognizing the race, but wondering why is is here - Very far from it's home. Tyril shakes his head, not wondering at all... The Gods have decided he is to live a while longer. - Hello. He says to the being who called himself/themselves 'Worker'. Smiles at the look - He has never believed himself attractive, but many others have thought so. His stomach makes a rude noise, and they both laugh, hunger being universal. As the male makes a simple pie, he pulls some dried meat from his pouch to add to it.. And falls to the floor as The Voice again calls to him. < You have suffered much, Born it well - You have earned your Fathers Blessing/Curse. > His Father - A great male who was driven from tribe to tribe because he never aged. Gave advice and healed all he met, but always seemed to have to Kill because of others who desired his curse. Wracked with pain as he is transformed, he cries out.. Immediately, the worker jumps on top of him, holding his limbs still, lest he break them. < Leave - He must bear this alone > - No! This male is too handsome to be so disfigured.. The termite-like creature would have *blushed* at being so bold, but never had he felt like this for another.. One so beautiful should Stay so. Flowers were scarce and none would pluck their petals to to mar them. < Would you change places with him? Take his pain? > The Mind didn't hesitate a moment - As one it said 'YES!' < So Be It. > The worker felt his legs snap with the pressure of the agony that flooded him. And healed again. Again he would have blushed - A lowly worker being treated as one would the Royalty. He was broken and healed many times before they both lay still and panting. < It is done. > Above the village the image of a diamond and the image of a ruby came together to form a pink heart. The light showered down upon the creatures, and wherever it touched earth a rose plant grew. < You are now and forever named The Rose Colony, Symbol of Pure Blood. > More workers streamed in, taking both males to a healing chamber to rest, watching their bodies stripe with white and red, replacing the muddy brown of their hides. Here the dream ended - As does my narrative. End