I realized I was falling at about the same time I realized I wasn’t in any danger. My hand went through the top of the portal as if it was going through the top layer of Jello that hadn’t firmed underneath. I was halfway through the portal when it dawned on me that Tommy hadn’t really tried to stop me. I wondered briefly why, before going back to analyzing my fall.
The entire decent was like falling through that Jello. It was fast, but not fast enough that I ever felt out of control. That was when I decided to tray falling feet first instead of head. So I laid out flat, stomach down, and then pulled my knees up to my chest, that made me go faster and the treetops were getting closer now. I pushed my feet down quickly and just as I got them almost fully extended they hit the trees. I’ll never be able to explain how I missed all the branches, but by now the unexplainable was no surprise.
I landed gently as if I had taken a small step instead of falling from the sky. The thought made me look up, but the portal I had come through was either invisible or to high up to see. That surprised me, because it had seemed so close to the trees when I had been using it as a viewing globe.
I looked around curiously. It looked like a normal forest to me, not enchanted, like the one around Dream Mountain. The forest did have the feel of being older, and the trees were slightly larger, indicating this was true. The forest was alive with animals and movement and I immediately looked for the stag. I scanned the area in front of me, where I thought he’d disappeared too, but I didn’t see him or the ruffians chasing the golden beauty.
I glanced up again to the portal then shrugged. If I was stuck, I could at least explore. Maybe I could find the stag and help too. I moved slowly through the forest, surprised at my ability to walk without making a sound. It was a talent I had always wanted and suddenly it seemed like I had been born doing it.
A slight movement to my left caused me to glance that way and I saw a golden hue move slightly. So, that’s where you are hiding, boy. And just where are your not so friendly friends? Hmmmm?
A thunderous crash coming back towards me answered my question. I felt, rather than saw, the stag move from the left to behind me. Now, if the men wanted the stag, they’d have to go through me, like it or not.
The band of about seven men halted abruptly in front of me, bows at the ready. My heart was beating fast, but I schooled my face to give off a calm unruffled expression. At least, that’s what I hoped it was.
“You seem to be in a hurry,” I spoke first.
“Out of the way, girl,” the largest man in the group spoke, waving his bow at me.
“Or you will do what? Hurt an unarmed girl? What are you after that’s so important?”
“None of your business, girly,” he growled. “Now move.”
“Actually, I like this spot. I think I’ll stay. Why don’t you and your little buddies go play bows and arrows someplace else?” I was fairly sure the words were coming out of my mouth, but I had to wonder who was speaking them. Had I completely lost my mind? There were seven very large, intimidating men standing in front of me, ready to let arrows fly, and I was challenging them as if I had all the authority in the world. I must have cracked.
The men standing in front of me must have thought so too, because they enjoyed a good laugh. Finally, the leader spoke again, “Enough. It’s getting away. Move or I shoot.”
“You don’t want to do that,” I stated calmly.
“Oh, I do…” he said, pulling back on this string.
At this range, not only could he not miss, but that thing was going straight through me.
“No, you don’t,” a new voice said from my right.
I turned to see a calm looking Tommy surveying the scene. How did he get here? I wondered even as I realized it didn’t surprise me to see him.
“Of course, I could be wrong. After all, if you’re hunting the Golden Stag you must not care if you anger Artemis. But then, if you hurt one of her daughters too, well, I wouldn’t want a furious goddess after me. Especially, not that goddess,” Tommy said mildly.
“Her… um, daughter?” One of the men in the group sputtered.
I shrugged. “I did try to warn you.” What was going on? Artemis? Where was I? Ancient Greece?
“There are easier ways to get that money,” one of goons commented, before taking a few steps backwards and then turning to flee. His friends were right behind him.
I spun to face Tommy. “What is going on?”
But Tommy was looking to our left. I turned to see the Golden Stag approaching slowly. His hooves and antlers were gold and his fur was a deep brown. His eyes were gentle and intelligent and he was as tall as me. I took a step forward with my hand outstretched. He lowered his muzzle and let me stroke it gently.
“You're welcome, friend. Be safe now,” I whispered.
The stag nudged my hand up with his muzzle as if he was answering ‘okay.’ Then he turned and disappeared into the forest.
I turned back to Tommy to see him shaking his head at me. “Can we avoid any more adventures until you fully realize who you are?” He asked with a slight smile.
“Apparently I am Artemis’ daughter,” I responded.
