Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

A flip of the notebook page, the zip of a closing bag, a flutter of excited hands. Kay is moving about her kitchen in an energetic, if nervous, dance. Checking packs, inspecting cupboards and working out her lists. Sadly, ignoring her coffee cup. The newly dawned sun streamed in through her cheerful, yellow-curtained window, and helped to keep her smiling through the rush of activity.

Her path across the kitchen and the tune she’s humming are all part of her ‘spell’ that she’s working, unconsciously really... She’s repeating her intent to have a fun, safe time with everyone. Hoping she’s prepared enough; she’s trying to be. Model Scout Camper and all that…Super Mom.. But one never knows what they’ll encounter in the wild, yeah? well… “Wild-ish”.

-Backbrace with cargo vest for Thad and his equipment, and cane with built in stool
-Hip/belt packs for Kay,
-baby hiking backframe for carrying Emily
-Beetle Bug backpack for Tommy,
-Marvin's doll-size book bag for Emily, (or Marvin… whichever)

Kay is again going over the list of luggage for their 2 week camping trip. “Cooler, Kitchen Crate, tent. 2 extra thick inflatable bed pads, toddler pop up tent and dock-a-tot for the baby, 1 extra large sleeping bag for 2-4 adults super soft.”

She likes lists, they’re reassuring to her, but this venture has bred lists and plans like unsupervised rabbits… “Tommy's Dinosaur sleeping bag with Marvin the Brontosaurus stuffy. And Em’s caterpillar sleep-sack and G-ma quilt. Goddess forbid we forget Marvin or Emily's quilt. And Tommy and Em’s extra Blankies…

“Honey, this is the biggest ‘bed roll’ I’ve ever seen packed, and that’s just for what we’re carrying to the site. There’s hardly going to be room in the frames for food, mess kits and clothes…” Kay sighed in frustration at what her family thought they'd ‘need’ for the couple nights in the mountains.…. “Flashlights, utility knife, extra Bug Spray, fire starters and flint kit, trail mix and protein bars, water bottles.” She continued to herself.

"Did you finish your 'hospitality gifts' project after all? Are they packed?" Thad asked loudly from the living room.

"Yes, the last scarf was bound off yesterday. Handknit Scarves, hats, mittens, fingerless gloves and wraps. And we have several plaid throw blankets, pillows, and ground cloths to go with. I think I've finally cleared out my old yarn stash." Gifts for the group at fireside; Kay's little venture to make camp 'cozy'. They were going to meet several new people, potentially, and Kay always felt better to have something in hand for such ‘get togethers’. Not that she wanted to impress everyone, but it helps to have something take the attention off of Thad and his challenges, and herself if she gets shy. And now I get to shop for more yarn when we get back, she smiled to herself. "Hopefully there's enough for everyone. There could be a couple dozen friends and extended family of May at Erica's we'll be meeting at the lake. Never got an accurate headcount. And I brought some extra yarn and my needle bag, in case I have to whip up an extra hat or something." They're all rolled and stuffed in the largest wicker chest she could find… nice photo props too…Yay Cabincore.

"So glad you decided to do the photo shoot thing too. I hear the leaves are already changing up there; it should be beautiful. Perfect Autumn esthetic to show off all my knitwork. I’m getting so many pins and pics from these. Which reminds me. Did you have all the cameras and equipment you need, packed? The mini-printer-thing? Chargers too?"

“Yup, all set. I’ve got all my extra batteries and chargers locked down for my equipment, medical, photographic, culinary, and otherwise. With the adaptors to run them on that little generator. And I got that clip so you can wear the GoPro on your hat when you hike or bike. I can get some Nature vicariously, through the vids.” He thinks of everything doesn’t he? Or at least the parts I generally don’t think of… or forget about… We mesh well. “Now, you’re just getting the last of the food situated, yes?"

"Packs n snacks are all that's left." Kay confirmed.

"Don’t forget lot’s o’ marshmallows Mommy!" Tommy popped up at Kay's left elbow, from some unknown adventure in the kitchen cupboards. He brushed a cobweb from his forehead and out of his grey-blue eyes, and smeared a bit of dirt on his cheek in the process. How did he always get so dirty?

Not sure where he got the dust, but Kay was quick to grab a paper towel and give his face a wipe. Oh, I should bring extra paper towels and wipes for the car... His five-year-old mind could turn any chore or task into an exploration game, including mining the kitchen for snacks. And prepping and packing for a camping trip has been a highlight of his short life. Marshmallows a definite plus.

She mussed her hand through her son's shaggy blond hair, and answered, "I won’t forget them, Tommy… but you’ll have to eat more than just those. There’s trail mix with banana chips, jerky, apples..."

"I will! There’s chocolate bars and crackers too for those ‘mores Daddy told me ‘bout…” Kay smiles indulgently at his overactive Sweet tooth. He totally got that from her… Freakin’-love-smores, she thought to herself. Hopefully he won't inherit the belly rolls and double chin to go with it, like she has... She grinned at Tommy as he returned to the living room after his announcement, to play floor puzzles with Emily.

"I'm glad he's so peppy, even this early. He must be so excited!"

Kay’s husband Thad dodged the boy, shuffled into the room behind her and carefully sat down at the kitchen table, clutching his steaming coffee cup. But he was still in the line of sight to watch the littles through the doorway.

“By the way, I’m thrilled to have all the ‘bed-roll’ padding I can get away with. And I still argue we have space for the body pillow... I really shouldn’t be sleeping on the ground at all, especially when there are perfectly good beds in the cabin. Getting up and down is going to be brutal. And I'm going to be totally useless by the third day. My Back is already protesting.” Thad bemoaned.

“But you promised to ‘camp’ with us, Thad Dear. Tommy wants to know what it will be like to Scout before he joins up with the Cubs…In Real Camping, there won’t always be a cabin available, or even a fraction of this ‘stuff’.”

"I just hope to have a fraction of Tommy's energy, by the time we get back to real beds and showers."

Kay glances up from her notebook and carefully looks Thad up and down. So far he seems to be having a Good Back Day, but she knows the road trip and camping will tax all his reserves. She’s been taking on extra chores and all the packing to be sure he had a chance to rest up and stretch carefully for the last several days in preparation. And she's bringing his TENS unit and charger, just in case his muscles seize up.

Assured that he was doing well, and still in a good mood despite his complaints, Kay adds, “And besides, it’s only for 2 of the dozen nights. And then we’ll get to May and Erica’s palatial ‘cabin’. She mentioned off handed yesterday that they have a pool there too. You won’t even have to worry about fish when you dangle your feet.”

“I still prefer the first night plan, in an actual Motel.”

"You can’t even count that part. That’s not camping, that’s vacationing… Road Tripping.”

“I know…. That's why I prefer it.” he grinned under his bushy ginger mustache and beard, and took a deep swallow of his strong brew.

Kay smiled and shook her head slightly as her attention returned to the list. Yikes. Her grandmother would be rolling in her grave over all this. G-ma Rose started the Girl Scout Council in the county where Kay was born, where her mom grew up. All her Aunts and her Mother had their Gold awards. Kay’s mom even taught ‘survival’ camping in the ‘70s, before Kay and her brother were born, and proudly sports a 50 year pin. If she was planning, they would certainly not be worrying about extra stuffed animals and chocolate. Mama Dee could camp for days on what she could carry in her back frame and forage, or so she claims. Though she's the definition of unreliable narrator, as dementia slowly took its toll on her memories.

Of course, Kay hasn’t been on a camping trip herself since her college days, so this is an almost new experience for her, or at least a total throw-back. “Mom’d flip to see the state of our packs…. I mean, we can’t even fit all this into the Jeep. I can’t believe we’re going to need the trailer too.” She’s actually blushing in embarrassment, and a little frustration.

“Kay-dear, I’m sure we’re bringing too much, but your mom would also remind you to ‘Be Prepared’, if she could. This is the first camping trip for the kids, and the very first I’ve ever been on in my 50 years, and I need accommodations. So maybe we’re going a little overboard… but there’s a lot to learn and cover. And you’re taking care of 2 kids under 6, and a Big Man with a Bad Ticker and Spine. You’re doing amazing so far.” He added, reaching out to pull her hand from her notebook and give it a mug-warmed squeeze.

“Now rest for a minute. I demand my early-morning coffee date!... you promised." He gave her a quick puppy eyed look, then continued. "C'mon. You’ve checked and re-checked, packed and repacked. You’ve read that list, out loud, about 28 times since we got up today. We need to leave in just under an hour. Everything is ready, so let's enjoy this cup while we can," he suggested, handing her travel mug across the table.

"Oh, maybe I should have made tea instead… to help my nerves..."

"You packed it already…"

"... Coffee is good, but I'm so jittery."

"... Your nerves will settle once you're on the road. Take a rest..."

"And you always make it too strong, you can barely call it a liquid… more like caffeine mud…"

"Hey! Do not insult my Black Masterpiece!" He said with mock affront, hand over his chest.

"'Mistress' is more like it, you lust for it so!" she accused back, dramatically putting her hands over her face.

"I said 'coffee date', I didn't specify it was with only you." He winked, back to his normal voice.

"Ooo, an early morning 3-way, just what the doctor ordered," she teased back, nibbling her lip just a bit to make him grin, and finally taking a sip.

"Ok, settle down woman," he chuckled, grinning at the interplay. He returned to his cup and his previous train of thought...

"And we already spoke about the trailer,” He added. “We knew we’d need it when you decided to take the kids on a bike trail… bikes won’t fit in the truck, not matter how well you pack. Even those are secured already.”

“And the helmets?”

“And the helmets. 'One Adult bike with attached Kiddie Kart trailer, one small ‘mountain bike’, with training wheels and ‘cool stickers’. Three helmets,'" he quoted, "and one Daddy staying by the tents... The outdoor rocking horse-thing, inflatable pool and shower set, ‘bucket potties’, and the Chuck Box are all on the trailer too. They’re all strapped and tarped, you did that last night after dinner. " He reminded her.

"The only thing left is the clothes you're wearing today, the cooler with drinks and snacks, neck pillows for when you inevitably fall asleep... and enough coloring books, small toys, and dvds to keep the kids happy for the next, oh 800 hours on the road.” Thad let out a sleep-deprived sigh and scritched the back of his head through his undercut, greying red hair. “Tell me again why I agreed to this?"

"Because you're a caring, supportive, and indulgent Father. With a secret desire to be an adventurer... and Tommy and I know how to manipulate all of that in you.” Kay leaned over the edge of the table and nuzzled into Thad’s longer ginger locks, atop his head.

“All this prepping and we’ll probably end up as a Bear Snack in the end.”

