Joan groaned…
She had the strangest dream. In it, a creature akin to a gargoyle took her deep underground to the world of the fey – like the storybooks. The creature hauled her on its back to a place filled with music and dancing.
Though the residents' appearance was strange, they were well-tempered, and much nicer than Josh and his gang.
The creatures danced around a roaring fire, gulping mugs of something called "grog."
Joan wished she could stay, but the waking world demanded her return. When she woke, these nighttime fantasies would disappear.
She stirred, cracking one eyelid only to frown. It was still dark. Only one small light illuminated the room. Joan blinked, clearing her sleepy eyes.
"Christian? You up?" she mumbled, fumbling for the edge of the bed, but instead of coarse sheets, her hand fell on cool stone. "What in the…?"
As her eyes adjusted, she discerned vague shapes. She lay on the ground, a blanket draped over her. A small pillow nestled beneath her head.
Joan sat up, rubbing her aching shoulder. Sleeping on hard surfaces always made her stiff. Usually she remembered where she'd fallen asleep.
With a shiver she draped the blanket around her shoulders.
Her dream flooded back – the creature taking her to another world…
She shook her head. It was just a silly dream.
Her eyes fell on the light's source. A stone. It glowed golden.
Joan hauled herself up and took the three steps to the stone. Her hand hovered over it. Warmth filtered through her fingers. She picked it up, turning it over, looking for the battery slot, or an on/off switch. Nothing.
Maybe it was luminescent? No, it was too bright. She shrugged and held it up like a flashlight.
Looking around, she noticed the posters papering the walls. Beautiful landscapes and breath-taking fantasy worlds stood on display.
Joan gasped as she recognized a poster from the theatre – Tristan and Isolde. The young lovers stood on a wind-swept ocean shore. Her eyes lingered on the image for half a minute before moving on to the rest of the room.
A table sat nearby, holding dozens of broken pottery pieces. The shards lay in even rows, arranged by shape or pattern. Joan picked up one piece and examined it, wondering what the fragments were for.
Worn books piled up against the far wall. Each salvaged volume represented a different subject: history, philosophy, science. Joan spotted Les Misérables tucked into a stack of epic novels.
"Ow!" she hissed, hopping back on one foot as pain shot up her leg. "Who put a rock here?" She looked at the floor. Shock sent her scrambling to the other side of the cave.
Sprawled on the floor, asleep, lay a creature, its hide rosy pink. Its pointed eyes, hooved feet, and smooth, black hair triggered Joan's memory.
The Proud Hogs… bothering her. Josh… this creature.
With a gasp, Joan dropped the glow-stone.
Her dream… was real.
Horrified, Joan stared at the sleeping creature. Was this… its home? Where were they? She saw no windows. Were they underground – like in her dream?
Joan's pulse pounded in her ears as her mind sharpened.
She remembered Josh, ready to cut her, and then this creature attacked him and gave the rest of the Punk Sharks a sound beating, its movements mesmerizing – dancelike.
Joan remembered the creature's grin – showcasing its neatly rowed, sharp teeth.
She crept toward the creature again. She knelt and reached out with a shaky hand to touch the brightly colored hide. Hard – just like stone. The ache in her foot made her grimace.
Without a sound, Joan got up and backed away.
She jumped at a loud clang. Half a second later, it was accompanied by a bang and two clunks. Joan inched toward the sound. A faint glow emanated from an opening in the far wall. Joan tiptoed to it. A short tunnel. She followed it and found herself outside the small cave. From a nearby overlook, she saw buildings, made of everything from Christmas lights to glow-stones – just like the one inside the cave.
Joan caught her breath. Creatures of all shapes, sizes, and colors milled in the streets below. Horns, fangs and tails sprouted from each one. Some of them walked upright while others bounded on all fours.
She leaned over the overlook railing, enthralled.
They acted just like she would expect a human community to: constructing new buildings, drinking from tall mugs, selling wares. She squinted at one vendor's booth, stifling a snort. Old, holed shoes?
Joan watched the vendor's exchange with one customer as he presented a shoe. The customer took it, examined it, and then nodded before paying for the shoe and stuffing it in its mouth. Joan stuck her tongue out and grimaced as the creature happily chewed its leather snack.
Her feet moved without her notice, taking her down to the city, all fear forgotten.
Joan knocked into one creature.
"Hey! Watch where you're going!"
"Oh! Sorry." She shrank away and looked up into glowing, golden eyes.
"It's okay." The big creature grinned at her. "Just be more careful." It shook its head. "Humans are silly."
