Those cats who wish to join the dream walking must do so as invisible ghostly observers or if they have the ability to manipulate dreams themselves, active participants.

The burden who's dreamscape they are entering is old but evidently dreams of a younger version of himself. He dreams of being on something floating on water. It is unsettling for cats. The thing resembles the white thing that Seeker saw in the picture. Though it is difficult to know from seeing a picture to being on something that moves unsettlingly across water. The sea sprays up over the front of the vessel as they are propelled forward by a flapping piece of cloth. The man seems happy though a little bit sad, as if missing someone or something.

Tiger-Lily

She has no ability to affect dreams but feels that with her awareness of the supernatural she should at least hang around to watch out for the others.

Bringer


On an impulse he soon at least partially regretted, Bringer allowed himself to be pulled into the dream sequence as an observer only.

He drew back from the image of the water, snarling silently, even though he realized it could not really touch him.

Soot

This thing is similar in nature, though larger, to what her Burden has taken her on before. The large, flapping white thing is new though."
She would work to bring in the spirit and cats who wish to come.

Clearly only Bringer was cat enough to take on the dream world. Just the pair were there with Bringer as an observer. It was up to Soot to direct and or organize how things were to go. She had led other burdens through dream scapes, but never a spirit.

[OOC: The spirit isn't in view yet, maybe it has to be called/invited? Tis up to Soot now.]

Soot breathed in the Burden's breath and slowly formed the dreamscape. Knowing how Burdens liked their organization (silly though it might seem), she issued an invitation to the spirit. Come, please come and speak with the one here on the water. Do not stay apart where one cannot speak - come and share if you will.

Carefully, as if stalking a shadow or leaf, Soot would open the way.

Bringer, with a twisted upper lip, silently snarled.

He did not like this dream stuff but, at the same time, it was strangely intriguing.

He'd wait and see... perhaps he could learn a true name or two.

The wind in the dreamscape buffeted fur and spray assaulted them. Yet the spirit seemed drawn to the scene that Soot was sharing. One word long and drawn out came from the spirit's form "yyyeeeeesssss," as she followed the little black cat.

Soon the trio were on the bobbing flapping thing in the middle of all that salty water. The burden seemed happy with a smile upon his face, yet sad with his mouth slightly down turned. From his features both cats can imagine that he is younger than now that he is lying in the fluffy warm thing. Probably about a cat's life younger.

The spirit seemed to notice the difference "why is he just like I remember him."

"You could speak with him, wake him if you wish." Soot would concentrate on 'waking' the slumbering Burden within the dream if that is what the spirit wishes.

The conversation could help, and she had woken and spoken with Burdens before to soothe them from their fight anger. Mostly it was the male Burdens like that. They were very much like fighting toms in that, though fighting toms could put that to the side more readily.

Bringer


Bringer could only observe and so that is what he did.

The spray of water was putting him into a rather foul mood, however.

"I miss him. It is so cold there. At least when I come back it is light." She didn't answer about waking him. It might seem as if she didn't hear it, didn't understand it, or purposely didn't choose to comment.

Though after a pause she asked "what would happen if you woke him or made him see me?"

"He sees it as a dream so conversation and talk may happen," Soot said matter of factly. "They are often more willing to speak and know. The waking world is not kind and darkens here at times."

"How would he see me? I don't want to remind him of my death."

Assuming a good answer the spirit says "then wake him and let me speak with him."

Soot would carefully build the image the spirit wanted - though the descriptive powers between the two might at times be lacking. She jumped up on the bed and lapped at the Burden's eyes and ears.

"Hear, see," she said. It was more for the spirit's benefit but Soot was quite pleased with herself and her tail was at a jaunty angle.

The burden seemed to turn his head in the dream and looked beyond Soot to the vision she wanted him to see, that of his wife. The man smiled and offered his arms wide. The spirit moved forward to embrace the man.

Soot watched and waited. She would interfere as needed to help move things along, but she was hoping that they could learn more just from the conversation.

If not, perhaps the spirit would be able to be more forthcoming after.

The woman moved in close to give the man a hug.

[OOC: We will see how it goes as there is something happening in the real world as well. ;)]

The spirit continues to advance on the burden and reaches forward to give him a hug. Soot can smell the strong odor of the sea almost too real to be a dream.

Soot

The dreamer is in charge of the dream, Soot reminded herself. Speak to her, she urged the dreamer. call her by name.

Soot puffs up a bit, though she'd ridden in the floating things it doesn't mean she likes the water all that much. She moves closer to the figure, attempting to solidify her and reduce the sea.

The sea calms almost instantly. In fact without the spray the strange ungulating movement isn't to upsetting.

The spirit still continues forward and the old man burden raises his arms to embrace her.

Bringer


The big cat continued to observe closely, hoping to begin to understand more of the dream and perhaps even to pick up a hint of a true name that he could use later.

It did not look likely, though, and his disposition was not cheerful.

Almost as if the cat controlled the dream, the shadow cat Bringer brought forth the desired information. The old man burden said "my love Gardenia. How I have missed you!" Standing he moved to hug the spirit.