"You're definitely a 'Snack'," she grinned, "But, Oh, I don’t know, you’d make one Full Bear Meal, at least. And you’re slower than us, so we’d get away. Part of why we’re taking you.” She joked, and he shot her his signature Grump Face, but then smiled again.

“...Also, it's only 9 hours, with several pit stops and a lunch and dinner break…" She leaned back and grinned in that sideways smile that always disarmed him. And when he couldn’t help but smile back, she peeked over the rim of her glasses… with that *other* look he couldn’t resist, and he pulled her into a tight hug. She slumped against him as she relaxed into his hold. He was so good at calming her.

"Ok, Just Breathe, Love.” Thad instructed. Kay unconsciously touched her left forearm where those words were tattooed in a filigree; her reminder when she starts to panic. "Yes, calm. And snuggles. Thank you Lovey." She added, skooching onto his lap.

"I think this is as good a time as any to add a last-minute item to your pack." Thad began again, giving Kay an extra squeeze.

"Oh, no, what did I forget?" She asked, jumping back up and starting towards her notebook.

"You haven't. I have a surprise for you."

"Really? Why?"

"Why, not what?"

"Sure that too…"

"Why? Because I love you, and I want you to enjoy the trip, maybe even relax at some point. When we first talked about going up to the mountains, I asked you to describe your idea of a perfect afternoon in a woodland cabin. You said you saw yourself with knitting, sleepy cats, crackling fire, warm blankets, hot tea, and a good book. We can't bring the cats, but we've got everything else, except your books."

"Don't worry, I packed some books..."

"So here is the 'what'." He interrupted, and finished by reaching under the table and pulling out a glittery green paper gift bag, tied with orange and red ribbons and paper leaves. Plaid patterned tissue paper, in matching colors, peaked from the open top. It looked appropriately autumnal and was actually really cute.
He noticed her examination, and lifted his chin, "I even wrapped it myself."

"Wow, you really made an effort in the presentation!" She began in her mommy-sing-song-voice. "You went all Martha Stewart. Complimentary colors and patterns. Glitter to catch the light. This rivals my Xmas gifts, downright picture perfect! You're not known for wrapping things at all, so…"

"Oh C'mon Kay! Enough teasing." He chuckled, exasperated. "Just take it! Open it. Then you can tell me how great I am."

She reached over to claim it, still a little shocked at the gesture. It was much heavier than it looked, and gave a small thud on the table. Kay reached in and pulled out two hardcover books, she immediately recognized. She was greeted with fantastic cover art: Morrigan, Witch of the Wilds, and Cassandra Pentagast, Seeker of Truth. World of Thedas, Vol 1 & 2.

"Oh My God! Dragon Age? Aww man, this is great! I've been wanting these books for so long!" she exclaimed with genuine glee.

"Yeah, I know. They've been on the top of your Amazon Wishlist for a while. I was just waiting for a good time to snag them for you."

"Honey, this is amazing!" She gushed as she started flipping pages. "I can't believe you got these. This will be perfect for the trip! So much info, broken into short sections. What made you think of this?"

"It's a 'Thank You', for all the planning and work you've been doing getting ready for this trip. And for pushing me to do it in the first place. I think I've come around to the idea."

"Finally! Good timing as we're leaving, like, any minute."

"Yes, so now you can stop worrying and start enjoying it. With good coffee sludge, and gamer-nerd books."

"Thank you so much! I love these! I'm totally geeking out over these! ... still, feel like I'm forgetting something though… But, I don't know, I'm just… I have a feeling… like I'm going to mess something up."

“Kay, you're fine, everything is good. We’ve been planning this for months, you've packed half the house, and you’re more than ready. What could go wrong?"

“Oh. My. Goddess! Thad?! You did not just say that out loud! Oh No! Now it’s totally jinxed! Um, Sprinkle some salt over your shoulder!...Oh, where’s the salt?! Something is going to go so sideways now!” Kay scrambled about again. “We packed the emergency rations, flares and First aid?? Extra water and the cleaning tablets? Your meds??... um backup solar chargers for the phones and LVAS equipment?” She returned to her lists to calm the fidgety dread that ate at her again.

“You’ve practically packed the pharmacy.” Thad replied, “We’re prepared for a zombie attack, let alone a family campout in the woods. I’m not sure where you even got most of this stuff… army surplus?” He joked, trying to distract her, and lighten the mood again.

“Amazon, Facebook marketplace, and Good Will. And I know it’s a lot, but I think May and Erica have as much if not more camping and kayaking stuff that they’re bringing. But she got it all as free Swag when she worked for Expedia…”

“Lucky her…” Thad said with an exaggerated eye roll.

Tommy wandered back into the kitchen then, interrupting the back-and-forth, holding the hand of a sleepy looking toddler. She was small for her age, and still looked like an upright infant, despite nearing her second birthday. A small chubby-cheeked girl, with tousled red curls, pulled up into two tiny pigtails; the definition of too cute. “Mommy, Emily wants some milk! Me too.”

“I’m sorry Loves, we’re going to get in the car soon, and it will be a while before we stop to go potty.” Kay started. But then Emily looked up at her with her round, emerald and hazel eyes, and pouted out her lower lip.

“P’ease Mama? Milk p’ease?” and Kay lost her resolve.

“Ok, but just a little cup, and you must use the potty before we leave.”

Thad scooped up their youngest and cuddled her onto his lap while Tommy climbed into the chair next to him. “Ooh, Mommy can we have a yogurt too?” Kay shook her head but looked at the three of them sitting at the table expectantly, and said, “Ok, you two can share one, but then that’s it until we’re on the road. Actually Thad, there’s only 2 left, both blueberry, and we’re better not to leave them in the fridge. Share one with me?”

“Of course milady! Though my tongue may purple, and my insides wither, I will suffer the blueberry muck for thy safety!” Thad joked dramatically, putting his hand to his forehead in mock dismay. Tommy giggled loudly, and Emily squeaked out a “Silly Daddy!” but she rubbed her head by his collar bone, obviously loving the feel of his chuckle in his chest, and the ‘music’ his heart pump made always soothed her.

“Careful, that blueberry muck got in my hair once, now look at me.” Kay joked back, running her hand through her purple and blue dyed mess-of-a-do. Tommy reached up to touch the curled ends of Kay’s shoulder length bob in an approving tickle, and grinned at her as she sat next to him at the table. Kay had always wanted wild ‘punk’ hair, but she had held off while she was pregnant with her babes. Now that they were both weaned, she’s been reveling in all the bright, unnatural colors she could get her hands on.

Kay did snag a little salt to throw over her and Thad’s shoulders, but sat for a 20 min rest with the family, having a morning snack before they hit the road, and joking and snuggling the whole time. And taking sneak peeks at her new books. Finally she put away her plans and preparations and tried to focus on the littles, and their good vibes. She was really feeling the love from them, and was relaxing, at last thinking of the fun they were going to have on this trip, instead of worrying over preparations, and 'what if'.

Chapter Text

The rest of the morning went without much fuss. They dropped the cats with all their stuff to a friend's house down the road, for an extended sitting/visit. Then they Tetris'd into their rental, with everything and everyone accounted for and in place. The bikes and crates were secured to the trailer, and all the packs and regular luggage were in the back of the Jeep. And there was still enough room, surprisingly, for everyone to sit snugly with pillows in their seats.

All said, Emily made a mess of goldfish crackers in her carseat, and Tommy dropped most of his crayons under the passenger chair, but they seemed to take to the road with relative ease, and the leather interior went unstained. Emily even did well with pit stops and no mess or diapers. Oh, so glad she was quick to potty train!

Kay did of course doze off for a while later that morning, watching the scenery change from suburban to urban and back to country. They drove from outside of Erie PA, north into New York along the Great Lakes, then started east after Buffalo. Kay woke up refreshed by lunch and they stopped in a little tourist town just past Rochester.

Kay and Thad grew up in neighboring small towns in the country southeast of Rochester, as it turns into the Finger Lakes. They met and started dating while Kay was in college on Cayuga Lake, and they spent many early years in the area, pre-kids. Knowing they were coming through this way, they made a point to stop at their old favorite diner, down the street from their first apartment together. It was still a great little greasy spoon, but thankfully they'd been gone long enough for the staff to turn over, so they weren't recognized, even after being regulars. Somewhat obnoxious early morning regulars at that; a lifetime ago.

"Daddy, why are you making silly faces at Mommy?" Tommy asked, after watching the two make moon eyes at each other across their 'Garbage plate' special.

Kay blushed a little at the question, but Thad answered simply. "Your mom and I used to have our coffee and breakfast dates here, when we were younger. The memory of it just makes us smile."

"And wiggle eyebrows too. Must be a tickly mem'ry..." Tommy said thoughtfully, making Thad chuckle, and Kay snort and turn even redder. You ain’t kiddin’ Tommy!

"I think you're right Tommy, it's very ticklish.” Kay giggled

“Why tho?”

“This is one of those things that will make more sense when you're older. Let's leave it at that." Kay added, taking Thad's hand and giving him a wink.

After their lunch break Kay traded driving for a few hours with Thad. Though she would definitely trade back by dark. She hated driving in the dark and wasn’t super confident with the trailer. And it might get particularly difficult as they got closer to the Adirondacks, where the roads were narrower and streetlights were non-existent. They made their way through the beautiful finger lakes area, looking for autumn colors starting to pop up in the late summer trees, and talking about some of their favorite haunts and reminiscing. Though the kids largely ignored them; Tommy retreated to his tablet to watch Disney movies, and Emily napped through most of the afternoon.

Once past their nostalgic spots and routes, they turned north again, and started to talk about the campsite and plans, in a much more cheerful and relaxed mood. Kay had been looking forward to this trip for months. Her friends were flying in from Seattle to spend a couple weeks in the camps of their youth. She and Erica had been besties since middle school. But now with living on opposite ends of the country, they’ve only seen each other in person a handful of times since standing at each other’s weddings. It has been so long since Kay and the family have seen them, they'd never even met Emily in person. She still kind of thinks her Ms. May and Auntie Erica lived in the computer screen. And they hadn’t seen Tommy since he could talk, and here he is starting 1st grade in a couple weeks.

The plan was to meet them by upper Saranac at a slightly remote campsite, hence the Jeep for the unpaved roads. There may be a lean-to or outhouse there, but not certain. May and Erica we're going to kayak in, through the lakes and lock systems with their niece, nephew, and some cousin or other, for a couple days before the Castlemans arrived. That side of their family tree was nebulous to Kay, but there would be at least three or four tents already at the site when they got in.

The group were going to stay for two nights in the woods, to ‘reconnect’ with Nature, and each other, before breaking up. Then Erica and May, along with Kay's crew would head even further north, to an Adirondack Resort Camp. There they have a multi-room, plumbed, log house rented for a 'glamping' stay... So that they can wash Nature back off.

