Fragments of memories, ideas and concepts flit by, borne on a stream of subconscious thought, occasionally joining together to form more complex images that are known as dreams.
Kaela's mind drifts over the events of the past few days… the ruins… the palace… the Priest-King, and the Princess Emerald-Eyes…
The images begin to form themselves into something pretending to be solid and real, an environment within which Kaela walks, dressed in the robes she wore as a princess, except that they are dusty and dirty, and the jewelry is only glass and painted wood. She is back in the city – or a caricature of it. It looks like the ruins, except that all the people are there, walking around, cheetahs dressed in finery … but also wearing slave collars and shackles.
The Creen air-ship drifts overhead … except that its wings are flapping, and the neck sways like a real Creen's would … almost.
There is something glowing just underneath the nape of Kaela's dress, hanging around her neck. Even with the fabric covering it, it still shines, although not quite so brightly. Not yet. Some of those walking by stop what they're doing, and stare, their expressions difficult to read, for their features are fuzzy – as they often are in dreams.
Kaela looks about at the crowd, slowly pushing her way through, unconsciously moving towards the site of the palace…
The palace lies ahead, a mixture of ruin and grandeur. There are no hints of the grotesqueries that she saw, at least.
A little Creen breaks away from the trees and flutters over to alight upon Kaela's shoulder. "Good evening, Princess!" it trills in a way that Creens never do. It didn't seem before to be necessarily nighttime, but the sky obligingly darkens and the stars twinkle into place, while ghostly lights drift along the Procession as it arcs from horizon to horizon.
Kaela smiles at the Creen, reaching to offer it some of the seed and berries that she wasn't certain she'd been holding before. Her gaze, though, drifts towards the Procession, straining to pick out the glows of the Priest-King and his youngest daughter…
With a flutter of wings and a gleeful trill, Emerald-Eyes' Creen-ship flaps over toward the palace, and perches on top of the central dome, where the five columns look exactly like a hand – and, really, the Creen-ship would look about to scale in comparison to such a hand, if it were trained to come and perch on its master's glove. Only in the strangeness of dreams could such a large thing look at home, though – and somehow it manages.
Of the Procession, there are so many glowing points. Might that be the Priest-King? Might that be his wife, his three sons, his two daughters?
Kaela smiles slightly before her attention returns to the airship. Slowly, she begins to move towards the central dome of the palace, looking up at the giant airship.
Meanwhile, Kaela's pet Creen munches happily on the proffered food and trills happily, rubbing his head up against her neck. He looks up. "Ohhh. Looks like she's being naughty again. She shouldn't be up there like that. She should be back in her home, hidden away for when you want to play with her again."
The littlest Creen blinks up at Kaela. "Aren't you going to name me?" His tongue flits about, and his mouth curls into a smile in a way that Creens do not truly smile.
The giant Creen up on top of the palace gives what seems to be a jealous look at the little Creen that seems to be getting so much attention from their mistress.
Kaela grins at the little Creen, pausing for only a moment as her eye is attracted to the glowing pendant hanging from her neck. "You can be 'Hope'," she says. (Says? Somehow, it doesn't seem as strange to her… )
The Creen hmms a bit at this. "Hmm. Well, that sounds more like a girl's name, but I suppose that shouldn't really matter to me, because I'm just a silly Creen anyway, right?" He bobs his head up and down, making a trilling noise that sounds almost like a giggle.
The Creen leans his head up next to Kaela's, and nudges her to follow his gaze toward the really really big Creen on top of the palace. "Now, you haven't forgotten her name, now have you? She'd be so pleased if you remember."
Kaela gently rubs the top of the Creen's head as she looks back up towards the big Creen, smiling a bit. "FlitFar."
The gigantic Creen raises her head up high and proudly spreads her feathers, trill-laughing. With that, she leaps into the air, soars around the palace, and alights to the ground with a resounding *THUD* that sends smaller Creens flying every which way. She shuffles a bit, edging for a spot to put her gigantic head within reach for Kaela to rub the top of HER head as well … that is, if Kaela stretches a bit to reach the top.
Kaela grins up at the huge Creen, and does stretch to rub at the Creen's head. "Do you know… where Princess Emerald-Eyes is?"
The gigantic Creen closes her eyes and sighs luxuriously as her head is rubbed. Meanwhile, Hope pokes his face into Kaela's vision, upsidedown, since he has just hopped up on top of her head to perch. "Now, don't confuse poor FlitFar. I'm looking at Princess Emerald-Eyes right now!" He grins.
Kaela giggles softly. "I mean the other one!"
"OhhhHHHHHH!" says the Creen, his tongue flitting out and flopping downward in a way that looks a bit silly, because his head is upside down right now, so by his perspective, that would be UP, but … oh, nevermind that. Anyway, the Creen flutters off and alights on the ground. "Why, of COURSE we know! Do you want to see her again?"
Kaela grins and nods to the silly Creen. "Please."
Hope struts about. "Well! Climb on aboard! And I'll fly on ahead to let her know company is coming!" He flutters his eyelashes (Since when do Creens have eyelashes?) at Kaela endearingly, and then flutters into the air, flying several circles around her.
