Private find a friend on the other side

Today was Flutterpip's and her second day of school, and were, still, getting acquainted with their new life. Which made what that jackal did to Flutterpip all the worst. The only reason she did not fry him right then was the sun being still up. It took her the rest of the day and quite a bit of the night soothing her little one, reassuring her not all here was a pathetic piece of dung like him.

Finally, Flutterpip fell into an exhausted sleep, after which, Naisis placed a couple of wards to keep her that way - at least - that is what she hoped.

She needed to get away for a while to cool off. Why she picked the Strip - well - it just felt more like home to her. Ever since coming to Manta Carlos, things felt a bit off. Usually, she would never let someone like him get under her fur.

Entering the Strip, she just wandered without any clear destination. After a while, that little voice in the back of her head was whispering, but she was too busy thinking about her problems to hear it. What brought it to the forefront was being pinged by a pebble. She had let her guard down (another thing she never did) and now had someone following her. She swept the area with her ears and nose trying to locate the follower or pick up any scents. Among the different smells was a distinct scent of a Nightmare (a distant cousin to the Anicorns).

What puzzled her was her follower was not trying to hide and hiding at the same time. Hearing a 'psst', she turned and faced where the sound came from, cocked her head to one side as she planted her fists on her hips.

"Ok. Whoever you are, show yourself! And if you are working for Azure..." she growled in a low tone, "I am in no mood to deal with you!"

@Hyper

Naisis has long since stopped trying to track the Nightmare via sound since it could move effortlessly from shadow to shadow. Although like her, they were a dream creature, that doesn't mean they dream as some did not. Well, this one did, and to her embarrassment, it has not moved just used the shadows.

Planting her face in her hand, she shook her head and wryly chuckled. Being accustomed to having others hide from her, she assumed that is what the other was doing. She had outsmarted herself by forgetting the magical property of 'assume' - the ability to anyone into an ass. Well, she had done that and quite righteously. Straightening up, she headed to where the Nightmare was while bearing a crooked smile. As she approached, she sensed it was female - of course; it would be. It seemed females were more devious than males.

Reaching her, she realized it was not that kind of Nightmare. It was a Shade! She had much to learn and almost as much to unlearn. She bowed with respect, "Touche! I thought I was good, but, you bested me without even trying. I have been in the Subliminal far too long and forgot how Reality works. Also, you are the first Shade I have met."

Naisis was about to offer her hand, but the Shade did not have any hands to speak of, "Naisiskhrea or Nightstar. To answer your question - the place I was from was called the City of the Dead filled with zombies, ghouls, and whatnot. This place seems quite tame in comparison to that."

Naisis was a little envious of the Shade's ability to hide in the shadows. She could disguise herself, but it was not the same. She could make herself intangible, but that made her immobile as well. To hide in and move through the shadows would be very useful. She would have to ask Ziadia Kyes (Master of dream magic at Nighthome College) or maybe Avax Set if she could do that (but getting anything out of Avax Set is like pulling dragon's teeth).

Finally, face to face with the Shade, she commented, blandly "nice mask."

When the Shade claimed this was her city, Naisis smiled, "excellent! Then you can show me around," calling her bluff.

Naisis smiled and chuckled mildly, "Thank you." She would rather hear a 'go to hell' than another 'good day' with all the pleasantries she has been receiving lately. Her smile became real when the other mentioned the rarity of seeing one of them, "I wish I had met one of your kind earlier. There were plenty of times I could have used one in my dreams. I do pay well at least that is what those I have hired told me."

Naisis was not surprised when the Sade assumed human woman form. Humanoid forms seemed the norm around here, which is the main reason she kept hers.

While accepting her hand, she laughed at Marion's remark about her name, "The night I was born a bright new star shown in the sky."

Her smile took on a more devious look, "well, then we should shake things up." She finished her comment with a wink.

Marion was an 'in your face' person, which was fine by Naisis, but this time Marion was too close for comfort, Naisis stepped back some.

Naisis just shrugged when Marion asked about the City of the Dead. Although it was where she resided, she never thought about it.

