hmmm a guy, dressed like he's from the old west, sleeping near a huge beast... y'know there were a lot of ranches and cattle in the west; maybe this guy is the owner of the beast?

Sammy wasn't sure what exactly it reminded him of. It was something from one of the dreams, maybe, but he couldn't quite place it. Mika was certainly upset by it, though.

"Hey, don't worry," Sammy said, "Maybe it's this guy's animal. He looks like a old west dude. Besides, it doesn't look dangerous or anything, I guess."

Mika smiled halfheartedly, letting go of Sammy's arm. "I guess," said, her voice wavering.

Sammy wasn't sure what the Guy would think about the Vuthoi on the ground. He glanced over, but the guy was just standing there. Its body was hunched forward, its muscular arms hanging down limply. The sinuous neck stood out horizontally and its face was blank, dull. Its waterfall of golden hair cascaded down the far side of its neck and across its back, shimmering in the light, but that was the only part of the creature that moved with any semblance of the liquid grace it normally possessed. It shuffled forwards behind Mika, staring off into the middle distance. Sammy didn't figure the creature would object to much of anything.

"Hello?" Sammy said, moving toward the sleeping Vuthoi.

"Howdy," the vuthoi said. His voice had a tinny echo, almost sounding like he was talking through a can. Something about it was unnerving. The Vuthoi cracked his knuckles, slowly disentangling his fingers and lifting the brim of his hat slightly with one knuckle. Sammy had never seen a creature like it. His face was the same dark gray as the rest of his skin, but he had no muzzle. He saw a pointed chin and wide cheeks, fleshy lips and two slits for nostrils below the brim of the stylish headwear.

"Name's Caphus. This is the world of the Sleeping One," he nodded toward the living mountain in the distance. Sammy noticed that instead of individual teeth, Caphus had a notched plate on his top and bottom jaw. He also noticed that Caphus's lips and tongue didn't match the sounds Sammy heard. "Where are you fellas headed?"

Hmm... White, thin... do the mountains remind you of that strange woman with the fire-blood?

OH I forgot to mention something. When Mr Browne got shot at, something shattered in his pocket. We should ask what that was about.

Tell this guy... uh... well, just point in the direction you're headed. Do not tell him you're on the Well Road, that's an invitation for trouble.

>>310750
His lips and tongue don't match his speech? Maybe he's using some sort of translating techology.

>>310750

Introduce yourself. After all, he gave you the same courtesy. May be reading into what he said a bit much, but it seems like he already knows about things like the Well Road and traveling like you do, but don't mention exactly where you are going, just the direction with a cool phrase like "just my next destination pardner" while tipping your air-hat :B

oh yeah see if he is generous enough to give you his hat or at least trade it for something

That was it! Sammy remembered now! It was the first time he'd gone to the place with the mist! The ghost, up on the ridgeline! Sammy remembered her talking about some strange power or something. Maybe this was related. Jesus told me I should probably link to the discussion with the ghost. >>235410 >>235871 >>235935

The dude had to be translating somehow, or maybe Sammy wasn't really hearing what he said. It made sense, though - how else would they be able to understand each other? It made Sammy feel a little more at ease to have figured it out.

Sammy decided not to reveal more than he had to. "My name's Sammy," he said, extending a paw, "We're just traveling on to our next destination." He tipped his non-existent hat toward the white mass in the distance. The vuthoi, Caphus, rose slowly to his feet in response. He was slightly taller than Sammy, and his eyes were large, almond-shaped, and pitch black. Sammy could also see some darker gray ridges on either side of his forehead. He returned the handshake, wrapping a long thumb around either side of Sammy's paw.

"That's a nice hat," Sammy said, but before he could continue, Dr. Browne interjected.

"I was here earlier and saw some... things near the Sleeping One, you said? I am concerned as to their danger, as we are traveling in that direction."

