Rose 2-12 : We're not in Kansas anymore

(This update starts at mid-term due to the complexity of the time/space continuum.)

Skye

     I moan as my dream about Ashley comes to a close.

    Where am I? I think as I slowly open my eyes and look around. I appear to be in some sort of ruin. It's early morning, and the temperature is warm.

     I see a faint movement to my left, but when I turn to get a better look, I see nothing but trees and sky. There must be a cliff nearby.

     Where the hell am I?!

     I don't feel like I'm dreaming, I think as I remember my last memory was sitting in class. I fell asleep in class. Great. This has to be a dream.

      Some lilting words make their way over to me, but I don't understand any of it.

     It's a woman. She acts like she's mad at me for something or other, but that doesn't bother me while I simply stare at her in awe. She's beautiful.

     And I can't understand a word she's saying.

     Pretty good dream.

     I want to have a closer look at her. I'm impressed at my subconscious' creation of the perfect woman.

     I sit up, and I immediately have to hold my head.

     Am I supposed to have headaches in dreams? I think with a moan. This isn't very nice of my dream.

     Alright. So, I know I'm dreaming. Time to take control.

     I notice the woman has run off. Well, that's not supposed to happen. Women in my dreams usually throw themselves at me - not run away.

     "Hello?" I call out. Where did she go? I think as I make my way to the apparent cliff.

     'I have a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.' quickly runs through my head as I arrive at the top of a very high hill. It's not a cliff after all. I guess that's good because I can never seem to master flying in my dreams.

     I've had some pretty vivid dreams in my life, but this one takes the cake. This must be coming from that fantasy/adventure book I read recently.

      I hear that lilting voice behind me again, and I spin around.

     She quietly talks to me in a way like she's trying to explain something. While she does this, she reaches up to tuck her hair behind her ear, and I notice they're pointed like an elf.

      Definitely getting this from that book, I think, but everything starts to feel more and more real by the second.

      She finishes with her 'explanation' and starts to walk towards the ruins again, indicating I should follow her.

     "Wait a sec. Who are you?" I ask, approaching her slowly, afraid she'll run away if I make any sudden movements.

     She watches me warily and acts like she understands me about as well as I her. That doesn't stop me from blurting out several questions at once.

      "What's your name? Where am I? How did I get here? What are these ruins of?"

      She shakes her head and takes a step back. At least the head motions are the same it looks like.

      Feeling ridiculous and thinking of the Tarzan movies, I point to my chest and say, "Skye."

      She shakes her head no again and walks to the middle of the ruin where I woke up a few minutes ago. Then she points to the ground and says, "Skye."

      I smile at the humor of her action. I'd laugh except for the increasingly-worried look on her face. She says my name again followed by a jumble of whatever language she speaks. I've never heard anything like it, and the words are beautiful. She could be cussing me out for all I know.

     I stay where I am. I get the feeling she's trying to send me back away from here, and I'm not so sure I want to go. At least not yet. I like this dream.

      Her speech gets more agitated, and she walks back over to me with this urgent look on her face.

     Again, she beckons me forward to the ruins.

     "No. I want to know: what is this place?" I ask stubbornly, gesturing to the small town in the valley below us.

      "No. Skye." she states and adamantly points to the ruins. She learns faster than I do. I realize I shook my head no when I said the word.

      Again, I do the Tarzan thing to try and learn her name, but she tells me no before some strange bell sounds in the valley below.

      "Vá!"  she says in an agonizing way followed by a slew of her language in a very angry tone. 

      Well, at least I have a clue that she might be cussing me out this time.

     "Um.. sorry?" I say, wondering if that will somehow help. She's really upset as she points to me, the ruins, and the town in the valley, talking really fast in her beautiful tongue.

      Everything about this woman is beautiful: the way she talks, the way she moves, her eyes, her lips ... I have this sudden and overpowering desire to kiss her, wondering how those lips would feel against mine. Without thinking, I take a step towards her and lift my hand to touch her face.

      "No!" she cries out, looking terrified, and she startles me back to my senses.