Joan blinked in disbelief as the creature sidled away.
Two seconds later it whirled around. "Huh… human?" It stared at her again. "Aaaaarh! That's not one of our humans!" it bellowed, pointing at her.
Joan screamed and darted away, but the creature's alarmed yell followed her. "Human! Strange human intruder! Humaaaaan!"
All eyes fixed on her. She ran amidst the shouts of "Human!", "Get the flesh bag!", and "Intruder!" The creatures swarmed. Joan dodged swiping arms, legs, and tails.
"I'm sorry!" she cried. "I'm sorry – I'm sorry – I'm sorry!" A blank wall trapped her. Joan faced the approaching sea of creatures.
"Human!" one shouted. "Not one of ours!"
"I –" Joan's lip quivered. "I'm sorry!" She fell to her knees, holding her face in her hands, crying.
The crowd quieted. They stared at Joan as she sobbed, her small body shivering.
"What are you all looking at? Let me through. Get out of the way, I say! Out of the way!"
Joan dared a glance as a bombastic voice broke through the group. Another creature shoveled aside those in its way. The newcomer, by far the oddest looking of the bunch, was blue. Christmas lights dangled from the staff he grasped in one of his four hands. Six wide eyes stared at Joan.
The creature blinked, then gave her a soft smile. "What have we here…?"
Joan edged backward, bumping against the wall.
"It's all right, my dear," the creature assured. "We won't hurt you." He held up two of his hands. "Easy now. Take a deep breath. Relax."
Joan sucked in a shaky breath.
"Good. Just breath," the blue creature instructed, his voice kind. "We'll do it together, see? In –" He took a deep breath. "And out." He exhaled in tandem with Joan. "Very good. Feeling any better?"
Joan swallowed and nodded.
The creature smiled. "Perhaps you can tell me how you got down here?"
Joan gulped. "You… have six eyes."
"Indeed," it replied. "And they are excellent eyes. Why, how anyone manages with just two, I shall never understand."
Joan rose, her eyes never leaving the creature's face as she approached, hand extended.
The creature took a step forward, allowing her to touch his face.
Joan's fingers met warm stone. Unlike solid rock, his hide moved with his differing facial expressions. "Wow," she breathed as her fingers brushed his cheek and then his nose. "Just… Wow."
"You see, there's nothing to be afraid of," the blue creature offered. "I'm Blinkous Galadrigal, but most people call me Blinky." All six eyes blinked. "What may I call you?"
"I – I'm J-Joan," she stuttered. "This – this is unbelievable." She twined a strand of hair in her finger and uttered an expletive.
"Ahem! Language." The blue creature frowned. "I'll have you know this is a fine city, and we don't tolerate such language here!"
"Oh… I'm sorry." Joan glanced at the nearby heaps of trash, then looked back at Blinky, a smile tugging at her lips. "This… This is."
"Yes?"
"Incredible!" Joan exclaimed. "Like an old fairy tale! What is this place? Do you all live here?"
"We do indeed." Blinky motioned for her to follow him. "We can go elsewhere to talk." He squinted at the crowd. "Somewhere with fewer prying eyes."
Joan took a step and stumbled. Blinky caught her.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Yes. I just… It's amazing… To think… there are people out there, living their entire lives dreaming about seeing something like this, and here I am – talking to a… whatever you are," Joan replied.
Blinky chuckled. "Why, I'm a troll, dear girl. Everyone here is a troll, excepting a few." He started through the crowd. It parted for him.
"A troll…" Joan breathed. "A real troll. I thought you lived on the internet."
"I'll have you know that sharing a name with those computer bullies is very offensive!" Blinky said. "Why, I never! A true troll has better things to do than post such vile things on the computer net. A troll is a creature of etiquette and courtesy."
The troll next to Joan burped and spit out half a steering wheel then picked his teeth with a bicycle spoke.
Joan looked from the mangled wheel to Blinky as the troll cleared his throat and said, "It's a very silly comparison."
Joan stifled a laugh.
"You seem to be doing better," Blinky commented. "That's good."
"This is like a dream," Joan said. "A whole other world… right under the city. It's… really nice."
"You think so?" Blinky asked.
Joan sighed. "Then again, anything is better than up there."
"I'm sorry?" Blinky glanced back at her.
"Never mind."
Blinky led her through the rest of the crowd. "Come, Ms. Joan. My keep is this way. We can talk more there."
"O-Okay." Joan stuck close to Blinky as they trekked through the troll city.
Editted by dtill359