"I reccon that's the only direction to go," Caphus said slowly. "Nah, those are the Supplicants. The Sleeping One dreams, and its dreams roam in other worlds. People can feel its light inside of them, and call out to its sleeping brain. Eventually, it can pull them up here. See, the Sleeping One can connect itself to anywhere in all of existence while it dreams. It can jes reach out and punch a hole to anywhere in any reality with its hands. But where your dreams are all inside your head, the Sleeping One's dreams are real things that wander around outside its body."

"So, they aren't dangerous, then? Just to be clear?" asked Dr. Browne.

"Supplicants? Nah. Just little sacks o meat. Jes dreamin' away with the Sleeping One, like little pockets of its own mind now. Not much left to their brains, really," He sighed. "Feel free to set a spell if you like. Don't get many travelers around these parts."

>>310898
Well, we are quite fatigued at the moment. We could sit for a moment. Tell him that you met something that told you a tale of how the Sleeping One affected other worlds. Describe the cold white being with flaming blood, but leave out the part of how you traveled between worlds and well, anything you don't really want to talk about personally.

>>310898

Hatblock'd :C

Doc Browne being a gat dam hat-hater is what this is >:I

Also accept Caphus's invitation to set down and rest for a while and the above suggestion to share about the ghost and what not is a good idea too. He doesn't seem terribly dangerous. At least, there hasn't been any mention of signs that say "dead lion storage" last I read.

Stay a while and rest with the nice stranger.

Sammy glanced back at Mika and Dr. Browne, who both shrugged. The guy stood behind Mika, staring blankly off into space. "Okay, I guess we can stay for a little while."

They sat on the soft grass, in the shadow of the tree's outstretched branches, and allowed their exhaustion to settle into their tired limbs. It was too early to actually sleep, so Sammy told Caphus the story about the ghost he'd encountered in the misty valley.

"Yup. I reccon the Sleeping One has a hand in that world. All the people who feel his light and draw on it eventually start to change. If nobody pushes Its hand out of the world, It'll eventually start to draw that world in and bring it here. Not on purpose, It's asleep, after all. Just wants to reach out and experience things. Its dreams are real in that world, the land changes and its ideas walk around. Its mind feels the minds that call out to It and It doesn't feel so lonely as It sleeps. I reccon some fellers killed the folk that were dealing with It, or some of 'em anyway, and that one turned into a ghost." Caphus sat cross legged in the grass with them. Dr. Browne had taken a spot leaning against the tree, glancing off toward the white bulk of the creature visible in the distance. Sammy lay on his back in the grass, head on the backpack. The guy had apparently just slumped to the ground. It laid sideways in the grass, limbs askew and glassy eyes staring at nothing. Mika lay against it.

Eventually, Sammy started to doze...

****

Sammy woke up in the cab of the truck, disoriented an confused. Moonlight illuminated the gravel parking lot. The moon was high overhead - Sammy guessed it was probably after midnight. He didn't realize how hungry he'd been before he drifted off to sleep, but he could feel his stomach growling now, and the bookbag was nowhere to be seen.

Not much to do but to wait until you wake up in the other world again. The bookbag is there and you can eat once you're there. Going out of the car to find something to eat in the ghetto doesn't sound like a sensible idea to me.

If you're really really hungry... do you have any money? Are there any stores nearby which would be open at this time? How much time would it take to get back home? Would it be easy to sneak back in?

>>316729

It wouldn't do to just waste an opportunity to stock up on things that you need. Check how much money you have, if any, and determine whether or not there are any convenience stores near where you are currently at. There's usually at least one or two near rural or poorer urban areas. If you have the money, buy some cheap foodstuffs and water.

Sammy decided it would be foolish to waste the opportunity to stock up on supplies. They only had four MREs and some peanut butter and cookies, and not very much water. It wouldn't take him long to walk through the ghetto as long as nothing happened, but it would take several hours at least to walk all the way home. He knew there were some gas stations that stayed open all night and he opened the door and set out, walking generally in the direction of home. The gravel crunching underfoot sounded far too loud, and he jogged through the grass on the side of the road until he reached the first decrepit clapboard houses.