It was the best compromise Thad and Kay could come to, between wanting to ‘rough it’ like Kay had as a child, and making sure Thad didn’t overdo it. He’s been considered ‘disabled’ for decades now, since before he and Kay met, from a bad accident at work as a young man. He literally worked so hard, he broke his back, and now lived with a fused spine, held together with titanium rods and pins. But he at least could walk now; that took years of physical therapy to accomplish. And his resulting fairly sedentary life has affected his heart, and he has suffered a heart attack attack a few years before the babies were born. Now he lives with an LVAD device and pacemaker, helping his heart work properly, though he would likely need to look at a transplant someday. He’s certainly motivated to keep up the therapies and such; he desperately wants to watch the littles grow up.

That’s part of why this trip meant so much to Kay; Thad was really making an effort to be active and involved with the kids, despite all his challenges, and all the worry over his health and future. And he really hadn’t ever been camping. He was pushing himself to expand his comfort zone, and activity level, which would have been impossible before the heart machines. He's trying to stick to his promise to ‘Live his life’, as much as he can on what he believes is borrowed time. This was a chance for them all to try something completely new, together.
******

As they neared the end of their drive, at about hour 7, the sky began to darken, and Kay pulled over for a pit stop and a driver change. The gas station they stopped at was one of the last big-ish towns they would pass through, and they would only be about another hour or so from the next village and their motel. After the night in the room, they'd get back on the road bright and early, to get to camp within an hour.

She was really glad to be in the passenger seat again, as, once out of the town, the roads became steeper, and a light fog creeped up, blurring out the view from the windows. Kay was starting to get her familiar anxiety that came with night travel, and was talking and singing with the kids, as much to keep herself calm as for their benefit.

In a particularly dark patch of close growing pines, the road began to climb and the wind picked up. It blew in a low moan that they could hear above the hum of the engine. They could even hear it brushing the tops of the trees, whistling, and shaking the branches by the road. “Into the woods, into the woods,” Kay sang, but stopped quickly when it only added to the apprehensive atmosphere. Where are the other cars? It’s like they’re alone on the road now…
***

It’s maybe been 10 mins since they saw the last building between towns, but civilization seems very far away. And it’s not the welcoming feeling of the woods that Kay usually senses. Her hippie-Pagan-heart craves the draw of the deep, wild places. But not today, not here. There is something wrong, and she can’t figure it out…. The trees just aren't friendly today? tonight? Is it really that dark already?

Ah. Now, it's raining. Slow drizzle gives way to pounding sheets of water as they continue on. Thad, practiced driver though he is, is trying to find a place to pull off the road until the worst of it passes. But they can’t see but a few feet in front of them and there is no shoulder to speak of. What is going on? The weather was predicted to be clear… and even the directions app didn’t mention any incoming storms. This was not part of the plan… I hope they’re all ok at the site…

Kay’s thoughts were interrupted with a call from the back seat. "Mama, don’t like it! Too loud! Mama, stop. P’ease mama daddy, make it stop!" Emily is whimpering through her toddler pouty-face, hands covering her ears to block out the torrential rain that is suddenly much too loud for all of them.

The baby and Kay are starting to really get scared, feeding off of each other’s stress, as they often did. And with Thad focusing on trying to keep them all on the road, Kay is finding it harder and harder to stay positive. She rubs her tattoos again to remember to breathe through it, and tries to keep a calm smile on her face.

“Aw Emily It’s Ok. Shh it’s ok. Daddy is a good driver, we’ll be there soon. S‘Just a little rain. It's ok. Look Marvin's not scared, he says it's alright… You wanna sing 'Wheels on the Bus' again?"

"Good idea Tommy! Thank you for helping.” Thank goodness for you Tom-tom, Kay thought. She was starting to spiral, and she didn’t want to express it out loud. Em was very sensitive to how Kay was feeling on a good day. But Tommy was always the Sunshine Boy; ready with a giggle and a hug for almost anyone that wanted it, and he took special care of his Mommy and Sissy. With all the nerves she's been holding in, and now this foreboding in her belly… Kay did not want Em to clue in any further. Poor baby, she'd have the meltdown Kay's been trying to avoid. Please don’t have a meltdown! Kay thought, but she wasn’t sure if it was aimed at herself or Emily.

Em's tears ease, but she is still sniffling when Tommy breaks out into another round of wheels (and blinkers, wipers, and lights) on the Bus, and hands her his brontosaurus to hug and flashlight to shake. Kay turns back to look out the front window at the road and check in with Thad. He's tensed up, and his knuckles are white as he holds the wheel in a death grip. And, of course, there is now snow mixed into the wind and rain.

“How can it be snowing? It's still freakin' August?!" Thad whisper-shouted.

“Yeah, I don't know… it shouldn't be! But it's almost Labor day weekend. Maybe September counts as close-enough-winter this far north? Heh, and you remember what they say about the weather in New York…You don’t like it, wait around 5 minutes. It’ll change.” Kay squeaks out, trying and failing to sound chipper, even as dread starts to form a rock in her middle. “You know, you did jinx us, this is probably the Universe wagging a finger at you… probably the middle finger.”z

“Once again Kay, your ‘jokes’ are not funny!” Thad huffed, his stress coming out sideways in an angry snap. Kay gives up on trying to fake cheerfulness and settles on reaching behind her and touching her son with a reassuring pat on the knee.

Their progress slows to a crawl, barely moving at about 10mph, when they come to a bridge over a gully, with a small river below. At least I think there's a river, the GPS map app says there should be, but it’s blanking out. Kay knows it must have quite a drop as the trees thin out, but she can’t see it for the storm and the dark. At this point, the singing has stopped in the back and everyone is very quiet. The bite-your-nails and listen-for-spooks quiet. She glances back to flash a smile in the mirror to Emily and spies her two loves holding hands; they must finally be feeling the foreboding she is.

She grips her hands tightly together, to keep from rubbing her arms raw, but it’s all the effort she has at this point. Kay’s mind is on repeat “Keep the babies safe, get off the bridge, find cover. Keep the babies safe...” Her brain is betraying her again; it starts to fritz out as it moves into crisis mode. The wind, rain and snow are howling outside the windows now, and the Jeep shimmies on its shocks. All she can think of is the storm, the dark, and trying to stay safe.

But they can’t get off the bridge! Even at their snail pace, they are being pushed and pulled, sliding as much sideways as forward in the snowy, rainy mix. Has this bridge iced over? How did it get so slick so fast? Even in 4-wheel-drive, Thad is having to down-shift and work against the slide, and the trailer is trying to fishtail...

All at once from the passenger side, a wind like a tornado force pushes the truck, trailer and all to the edge of the bridge. They cross the line to the wrong side of the road, smashing, denting, crushing up against the guard rail on the driver's side! The sound of metal scraping metal and breaking windows explode in their ears louder even than the ferocious wind! The Jeep rocks up and back, pushing and cracking against the metal edge. It’s shaking and jumping in the wild air, and they all start screaming as Thad tries everything to right the car.

Another gigantic gust takes them… Up and up and up, flipping over the railing! The car tumbles, barrel rolling off the bridge and through the heavy air. Amidst the screaming and reaching for each other, for the babies, for any purchase in the free fall, the truck crashes down! Nose first. Not into the river, but through a mass of otherworldly-green, electrified storm clouds...

Chapter Text

She must have blacked out. The next thing Kay sees is a thick greenish-grey fog. Or smoke? Smoke? Is there a fire? Oh God, It's right in her face…wait, are her eyes open? Hard to tell... Her eyes don’t prickle like it’s smoke... She blinks hard, and rubbing at them finds her glasses still in place, though she can’t focus well. Or maybe there’s nothing to focus on? Wiping them quickly, she looks around, trying to place where she is... but everything is foggy. Am I on my back? The air is too thick to be sure which way is which. It strangely feels like she might be looking down, not up… weird. A little effort… ah, Ok. Now she's sitting upright, hopefully.

Kay is turning her head around, trying to see, and unconsciously pressing her hands to her chest. There is such a strange buzzy feeling around her lungs and under her sternum. It’s moving?? she thinks, looking down at the rise and fall of her breath. The feeling shivers up and down her spine and out to her fingers and toes, then up over her scalp, like she pinched a nerve somewhere in her neck and it just kept moving. It’s building an ache behind her eyes and temples. Strangely familiar, but not… This is so weird. Super Vertigo Spins. Is this a new Migraine aura? and everything feels so tight-and-ouchy… then loosie-goosie… back and forth. Am I on some sort of ride?? No, still sitting, I think. Not still, but still still…yeah. She keeps looking, but can’t see much of anything. Wait, am I alone? Oh no!

She calls out for her husband, “Thad? Hello?? Lovey??” and her babies, “Tommy? Emily? Where are you?" Her calls muffle back against her ears. She’s shouting underwater, and it sets her teeth on edge. Ah, my ears! They ache with the invisible pressure. There is no response, there is no one near. No one and nothing. So much Nothing! She can’t see their car or the bridge, the woods or ravine. Wait, what woods? She can’t tell up and down. Where is the sky, a horizon? She can barely see her hand in front of her face… or feel it, really… is that her hand?? Calm down, yes it must be your hand, there's your rings and tattoos. Chill.

She’s not even sure what she’s landed on. Looking...down? Looking toward her legs, she sees she is sitting on... grey and swirly clouds? It feels somewhere between liquid and solid. Like gak, it's slick, and sticky...Ew, like touching a wet gummy bear, or half-set grey Jell-o. She moves her legs under her and gets up on her knees. Can you sit on a cloud? Maybe… it’s like she's kneeling on (in?) puddled mercury. Is this the river?! Huh, a river? what?

She shakes her head to try to clear her vision, and stands up to get a better look. Whoa, Dizzy! She thinks she falls, yes knees are in the silver stuff again...still? Try again, slower. She’s on her feet now, should be, yes, standing. Yeah, ok. She holds her spinning head a moment. Focus! She needs to find them… Where are my Babies? What’s going on? Her heart is racing and her mind is as fuzzy as her sight. Her breath comes in short shallow puffs, and billows out her mouth, like icy cold air… but it’s not hot or cold? It’s just... there? Erg... Gotta move. Go!

Did I land on my head? There is a pounding headache grappling beneath her temples, but it takes a back seat to her sudden panic. She’s lived with anxiety and Panic Attacks her whole life, but this? This feels different. It’s coming on lightning fast, seizing her gut, and making her legs sweat and tremble. Sh*t! She is too confused to try her breathing or grounding exercises. Her knees give out, and she collapses again, hands down in the misty muck.

