Ashleyien opened her eyes. She was lying in the center of a small clearing in dense forest with a little flowerbed off to one side. “I’m here again? This is where I was after the portal exploded.” She wearily climbed to her feet and looked around; the mysterious woman who had appeared the time before was nowhere in site. “Hello? Is anyone out there? What happened? The last thing I remember was feeling faint after trapping Deathsinger in a whirlwind.” She spun around, examining her surroundings, “Hello?”
“I am here little one.” A familiar and friendly voice said from behind the startled warrioress.
“How? What?” she shook her head in confusion and amazement, “You just did a Dungeon Master thing! Please don’t sneak up on me like that!”
The woman laughed, “Sneak up on you? I think not; you in fact summoned me.”
“What when I asked is anyone here?”
The woman shook her head, “I guess you know not what you do. I did not bring you here, you have done so yourself. You came here to seek me so ask what you will of me.”
“WHAT!?!!? I have no clue of what you’re talking about! I didn’t choose to come here, I just did. What did you say this place was?”
“This is the Dream World and only your consciousness is here, your body is back where you left it.”
“Am I dead or only sleeping?” The warrioress asked and then a realization hit her, “But we were in the middle of a battle, my friends and I are in trouble, I can’t be here…”
“Calm down child, what has been done is done. Back in the Realm you are asleep and in danger I do believe, as are your friends. But you have come here for a reason.” The auburn-haired woman smiled gently, “You have exhausted you’re powers my dear. You are too inexperienced to do so much magic so quickly. You can fix what you’ve done but it will take time.”
Ash shook her head, “Why can’t you just say what you mean instead of talking so I have no clue of what in the world you’re saying? Are my friend alright?”
“They are in grave danger and you know that in your heart. The longer you know them the closer you are with them. Think of those you’ve know the longest and tell me how they are.”
Ash stared at the women, “How can I know how they are?” She sighed. “Okay, I’ll try. I’ve known Sterling, Dan, Thothalas and Ral the longest, but I really don’t know Ral since he’s been so quiet.”
“Forget about the Monk for now. What about the others? Close your eyes and tell me what you feel when you think of them.”
Ashley closed her eyes and pictured Sterling in her mind. She had a vague feeling that he was fairly safe and a bit worried, but that was it. “How can I know that he’s okay and worried? He’s at Venger’s place and I haven’t seen him since he went through the portal!”
“Try the others.”
Again the dark-haired girl closed her eyes and pictured the Adventurer. She had the feeling that he was in pain, “At least he’s still alive, that’s good.”
Again she closed her eyes and pictured the Elven Mage. She had the feeling that he was safe for the moment but there was something … she wasn’t sure what … then she got a strong image of an angry bunny. “Thoth must have done something that Cadbury didn’t like and I’m also sure that he’s really worried about something.” She took a deep breath and sighed, “At least they’re all alive.”
((to be continued…))