He felt exposed and alone as he stuck to the shadows, avoiding the flickering pools of intermittant light cast by the street lamps that actually worked. He didn't see anybody, although a few windows were lit from within. He could hear the weak, hungry wail of a crying cub through the thin walls of some buildings. Other times and thump, a scream, the quiet chatter of a TV. More than on the Well Road he felt a presence all around him - as if any number of the shadows held crouching figures waiting to pounce.

It was a little better once he made it out onto a main road. The streetlights all worked, at least, and he felt compelled to stick to the center of the side walk, hunched forward with his hands stuffed in his pockets.

There was a gas station, bright florescents streaming from its scuffed Plexiglas windows across the concrete lot. The supports for the awnings over the pumps threw long shadows out into the empty street. It must be late.

He pulled open the scarred door and heard an electronic chime announce his presence. A tall, thin crocodile behind the counter looked sleepily up at the sound of the chime, but the small TV next to his cash register quickly recaptured his attention. The smell of the place was offensive - cleaning agents losing a slow war of attrition against some noxious blend of odors that Sammy preferred not to think about.

The linoleum floor was a filthy, scratched black and white checker pattern, and the silence was filled mostly with Sammy's own footsteps and the metallic gasps of the air conditioning system. Water stains marked the drop ceiling, and Sammy could see the entirety of the store over the tops of the rows of shelves. There was a cooler in the back with sodas and energy drinks, and the gas station had the usual selection of goods - cereal, beef jerky, chips, some canned chili and salsa, a few toiletries, and other similar items.

Sammy checked his wallet. He had thirty four dollars and seventy five cents in cash. He needed to figure out what he should buy to take with him.

Buy three bottles of water and as many MREs you can with the money you have left. If they don't seel them here, buy something similar, like instant noodles or something like that.

Wait, don't spend it all in MREs, buy also some sweets for you and Mika. Like a couple of chocolate bars. It'll be a nice detail.

cereal, jerky, and maybe some toiletries. look for peanut butter bars if you get candy.

>>351744
Get a few bottles of gatorade, and a few energy drinks. Jerky and trail mix would be good too. Don't get any canned goods unless you can get/have a can opener.

Sammy looked around before deciding on some jerky, trail mix, and a few cans of ravioli. He made sure to get a can opener too. For drinks, he grabbed a six pack of water bottles, two big bottles of Gatorade, and two energy drinks. He thought it might be nice to get some candy for Mika, so he grabbed a couple of peanut butter bars. Trying to be as unassuming as possible, he hurried to the counter and placed his items in front of the skinny crocodile. The crocodile continued to stare sleepily at his little TV, scanning the items absentmindedly. After he'd set the bag full of items on the counter, his eyes slowly drifted toward Sammy, then sharpened in recognition. Sammy could see the green display behind the crocodile: $33.82

"Hey," the attendant said, pointing with one claw, "You're the kid from TV. Yeah, you're definitely him! The one that was kidnapped yesterday!"

Sammy threw thirty four dollars on the counter and grabbed the bag, trying to think of what to do.

Tell him you're not a kid and that you haven't been kidnapped. Hell if you was kidnapped, the kidnapper isn't a very good one if he lets you walk off to buy stuff. Grab the bag and wait for the change.

>>352727

What, kidnapped? Don't try to hide your surprise and ask the clerk what is he talking about?

Assure that, as he can see, you haven't been kidnapped, you're right here buying some stuff for your family. People often mistake you for other lion cubs of your age. Be curious about the kidnapping and what the news said about it.

"What do you mean, kidnapped?" Sammy said in surprise, "I'm just buying some groceries. Did somebody get kidnapped or something?"

"Two in the morning groceries?" he asked, his eyes narrowing. "No, you're definitely the kid. Your hot mom was freaking the fuck out on TV. I remember there being something about a reward, so you just sit the fuck tight right here while I call the cops."

