#dreaming

"It's beautiful really" He says,

A nod, followed by gesture indicating great size.

"Yes, even as I grow bigger it will be a long walk. May I put you on my shoulder love?"

She considers, then nods.

Gently, he hoists her up, not like a doll, nor even an infant, ,but offering her a lift up as if she were queen about to take throne on a dias

She takes his hand, and scales... settling up high, as much a queen as any cat.

And down into the coiled Canyon they go. Were Earl here alone, he might find himself lost for months, maybe even years- not because he is foolish, but because the nature and magic of the canyon works to puzzle, to baffle...

but Zara has, in her own quests, become very good at puzzles

She rests her head atop his, her hands gently holding on to his antlers - a slightly higher set of keen eyes. She points out dangerous turnings.

Indeed, Zara may find herself enjoying this! It's rather like a constant weave and reweave of threads done like a game of cats craddle!

Whole passages shift one way, only to go widdershins with timing. The secret is to move into the direction of the change, make it work for you

More direction - Earl is rewarded with kisses when he goes the right way.

This does not detract from the sights about them in the slightest... a deep blue river that has flying fish leap out and fly for short moments, their scales paler than her flesh yet seeming to embrace the moonlight. Deep black ravens fighting over a song... instead of caw caw caw, the one that has the song sing better than any lark... until another raven 'tags' them, and now it sings with that song instead. As they go deeper, she fancies she even sees those moons they befriended

And the kisses make him smile, and yes, he is motivated... soon the troll leans into the proper 'slope' of the change

She can't hum, not really - even less so, here. But the broken sound from her throat is a happy one.

A few hours later, by turning the coil's energy to their use, they are nearing its end. When they hear a voice

"Help!"

Zara straightens, craning her neck to look for the source.

From her elevation, the sound is very clear as is the direction! Dangling from a ledge of the Canyon is a figure big enough to be a troll...but the skin tones are wrong. She's seen something like this before.. it's a Cyclops! Far smaller than the one she stole from, but their families do vary!

"Help!" He says again. HIs voice is not as deep as one would think it would be. A lovely Irish Tenor....not that he's singing for help

She frowns. Is he touching silver? A bit far to ken...

Earl strides closer, staying on the silver himself.

And the cyclops is on the silver! Mind you, that only keeps him safe from ngihtmare chimera and the like...

not falling down into the ravening void full of hungry lovecraftian stars

"The stars are ravenous!" One star says twinkling with sharp teeth

"Okay, these things art officially freaking me out"

"Oh my honor as a spaniard..."

The cyclopes says "No good, I've known too many spainards?"

Earl raises a brow "I kind of have to help him, love. He's on the silver even" And Earl moves with two strides to the cyclops

and offers his hand.

Zara balances, not objecting to Earl aiding the creature.

The cyclops grabs on "A troll, thank the bones !"

And Earl lpulls him up.

She tilts her head, watching.

The cyclops is grateful, but stays on the ground for a moment "Whew, thou art a bro indeed, good troll. But give me a moment to reclaim winds."

As Zara stares past the cyclops, she can see the lovecraftian stars below... so bright, so full of madness and gloom.. it's almost alluring

She leans closer, dark eyes reflecting the stars - no whites left, this deep in the dreaming, no, they are black pools.., pools of midnight, now star-strewn...

"Zara" A voice says... but what is the voice of one compared to the gibbering wisdom of the void? She steps off the ledge and...

a hand catches her "Got her" A different voice.

Hisss!

"Quick, before she squirms" Earl's voice... how limited. He stays earl no matter what

Indeed, that's her tactic... fighting the grasp, twisting and contorting.. oh, she could TOUCH that void!

She pools and drips and falls from the cyclop's grip to land into the trolls? A flash...

and she finds herself far from the edge, about a mile.

Alone...

no void to leap in

A tiny groan.

And she comes too!

Blink. Blink. Huff.