This is My Island in the Sun [Open to All]

[applesaucemod]

The Rift wouldn't say it's sorry for the fit it threw the other day, because the Rift never needs to apologize. It is (mostly) perfect, and all of its decisions are well reasoned and just. Obviously. But perhaps it has fallen into a bit of a post-tantrum sulk, because this dream is milder than one might expect. In fact, it's downright nice.

The dreamers will find themselves in an archipelago of small islands - most only a few acres in size - connected by narrow strips of sand or pebbles. The surrounding waters are calm. Little waves lap against the shorelines, and no rising tide will cut the islands off from one another. The islands themselves seem to have been lifted from every climate zone on Earth and several from beyond. Some are tropical, some colder and home to hardy conifers, some mossy and boulder-strewn, some covered in multicolored sand and odd, coral-like trees.

Most of the islands boast some kind of manmade or otherwise non-native structure, be it as small as a bench or as large as a pavilion, though there are no houses or shops to be seen. It's more like parkland, just civilized enough for a nice picnic. Some of the islands even have little grills, and a sufficiently motivated dreamer might be able to rustle up some hot dog or burger fixings if they poke around a bit.

And they'll have an extra pair of eyes to help with their searching, because their beloved dæmons have returned… again. Or perhaps they're being introduced for the first time. Regardless, it's the bi-annual dæmon dream party!

Comments

[omnomnom_hands]

"Aww silly!" he exclaims. "It doesn't have to be safe to be fun! Then it wouldn't be an adventure!"

Compelling argument, no?

[all_the_gifts]

"I don't like it," Niko's muttering to her, now positioning himself between Melanie and the stranger. "Melanie, where's his dæmon?"

Melanie frowns vaguely down at Niko, then back up at the other person. 'Dæmon' must mean his soul-animal. And it is weird that he doesn't have one. "Where is it?" she asks, puzzled.

[omnomnom_hands]

"Where's what?" asks the Pan, his smile growing continually more strained. "Look, I've got a suggestion. Just a thought! How about if you do trust me, and you take my hand? Like, now."

[all_the_gifts]

Niko presses back against her hard enough that she has to take a step or two back, away from the stranger. "Your animal-soul," she says. "Everyone has one here. Where's yours?"

"We should go," Niko insists. "We should run." But Melanie doesn't want to run. She wants to know what's going on.

[omnomnom_hands]

"That's what that is?" The Pan straightens and takes a curious step closer. The dark shape at his feet curls out a hand to brush the foot of the animal shielding the little girl, and the Pan bursts into cheerful laughter. "Oh, Little Miss Suspicious! That's what my shadow is for, silly!"

[all_the_gifts]

Niko lifts his paw in astonishment when the person's shadow reaches for it, his jaw opening wide and snapping shut threateningly. "Stay back!"

"But that's not right," Melanie insists, frowning down at the shadow. She doesn't like not understanding things. "They're always animals. They can't be shadows."

[omnomnom_hands]

"Your funny animal isn't very nice, little girl," pouts the Pan, his shadow yanking its hand back. He puts his hands on his hips and wags his head from side to side disapprovingly. "I'd almost think maybe you didn't want to be nice to me! I'm not human, so I don't have to have a funny animal."

He pouts at her, his face a caricature of hurt feelings. "You wouldn't want to hurt my feelings, would you?" he says, bringing the full force of his abilities to bear as he stares into her eyes. "We could have ever so much fun together!"