Sammy had his groceries in his hand and his money was on the counter. There was no one else around, but Sammy was now aware of the black domes on the ceiling. Some of them had to have security cameras in them. He didn't know how long it would be until he faded out again, and he figured that the next night he would fade back in wherever he left from. He'd have to think of something - somewhere safe.

Time to cheese it. Get running... and I guess you could find a subway station, get in the train and hide in the bathroom stall until you fade out. Can'think of a better idea right now.

Leave the money there and walk out quickly. If you know/remember/see where Katy lives, go to her place. If you know where a nearby payphone is, phone her and ask her if you can stay at her place for a few hours. She owes you remember!

Otherwise.. subway toilet it is!

It was time to go, so Sammy tucked his bag of food under one arm and ran, his cash still on the counter. He darted through the scuffed doors and out into the empty streets.

The sound of his tennis shoes slapping against the pavement sounded far, far too loud, and he expected to hear sirens any minute, to hear a helicopter chopping the air with its blades shortly before its spotlights pinned him to the sidewalk with their stark, white light. But there were no sirens. No helicopters, only the slap of his tennis shoes on the empty sidewalk, his panting, gasping breaths and the growing pain in his side. He saw a phone booth and ducked inside. He was near the edge of the ghetto, and headlights from the occasional passing car interrupted the silent stillness of the city. Mom had always told him that nothing good happened after two in the morning. He had three quarters, and the slip of paper Katy had given him with her phone number on it. He turned away from the street, trying to make himself more anonymous to anyone who would be passing by, and put the quarter into the slot. The quarter dropped through the guts of the phone with a noisy, metallic clatter before the scratched black handset came to life. He quickly punched the shiny metal keys, and waited.

It rang once, twice, three times. Sammy was about to hang up. This was stupid. It was early in the morning, what was he going to tell her anyway? This was stupid. He was just taking the handset away from his ear when he heard a familiar, albeit tired voice, "Hello? Who is this?"

She sounded mad. He tried to collect his thoughts.

"Motherfucker, it's two in the goddamn morning. You think this is funny?" He could tell she was waking up.

"It's Sammy," he said before he really thought about it too much.

The anger drained from Katy's voice, leaving it small and worried-sounding, "Oh, Shit, for real? Are you OK? Do you need a ride? What happened?"

Sammy wasn't sure exactly how to answer that.

Ask her to pick you up, and you will tell her when she gets there. There's only so much time you can talk on the payphone. Say you're okay and thank her for worrying.

Hmm, I don't really like involving her into this, but I guess we have no choice now. Tell her that yes, you need a ride, you'll explain when she gets here. Tell her where you are and try to hide in a corner or something while you wait for her.

>>352795
Tell her you're not kidnapped, first of all. Tell her we could use a ride, but you can't go back to your parents yet. Tell her we just need someplace safe to stay.

If she can come pick us up and get us to a safe place, we'll be better off next time we pop back in. If we actually make it to her house, we should warn her that we won't be around during the day. Only for a few hours at night.

Sammy asked her to pick him up and told her where he was. "What the hell, Sam? What's going on?"

"I can't talk very long," Sammy said, "I just need somewhere safe to stay for a little while. I'm not kidnapped or anything, I'll explain when you get here."

"Okay," Katy said matter-of-factly, "I'll see you in a few minutes."

Sammy hid in the entryway of a bank that was on the corner of the intersection, hoping the darkness would sufficiently mask his presence. He pressed himself against the rough brick and closed his eyes tightly as he heard sirens. It was probably an ambulance, but Sammy still held is breath and silently prayed that he wouldn't hear tires slowly crunch on the asphalt next to the curb. Then he heard tires slowly crunch on the asphalt next to the curb. He felt panic rising like unstoppable floodwaters before he recognized Katy's voice. "Sammy? You here?"