What usually comes in waves she can surf or swim against, has just bowled her over, tsunami style. She can’t manage! Her breaths start coming in shallow pants. “I Can’t, can’t breathe, I can’t, I can’t. I’m drowning!” Did she say that out loud or in her head? Even if she could breathe, there is no air here, not like she needs, and no ground! No Air! Can she breathe this fog? Is it toxic? Get out of here!

Her eyes roll wildly back and forth searching in the thick nothing. Where are my babies? Where am I? What the HELL Happened? Emily?? Tommy? Thad? She’s never felt such fear and desperation. Confusion, loss, grief. It’s all hitting her so hard... like, well, a car wreck. She needs to move.

She is scrambling back to her feet and into the fog. Got to move! Running, in what she is sure are circles. Keep Going! Though there are no landmarks to guide her. Or am I running in place? Run! She feels like a bad Sim character, running, racing, but getting nowhere. Find them! She could have been searching for hours, days… or just a moment. Oh God I’m stuck! There’s nothing to judge time by, she can’t even count time by breaths, they’re so uneven.... Don't stop! The foggy gas cannot maintain her as she runs, panting, stumbling and dizzy. After a brief eternity of searching and sprinting helplessly, haphazardly in all directions, she stops still, and drops back down into the silver not-liquid, cowering, shaking.

Come on, keep it together! Curling in on herself, she begins to pray with all her being. Please hear me! Help me! Let me find them! She needs to protect them, save them from whatever has befallen them; save them from… whatever this place is!

Her mind is racing as fast as her heart, and as foggy as her sight. She thinks, “Am I dead?, oh Goddess, I’m dead! Are WE dead??! No, come on Kay. Maybe you're dead, but they're ok...Yeah, they're ok, somewhere. She rubs her symbols and sayings, tattooed on her wrists and arms, in an effort to direct her panicked energy. “Lord and Lady! Please, help me, help them, keep us safe! Guide us from this fear, this place!”
Her intent, her prayer, her excruciating *need* to find, hold and protect her babies seems to be forming a physical ball of pain in her middle. Kay is still bent over, curled in, and now she clutches at her belly; her middle is burning. Her muscles are pushing, her stomach is blazing with fire. What is this?! Her gut is twisting, cramping, clamping down under her paunch; her womb and lady parts cramping with vengeance. What's going on?!

Aaaahh! It hurts! Oh Gods it hurts!

Burning like acid, ripping, her muscles cramp and contract, baring down like late labor, but the ball of pain won’t ease, won’t move. It’s just growing, tearing, burning! Oh God, the baby is stuck again! Wait, I’m not pregnant?! I already had Emily, emergency surgery, she’s not stuck right now?...Kay grips and pulls her shirt out of the way to see her stomach distending and her skin stretching in a disgusting ripple. It looks like an alien, or a giant worm under her skin. Nope! Hhnuunggh, It’s too much, her insides clench and she turns her head to vomit out her last meal onto the grey puddle next to her.

What’s happening to me?!? The ripping pain pushes down against her hips, her pelvis; her very bones are cracking under the strain. Her arms and legs are shaking, her hands are gripping and clawing at her thickening waist. "Aghhh, f*ck!" A thick film of sweat erupts across every inch of her skin and begins to drip down her face. It’s moving, down from her womb but not out; no relief. "Guahhh!!" She's panting, groaning, nauseous, dizzy, and confused. She’s coughing out another heave, and as she empties what’s left of her stomach contents, she sees an odd light starting to burn from her middle. Sh*t! Are my scars glowing?? There is an angry purple-red line shining, drawing across her lower abdomen along the t-shape of her C-section marks, peeking out of her used-to-be-loose waistband. Like a line of red lightning, a crack in the egg that is her rounding mom-tummy.

It's too much! Her brain can't process it. Kay is curled up around her now bulbous belly and she falls to her side in a fetal position, hitting her shoulder and hip in this strange liquid nothing. She struggles to breath. She is groaning, thrashing and yelling, screaming now, sounding like a wild animal in death throes. She really could be dying, for how much searing pain wracks through her. "Arghhhh! Aghhh!" Until, for a single breath, she can feel nothing. Oh God! Did something break? She tries to take a deep breath and think, but she doesn't get the chance.

The stabbing crash smashes back into her, like a hammer pounding down on her pelvis as the anvil! Crushing her flat against the puddle under her, flinging her arms out and knees up. "ARGHHHHHHH!!!!!" She screams, long and loud from somewhere deep within her core, pulling her head and shoulders up from the ground as it rips up her throat. The scream is physical as it billows out from her body, and the fog rolls away from her form with the sound. It moves like the shock wave from an explosion, in every direction, finally clearing the air around her, and she sees.

Chapter Text

Kay turns her head slowly, blinking her eyes back open as the last intense, insane crash ebbs and she can start to think again. What the..? Through the haze, and the sparkles clouding her vision, there, in the pale grey distance, two prone, small Figures. !!!!!

She tries to focus on rolling back over onto her side, then pushing up. Get UP! She's wrung out, exhausted, every inch of her body aches, but she must move. She stumbles and groans, and pulls herself to her feet. Or at least she tries, that's the idea.

Her brain is telling her body to do it. But like every cliche nightmare, her feet are stuck in quicksand; she can hardly budge, and trips forward in her haste. The mercury stuff she’s kneeling in is getting stickier, thicker, dripping and gripping, trying to hold her down. She pushes to right herself, and reaches around her wide middle as best she can, tugging at her knees by her pants. She pulls each leg and foot from the grey liquid, squelching as she trudges forward, step by oozing, agonizing step.

After another eon of effort, Kay can see a shadow from the corner of her eye and her heart stutters when she recognizes her husband, in a military crawl, pulling himself with shaking arms along the ‘ground’ toward the figures. Oh no, Thad!! The fiery glow in her center pulses and spasms again, bringing her back down to her knees.

But this time, instead of down and stuck, the pain pushes out, lifts forward from her solar plexus. Her chest arches up with her breath, and she rocks back on her heels. The ache shifts out from her Self, phasing, passing through her muscles and skin like they don’t exist; almost gentle in the movement. Relief! In an instant, her middle deflates like an untied balloon, and her flesh retracts to her normal level of rolly-chub, in a nauseating squeeze and fold of skin. It leaves her with just the shivers once again prickling her spine and warming her extremities.

The volleyball-sized rock that moved through her middle has formed into a sphere of blue, yellow, and white flame. A tiny star, that rises in front of her, and floats over to hover just above her children, several yards away. It grows brighter as it glides. It shines like a lamp post on a dark side street. A candle in a far window. A lighthouse on a rocky shore.

The light still feels connected to Kay's body, like a guide string, gentle, but sure. It tugs at her, helping her regain her footing on the solidifying ground, guiding her and Thad to their little ones. With the release of the ball of light, the pain leaves as fast as it began, and Kay can stand up with renewed strength, and a shiver across her sweat-soaked skin. . Ok, direction, focus. Phew, finally. And at last she can take a full breath of air. She spares the briefest thought to wonder at the orb as she pushes forward.
***

When she finally, finally feels like she can reach her arms and fingertips just a little further, to touch the golden hair of her son, the scenery changes drastically with a flash of green light. No longer on a grey endless field of liquid fog, the world spins and blurs green and black around them, then stills a moment later.

Kay finds them all huddled in an expanse of neat green lawn, much like the peewee soccer fields in the park near their suburban home. But instead of the trees and shrubs she expects to see near the field, surrounding the outside of the space there is an old stone wall, cracking and falling in places. And not much else past them. The familiar park benches and pavilions are missing, no playground or walking paths. Not even the small hill where Tommy likes to sled and roll. There’s just a stone half wall, like a country farm fence, old and in disrepair. She thought she could see some of the broken stones from the wall, and some larger boulders, moving, hovering, just past the perimeter of the wall.

As her eyes dart around trying to place where they are, the ‘sun’, or at least a brighter orb comes out and casts the sky into a pale, bright, and hazy grey, like the clouds before a bad thunderstorm. She sees, hovering off in the distance, a mass of black, craggy stone buildings. It resembles a castle? Or a small rocky cluster of old ruins, with eerie small windows. Square specks of gold and green light peek out… like the city skyline for a Transylvanian horror movie.

Wait, there is a thunderstorm? It looks like an electric storm way off on the horizon. Ok, I can see a horizon now. It’s farther away than their field and stone wall, closer and on the opposite direction point than the weird Cityscape. The clouds there are much darker grey, almost black, churning and rising as far as Kay can see. The wind must be very high within the storm for it to twist so much, and there are green and white electric flashes piercing back and forth throughout the smoky mass.

At the bottom of the towering cloudstack, is a distinct lime green triangular funnel touching down to the brown-black… surface? Maybe it’s over a lake or something, because the green funnel seems to be reflected at the horizon line. Not exactly a mirror, but enough so there is an illusion of another storm below. Wow, 'illusion' is right. If Kay is not staring directly at the clouds, it’s easy to forget it was there. The whole storm passes right out of vision. Her eyes moved and now, she can only focus on the immediate lawn around them once more.
****

Thad has reached them now. As soon as he is able to sit up enough, he clutched Emily to his side. He’s doing his best to look her over as he supports his weight on his stronger arm. His face is lined deeply with familiar pain and shadows, but he barely seems to notice.

"She’s breathing, and warm… I don’t see any blood, Thank God. But she’s out... Kay! She’s Limp!”

"She could have been knocked out…. Are there any bumps or cuts to her head?" Kay asks as she leans over Tommy to check him. He too is breathing well and deeply, like he is simply asleep, his mouth even puckered in his trademark sleeping-cupid face. But there is a rosiness to his cheeks and ears that make her worry about a fever… But why would he have a fever? He was well this morning…this morning? Is it morning? Wait, what?...

"Honey, what happened?? I… feel really fuzzy, confused…and nothing looks quite right, but my glasses are here..."

"Maybe you hit your head too?" He suggested.

“I don't know... I don't remember, exactly"

“I’m not sure either. I just woke up to see some fog, then the kids here, and tried to get moving… wait, I remember we were driving… heading upstate … the what?.... um, oh to the campsite…” Thad began in a halting, quiet monotone.

"Yes, we were supposed to stop for the night somewhere soon… It was night, I think. We need to stop, yes at that motel with the tree name...but there was a storm…" Kay tried to pick through the images starting to flow in her mind.

“The Storm!… There shouldn’t have been any storm!… I’ve been watching the weather reports like a hawk, this should have been a completely clear weekend. Not even a chance of showers until our last day out…wait, out? Outside?” Thad continued, his voice rising in confusion.

Kay’s panic surges again; she is trying not to completely freak out, now that she has Thad with her to give her the space to process. Trying and failing.

“Oh God. Thad? We broke...the bridge...we fell... I think. Crashed! I think we're dead!...Or at least, I’m dead,” she adds, with a thoughtful tone.