"Well - it is a suburb of Nighthome where most, if not all, the undead of the Subliminal reside. When I am hiring, I usually get them from there. Kind of a perpetual Halloween Cemetary." She chuckled, "I am dating the Mayor - a necromancer zombie - quite handsome. He has his workshop and store in a crypt downtown just across the street from another crypt that serves as a bar."

Naisis grinned back, "Oh, I would have noticed," she tapped the side of her nose, "few know that magic has scents too, they are very subtle, so you have to search for them. Being a dream creature, I can sense them better than most." She put on a very smug look, "that is how I knew you were a Nightmare. What I did not know was you were a Shade."

Marian did not take the bait, a definite plus for her. Suspecting Marian was sizing her up; she was doing the same. Everyone she encounters, in Reality, she treats as a potential client; this was no different. Well, maybe a little different Marian could be a partner in a dream. So far, she was looking good. The real tests will come later.

She laughed, "actually that star was dying - I believe they call it a supernova. If my parents knew that I seriously doubt they would have named me Nightstar."

Nodding, "I thought you would like it. If ever you diced to visit, just let me know, and I will show you around introducing you to several of the ones there. There are several un-holidays there Halloween being the most popular." Her eyes narrowed as she looked off into the darkness, "providing Avax Set opens a link from here to there."

When she faced her and asked about being hired, she threw up her hands, "Whoa there. I do my dreams on commission by Avax Set, and that is not that often. There is not a vast demand for terror, at least not lately. So, I wouldn't hold my breath." She smiled, "although, I am always on the prowl for potential candidates for dream work. Since those that can do that kind of work are pretty rare as well."

Crossing her arms, she gave Marian and equally devious look, "but before we talk business - how do I size up?"

In Naisiskhrea's nightmare. NOTICE: All characters in here are just images of the ones in Reality.

Naisis was about to respond when an eerie feeling came over her. Glancing around apprehensively, she saw a glowing blue-green cloud creeping down the street. Forming a safety bubble around her, she glared at a grinning Marion. "I will deal with you later," she hissed as she leaped and rolled to the left.

A bright point appeared over a building on the far side, and out of it boiled a dark-blue (azure) cloud. That cloud solidified to form a dragon with crimson eyes and a jagged black mouth. His mouth curled into a wicked grin as he fixed on Naisis. His maw opened to unleased a blast of sun-fire. She was able to dodge that blast, but barely. She hid behind a billboard pondering her next move. But time was not on her side Azure sent another blast consuming the sign and knocking her down severely damaging her shield. One more like that, and she would be at his mercy - which he does not have.

All this time, something was bumping on her chest. In frustration, she grabbed at it and tore it off. Rolling aside avoiding another of Azure's blasts, she now had some time. It takes him time to recharge after his third blast. Looking down at what was in her hand and froze - it could not be! Yet, here it was - Heart-song! She had left it with some friends in the Subliminal, how could it be here? Looking at it, she realized it was not the original but a cheap imitation. Still original or fake, it could not be here.

By this time, Azure had recovered and prepared for another attack. With all the inconsistencies, she was beginning to suspect this was a dream. Standing up and facing Azure, knowing she had nowhere to hide, she took a chance and cried out, "FREEZE!" To her surprise and delight, everything froze. It was a dream, but who could have sent it? The only one she knew of was Avax Set, but he would not. That is when her eyes lighted on Marion. She had her 'ah-ha' (or 'duh') moment. Marion was a nightmare, and this was a nightmare, so it was very likely Marion had cast a whammy on her when she was not looking.

She walked over to her, glaring at her with a mixture of anger (how dare she do this to her), relief (glad it was not Azure), and admiration (that was pretty good). In the end, respect won out.

A devious thought entered her mind, 'why should she enjoy all the action and not Marion.' She flared her horn, and everything was as it was in the beginning. Moving in front of Marion, crossing her arms just like she did before this happened, she counted down, "Three ... two ..." then only a whisper, "one."

Naisiskhrea's rendition of the nightmare in reality.

Naisis was about to respond when an eerie feeling came over her. Glancing around apprehensively, she saw a glowing blue-green cloud creeping down the street. A bright point appeared over a building on the far side, and out of it boiled a dark-blue (azure) cloud.

Forming a safety bubble around her, she looked Marion. "What did you do?!" she exclaimed with apprehension as she leaped and rolled to the right.