He exhaled in a rush, shakily stepping out onto the sidewalk, clutching his bag of food to his chest. "Holy shit, Sammy, you're looking rough," Katy said, her familiar beat up red car parked next to the sidewalk. She was leaning against the car next to the open passenger-side door, just as tall and thin as he remembered, crooked cigarette dangling from her long fingers. She was wearing some baggy pajama pants - pink with little green grasshoppers - and a black concert T-shirt with holes in it. Her long mane was pulled back in a messy pony tale with a big red scrunchie.

"Sorry, I look like shit. I had to just grab some shit off the floor," she said absently, walking around the car and slipping into the driver's seat.

She blew a cloud of gray smoke out of her open window as Sammy climbed in and put on his seatbelt. She shifted the car into gear and they lurched out onto the almost empty streets. She finished her cigarette slowly, flicking the remainder casually away from the car. Sammy could see the butt throw up a plume of sparks as it hit the pavement behind them."So," she said, "want to tell me why you're hiding on the street after two in the morning with a bag of food?"

Sammy was just starting to think of what to say, or whether he should say anything, when the world began to fade and melt, colors and shapes running together. It sounded far away, distorted, but he could hear Katy's voice screaming "Sammy? Oh Jesus Christ what the Fuck Oh my God-" before he heard crunching metal and shattering glass.

****

Sammy fell over backwards onto the grass of the Sleeping One's World. Dr. Browne was already awake, but Mika was still fast asleep. The Guy was slumped on his side, staring off into space, exactly how Sammy had seen him last. Dr. Brown and Caphus the vuthoi were talking quietly, although their conversation ended as he appeared. Everything else was as he remembered. Racing clouds overhead, tall grass rippling in the absence of wind, and the massive bulk of the Sleeping One in the distance, the almost inconceivably vast creature that dominated the skyline of the tiny planet. "I have some food," he said weakly.

>>353286
Oh. Oh crap. How fast was Katy going?! Was she wearing a seatbelt?

Well, fuck... I guess we can't do anything for her now, other than hope nothing serious happened to her... Maybe it wasn't a good idea to warp into another dimension while someone with no idea of what was going on was with us. She probably saw Sammy fading out and freaked out.

Well, give the food to the professor. And tell him what happened.

Pray for Katy. It's all you can do for her for now.

>>353286
Oh Christ, Katy! She was only trying to help us... metal and glass means that the crash was likely a pretty bad one. Hopefully it was only her car, and not her, that got hurt. Pray for her safety. She was trying to do the right thing.

It might be a good idea to leave the food with the others and try to go back to sleep. Maybe you'll be able to get back in time to help her, somehow if you can calm down enough to return.

>>353306
>Maybe it wasn't a good idea to warp into another dimension while someone with no idea of what was going on was with us.
It's not our fault. We had no real chance to explain to her what would happen, and no way of predicting when we would shift dimensions again.

Going back to sleep if you can. There is some chance you can help Katy, or see if she is alright.

>>353416

>It's not our fault

Well we could've not involved her. We only had to hide for a few minutes. In the end calling her didn't help, and has likely hurt her. Possibly badly.

Sammy silently prayed for Katy. Even if he couldn't have predicted when he would fade out or what would happen when he did, he chose to call Katy and include her in this horrible mess he'd made of his life. He hoped she was OK...

Maybe he could go to sleep again, go back. Do something.

"Doctor Browne," Sammy said, trying to keep is voice from shaking, "My friend got hurt when I was waking up. I was riding in the car with her and the car got in a wreck and I need to go to sleep so I can help her," he choked, "please!"

"I don't think that's wise," Dr. Browne said, adjusting his glasses, "I've got some sedatives, in case I have an immediate need for my dreaming body, but I honestly can't see what good it would do to send you back. Besides, we have more pressing concerns." He waved a hand toward the Guy's insensate form. Its dazed, staring eyes seemingly seeing nothing.