“No, we can’t be...this can’t be the afterlife! There’s so much… nothing here… Where’s the tunnel of light? The dead relatives? I mean, where’s Jesus?? No! Just, no.”

“Well, it’s either the afterlife or a really fudged up dream… This place seems weirdly familiar. Like an old story…And that light above our heads! I swear, it was in me! It was like I was pregnant again! Like bad labor. It effin' hurt!... but now it’s a lantern?? wtf??”

“I, I don't understand… no… None of that matters! Kay. We’re alive and so are they, for now. No matter where we are, we need to help the Boo-boos. We have to find a phone or something, we need to call an ambulance…where’s my cell?” Thad starts to search about, patting his pockets looking for a phone or anything to help. But the turning jars his lower back again and his hips seize into place. “Also, I don’t think we’re dead… I’m in too much pain to be dead… whatever happened threw my back out again, and my legs and hips don’t want to work. I’m running on adrenaline, and nothing else.”

“Well if we’re hurting, it’s pointing less to a dream…” But NO, This can’t be real, this can't be real, this can’t be real…. Kay is on repeat the longer she stares at her surroundings. We have to get out of here. Or wake up. She needs to ground herself or she’ll lose her breath again. At least there’s a ground now… She refocuses on the warm child in her lap.

“Tommy Love, wake up now, please wake up. It’s time to get up for school. Come on Honeylove. Please wake up! You're ok, Mommy's here but we need to get up now, we need to go.” She adds with a shake of his shoulder.

Thad latches on to her example, and echoes her attempts to rouse the babies. “Emily are you ok, Em? Tommy? Can you hear me? Emmy Boo please wake up! Daddy has you. Are you hungry, Love? Do you have any owies? Cry if you need to. Please tell me, Please wake up. Wake up Emily please love, wake up!”

Thad began to mumble into Emily’s hair and rock her in his arm against his chest. He looked close to tears as he murmured to his youngest. Kay kept checking over Tommy and looking around confused. She’s lost, she doesn’t know what to do. She’s usually the one that plans everything, directs things, but she’s completely out of her element. And misty-dead-space-survival was not a scenario she covered in scouting or first aid. But she does remember that she should stay put and hope someone can find them. That’s the rule when you’re lost, right? She calls out in desperation.

“Help!! We need help! Please? Anybody? Please Help us! Heeeeelllp!”

*****

As if responding to Kay’s plea, a strange breeze blew across the field. It brushed the grass, and caused the light above their heads to sway. There seemed to be shadows gathering around the edge of the low stone wall, and the fog churned and became thinner, lighter, pushed farther away giving a greater field of visibility. Amidst the shadows, a few flashes of light flit and flicker, and begin to form into blobs, amoeba shapes of various sizes and shades. Some even look like they could be far off animals, or humans, and Kay could almost distinguish colors in the flashing.

With all the sparkling, flashing lights and shadows, Kay wonders if she’s about to pass out, and rubs her eyes again. Opening them and giving her head a little shake, the lights are still there. Ok, not dizzy sparkles...One of the glowing shapes twitched back and forth at the closest section of the wall just off to Kay's left. As the strange glow moved about in the fog, Kay shivered and leaned over Tommy, shifting closer to Thad and Em.

“Who’s there? Please, there's been an accident! We need help, please call 911, call an ambulance! Our children", she choked the words out. "There’s something wrong with our Babies! Please help!”

The glowing form grew larger still as it floated closer. It passed through the stone wall like it was made of the same fog that lingered in the air. And its shape, its outline became clearer. It looked to be a silvery glowing …. Oh God! A Skeleton! With a veil of transparent fabric clinging to it like a gown. Then the ragged gown morphed, turned, solidified onto the bones, like a backwards decay timelapse, becoming muscle and skin as the skeleton ‘fleshed out’ to an almost-human-mostly-not-maybe-dead-thing.

“Holy Shit Kay! We are dead! There’s a freakin' ghost!… Stay away from us! Leave our kids alone! Get the Fuck out!” Thad shouted, his anxiety switching quickly back to anger.

“Be not afraid, do not rage. I want to help." The specter began in a wispy voice. "Heal the hurt, find the source. Comfort, calm, clear. Warm the body, cool the head, quiet the mind... cuddle? What is that word…?”

"Fuck no! You are not going to cuddle with us, you boney Son-of-a-bitch!!” Thad looks like he’d be standing at the ready to fight the creature back, if he could stand.

“Calm. We come to offer aid, but you must let us in your barrier.” Another, deeper voice intoned.

We? Oh Gods there are more of them! Kay pressed closer to Thad, and they held the littles between them.

The second form of light rushed forward from its place behind a tall black rock near the half wall. From one blink to the next it was beside the Silver Skeleton Thing. This one looked more or less human and alive, with olive skin and short dark hair, but it was large, and imposing. Like a Giant, but feminine… No, curvaceous, and strong. More than twice as tall as Thad, 15 feet at least, and muscled like She Hulk… If light can be buff? And she had a more subtle gold glow, under what looked like a tan tunic and tight black shorts... Even as the form took a more concrete shape of arms and legs, chest, shoulders and head, the brownish light shimmered in a wave, giving the effect of rippling in the muscles.

Both light creatures stopped just shy of crossing into the patch of grass where they sat. Kay glanced down near their, um, maybe feet? There were field lines marking the bounds of the soccer pitch around them, and their family was in the center circle; the creatures would not cross.

But Kay was too desperate and panicked to wonder long at their hesitancy, or their looks and movements. They felt somehow non-threatening to her, despite their strangeness. She decided any help would be better than waiting here, doing nothing. “Please, can you help us? Can you help my Babies?”

“Yes, work the worry, ease the ache. ‘Will they live? Are they hurt?’ What happened?”

“Do you know? What happened??? Where are we?” Thad demanded.

“Compassion wishes to help you...adjust. And our comrades Restoration and Vitality want to check their forms.” Two more lights fluttered into view, green and shimmering bronze pressed next to each other atop the wall's highest point.

“Who are you?” Kay asked, cautiously, but hopeful.

“I am Protection, and you called out to us. We can help, but not until you let us in.”

“No!” Shouted Thad, “I don’t know what you are, but I’m not ready to let them go. If we’re dead, you can take us all to Heaven together.”

“Honey, Thad Love…. I’m not sure that’s where we are?” Kay whispered, in dawning realization.

“What? Kay?”

“I… I think I recognize this place…. And if I’m right, these are Spirits…. Or demons…” Kay knitted her brows, trying to remember, to understand.

“Great! We’re in Hell with ghosts and demons??!? You can’t have them!!” Thad shouted back at the Light forms.

“What do you mean let you in? Can’t you come over here?” Kay wondered aloud. Kay's questions are interrupted when she feels a shift from Tommy in her arms.

“Love?? Tommy Love are you ok? Wake up. Sweetness. Mommy has you!”

“He will awaken soon, but we should look them over, and you, quickly, before they stir.” Giant lady stated.

“Why? Do you know what happened? What’s wrong?”

“You… you all are wrong. You should not be able to be here like this…” The hulking golden brown woman crossed her arms on her chest and studied them thoughtfully for a moment. Something about her tugged at Kay's mind, and the Silver one more so… there was something so familiar about that glowing skeleton shape...

Kay sat up suddenly with shock. It fully, finally dawned on her, where she was, and why it felt so familiar…

"Thad… Thad! Oh-My-God!.... I-think-we’re-in-the-Fade!” she blurted out

Chapter Text

“The what now?!” Thad demanded.

“The Fade!… We must be in the Fade! From Dragon Age!”

“Your Game?”

“Yes, my xbox game… and my new books...” Kay continued in wonder.

“That's ridiculous. That's fiction… and not compatible with real life. If this is real life.” Thad adds doubtfully.

“Ok, well, there are only 3 explanations I can think of… Either we’re dead, I’m having some super freaky dream… maybe a coma dream? Or we’ve ended up in a video-game spirit-dream-world…” Kay counted out on her fingers. “Don’t you remember what it looked like in the game? In Inquisition? Same weird green-brown sky, smoky grey clouds… same 'Black City' hovering out of reach…”

“If you're having a dream, I’m having it with you. I’m pretty sure I’m here. Here and hurting.”

“But if I were dreaming you, Dream Thad would say that too, so it proves nothing.”

“And Dream Kay would doubt me and contradict most things I say… much like Real Life Kay… As for the game, I don’t really remember much of it. I stopped watching after your 3rd ish playthrough. I could only stand the repetitive fighting and hours of character builds for so long. I can remember some of the plot, if I think on it, and a lot of the terms you’ve thrown around… ‘Fade’ is iffy. But again, total fiction.” Thad added, with feigned confidence.

The light shapes flickered in and out of vision as they watched Kay and Thad's discussion. Finally the Silver Skeleton figure hovered closer, as if to hear them better.

“You are wrong, but right! You are not dreaming, though most do. You are Visitors, not visions”, ‘Compassion’ answered.

Well there goes theory 2…
“Then...We must be dead…”

“No, you are not dead! You’re all very much alive, that's what is so unusual! I’ve never seen the like, before today.” The last comment came from a small grey-blue light hovering near the feet of the largest Spirit Protection. It bristled and brushed, twisted and turned, and took the shape of a very large, fluffy cat, with chubby cheeks, and stripes of blue, purple and several shades of grey. Kay was reminded of the Cheshire Cat, and nicknamed it Chester, in her mind.

“I know it sounds crazy, Honey… yeah really crazy... but that would explain so much...but then…why are they acting weird?” Her thoughts trailed off again. Kay shook her head to refocus, and decided she needed to step up.

“!” Ok that came out as a nothing-squeak. Clearing her throat, Kay tried again. “Hey, um. You there!” she enunciated, trying to control her nervous voice. She turned to the growing collection of lit shapes hovering on and around the wall and field. “Are you Spirits or Demons?!” Stronger Kay, make a statement! “I will not let you hurt my family! You say there is a barrier? Then... good, maybe we, um, We cast a spell. No matter, you cannot come through until I know you, or your intent? Not until I give permission, right? That’s how this works? I will not allow you to harm us!”

"Calm yourself, we are not Dem-," the large woman began, but she was interrupted by a chilling screech.

Kay whipped her head around in time to see a green, spindly tree-monster-thing lean its head ridiculously far back, mid-shriek. It reached twice as high as Thad, but managed to bend backwards in a sickly contortion, head nearly to its knees. Almost eye level to where Kay would be… but she’s not getting closer to measure. Its neck and mouth merged, cracked open in a horror movie scream, shrill enough to curl hair. Then it moved into a gangly jump, and seemed to melt into the ground behind the wall.

"Holy fuck, what was that?!" Thad spat.

"Terror…", Kay answered in a shocked whisper.