Flitfar obligingly straightens out, looking a bit more like an airship, as she begins to hover up and into the air, leaving the boarding platform resting on the ground nearby.
Kaela steps onto the boarding platform, smiling up at Flitfar.
The cables and pulleys move of their own volition, bringing Kaela up to the deck even while Flitfar is rising even higher, providing a majestic view of the jungle and the city expanse.
Kaela moves to one of the railings on Flitfar's back and peers down over the city and jungle, smiling. "Thank you," she murmurs to Flitfar.
Hope flies on ahead, a shining spot as the starlight reflects off his scales in the distance, darting and spinning about and soon vanishing into the night. Flitfar soars after, going up and out of the canyon, moving without so much as a wingstroke, more like an airship now than a Creen, even though this is an airship that moves of its own volition.
For a moment, Flitfar passes over a clearing that is dark, yet, as is the way with dreams sometimes, Kaela can still see what is inside. There is an abandoned village – the same one that she passed through briefly, shortly after landing at the City of Hands site, before having to make the trek on foot the rest of the way to the actual base camp.
Kaela smiles widely, settling down on the back of Flitfar and enjoying the ride as she looks down over the side.
The Creen-ship continues, sailing over the trees. In the distance can be seen where the jungles begin to thin out, and where the plains dominate, filled with giant reptiles and other strange things. But the ship remains over the jungle, headed in a southward course, running parallel to the ridge of mountains that looms to the west.
At last, the ship slows, coming over another small clearing. Some lights can be seen below. Fire lights. A village is nestled within the trees – one like the abandoned village, except that this one is alive, and certainly populated. The Creen-ship is too large to actually go into the clearing, though, and it waits patiently, hovering in place just above the treeline.
Kaela murmurs another word of thanks to Flitfar before moving to the boarding platform. One hand moves to the glowing pendant beneath her clothes.
It still rests there, feeling warm to the touch, still glowing, though faintly and subtly, like starlight.
The platform slowly and flawlessly descends, allowing Kaela a view of the interior of the village – huts nestled at the bases of a ring of huge trees, and a number of platforms suspended among the branches, connected by rope bridges and ladders, where the night watch can be seen keeping vigil. They seem not in the least bit disturbed by Kaela's arrival.
Below, there is a firepit in the center of the ring of trees and huts, where a meal is being cooked on a spit – Bromthen forest-hog, by the smell of it – and kittens run and play, while their elders sit about, signing tales to each other.
The platform at last touches down, without so much as a bump.
Kaela steps from the boarding platform and looks around. Casting a smile to some of the younger kittens, she pads towards the elders and waits for one of them to look towards her, hesitant to interrupt one of their tales.
A tall, handsome cheetah, bare-chested and muscular, walks up to Kaela. He looks the part of the warrior – a chieftain – and is adorned with many claws, teeth and feathers. At first, he looks fierce and menacing, but as he approaches, his gaze softens.
The chieftain signs, "She is waiting for you," and gestures toward a hut – much like the one in Kaela's last dream, though not exactly the same.
Kaela nods slightly, smiling at him. "Thank you," she signs.
He smiles back, and then turns, walking toward the circle of cheetahs around the central fire pit.
That leaves Kaela alone, the hut before her, the firepit behind, and several kittens wiggling their ears and dashing about here and there.
Kaela turns and pads towards the indicated hut.
The doorway is open, the same arrangement as before. Inside is a lone cheetah, kneeling by a bedroll, leaning over a sleepy kitten who is just on the verge of sleep.
Kaela remains silently at the door, smiling slightly at the scene.
The cheetah's hair is deep brown, spilling back over her shoulders, but when she turns to face Kaela, the face is the same as the white-haired princess she saw before … though not touched by the time of autumn, but now in the life of summer. Emerald eyes gaze back at Kaela, and the smile that was on her face for her kitten remains for the one who has just entered.
"Welcome," the elder princess signs. She looks for all the world like Kaela might some day when she reaches adulthood. Even here in the jungle, though, her bearing is that of nobility, not slave. But the royal demeanor seems to be showing through in Kaela as well.
Kaela smiles at her softly. She signs, "I have returned." Not that it wasn't evident. Though in hindsight, it seems a bit odd to say she has returned, when the last time she saw her, the other Princess Emerald-Eyes was older. Rather than think about it any more (which undoubtedly would only lead to a headache), she continues, "I have news of the Priest-King."
The first Princess Emerald-Eyes turns fully around and kneels on the dirt floor of the hut, her ears flicking to indicate that she is listening.
Kaela moves to kneel before her ancestor. She signs, "He has released his hold. He has asked for forgiveness, and joined the Procession. The City is safe once more."
There's something about those eyes – that look that seems to hint at some great barrier that is preventing her from seeing all that Kaela has to say. But she smiles nonetheless. "You have done well, my child," the elder Princess signs.
There is a look of sadness to those eyes. But in light of the whole circumstances, perhaps that is not unexpected.