"I know you've noticed," he said, waving one long-fingered hand, "that it seemed to be affected since we've come here, gradually growing less aware of its surroundings," he paused, "I have very little clue what to do about this problem. I've talked with our vuthoi host, and he knew something about the creature's biology, as such. Apparently, they are markedly metaphysically different than normal living things, and the presence of the Sleeping One may be affecting it negatively. I've done some scouting, and don't think that the next world doesn't seem immediately dangerous, although I must say, I'm glad you've replenished our supplies."

Sammy was too focused on Katy. He didn't care about the guy or the next world or anything else. It was his fault.

Get the Guy through the portal. He'll probably start waking up when we're through.

Also, slap yourself. You fucked up. You can't do anything about it now.

>>353690
Let's be realistic, Sammy. In an accident, the most you can do is remove someone from the wreckage. You're not a trained EMT, or anyhing like that, you're just a high-school kid. The accident seemed to occur in a civilized area, and accidents aren't quiet. Hopefully someone called 911.

Right now, focus on what you can work with - deal with the matters you yourself can solve. Get pango-girl talking to the Guy again, ad if need be, physically drag him to the portal. Get your tails in gear!

Dr. Browne was right, there was nothing Sammy could do if he went back. He'd have to help do something here. He put his hand against the guy's hot, red skin, but there was no response. He tried to pull on one arm, but the guy was far too heavy for him to budge. The soft, silky golden hairs slipped liquidly over his paw as he let go, the guy's arm flopping limply onto the grass.

He gently shook Mika's shoulder, and she slowly woke up. She stretched, yawning deeply and smacking her tiny mouth. She seemed comfortable and happy, until her expression slowly slid into confusion, and finally a hard, serious expression as, Sammy guessed, she took in her surroundings and recollected the events of the past two days.

"There's something wrong with the guy," Sammy said, "Dr. Browne thinks it might be because of this place we're in."

"I honestly have no idea what to do," Dr. Browne interjected. "You seem to have some connection with it, I thought perhaps it would respond to you."

Mika slowly got to her feet, stretching, and walked over to the guy's insensate form in the grass. Even all three of them would have trouble dragging the creature any distance.

"Wake up!" Mika said, shaking it's shoulder. There was no response. She walked to its wedge shaped head, lifting it into her lap. It's blank eyes stared forward like a lifeless doll, but Sammy could see its chest rising and falling.

"Wake up!" Mika said again, shaking its head in her hands. There was no response.

"Sammy," Mika shouted, looking over her shoulder at him with tears in her eyes, "What should we do?"

>>353949
ugh. Is there anything nearby you can fashion into a sled? It's way easier to drag someone than to carry them.

>>353949

The three of you try to pull and push him at the same time, see if you can at least make him go through the portal. If not, yeah, try to look for something to use as a sled. I don't see many alternatives here.

We have to get him through the portal. He may be comatose but there's a chance he can still walk, guided. Or we could roll him there. Kindof demeaning but we have to get him out of this place somehow.

Oooh, wait. He's basically asleep, right? Give him some energy drink!

They would have to move the Guy somehow. Sammy tried pulling on its massive arms, and thick, serpentine neck. He pressed himself against its body as he tried futilely to lift it, its soft skin hot to the touch. It was unresponsive - unconscious dead weight. "Come on, help me," Sammy said, struggling. There was nothing in this world from which they could even begin to fashion a sled. Working together, they managed to roll it over. The Guy's limbs flopped awkwardly underneath it, it's neck twisted and blank eyes staring off at nothing.

"this is useless," panted Dr. Browne, "He's far too large and heavy. I know you don't want to hear this, Mika," he began, but Mika cut him off.

"Don't you dare say it," she said, her tiny eyes glistening, "Just shut up right now." She grabbed one of the creature's massive clawed feet, sniffling as she tried to lift its leg over her shoulder.

"You're going to have to face facts," Dr. Browne began, but this time Sammy interjected.

"wait a minute," he said, digging through his bookbag. He sat down in grass that moved without wind, under the mass of writhing clouds overhead. He pulled out one of the energy drinks he'd purchased, and pulled the heavy, wedge-shaped head into his lap. The Guy's shimmery golden mane fell like liquid across his thigh.