"*That*, was a demon." Tall Lady finished, with a frustrated sigh. “But you already knew that. Even if you don’t believe it.”

"Far too full. Feed the feeling. Fallen, forced, frayed. Made to tear, twist, turn from truth. I am not what I am. I am what is wrought, wasted, wrung from what I was. Waning, warring with wretched Will." Silver spirit interpreted. "Wanting. Waiting. Always watching. I wish I could help them…"

"Best be wary of whom you call. Your fear and anger pull the twisted ones your way. Thankfully your barrier is strong, Mage. Be glad we heard you first, and Protection claimed you." Chester cooed.

"You can't claim us!" Thad practically shouted.

"Oh my… Your reactions are so complex! Anger, fear, confusion, frustration, despair, guilt.” The Cat let out a sort-of-satisfied chuff of a purr, and continued, “All wrapped up with love, affection, strength and hope. And enough physical pain to knock you unconscious, but yet you try to fight? So interesting…" The blue fluff-ball tilted its head sideways as it observed Thad and Kay, eyes wide and shining.

Kay tried to ignore the strange Cat, and addressed Big Goldie. "I'm glad you're here, if you mean to protect us, and we can certainly use your help. But you cannot 'claim' us. In fact, if anything, we should lay claim… to this place in the Fade, a…. Like a.. safe zone for us. We don't want those demons any closer."

Kay laid Tommy carefully on the grass next to his father, and stood up, moving between her family and the onlookers "I Say, this is Our Space, Reserved for Me and Mine. Our Territory, Our Piece-of-the-Fade.

"Only those who help are welcome. Only those invited can enter. No negative energies allowed! No Harm, no Hurt, no Fear or Danger, no Demon Corruption or Offense, accidental or intended, can enter our Safe Space.” Kay declared, in her Authority Voice. The one she uses for spellwork, and tantrum control, at home.

With the words spoken, the white line drawn around them sparked and shone, rising in a vertical shaft of light, and growing to encompass about 10 feet in all directions from where her family sat. Up from the ground, moving like liquid glass, a clear twinkling mist rose to form an almost transparent dome over their space, with her fiery orb above their heads at the zenith. As the sparkling edges reached above the orb and met, a circle of white light pushed out from the center. Quickly, like a camera flash; a pulse. It illuminated everything Kay could clearly see, before the wall of fog and storm in the distance. Most of the shadowy shapes and figures disappeared in the flick of the light.

“Confused, cautious, seeking in circles. Daring to dare. Desperate, disbelieving, but courageous... a contradiction. It’s going to be all right, you are safe." Silver One intoned. “You know us, but don’t, you need us, but won’t. You fear us, but hope. Who to trust? What to trust? How to trust? Please, I can help you. I will not hurt, not harm. Help and heal! Please, let me in. You know me! Or one like me. Who is Cole?”

Kay gulped down the surprise that caught in her throat. Does he know about Cole? Did he pick the image from my brain? If this being is like Cole, one of her favorite characters from Dragon Age, maybe her theory was true. He certainly sounded like the Compassion she knew… well, as any story character can be ‘known’. Speaking in a kind of alliterative poetry. She’d always liked his dialogue. Ok Kay. Let's work with this! Ask the right questions...

“Kay, what did you do? How did you?” Thad is looking in quiet awe at the shimmering dome that they are now closed beneath. “Is this a Force Field? Will this really work?”

“I think so Love, I think I’m right... Ok, Thad we need to do something. If this is the Fade, and these are good Spirits, then they can help us. In fact they'd be the only ones who could."

"That's absurd! This can't be 'the Fade', we're probably knocked out somewhere, like in a hospital bed."

"Dream or no, Fade or no, we should play along, at least until we know otherwise. They want to help, I think we should let them. And we’d need to work on a way out, a way back. I don’t think living things can stay in the Fade safely, at least not too long. Let’s see what we can do.” She leaned over to drop a kiss on Thad’s forehead and take a deep breath before turning back to address the light show.

“Are any of you capable of healing? Can someone check the children? If I invite you?”

The silvery skeleton/man/thing--no, not Thing, Compassion--nodded emphatically, and was joined by two more lightforms as they moved up from the edge of the field.

The larger of the two blurred and sharpened into a humanoid shape... of an Olympic track and field star. Like, original Olympics with a toga, sandals, gold laurel, oiled skin, everything. He was a tanned bronze, and he had a fit, strong, muscled form. He floated, and simultaneously ran in the air at full speed with arms pumping in perfect sprinters’ form. He quickly moved up near the group of gathering Spirits, fuzzing and focusing back and forth into vision.

The other light shone a minty green, with shades of brown shadows forming into a womanly shape. She was short, about even with Kay, and chubby; with a curly mop of hair that was trying to escape from the complex pile of chestnut braid, crowning her head and flowing down her back, nearly to her knees. The tips of her pale green pointed ears peeked out from the spiraled mass, and her eyes shined, a beautiful backlit chocolate brown. She had a warm smile and an ageless look about her that was comfortable, inviting, kind. She bobbed pleasantly forward, though her feet were hidden by her tan and cream...skirts? veils? Floating, gossamer smoke-vapor-light-robe-things.

“I can Heal any injuries, in them and you.” Said the short lady lightform, “make sure they are not harmed from the accident, or for being here. And check you for your recovery, my Dear.”

“Search for hurts, help the healing” Compassion added “Comfort, reassure, keep safe”.

“I am Vitality!" The Hercules wanna-be stated with vibrato, "I can make sure you all are in the best physical condition! Strong, sure, and energized for the journey. Fit and healthy, ready for anything.” He thrust out his chest in pride at his own declaration, striking a superman pose.

“Did he... just flex? seriously?” Kay asked from the side of her mouth, to... Oh. No one in particular, she realized.

“And perhaps I can aid with your trepidation; you all seem to need a bolster to your confidence. You are showing great bravery in the face of unknowns, fear of injury and madness, despair over your hurt loved ones, and in such a strange place. But you are plagued with anxiety, and you question yourselves constantly.”

"Well you’re not wrong there…” Thad added dryly, staring at the newcomer, who stood at about his shoulder while he sat there.

"And when they awaken, the children may be frightened of this place. I can counter that with them.” These last observations came from a strangely small reddish lightform, who just seemed to appear into their awareness, inches from their dome. It was about the size of Tommy, but not proportioned like a child, more like a hobbit, and sporting… yup, 6 arms stacked shoulder above shoulder on its torso. It held 2 arms akimbo on it’s hips, and 4 crossed over it’s broad chest. Though it was a small being, it radiated confidence, assurancce, in a calmly pulsing warm, orangey-red shimmer.

“Transformation can help us with the larger health changes, when they arrive. We can heal more than your minds. We’re able to fix your bodies, since you are here physically,” Vitality added with a beaming smile, speaking to Kay and the green Lady. "What a treat to be able to affect so much!"

“Fix us?” Thad asked, uncertainly. “That’s not happening. There’s nothing to fix, we’re fine!”

The Orange Hobbit raised an eyebrow at Thad, and stated matter-of-factly, “We can see the metal in your spine, the scars in your flesh, the missing, altered parts of your form. There even seems to be a magical artifact touching, moving your heart…”

“Ooooo neat, let me look!” The Cheshire-cat creature hummed, eyes widening to saucers. It leapt from it’s spot next to Protection, over toward Thad, and padded close, just to the very edge before the shimmering shield.

“Back off Chester!” Thad started. Weird, did I say that outloud? Kay wondered. The Cat fluffed out its fur along it's back and tail, affronted. Then he turned slowly and padded back to the edge of the group, and sat down with a pout, curling its tail around itself.

“Yeah that machine is ‘magically’ keeping me alive! It’s a medical device, an LVAD. A motorized assisting blood pump, and pacemaker. It makes my heart work right.” Thad tried to explain. “And the rods and pins are literally holding my spine together… Don’t mess with any of those. Just, don’t touch me.”

“We can change all that! Fix your heart, spine, organs. All of it. We can remove your devices, supports, wean your potions, fix your structures, replace what is lost, clear you of illness and disorder. You could be healthy, strong, energetic, athletic, youthful…” Vitality explained with a broad smile.

“Repair, restore, regain. Heal the hurt, stop the pain. You’ve had too much pain in your life. Constant, contorting, controlling. We can fix the body, the pain will leave, your heart restore, your mind and soul ease...” The silver Spirit turned sad eyes to Thad, sympathy pouring from his now-almost-complete body, in a grey mist… when did his eyes appear? They were deep almost navy blue, and watered with the threat of tears. Whoa, Spirits can cry? Well… it is supposed to be Compassion...

“And you could charge, change or choose your beautiful forms, as part of the healing, the transmutations. You are already stunning, but I can tell there are things you’d like todo to enhance your Self, your physique, your visage. Oh, do you want to have more colorful hair? For it to be like that lovely blue naturally? Or maybe fix your smile? Stretch or shrink your height? Add some horns? Brighten your eyes?”

This idea came with a bubbly giggle. It sounded from a wispy bit of rainbow cloud-shimmer, that blew in from the foggy background of the field, into soft focus near Restoration’s spot on the grass nearby. A pinkish purple lighted nebula, misting closer. It twinkled and glittered, but Kay could not make out a true shape of it, just moving color, in a round-ish ameba, a bit larger than her. Maybe it was somewhat ginger-bread-man-shaped?

Not quite person-ish yet, Pinky reminded Kay of those internet videos of colorful slime blobs. Pretty, interesting, filled with glitter; satisfying in the way it moves… but no idea what it actually is. It took Kay a concentrated effort to turn her eyes from the hypnotic mass of color; it was entrancing. But once she did, her mind cleared up some, and she took a moment to absorb all that they were saying.

“Whoa, that’s a lot to take in. And, to be honest, that sounds like a Demon Deal, if ever I heard one. Super sus', downright sinister. I thought my barrier was working…" Kay challenged.

“Yes, it is. Our intentions are benevolent, and we do want to aid you. And we'd like to know you,” the short multi-limbed one stated, as if it was completely obvious.

“Courage speaks truth. And we will keep away any that wish to harm, hurt or feed upon you. We do not hold with beings of weakness, corruption.” Protection interrupted with a sneer directed at the shadow forms shuffling a ways behind the wall.

As Protection turned, Kay's attention was caught by another Spirit that arrived near the edge of the field. It was a deep ocean blue, with crisp black outlines and a slightly green glow. It looked to be wrapped in a knee length tailored overcoat, in dark grey. But it was remarkable in the crowd for moving calmly, without flits or flashes. It seemed more solid, focused, and human shaped, if tall and slender. It even made the effort to take actual steps, rather than float or mist about like the others.

"Ah, my friend, I'm so glad you chose to join us!" Protection greeted the newcomer warmly.