     Without warning, she dashes away, and I quickly turn to follow her.

     "No! Wait! Please!" I yell out to her, but she keeps going. Fast.

     

     I make it to the edge of the hill, panting, and I see her disappear into a small forest below me. Determined, I run after her anyway.

     Once in the forest, I can't find her. I'm not surprised really. This dream won't let me control it.

      Am I dreaming? Why do I feel so tired?

     I come out of the small forest and find the town. It looks like everyone that lives here is busy doing their daily tasks, most of them inside.

      A small girl with a greenish tint to her skin plays in her front yard. "Ama!" she cries when she sees me. Then she runs to her mother, and the mother looks up at me with alarm all over her face. She pulls her daughter into their small cottage and slams the door closed.

      Not too friendly it seems.

      I stop walking in a more central location of the town, confused and getting worried.

      What if this isn't a dream?

      Trying not to panic, I look to the building on my left. If I had to wager a guess, I'd guess it's a library of some kind. Not knowing what else to do, I walk inside.

    The books are written in letters I can't make heads or tails of. I'm not terribly surprised. I'm guessing they're written in that same language the elf-woman spoke. 

      Then, to my surprise, I find one in my language. The History of Dragon Valley is printed on the cover. I sit down to read it, and it slowly dawns on me that I might not be dreaming.

"Welcome to Dragon Valley, a land of myth and fantasy. It’s been years since any adult dragons have terrorized this peaceful town but it’s not yet time to rest. The elven Sims of Dragon Valley are working to ensure that their military is up to par, their citizens are prepared for disaster, and that the scientific techniques they’ve used to keep the dragonlings small stay intact. The skies may be clear for now, but beneath the surface a conflict is brewing between the Mithrilen and O’Connell families for control of the town." * 

     The book continues on to describe and explain the town to any 'outsiders' that get 'brought in' from other sim dimensions. Dimensions?!

     I eventually decide I've read enough. It's past midday, and I have no idea where I'm going to go or what I'm going to do once nightfall arrives.
     As I walk around the town, the men in the town eye me with suspicious malevolence. I have no idea why they would look at me like that, and the weapons they carry make me nervous.
     I decide I'll make my way towards the surrounding hills and make some kind of camp, thankful for all I learned in scouts. As I climb a hill, a tasty aroma hits me, and my stomach reminds me that I haven't eaten all day. I completely throw out the idea that this is a dream.

    I walk up over the rise of a hill and see a small camp setup. Before I can ask if anyone's around, she walks out behind one of the little shelter's walls.
     She doesn't look surprised to see me here, and an idea occurs to me.
     "You brought me here. Somehow, you brought me here. Why?"
      She scratches her head, obviously trying to understand me.
      "Why am I here?!!!" I suddenly yell. I'm so frustrated that she can't understand me, and I sit down on my ankles with my head in my hands. The headache I had this morning has stayed with me all day, although it continues to lessen all the time. Still, yelling just now didn't help it.
     I feel a light touch on my shoulder, and I look up to see it's her. She hands me what looks like black tree bark. She then proceeds to take a piece for herself and put it in her mouth, chewing it slightly. She pantomimes that I should do the same.
      Great. She's feeding me tree bark for dinner, I think, feeling nonplussed by the whole thing. I don't know how I'm going to swallow this crud, but I do as she asks. It's disgusting, and I immediately spit it out.
      "No." she says and hands me another piece.
      "No." I tell her back and refuse to eat the junk.
      She pantomimes again, acting like she has a headache then chews the bark then smiles. I suddenly remember learning once in scouts that a type of willow tree has bark that's pretty much aspirin. She's giving me medicine.
      Finally getting it, I say, "Thank you." I'm happy I don't have to swallow the stuff.
      "Lorelei." she says, pointing to her chest. I've finally learned her name.
      Talking with the bark still in my mouth, I say, "Hello, Lorelei." I offer my hand for a handshake, and she stares at it. I can't help but smile at her perplexed expression. "Okay, you guys don't shake hands I guess."
      She shakes her head no, probably guessing at what I said, and gets up to head over to the campfire. That's where the good smell must be coming from. I sit on the ground with my arms on my knees, not knowing what to do as I watch her graceful movements, chewing on the disgusting bark, and wondering if she's going to share her dinner. Having an empty stomach at least makes the bark work faster, and my headache is soon gone.

