I own nothing.


Mist.

All around him, curling towards the warm body in the center of the small grove. It thickened, so the dreamer could not tell if it was day or night. The cool droplets of water laid to rest on his skin, pleasantly cool and incredibly real. It seemed that the dreamer was not dreaming, but simply in another world - one where everything was vivid and bright and, somehow, at the same time, calm and subdued. Fingers of the thick, mysterious fog trailed outward, snaking lazily towards him, caressing him with cool hands and soft touches. It seemed to almost whisper.

Come, come. There are many secrets I must show you.

The voice was unfamiliar, but the dreamer knew it would not harm him. Just as he knew the mist was not trying to conceal something from him, only loving him, caressing him.

As all creation here caressed and loved him.

The dreamer moved through the mist, knowing, in that way dreamers do, that the voice lay to the east of the grove. The mist parted to reveal the sun suspended in eternal sunrise, letting the dreamer know the way. He was pushed by a breeze from the west. Rocks rolled out of his way, and the ground smoothed, so that the dreamer would not fall. Soft grass twined around his ankles, longing for a simple touch. The dreamer walked for many hours - or maybe it was only an instant - into the sun. He came to a raging river. The dreamer slowly stepped into the water, letting his robe slip off of his arms and float away once he had gotten to shoulder level. He continued, submerging his head in the cool liquid. The current tugged at his arms and legs, pushing him to its destination.

Do not worry. The river will take you, and I will show you my secrets.

The force of the water lifted the dreamer and carried him away.