"How could I stay away when Curiosity sang for me so loudly?"

Chester jumped over to the new lightform, pulling out of shape and elongating. He wrapped around the tall spirit in a cartoonish spiraling-knot of a hug; like a constrictor snake, but furry.

"Yes, I was surprised to see him arrive alone; you're so often together." Protection added.

"I am here now, Dear One." He said as his deep blue-green light shimmered and fused with the cat's grey shine, momentarily blurring together, then separating back into their original shapes.

"I was observing the Storm, hoping to glean some new information about its origins. But it wasn't safe to get too close, and Curiosity has some trouble controlling his impulses. I sent him off to find you instead."

"How many of these yahoos are going to crowd us? This is getting ridiculous…" Thad grumbled in an aside to Kay.

"Yes, having this… collection all gathered… I don't remember the Fade Spirits described like this." Kay hedged, doubtfully. "Ok, who is this one?" She asked Protection. "And is he a Healer too?"

"Please excuse my rudeness. I am Knowledge, and my companion Curiosity called me here." He said, indicating the reforming grey-blue cat shape next to him. "He told me you were of another world, and that you are fully present, trapped, for that matter. I thought this would be an unprecedented opportunity to gain and share information. And perhaps aid your travels."

"There are so many new things, new people, new ideas! Unknown magic tearing holes in the world, creating typhoons of energetic destruction. Bringing travelers, heroes! Ancient magic and new wielders. Actual human children! And did you see the contraptions they brought with them?! This is the most thrilling of days!” Curiosity added.

“I'm glad I could share this with you, Dear One”, said Knowledge with an indulgent smile.

“Okay I'm glad you're excited, but we still have some real big problems here! Knowledge if you're able to help then please do…” Kay implored.

“I can. I've come to offer you all sorts of data and experiences, histories and lessons. I am a store of as much information as I can gather and I'm willing to share what I can with you. About your transition from your world to the Fade, about the Fade itself, where I can. And I hope that I can help you understand what's going to be awaiting you in Thedas.”

“Thank you for confirming my theories at least. You’re the first one to use the words ‘Fade’, and ‘Thedas’. Though this still could be a dream; the most intricate I’ve ever had… But yeah. We could definitely use Thedas 101 course... well Thad probably needs 101 or maybe 102. But I'm probably, like, junior level?” Kay glanced at Thad as she spoke to Knowledge, and he looked incredulous, and confused. "But we’re just looking to get home right now. So... we need to focus back on the babies. I feel like my mind is drifting… into all sorts of new things. You all have said that you are Healers, and wish us well… Can we see why my children aren't waking up? Will you, please?”

“This is still ludicrous,” Thad interjected in a loud whisper. Are you certain this is a good idea Kay?”

“No, I’m not certain at all! But I’m getting desperate. I don't like the idea of making deals with unknown entities but I'm running out of options here.” She turned back to the group and rubbed her hands together in worry, but spoke with as much confidence as she could fake, “You say you're not demons, so let's make a deal. Tell me the terms. Please help us.”

“Well we did come to you freely.” assured Protection. Her face became a bit clearer, showing an attempt at an understanding, sympathetic look. “We saw, we felt your need. And as Curiosity said, this is a thrilling opportunity for all of us. We can ‘deal’ if you wish to, but however you phrase it, we are already here to volunteer. You just need to let us come to you. It is a much safer option than having you travel around unattended, untethered, outside your cleansed space, trying to get to us, or to make your own way.”

"Still, I don't want to be beholden to a bunch of supernatural beings. What is the cost of your help and protection? And can we please settle accounts quickly. The longer we wait, the worse our conditions may become... Though I admit, I'm thankful for the conversation, it's helping me keep the anxiety attack at bay."

“In point of fact, that is likely to be a product of your barrier.”

“Huh?”

Whether intentional or no, you seem to have woven some complex charms into the fabric of the light. There is a panic dampener and mental focus booster built into this protective dome. Though the booster seems a bit askew, incomplete. There is also a solid location anchor, camouflage, wards, and some healing energy, in the form of pain suppression.

“And just how did I manage that?” Kay wondered, confused.

“With your instincts, likely. Mayhap due to the addition of the orb, having been tied to your emotions and mental processes upon creation. Did you feel panicked, pained, disoriented, endangered or confused while making it?"

“I felt exactly that, and more. It was terrifying, and excruciating! I was so lost, and then everything changed so quickly… I'm still so muddled, some moments I’m as foggy as the air, then back to clear…”

“Fascinating. I look forward to investigating more. As to your question, Healing is a simple matter. And teaching, changing, creating, and transforming are skills we would love to utilize, on your behalf. We have not used them in such a physical manner, since time forgotten, and we long for the opportunity to improve and learn.

“But we ask a simple exchange. Energies spent will need energies given. Physical gifts will need physical foundations. You may call it a ‘Deal’ if it helps you to better understand the dynamics, it is a trade of sorts. Balance is necessary.” Knowledge explained.

“Why does everyone here talk like Shatner? Like they’re over-acting?” Thad snarked.

“Well, they’re Spirits Thad, maybe they like it this way? Or they are just naturally esoteric, ethereal… ish. At least we can understand them for the most part, no Riddles so far… oh, and you haven't noticed any rats, have you?”

“Huh, rats? No, no wildlife at all, just the light folks and shadow creatures.”

“I'm glad for that at least. That would be quite a harrowing experience!”

“Huh?”

“Ah! Such a wasted joke. Nevermind.” Turning back to Protection and Knowledge, she asked, “What’s the price for all this? Healing, change, fixes, lessons, protection… gifts? It’s a very tall order, a lot to ‘exchange’”

“We only want to know of you, of your world. We would not take anything from you, nothing you would not freely give. But you hold such amazing things in your mind. We wish to see.” answered Knowledge.

And his companion Cat let out a loud purr of agreement, saying, “That’s all any of us really want. We’d like to see the things you’ve seen, hear your music, taste your favorite foods. Learn of your world, your lives. Get to know you and yours while you’re here. You are so foreign, so new. And you’re here, not just dreaming, so we can get these new places, thoughts, memories... unchanged by the turmoil or imagination that distorts the dreamers.”

“Unfiltered Earth memories? Earth knowledge? That's reasonable, I guess. Well, they’d still be colored by our emotions and minds, our thoughts and experiences…”

“Yes, your experiences, your expression, your existence. Your knowledge. It’s you, and it’s new, and it comes from beyond. Worlds away, Ways awakened. Wandering, whispering. Wrapped in wonder.” Compassion added in a soft tenor voice.

The green Lady stepped forward then, as her form took an older, more matronly shape, and asked, “And please, I just have one request, one wish. I want to hold a babe again. It’s been so long…” She sounded so wistful and sweet; like a lullaby…

“What do you mean ‘again’?” Thad asked, but much less accusatory, gentler.

“When I was a person, of flesh and bone, I was an herbalist, a Midwife. A Healer. I bore and raised 9 little ones myself, and assisted delivery of hundreds in my years. My life was dedicated to babes and mothers. I restored health, life, love, and purpose to women, families, clans, tribes. And when I wasn’t needed by the People, I worked to clean and heal the forest that was my home. It was ravaged by the Blight. The taint lingered on everything, killed the plants, scared the animals, scarred the rocks and rivers. I wanted to help the land recover, and planted seed and nut. Cleaned and burned, filtered and fed.

"I worked to heal. I cared for life at the beginning, and at the end. When I passed to the Fade, I lingered to watch the families and forests grow. I became Restoration. And I still watch, with Compassion, see the babies come and go.

“But I miss them, miss my little ones. Mage children visit me sometimes, but I’ve not seen a real baby for so long. Please, may I meet them?” she implored in a low, melodic voice, reaching her arms out towards the children bundled against Thad.

This soft, motherly figure, and her gentleness, finally convinced Kay that they weren’t in immediate danger. Kay felt herself smile and blush looking into her warm brown eyes, and she made her decision.

Kay turned to Thad and their eyes met, and softened as Green Lady's comforting aura reached out to them. Then they looked at their children, still and quiet on the grass, and Thad wrapped his free hand around his daughter’s hair.

“Well, my love?” Kay whispered, and Thad’s face fell. She could see the pain and worry in the lines of his skin, but he looked resigned, and offered Kay a small nod in response.

“Alright. I’m choosing to believe your intentions, even if I’m not sure you’re real. Please check them and tell us what's wrong. Why won't they wake up? Heal them, bring them back to us.

“I agree to share my knowledge with you. I’ll give what I can. Experience, sensations, memories, stories. From my life and lessons only. But I warn you, it’s not all pleasant. If you want to know more, or want to learn from the rest of the family, you’ll have to wait until they’re well, and willing. Good? Ok, Yes. Let's do this. A general shimmer of agreement passed around and through the multi-colored lights of the gathered Spirits, a consensus. “And Restoration, yes, after they are awake, and healed, if they agree, you can hold my children, and give them a cuddle.” The pale green spirit grinned and hopped a little in her excitement for the prospect, and her arms hugged around her wide middle in anticipation.

Kay took a deep breath and declared, "You are Welcome.”

Chapter Text

With the agreement reached, Thad and Kay gently laid their children fully down on the soft grass, on their backs between them. Thad leaned back and to his left trying to adjust his hips, but still sat within reach. Kay stood back up and walked to the edge of her dome.

“How can I let them in without undoing this circle? I don’t want to dispel the energy… that could be trouble.”

Thad suggests, “What about an entrance? You know, a door?”

She thought for a moment and paced back and forth in front of the edge of the circle, then asked, “Hey Knowledge, if I breach the circle, break the line, can I make a temporary door? Would it work?”

“Yes, it seems the wider area is under your influence; this circle is just your most Central area of claimed space.”

Protection added, “And with all of us here, few beings would be able to interfere or even come close enough to cause any harm. We would be nearly certain of your safety."

Kay considered a moment more, then stuck the tip of her toe into the grass, digging up the white line mark with her shoe. It smeared and faded away leaving a small break in the circle, and what looked like a wedge of the ‘glass’ dome disappeared above it. She walked five steps around the edge, and created another hole, then dragged her foot along the white line back to the first.

She spoke out while she shuffled her feet along. “This space is still protected, the circle open but unbroken. The space is still claimed, but we are allowing and inviting into this area, through this doorway, this...um, this Arch.” And as she imagined an entrance, dozens of field stones in the far wall dislodged themselves, and flew towards her, landing and arranging along the entirety of the white circle, outlining it in stone. Then they piled up above her head, creating an archway where she left the circle open; it was tall enough for any of the spirits nearby to come through. Well, except maybe Protection, but she could bend a little.

“Huh, it's like my brain is building a little rock garden... or a mini Stonehenge.” Kay observed in wonder.