Tommy only shrugged. “Adopted. Come on, let’s go back.”
“Hold on, you just raised a whole new bushel of questions,” I spouted.
“And if I answered even one, I’d raise that many more. Call Daydream.”
“Daydream? Where is she?” I asked looking around, figuring she’d come with Tommy.
“Up at the Cloud Portal watching. She can hear everything you say,” Tommy answered.
I shrugged, why not? It wasn’t like anything was normal anyway. “Daydream, come!” I called, though not too loudly, just in case there were more men with bows and arrows around.
It didn’t seem to matter how loudly I called though, because only a few seconds later I could spot Daydream coming through the tops of the trees. She circled down avoiding breaking any tree limbs. How I have no clue. She landed gently in front of me.
“You called,” she stated.
“Um, yeah,” I said, completely distracted by way too many events too quickly.
Daydream laughed. “Come on, Grace. Climb up and we’ll go back through the Cloud Portal.”
I nodded, looking around slowly. If this was Ancient Greece, I wasn’t entirely sure I wanted to leave before I met quite a few people.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be back soon enough. Promise,” Tommy smiled and without further explanation put his hands on my waist and lifted me onto Daydream’s back, not an easy feat mind you. I’m not heavy, but I’m certainly not light either.
Within seconds, he was behind me. I had trouble focusing on anything but his hands on my waist, when he poked me in my side. The action caused me to jump on Daydream’s back.
“Hey!” She complained, jostled.
“Sorry, Daydream.” I muttered, patting her neck. I glanced around again. “I guess we can go.”
Daydream bobbed her head and Tommy’s arms wrapped around my waist holding tight. Daydream took off and spiraled up. I had to gasp for breath, though if I wanted to be honest it wasn’t because of the take off that I lost it in the first place. We continued up, so the trees became smaller and smaller and the ground began to look like a patchwork quilt someone’s Grandmom would have made.
Daydream followed her own path. She went through clouds, sometimes cutting from one cloud and into another. Inside one very large cloud, she suddenly shot straight up. I looked above and saw a circle above us that shimmered oddly. It was defiantly still inside the cloud and yet it looked like it was the top of pool water. Only seconds after my mind had made the analogy we were through. It didn’t feel like plunging into a pool, but like going through that not-quite-firm Jello again.
We had arrived back at the cloud portal entrances. Hunter was standing waiting with his arms crossed and a look of defiance on his face. Though I had no clue what he was defying against.
We landed and Tommy slid off and helped m
e down. I spun around to face Hunter.
“Did you see that?” I exclaimed.
“Which part?” Hunter asked darkly, but he nodded yes. “I could watch everything from here. It was weird. You were different too,” he commented.
I shook my head. “Yeah, I know. I felt so different. Like I was someone else almost.”
Nightmare snorted and I looked at him suspiciously, I turned to Daydream. “Want to tell me something?”
“Not that I know of,” she responded with a thoughtful, but defiantly amused expression.
“Well, somebody had better explain something!” Hunter demanded.
“What do you have against a little adventure anyway?” Tommy asked.
Hunter shook his head. “Nothing. I love adventure. And if it were just that this would be sweet. But mystery I do have something against. I like answers and this place is one big question,” Hunter paused looking around. “I mean, look at this place! We are standing in the middle of a cloud that has portals to lots of other worlds! How amazing is that? But I don’t get how. This whole thing is one hundred percent impossible.”
“Yet you believe it or you wouldn’t be here,” Tommy remarked.
Hunter looked at Tommy then to Nightmare. He put a hand on Nightmare and stroked his neck. “Yeah, I do. Remember, I hear the song too. And that along with everything inside me tells me to believe, despite my questions.”
I smiled at him. “I’m glad. I wouldn’t want to do this without you.”
Hunter gave me a curious look. “Why?”
I shrugged. “You have great questions. I wouldn’t understand half of what’s going on, if not for you. I know it seems like I hear the song more and understand it better, but I don’t, not really. I just fully believe in the song. Plus, I feel like we’re in this together. After all, we are both searching for our place here and because of our families. You for your sister and me because of my grandfather.”
Hunter nodded. “You’re right. Sorry, guys, if my attitude hasn’t been the best. Being trapped by the mountain for so long kinda soured my mood and compounded the questions.”