Kaela smiles up at her. She signs, "We will rebuild the City. Return to it, and… " She pauses, trying to select words. "Things will be well again."
The Princess responds to this by smiling again. "You most certainly have my blessing," she signs. "May the Star shine upon you."
"You may learn of the City from your dreams – and my memories – but keep in mind that, even though I was a princess, able to go where few others could go, I could not venture into all places. You cannot learn from my memories what I have never known … and if you venture beyond the walls of my memories, what you see may not always be reality, but rather my belief," she signs.
"… or yours," she adds.
Kaela nods slowly. "I understand," she signs. "And thank you. Were it not for you, we would be slaves for all time." Not that she knows that to be true, but at the moment, she feels like it's true.
The Princess smiles to Kaela. "Is there anything more I can do for you?" she signs. "I realize, upon asking, that what I have to offer is so greatly limited."
Kaela considers this. After a moment, "We have no magic to aid us… Do you know a way to free the Twelve-Times-Twelve?"
The elder Princess signs, "All I know of the fate of the Twelve-Times-Twelve is that they shall never be freed until the Priest-King is gone from this world. But how or when … I cannot foresee." She frowns.
Kaela nods slightly. "He has gone… perhaps they are already freed… we left soon afterwards. I must thank you for your help, Princess."
The Princess pauses. "It is I who thank you, for bringing an end to this madness," she signs. "I shall be watching," she adds with a smile.
Kaela smiles, then gestures towards the sleeping kitten. "Yours?"
The Princess nods and smiles proudly.
The first Princess Emerald-Eyes reaches to brush the head-fur of the sleeping kitten, then looks back, and signs, "He is my first-born."
Kaela nods softly, smiling. She signs, "He is beautiful… " She looks down at the little kit with a soft sparkle in her eyes.
"He shall grow to be tall, swift and strong," the first Princess signs. "He shall be a wise leader, like his father."
"His father was an acolyte at the time of the fall of the city," the Princess signs. "When he comes of age, when the time is right, he too shall learn of his heritage. And so it shall be passed on with each generation." She turns back toward Kaela. "But do not worry, if your father has said nothing to you. It is not time yet." She smiles. "He cannot possibly know that you have already learned on your own."
Kaela nods slowly. "Will father be our leader?"
The Princess answers, "That shall remain to be seen," she adds, with a hint of a frown.
Kaela nods softly. "I will tell him of what has happened… on his return… "
The Princess looks to Kaela and signs, "The road ahead of you will not be easy. At times, you may have to talk it alone. But at others, you will be unable to proceed except with the aid of those who love you."
Kaela nods slowly. She signs, "Can you foresee what will happen? How it will end?"
The Princess shakes her head. "No, I cannot see," she signs. "But take heart. The Star will shine upon you. Events may not transpire just as we dream and hope, but it shall have a purpose. There are no accidents. Destiny will not succumb to Chance."
Kaela nods softly, smiling a little bit. She removes the pendant from beneath her clothes and holds it in her hands for a few moments, looking down at it. After a time, she looks back to the Princess. "Do you wish me to return from time to time? To give you news?"
The Princess shakes her head. "It shall take time before you know enough to understand, but you cannot truly bring me news in these dreams," she signs. "As I have said before, what you see is but an echo of me. Nevertheless, my true self is watching. In truth, I shall know already," she smiles.
Kaela obviously doesn't follow that. But she signs, "Well… then… can I come back sometimes when I'm lonesome?"
The Princess smiles. "Of course. And this too, I can give you – the power to command your dreams, when need be. If your nightmares should face you, if you cannot bear to face them, then send them away – and they must obey you," she signs. "After all, real dreams are but of your own creation."
Kaela nods slightly. "Thank you… " And she reaches for a hug, closing her eyes briefly.
The Princess gladly takes Kaela into her arms and gives her a hug, stroking at her head-hair, and purring.
A little Creen flits into the window and trills, "Flitfar's getting anxious! You don't want to keep her waiting all night, do you?" He trill-laughs, bouncing his head from side to side.
Kaela looks over, then back to the Princess. She pulls back slightly and signs, "I ought to go… "
The Princess smiles and nods, releasing Kaela. "Take care, my child," she signs.
Kaela smiles at her. "I will," she signs. Turning, she leaves the hut and pads back to the boarding platform.
On the way, the chieftain smiles down to Kaela as she passes. Hanging about his neck is a pendant just like the one that Kaela has, though his is not glowing like hers does.
Hope flits and dances through the air, spinning circles around Kaela all the way, trilling and chirring, and provoking smiles and hand-claps from the kittens as they watch his antics.
Kaela steps onto the boarding platform and waves to the chieftain and others as she's raised up to the back of Flitfar.
The platform raises into place, and Flitfar slowly glides along the treetops. Hope flits to a rail nearby. "Where to now, Princess?" he chirrs.
Kaela moves to the prow of the airship and stands straight, looking out to the horizon. After a deep breath, a smile washes over her face. "Home," she signs. It's been a long time.