Sammy noticed that the vuthoi had slouched back against the tree, his hat shading his eyes. "It's a pretty good plan," he said in his tinny, alien voice, "It'll probably work if you don't choke the thing."

Dr. Browne sat down on the other side of the creature's neck, helping Sammy to pry its mouth open. The fat purple tongue fell limply out between the glistening black teeth, and Sammy could smell that strange spicy odor that he'd first smelt in the train station seemingly ages ago. Mika sat down next to Sammy, laying her paws against the guy's neck. Sammy popped the top on the can with an audible hiss. He heard Mika whisper to herself under her breath "It just has to work. I'm not leaving him."

Sammy slowly dribbled the liquid between the creature's lips, Dr. Browne showing him how to make sure it didn't go down the creature's windpipe. They sat there in the pregnant silence as the seconds ticked by after the can emptied, Sammy feeling the creature's heat and slow breathing as it continued to lay unconscious.

Then, with a start, its head lifted slowly on its serpentine neck, and its claws opened and closed reflexively. A glimmer of life shone in its huge, reflective eyes, and it staggered slowly to its feet.

"We should hurry," Said Dr. Browne. Mika grabbed one of the creature's massive paws in her own and began to walk toward the massive white mountain in the distance. The strange terrain remained unchanged except for the tree with the vuthoi receding into the distance, and the mountain increasingly dominating the landscape. After what Sammy suspected was several hours of travel, the nature of the mountain was unmistakable. He could clearly make out the creature's massive limbs folded against its body - thick hind legs and proportionately smaller, thinner forelimbs. It's skin was wrinkled and loose and paper-white, it ribs and spine clearly outlined against its pale flesh. He could see that the ends of its forelimbs disappeared into the grass, as if pushed down into the earth.

As they continued to walk, it's enormous size filled him with a sense of revulsion and horror. It's smooth, massive head tapered to a proportionally small muzzle and was dominated by two bulbous eyes that were thankfully closed. He could see two nostrils flare open and closed as it breathed. Although they looked like tiny circles, each one was clearly wider than he was tall. The whole creature must have been more than a mile long.

"I don't want to be here anymore," Whispered Mika, "those things on the ground are creeping me out."

Sammy hadn't noticed them, fixated as he was on the bulk of the Sleeping One. Now that Mika had pointed them out, he couldn't look away. They were writhing sacks of pale flesh, liberally scattered across the grass all around. They resembled pillows made of meat, draped in the same loose skin, with an occasional random joint or partial limb protruding from their mass. Their skin bunched and relaxed in random, disturbing ways. The closer they got to the Sleeping One, the more thickly they littered the ground. Sammy was careful to avoid them, but occasionally he would feel something, some tendril or piece of flesh, press mindlessly against his ankle or the back of his leg. He saw The Guy trample one underfoot as it staggered forward. The sack of flesh exploded with a horrid squelch, spraying blood and unrecognizable tissue in a bright red fan. Sammy was worried. The other creatures seemed to writhe more desperately, flailing spastically when their neighbor exploded. Sammy was also worried about The Guy. Its neck seemed to droop, it's eyes flickering closed for a few seconds as it stumbled. A second sack of flesh exploded into a mass of gore under its weight.

Sammy thought he saw The Sleeping One twitch. A third exploded. Sammy was sure he saw the mountain shift. "Run!" Dr. Browne shouted, and no one questioned his wisdom. The Sleeping One increasingly dominated the horizon, more of the horrid sacks of flesh were reduced to bloody paste, and Sammy saw the white light of the gate open near the Sleeping One's muzzle and fell through right as its eyelid parted in a slim line.

For a moment, Sammy didn't understand anything, wasn't aware of his body or his surroundings. He'd seen that sliver of eye - black and wet, infinitely deep, staring into him in a way he could never articulate, could barely comprehend. It was vast, not only massively huge but infinitely alien, and Aware. Aware of him, of everything he thought and felt, and in return he was aware...