Bringer


His eyes widened slightly and the big cat snarled silently as he mentally clutched the name to his psyche and began thinking of ways to use it.

Soot

The sea was stilled, perhaps the spirit was more solid now as well. At the very least a name had been given - it might be part or all of the true one.

The spirit and the man could speak now, though they appeared to want to make contact more, perhaps grooming or mating. Maybe this would end the difficulties they were face, or maybe it would only give them more information.

Staying alert, Soot would wait and see - blissfully unaware that anything untoward might be happening outside the dreamwalk.

The spirit looks so happy as she approaches but she slows suddenly. Her steps falter and she looks around as if trying to understand what is happening.

To Soot and Bringer everything seems as it was a moment ago in the dream walk. Yet both cats know something is up. Just not what.

Bringer


Bringer looked from the spirit to the burden and then to Soot, obviously puzzled.

Soot

Her tail puffed up a bit as she watched. This wasn't right. This wasn't what dreamwalks had been like before in her experience. She tensed and got ready to end the dream if needed.

The spirit looked to the burden. The old man burden looked back his eyes raining.

The spirit said "I can't be here. I want to but I will just hurt him, hurt everyone. I don't want to hurt anymore. I miss him. I miss Sadie."

Sadie was the name of the cat that drown. Or at least that was her human name.

Soot

She asks quietly, "How will you hurt him or others? What can we do to help you?"

"I don't know. I just killed my lovely little Sadie. I sat down and petted her. I saw Herman bury her. I know I did it. Who else could have?"

Soot

"You are of water. Water and air breathers like Sadie and the one here don't work well together. That shouldn't be a problem here, but I don't know. Maybe you can just talk and not walk too close? You can tell him why you can't visit more."

"But I want to visit. I don't want to be alone anymore. I would give anything to be done with this. I want it all to be over. No more torture, no more pain." The spirit looked to the cat and in the dream the spirit cried.

Soot

She lashed her tail - it wasn't in annoyance as much as confusion. Perhaps the spirit could speak more freely here. "You said you must come? That you made a deal? With whom?"

The spirit seemed to want to answer but finally settled for "I can't say it was part of the agreement. I get to come here and see those I love. But I must come when called. Do things. If I don't there is pain." She shook her head that was all she could or would say.

Soot

"You two can talk here. Say the things you want to say and he will feel better for knowing you could talk. Then maybe you should leave. If you don't come back to look, the agreement is broken and you won't have to hurt anyone anymore?"

She wasn't sure, but if one didn't get anything from the bargain, it could be broken she thought.

The spirit looked briefly hopeful but then shook her head. "I can't refuse the call. And it would hurt them. I mean him if I didn't come."

Soot

"Why don't you talk to him about it?" She bobbed her head in the direction of the burden. "See what he wants."




ooc I'm sorry guys, I wouldn't have made this suggestion if I'd realized it would slow things up/keep you from being able to post much.

"I miss you," she says to the burden. The man answers "I miss you too."

The spirit snaps stock still.

(OOC Don't worry you aren't. Stuff will get interesting. We are almost through this scene. )

[OOC Not a worry Raven ]

[OOC: I really like the dream idea, actually. Any frustration uttered by Seeker is his issue, not mine!]

(OOC It is an excellent idea for gathering information.)

Soot

She looked at the spirit curiously as she tried to make out what made the spirit freeze. "What is it?"

Ooc okay, I was worrying since I initially thought more might be involved.

The spirit remained stock still and gave no reaction to Soot's words.

Soot

The cat's ears and whiskers moved in what a human might interpret as a frown. Soot went closer to the spirit and circled it. Maybe bringing her into the dream world wasn't a smart move; however, it did give them a name. She hoped Bringer had marked it.

The spirit remained frozen.

Bringer


The big, rumpled looking cat glared at the spirit and concentrated on the name.

Your burden needs you, Gardenia...

Soot

Soot spoke to the Burden, "Tell me about your love," she urged.

Both cats urged the spirit to move. Only Bringer's use of its name caused any sign but even that was of the faintest of twitches. Something was definitely afoot.

ooc Did the Burden respond to Soot? Can Soot hear Bringer?

OOC I misread all that about the spirit. Response below...

The old man smiled a wistful lonesome thing "we met so long ago. Two young people trying to make their own way just before the Great Depression. She was a waitress. I was a powder monkey out near what would become the Hoover Dam. We fell in love at first sight. She in her little outfit working the casino coffee shop. OOh was she something to see."

The spirit never moved. No sign that she even heard him.

Soot

Maybe it would help. "What else would you tell her if you could?" After that, the young cat thought it would be best to dissolve the dream as they might have gotten all that they could. The spirit was troubling as well.

The old man considered for a moment. " Know that all is well. That I will be with you soon and to not worry. Rest and enjoy heaven you deserve it after a lifetime of sacrifice and hard work." He seemed to have said his piece.

Soot nods and grooms a whisker. "Very well. Sleep well and be guarded. She will dissolve the dream.

(OOC I will post in the other thread. Feel free to interact after that.)