     I stand up, take the disgusting bark out of my mouth, and ask her with my eyes if it's okay to toss it. I doubt I can use it again. She merely giggles a little, I guess at my expression, and nods her head yes. I happily toss it into the woods, and she brings me a bowl of soup and a small amount of bread.
     "Thank you." I say. She merely smiles.
     I see a little stump set down on the side that looks to be as good a chair as any, and I go have a seat to eat this small, but free, meal. She sits on another stump and looks self-conscious while she eats.
     I wish I could get out of her why she brought me here. Was it an accident? Is there any way to get me back since the bell chimed in town? I'm guessing that meant something to her and getting me back.
     Well, now I'm here, like it or not, and it's her fault. The least she can do is help me out.
     I finish eating long before she does, and I don't know what to do now. I don't see a sink... certainly no dishwasher, and I guess that the basin on the stand behind me is for bathing and not washing dishes. I'm not sure about the water pump behind her. So, I sit and wait patiently to figure out what to do now.
     She notices me sitting here with my empty bowl, walks over to the pot, and asks, "Lil?" I guess that means more or something like that.
     I already feel a little bad for eating part of her meal, so I answer, "No thank you."
     "Nothankyou." she tries out the words for herself.
     My stomach growls audibly. Crap.
     "No nothankyou." she says in an admonishing tone and proceeds to take my small bowl from me and refill it. I get the strong suspicion that refusing seconds would insult her.
     Well, I am hungry, I think as I thank her like a properly-scolded child.
     When we finish eating, she takes my bowl from me and washes both of ours with water from the small pump. I notice the fire needs more wood, and I go to get more from the large woodpile.

     "Skye, no." she says, stopping me from going to get more wood. I have no idea how she got over here so fast. Then her mouth starts moving in the flowing language she has, her obviously not caring I can't understand a word she says. I notice her hair has taken on a reddish glow to it from the setting sun.
    With her standing so near to me for a longer period of time, I feel that pull towards her again that I felt up on the hill this morning. She acts like she's saying this long-winded apology.
     Yes, I realize you probably tried to send me back, and I ruined it for you. Stop!

     Feeling somewhat impetuous, I stop her apology the best way I know how. The second my lips touch hers, something happens.

     I used to laugh at the idea of people seeing fireworks behind their eyelids from only a kiss.
     I sincerely hope this isn't a dream now.

     When I pull back, I see the shocked expression on her face.
     "Um ... sorry." I say. It's a lie. I'm not the least bit sorry. She stands there staring at me, still in shock, for what feels like ages. "Lorelei?" I ask, wondering if she's okay.
     Then she smiles, takes a step towards me, and brushes her lips against mine. I freeze, not wanting to scare her, wondering if she's about to back away again. She doesn't. Instead, she acts like she really wants me to kiss her again.

    Like I would say no to that.
    At least this communication needs no words.

    Time goes by, I guess, because it gets dark. We somehow make our way to this animal skin she has as a floor for the little shelter. It doesn't matter to me where we are, when, how, why. All that matters to me is that I keep kissing her.
    

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* 'Book excerpt' taken directly from The Sims 3 website advertising the sale of Dragon Valley. I thought it fit nicely there.

The firework picture is one of mine that I took on July 4, 2009 with some special setting on my old camera that I cannot remember right now.

I thought long and hard about how much Elven (Quenya mostly) I would throw into this, and I decided the less the better so I didn't look too pathetically hopeless. I got my info from various sites and then tweaked it as 'needed'.

P.S. 'When' Skye falls asleep in class is actually mid-term. (edit: I just put that at the top now) I still want to bounce back and forth so we can get our dose of Donovan plenty, and then the two bits will merge once again. Sorry for the confusion.