[Grimsby Grove] AAAAAAAA (Deep Dream)

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"

"CHILD."

"CHILD, LISTEN TO ME."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-"

"CHILD. YOU HAVE BEEN SCREAMING. FOR 15 MINUTES."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaa…?"

"CALM YOURSELF."

The hulking beast shifts in the water, jostling the birdlike boat and forcing Rhett to focus on not tumbling over the side into the depths of its… home? rather than screaming. Rhett had initially thought of this as any old mundane, if terrifying, nightmare, but yelling at the top of their lungs- for 15 minutes, apparently, says this creature who has apparently been counting- hasn't done anything to change their environment nor circumstances, nor has their best friend Juliette woken them up. Which begs the question, what in the HECK is going on here, Rhett? Why are you yelling at this thing, how did you get here, what the effing-

"Wh- AAARGH!!"

While Rhett has been mulling over their situation- okay, they admit that getting distracted in a water nightmare with a monster is not the best of tactics- the creature has adjusted its position, leaning down so its one visible eye is now at Rhett's level, a haunting werelight illuminating their immediate area and plunging the outermost surroundings into deeper darkness in comparison. Said surroundings are only now perceivable to Rhett by the sound of discordant dripping, and an eerie almost-song, one that presumably has been playing for centuries if not millennia, and will likely play that much longer.

Of course, upon noticing this, Rhett jumps nearly a mile and only with great reaction time- a learned response from several previous disasters- do they keep themselves from toppling out of the small boat entirely. As they recover, the eye seems to squint at them, an expression that Rhett has not often been on the other end of except when first meeting certain types of Den Staff who have only just become aware of their… exploits. Rhett feels scrutinized, and they shrink back under that knowing gaze. Vaguely they wonder if this creature knows them somehow.

"TIME DRAWS SHORT. WE MUST DISCUSS."

Discuss? Is this because of something they did? Ididntdoitpleasedon'teatme-

The creature pauses, and a rattling sigh can be heard echoing across the expanse of its domain.

"I AM NOT YOUR GUARDIAN."

Rhett stops cringing and looks at the creature, absolutely flummoxed. Is this… being… referring to the Den Parents? Is it worried about confusion on that front? Den Parents can be…a handful, sure (and would likely see Rhett as such in turn), when they're threatening time-outs or lost free time, or broccoli, but… but… Rhett blinks. They are beginning to feel a bit awkward about all this. This being is not behaving entirely the way Rhett would expect a monster to behave. It seems… old, they don't have any sort of frame of reference for this, just a feeling… and… very tired. They'd definitely be tired after getting yelled at for 15 whole minutes. Seriously, Rhett, do you ever think before you act?

"CHILD…"

The being pauses.

"WHAT IS IT YOU DESIRE? YOUR KIND ARE CREATURES BORN TO STRIVE. WHAT DO YOU STRIVE FOR?"

Rhett is still slightly taken aback, but grins suddenly, knowing what they want, it's what any kit wants, right?

"I wanna be cool!" They blurt out, thinking of all the awesome folk they've seen that they would want to emulate. They could be a big hero in the Adventurer's Guild, Juliette by their side, and nothing could stop them! The two of them against the world, they wouldn't need anyone else, partners in -crime- adventuring forever! Juliette would get a kick out of this dream, they can't wait to tell her all about the big scary water monster and how it didn't eat them even after they yelled at it for 15 whole minutes!!

And yet…

The being sighs again, low and discordant, and starts to turn away. Rhett gets they feeling they've disappointed it. They feel a flash of panic- they can't afford to disappoint others anymore, they can't-

"A-and-"

The being pauses in front of them, allowing them to continue, a second chance, perhaps.

"--and I wanna protect my friend!" Rhett yells out, and this, though quieter than their screaming before, seems to echo around the area, a promise of sorts.

"Because, because, she, she is really clever and really cool and all, and she protects me, but sometimes she gets sad, and, and I wanna return the favor!"

