(IC) Lost In Dreams [Peter]

[ericthered]

Peter dreamed of thatched huts of a sort (the leaves were too wide to be grass) standing around a more prominent structure. The central structure was made of something more solid (brick? concrete?) and had been colourfully painted in sharp somewhat meso-american designs echoing the themes of labyrinths, something that is probably writing, and fantastic animals (wings, snakes, bears, elephants (mammoths?) and raccoons are prominent and mixed together -- and horses are conspicuously absent) . Another spot in the village is made of bricks, with a maze large enough to walk along painted on it, along with various images of the strange animals. The maze actually extends beyond the bricks, which are placed in something of a patchy manner, much darker than typical bricks, and often marked with the funny writing. The center of the maze was the blackened sight of a bonfire. Outside of the village were extensive fields, most of which wer full of weeds.

There were a few people in the village, but no where near the number such a large village should have. There were also animals, in quite large numbers: dogs, chickens, lamas, and several beasts resembling bears but larger than a bear and seemingly peacefully grazing while small children sat and watched them with dogs at their side.

The people had brownish skin and dark hair -- If Peter had to place them he'd probably go with Hispanic rather than one of the various Asians -- but perhaps he doesn't know his geography well enough. The crop they are growing is most certainly american corn.

Peter woke up at night. He was no longer in the bed the old ladies gave him. Goliath was still there, sniffing nervously -- the dog is obviously sensing something wrong. Peter realizes he's naked, and he's lying in what appears to be yet another new england forest. Reaching out with his extended senses, he feels -- nothing. And yet he's sure he hasn't merely gone blind, he can still sense, there just isn't anything to sense. In particular, senarich is gone.

[the_matrix_walker]

Peter glanced around in confusion, and down at his naked body.

He sighs and thinks 'Again? Why is this happening to me?' Then there is a rush of excitement. 'Maybe I'm home!' he thinks.

He gets up an takes a closer look at his surroundings to see if he recognizes the terrain or plants... or signs of a trail.

"What do you think boy?" He asks the giant canine "Are we home, or in Mesopotamia or something?" Comparing his dream vision to the social studies chapter on ancient cultures.

[ericthered]

Looking around at the plants, Peter would guess he's further south than before, perhaps in Maryland, Kentucky, or Pennsylvania. And there are a few species that are notably missing. He's fairly sure that he's either in north america or nowhere that has any meaning to him.

Goliath has his nose to the ground-- he's found something that smells very interesting. This is unusual for him -- he usually satisfies himself with a handful of sniffs. He's probably found some smell he's totally unfamiliar with.

Ancient cultures -- he thinks hard. He paid attention in class, but there's a difference between knowing who lived where and what they built their houses out of and what their funeral customs looked like -- he comes up blank. Though he can comfort himself that he knows its not one of the classic civilizations, and doesn't seem to be derived from any of them either -- the aztecs and the incans had nothing like the large maze and fire -- his gut told him that was religiously significant.

[the_matrix_walker]

"Whatcha smellin' boy?" Peter says as he glances around, hoping to find something to cover himself. "Gonna find us one of those weird critters I saw in my dream?"

Peter looks away from his dog and trembles a bit as his pulse starts to race... but not from being cold. Naked and in a strange wilderness.... again! If not for Goliath's presence grounding the boy, he'd surely fall apart. He looks back to the beast of a dog and his goosebumps settle, and he feels a measure of calm again.

"Go on boy, go git it!" he says.

He continues to look about, taking in the sights and the sounds of this place, while following Goliath should he choose to follow the scent.

[ericthered]

Goliath moves forward, following up on the scent, he picks up speed, moving at a decent pace with his nose to the ground. Peter follows, having to focus on his foot placement in order to keep up with the dog in his bare feet.

After just a short time (10 minutes), they arrive at the animal -- a gigantic armadillo. The animal is an odd size bigger than a dog or sheep, but smaller than a pony or lama (though that may just be because its squat): it certainly weighs more than Goliath. Pehaps it might be the size of a very large goat. It isn't one of those solid-shelled animals from the ice age, it looks just like a very large armadillo. On the other hand, it does seem to have a mouth full of leaves.

The animals is fairly aggressive, turning to face Goliath and making a rather threatening display of teeth and claws (it has pretty big claws. blunt, but large). Goliath is wary, but not sure what to do about this creature.

[the_matrix_walker]

Peter tries to calm both animals, drawing Goliath back a bit and speaking in soft tones to both creatures... He observes the interesting creature for a few minutes and tries to approach it. If it has eaten most of the lower leaves, he tries to pull town a branch the creature can't reach to offer it a better meal.

[ericthered]

goliath immediately backs off and leaves the creature alone once Peter calls him off. The animal remains agitated, so Peter takes Goliath yet farther away and tells the dog to stay. He observes the animal from far away, and slowly approaches with a nice fresh branch he's broken off, speaking softly. The animal is less agitated, but won't close the gap, remaining stubbornly on alert.

[the_matrix_walker]

Peter continues to try and sooth the creature for a few more minutes, hoping to get it to warm up to him and make a new critter friend.

Wether he is successful or not, he moves on to trying to find his way in the woods, looking for signs of a path or trail, as well as anything he might be able to fashion into something that might preserve his modesty should he encounter someone.

[ericthered]

The animal really never calms down, though it does eventually back away far enough that it feels safe browsing and grazing again.

Fashioning something into clothing-- he really doesn't find anything better than leafy branches and vines. Which would make him ridiculous, but may keep him from violating nudity taboos.

After half an hour or so, he finds a path that looks like it has fallen into disrepair. A small road, really, given the state of the people he saw in the dream.

[the_matrix_walker]

"Well boy, which way? Smell anything?" Peter says to Goliath as they reach the path...

If Goliath doesn't lead on, Peter will travel down the path whichever way seems easiest... The downhill direction, or if it is level, the direction that puts the sun at his back. He doesn't bother with wrapping branches and looking silly.