“The mountain trapped you? Getting aggressive, huh? No problem, man. I know the lack of answers is frustrating, but I guess you know firsthand the mountain won’t let you get answers before it’s time,” Tommy replied in a voice that said he was sorry.
“Yeah, we know,” I answered for us both. “Maybe you can answer this. If that portal leads to Ancient Greece, where mythology is real, than do the other portals lead to places where the same is true?”
Tommy grinned. “Yes. Remember all dreams and imagination come from the mountain?”
“Yes,” Hunter and I answered together.
“Well…”
Hunter and I looked at each other for a minute, suddenly Hunter exclaimed, “Comic books!”
“What?” I asked, even as Tommy laughed.
“TV shows and movies too?” Hunter questioned.
“Sure. They each have their own, but at some places they intersect. Like for the characters that exist in New York City.”
“Or Gotham and Metropolis?” Hunter asked as he raced over to a portal to look down.
“Or Gotham and Metropolis,” Tommy agreed, even as Hunter moved to look into a second and third portal.
“What?” I asked again as I joined Hunter.
“Look,” Hunter said pointing into the portal he had stopped at.
Below, in the Cloud Portal, I saw New York City. Suddenly, a flash of red and blue swung by leaving a string of webbing in our view.
“Oh!” I exclaimed as it dawned on me.
Hunter turned to grin at me. “Think about it! It’s awesome! Every comic book, TV show, movie, ect had to get its start somewhere. And it came from Dream Mountain.”
“They all really exist. And we can go to every one!” I exclaimed thinking about the awesome ramifications this could have. Suddenly I turned to Tommy. “Wait! Didn’t you say I was Artemis’ daughter?”
Tommy nodded and I barely noticed Daydream shoot him a glare.
“That means I have a back story in that world,” I felt the song inside me humming happily and it was moving faster too, like it shared my excitement. “Just as if I’ve been there before. Of course, I haven’t but that doesn’t mean anything in this place. So, I could have a real story there, but when I go I can just slip into it…” I had to stop, my mind was swirling so fast and my amazement knew no bounds. I looked at Daydream. “But how? How is it possible for it to be so…so…”
“Ready?” She supplied.
“Yes!” I exclaimed.
Daydream, Nightmare, Rougefire, and Tommy all looked at one another.
“I think it is finally time,” Daydream said, as the others agreed.
“Time for what?” I asked confused, but still highly excited.
“Come on, let’s go to the top of the mountain. There’s something there you are going to want to see,” Tommy replied, instead of answering.
“Come on, Hunter!” Nightmare yelled, looking over at his partner, who was still close enough to hear, but was obviously not paying attention as he stood looking over yet another Cloud Portal.
“I found it!” He yelled excitedly.
Nightmare shook his head and trotted over to Hunter with me right behind.
“Hunter, we are going,” Nightmare spoke again.
Hunter shot him a ‘no way’ look. “We can’t! Look, I found a portal filled with bats in a cave! I want to check it out!”
I came up to look in with him. It sounded like fun to me, but Nightmare was shaking his head.
“No, you will have plenty of time to explore all the Cloud Portals and each one’s story as long as you like later, but now we must go,” Nightmare ended forcefully.
“Party pooper,” Hunter muttered.
“What did you say?” Nightmare demanded, nostrils flaring.
“Grace got to go,” Hunter complained, rather than repeat something that would cause Nightmare to truly become his name.
“Grace wasn’t suppose too, “Daydream stated calmly, coming up to us with Tommy and Rougefire.
I smiled sheepishly then looked back to the portals. It had been fun, so different and exciting. Surely no one could really begrudge Hunter his chance. And of course, I would have to go along too, having done it before.
“Ow!” I yelled as I abruptly doubled over and hit the cloud’s surface as the pounding rush of the song filled my ears and hammered my body. It was too much to stand against.
“Grace,” Hunter called, reaching out to me, before he too collapsed.
We both lay panting on the cloud’s ground.
“Okay, we get the point,” Hunter managed.
“We’re going! We’re going!” I gasped.
Slowly, the song retreated to its gentler humming. Hunter and I stood up even more slowly. I held my head in my hands trying to keep the headache down to a minimal.
I managed to glance at Hunter, who looked like he’d been run over by a train. “Impatient, isn’t it?”
Hunter nodded, and then winced. He looked at Nightmare. “So where are we going again? Never mind, explain it on the way.”
^^^^^^^^^^
Chapter 7