#dreaming

She stands up and brushes off the dust.

Well, that was mortifying, and unvictorian.

A flash..and Earl and the Cyclops appear

"Zara?" He says ready to rip the dreaming apart to look for her

Huff!

Oh, the Cyclops is there, too. And he saw it. She hides her face behind webbed hands.

"Well met and how's it hanging?" The Cyclops says "I'm Squeeky"

....

Eyebrow.

A look at Earl, letting him speak for the two of them.

"Squeeky, this is my Madame Raven" He says "She goes by many names, but in the Dreaming, one cannot be too careful"

Squeeky nods "Of certes and right on, Hunter," The cyclops says with an understanding nod, then says 'Raven, don't be embarrassed, the stars of the void got me too"

A hand on her chest, and she bows with as much dignity as she can muster.

"Charmed and awesome to metccha" Squeeky says "Don't worry, I'm not one of those canabal Cyclops. In fact, I'm a Vegan"

Earl raises a brow "A vegan?"

Zara mimes possum ears.

"Dude, when your dream is known for devouring sapient flesh, or being tempted to ? it's best to just not start at all... I mean, sure, you start with something like a ham sandwich, then next thing you know, BAM... 'long pork' jokes and ... you rationalize. Slippery be the slope" Squeeky explains

Zara nods, understanding.

"Better safe than sorry" Earl says "Now, what were you doing in this lovely death trap anyway?"

Squeeky says "I was hoping to go to the islands of the seasons. I hear there's a wiseman there"

Earl looks at Zara, and raises a questioning brow.

She balances her hands, shrugs - seems fair to her!

"Why don't you come with us for a time" Earl says

Squeeky says "Dude, that would be sweet!" he says "And comrades in arms are boons"

"Why do they call you squeeky anyway?" Earl says as he gently lifts Zara up to his shoulder anew

"Ever hear the really big cyclops talk? It's like a bass singer going through an oil drum... humans would merely call me a tenor, but to my own kind? i'm Squeaky. So Squeeky it is" The Cyclops says

A soft chuff, amused.

Earl smiles at that

THe three head on towards the end of the coil, they have to avoid where the void stars dwell, averting their eyes....which should be easy, right?

Zara grips hard, willing herself NOT to look... no..

Despite the fact the void stars have so many answers to so many secrets

"I love you" Earl whispers low

to catch her attention, and because it is true

She nuzzles his hair, and he can feel her simple nod in reply.

And they pass the void stars and come at last to the end of the coiled Canyon

Leading out of that canyon is a bridge, crafted of music, silver notes thank goodness. As they walk, it plays something like a piano...

It's not too loud..

Squeeky falls behind a bit for some reason

Zara keeps an eye on the cyclops as Earl looks ahead.

Squeeky goes back to one part of the bridge, then moves to another... then back again...

Heart and Soul...

Earl head whips as the Cyclops appears to be recreating the scene from Big

The vegan looks up when caught ,and blushes "had to do it"

A raspy rattle.

And silent applause!

Blushing, the cyclops bows "Mother believed a non cultured cyclops was doomed to sharpend log in the eye. Respect the classics, she said."

"Wise woman" Earl fights a smile and loses a bit

A firm nod, agreeing.

And they make their way up and come along onto what seems to be almost an alleway of a trod, as if they had entered a great city they could not see beyond the walls of.

Mind you, it is a wide alley, for Earl walks easily enough through itt