The being moves to speak, but Rhett isn't done.

"She's really special and she doesn't always realize it, and sometimes kits are too loud around her, and it's hard, but she stays anyways because she's with me, and I know I'm not always enough, but she stays… even when I didn't."

Rhett is referring to the time Juliette's tail first bit them, and they yelled and ran away. They ran away! How could they, they could see that she was sorry, that she didn't mean it, and they just left her!

It is their greatest regret, and their head and tail droop just thinking about it. Juliette had been sad and afraid, had thought that they hated her for it, and even though they had tried their hardest to find her and make it up to her immediately, she had gone and hid in the Whispering Caves for two whole days, and while Rhett had eventually found her and they had made up and Rhett had assured her that the tail was a part of Juliette, and they liked Juliette, they could handle the tail they just didn't want to lose her again, the mental anguish of knowing they had so badly hurt their best friend, their closest companion and partner in crime, still often woke them up at night.

So they tried to be cool, to never let her down again, and look what had happened! They had dropped the caramel apples, fallen into the apple bobbing pool, and surely ruined every-

The boat wobbles as the being shifts in the water, jolting Rhett out of their ruminations as they quickly grab hold of the false swan's neck for balance. The larger being's gaze locks onto the kit, scrutinizing again. Rhett is rendered speechless as they stare back into that bright orb, suddenly beginning to wonder… is this really a dream?

"YOUR REGRET WILL DRIVE YOU TO STRIVE HARDER. IT IS… A CHARACTERISTIC OF YOUR SPECIES. YOU HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO GROW, TO LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES."

Rhett is still speechless, but their ears droop a bit less at this, this sort of… reassurance. They're still going to make sure they never hurt Juliette again, they think, they hope- but she did seem to forgive them wholeheartedly and they want to make it up to her. And to do that, to learn, to grow… that is worthwhile. They nod eagerly.

"I CAN SUPPORT YOU IN THIS. BUT, FOR ME TO DO SO, YOU MUST GIVE IN TURN."

This surprises Rhett, but they take it in stride. Even if this is just a dream, though they're starting to suspect otherwise, the fact that this being wishes to support them gives them a warm and pleasant feeling in their phylakardia, in contrast to the damp air of their surroundings. They nod again, grinning. Then, as an afterthought- stupid, Rhett, what would Juliette say- they ask, "So, uh, what do you want exactly? I-I mean, I'll try, but I don't have a lot of acorns at the mo-"

"I DO NOT REQUIRE YOUR KIND'S CURRENCY. YOU WILL DO ME FAVORS, WHEN ASKED. IN EXCHANGE I WILL SUPPORT YOU IN ACHIEVING YOUR DESIRE."

Rhett nods once more. That sounds fair, they think. Glancing around the area, they realize that the shadows seem a bit darker, that many of the floating lights have dimmed. They shiver, suddenly realizing how cold the air has gotten.

"OUR TIME TOGETHER IS NEARLY AT ITS END… FOR THE MOMENT."

The boat rocks in the suddenly turbulent water and Rhett yelps and reaches for something to hold onto. In what seems to be almost a replay of the aforementioned apple bobbing accident, they miss the edge of the boat and tumble into the churning waves.

"WE WILL SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN."

The voice echoes in their ears as Rhett goes under, struggling for another few moments before remembering the being's words, and, belatedly, that this is all just a dream.

Learn from this.

Rhett stops struggling and lets the water claim them. They feel a coldness seep into their limbs, though their phylakardia still maintains a sense of warmth- and then, a sharp pain.

And then-

Rhett shivers as they come to their senses, drenched in ice-cold water but otherwise safe in their room in the Den. Juliette is awake and raising an eyebrow at them, and at the water in their fur, but they don't know what to say, other than blinking slowly with the realization that somehow, perhaps, that was more than a dream.

Perhaps they'll tell Juliette about it some other time.

Right now, they have a lot to think about.