Cold water splashed against his face. He felt disoriented, lost. He blinked stupidly, staring around him in confusion. He was on his hands and knees in a few inches of water, Mika and Dr. Browne looming over him with worried expressions. The Guy stood back and to the side, seeming to have regained its composure.

Sammy blinked. The water was cool and crystal clear and cold, and he felt it soaking through his pants and shoes, reviving him somewhat. He could see stars, and bright, colorful galaxies beneath him, mirroring in the boundless void overhead. It gave him a nauseous sense of vertigo. In the distance, he could make out something that resembled a glowing castle, nebulous, as if constructed from rays of golden starlight.

"What happened?" Mika asked, worried.

>>362432
Try not to think about what you just experienced. Say that you saw its eye.

Remain calm and regard your surroundings. Just say that got a glimpse of Its Eye and the next thing you knew you were getting splashed water against your face. Not sure what happened between one thing and the other.

"I remember running, then I saw into Its Eye," Sammy tried not to think about it, but just saying the words brought flashes back to his mind, like his skull was peeled away and that black, liquid eye could stare deeply into him. He had never imagined something so vast, so much more than he was. Its magnitude was how he imagined the presence of God, but it shamed him to even compare that abomination to his Lord. It's gaze was cold, and terrifying and utterly devoid of compassion or understanding. It had not conveyed malevolence, just a horrid alien curiosity and attention. Even now, the fur on his neck tingled as if it were gazing down at him from the inky void overhead.

"I fear I have damned you twice," The guy whispered quietly, its thin gold hair spread in delicate filaments in the water around its feet and tail. "It is a creature beyond comprehension. I felt its presence since we arrived on that world, and slowly its sleeping thoughts drove all reason from my mind." Blood from the sacks of meat the Guy had trampled floated in an inky cloud in the water around it, obscuring the reflection of the strange stars and nebulae that crowded the black sky overhead. "I was barely conscious after you revived me. I have caused this tragedy as well, for I fear it will not easily release its hold on you. When it awoke, it disappeared from my consciousness." The guy glanced sideways at Sammy, its eyes full of sorrow and compassion.

"It's not your fault," Mika said, shivering slightly and taking a tentative step toward the Guy, "It's our fault for not noticing when you started to space out, we shouldn't have..."

Dr. Browne cleared his throat loudly before Mika could continue. "There is nothing we can do now except hope the Well can fix this new problem too." He kneeled down, refilling his canteen. "At least there is water here. I can sense the next gate - it's past the castle and we can avoid it if you'd like. I don't know what's inside of it, but this place isn't obviously dangerous so it might be a good opportunity to rest.

Sammy stood up, the cold quickly beginning to numb his soaking feet, and looked toward the horizon and the castle. The clear, flat mirror of water duplicated the alien sky and the castle itself - a seemingly insubstantial structure that rose from the plane of water - composed entirely of glimmering golden rays of light, marked here and there with white points of illumination. Had it been made of stone, it would have still been a narrow, delicate structure, with tall, thin towers and lofty buttresses like curled fingers.

>>363212
That castle looks super-cool, let's go check it out.

Take a minute to rest, if you need it. Go to the castle but at least check it out from the distance before going in. See if you can see menacing things, like severed heads on spikes at the doors, archers on the walls, stuff like that.

We should play it safe, curiosity isn't worth getting into deeper shit.

This isn't Dungeons and Dragons, Sammy! That game is nothing but the glorification of greed and wrath. We aren't adventurers, hopping from one dungeon to another, looking for loot! We have a very serious and important goal here that we should be focusing on.

There will be likely very many more worlds to come, and like with the warzone world, we might not always get to choose our level of non-involvement. That we get a choice here, let's take it and stay well away. I'm sure they'll be enough danger coming up that we don't need to find any of our own.

Sure there's always the chance that it will be something good without any catches at all, but if it's really so, then surely God will see to it that we don't go astray.

get some rest