Curiosity quickly skipped over to the new archway, almost ready to enter, and looked up at Kay with large eyes. “What is a ‘Stonehenge’? Is it a thing? Is it a place? Oh, Is it like the standing stone statues of the Avvar?”

“It's both actually, though they don’t have faces or animal carvings. It's kind of an ancient human ritual site.

“Ooo, can we see it? Can we see it?!”

“Uh, I guess. How?”

Knowledge explained, “The Fade is flexible, malleable, fluid. Geography and topography, magnitude and measure, minutiae and material. It is all relative to the controller of the space, and the observer. Simply imagine what you want to be here, give it intention, direct your will; it should form in the environment here."

"Ah okay. Stonehenge. Let's think.” Sure thing, she thought doubtfully. She pulled the image from the back of her mind of the English countryside and the low hill. The ridges and earthworks, the hand-joined stones, the tumbled circle. The celestial alignments. A sacred site that she knew from so many books and documentaries.

Suddenly, tall stones popped into existence in the air and floated nearby. They gathered and directed themselves around her space. The field took less of a suburban look and more of a long country pasture, with mixed grasses and footpaths. She turned and walked in a wide circle and watched as the ruins came into sharp focus, the growing stones planting themselves in the proper places. Thad and Kay were dumbstruck as the Fade molded itself around them in the middle of the henge; her glass like dome still encircled them and widened out to the proportions of the Stonehenge site. The ring extending ever outward to wrap around the new additions. Her star glowed brightly above their heads like a small sun to shine upon the construction.

“Holy Mother! That's… Wow, that's awesome!”

“Um, that's really great and all," Thad began with a confused look. "And yeah, we'll dissect how that's possible later. For the record, I’m leaning more and more towards semi-lucid fever dreams and coma. But if you can make things with your brain, could you maybe put the kids to bed? And can I have a chair please, please?” Thad pleaded.

“Thaddeus,” Protection addressed. “You could also imagine such things. Kiara may be kindred, but as you are physically here, you ought to be able to affect things nearly as well as a seasoned energy wielder.”

“Oh, of course, Yes. Certainly, I can. Should have guessed that myself.” He scoffed with thick sarcasm. “But sure, why not. I’ll give it a try. Right bed, bed, bed. I can think of a chair and a bed.” Thad closed his eyes and concentrated on the grass in front of him, and sure enough, out from the ground beneath the children grew thick tree roots and woody vines that twisted and bent into a simple bed, large enough to hold them both. Covered in a woven mattress of boughs and vines. Then a grass-green soft blanket spread out atop them.

“Thad you're doing it!” Kay exclaimed. “This is so cool! Try, um, think of the chair that you want. Ooo, maybe your old recliner that you used to love? That one you had to get rid of because it broke?”

“The old grey one? Oh yeah, that was the best, the most supportive chair I can remember, really helped my back...and was big enough to move about in, when I needed to.”

“Just think about it, concentrate on how comfy you were, how it felt.” Restoration encouraged.

“Chair, chair...” His brow furrowed in concentration and his fingers twitched remembering the feel of the arms of the chair under his hands; his back leaned slightly as if searching for the pillow’s support. Slowly up from the ground a plush hunter green lazy-boy chair rose up from the grass, as if it was planted among the bundle of roots. It was wide and overstuffed, with grey throw pillows plumped against the sides. Thad took a moment to wiggle his body into position in the chair but still held his eyes closed; he thought it would disappear once he opened them.

“Oh my god Thad! This is incredible! I love the Fade!” Kay bounced on the toes of her feet and clapped her hands in front of her as she watched the furniture form under him. Then she saw Thad's eyes open wide in wonder.

“Um, I take it back," he conceded. "I guess while we’re in this dream, I can create too. Interesting…”

“I think. Ooh, I think I want to make a shelter too. I love the henge, but is it too open? Maybe like a lean-to, or a cabin? Maybe a small circular structure… Didn’t Stonehenge have a roof and enclosure at some point in its history? I’ll work with that.”

Kay spread her hands wide and lifted them slowly as she spoke, and tall wooden posts grew like tree trunks in and around the central circle. Others stood further out beyond the stones where the ditches and ridges surrounded the site. Then, in the growing space in the center, roots climbed between the posts, weaving into a crescent wall of horizontal twining vines, behind and around her family, leaving a large open side for light and an entrance. It took the appearance of a welcoming round cabin, with a large room inside, lined with padded benches and a few small tables built into the wall. Once the enclosure was taller than the stones, Kay pressed her hands together and imagined a conical roof, with a little peek, and it capped the structure before her in wooden shingles.

Her starry orb moved slightly toward the new structure and glowed warm beams of light into the doorway. A small spark broke off from the sphere, and a hanging oil lamp materialized around it, creating a flaming lantern that moved inside to the central rafter, illuminating the hut.

Chester cat padded ever closer, almost stalking, trying to get to the very edge of the opening between the large Stones, and peering in as far as he could. Kay noticed his movements, and addressed him. “Chester, come here; take a look. Isn't this amazing?! I didn't know I could do this! I didn't know we could do this. I mean, when I... when we landed here it was just all clouds and fog and angst.”

Curiosity answered with a purr and walked up to her side. He mewed and said, “Yes when the world of the physical and the spirits were together, many things that were only imagined could become real. Thank you for showing us. I have not seen the builder instinct used so naturally before, but I’m still young. This is a skill that seems to suit you.”

Kay turned back around to see the smiling faces of the gathered spirits. Compassion intoned, “Comfort close kept, creating for care. Making a home, where home is not your Home. Home is where the heart is.”

Restoration added, “I'm glad you made yourself comfortable. It is good to see.”

“I think this is a good home base, and I'm glad to be up off the ground. It is a little easier on my back.” Thad shifted a bit in his new grassy chair, then looked forlornly back to the children. “But if we're going to do this we should get on with it. I'm really scared that the children haven't moved. How long have we been here now? Though they look much more comfortable laid out on the bed.”

“Yes, thanks Lovey.” Kay walked back to the front of the hut, and out the door. “All right we agreed to the experience exchange. Please come in and see the family.”

The space that was the center of the henge widened out, past what was accurate to the memory, and the actual site. It made something of a yard before the hut Kay built, and a small deck or platform rose under the structure, and in front of it, making a floor and something of a porch. The Shining forms walked between the tallest stones, through the archway, then to the open entrance wall. Well, more like floated through the open space, one by one looking around to be sure that they were able to come in safely. Protection stood next to the stone arches like a sentry, watching their progression into the center. Kay stood on the newly-formed porch step and put her hands out to them.

“I'm trusting you with the things that are most important to me. Part of it is desperation. But honestly? I want this to be real! I want you to be who you say you are. Please be kind, and come help us.”

As they entered her space and the new shelter, Kay could feel their energy swirling around her. It kind of felt like water, like standing in a warm misting shower spray. They each had a nice glow and recognizable features, with friendly smiles. Even Compassion has filled out to the shape of a young, androgynous person, with a wide mouth, dark straight hair, and large round eyes. A little tall, a little skinny but certainly human-looking now--no more shimmering skeleton--and wearing tight navy blue pants and a silvery knit tunic hanging a little baggie off the body.

Restoration came to Kay and began a low sing-song hum. “Thank you for trusting us... Thank you for letting me meet your babies. Please take me to them," she sang with a warm alto voice, and she reached her hands to Kay. Without thinking, Kay reached back and grasped the spirit’s minty green hand, and was surprised at how solid she seemed; how strong and inviting her grip was.

Kay led her to the edge of the bed next to Emily, and a small wooden stool formed for her to sit. Vitality and Compassion moved toward Thaddeus and took their places on either side of his chair. Knowledge approached the bed on the side where Tommy lay. He still looked peaceful and comfortable with his shaggy hair laying across his face.

As they looked on, Knowledge moved closer to the bedside and planted himself on a bench near Tommy’s feet. The beautiful Green Mother sat on the stool near the headboard and began to rock slowly back and forth, humming a random tune. She put her hands a few inches above Emily's forehead and passed her palms over her face. Warm, spicy, roasted nut smells filled the room as Restoration summoned a deep green light to encircle the children, like a pool of brackish water around them, making them glow as they lay.

“Tell me what you’re doing!” Thad demanded. “I need you to talk me through it.”

“Yes, please.” Kay added, “What are you doing with the light? What is making that delicious smell? How are you summoning it? What is it doing to them?”

“Now that's a great mindset. I knew you would be interested, and interesting,” said Knowledge.

The soft voice hummed from Restoration. “When I saw you, I knew you would be like I was. And it makes me so glad. Yes, let me say what I'm doing out loud. To start, the aroma is simply the flavor of my magic; my energies. The lights are a reflection of my spellwork, the vision of my magic. Different observers and practitioners become aware of magic and enchantment through sensory impressions: visual, auditory, aromatic… It's an individual experience.”

“There is a process for healing,” She continued. “It begins the same way each time: Assess. Triage. Diagnose. Treat. First for the body, then for the mind. Right now I am checking them; assessing them. This light you see is me getting a look at their bodies, inside and out. I'm looking for obvious injuries: broken bones, torn muscles, punctures, bleeding. Next, I will check things a little closer within the workings of their organs and systems, fluids and functions. Watch the heart and lungs, stomach and guts. Finally the nerves and brain. The brain is a little more difficult because it controls the rest, and it is the seat of the spirit as well. You must separate what you feel from them, as sensation and emotion, with what is actually affecting the organ of the Mind.”

“So you're kind of doing a full body CAT scan or MRI, but with magic and lights, instead of radiation, radio waves or magnets.” Thad summarized.

“I'm not sure what a CAT scan is, but yes I'm using the magic to understand the workings of their Anatomy. It gives me information and lets me see; what is amiss or correct.”

“Heh, Maybe we should call it a ‘Magical Resonance Image’ instead of Magnetic.” Kay joked.

“It’s probably not too far off…" Thad reasoned. "Well what do you see? What's going on?”

“Physically they seem to be well. I see no sign of fresh injury. I’m noticing a couple bruises on Emily's legs and hip; though they seem older, mostly healed. She has a very busy mind but her heart is strong. Tommy also seems uninjured now, but it looks like he cracked his forearm at some point? It is healed, well knit, but there is scarring. Did he sustain this injury sometime ago?”

“Yeah, he fell out of the neighbors tree last year, and fractured his arm, in his ulna. So he stayed home in a cast for a few weeks, and helped me with the new baby. As much as he could one handed.” Kay elaborated.

“I see. I’ll give it a little clean-up later. Otherwise, neither of them were harmed from entering our Realm. The only thing I am noticing, is fast minds, but calm, quiet bodies. Moving almost too slow. They do feel,” her thought was cut off as she yawned deeply, “very tired. Perhaps they cannot wake from pure exhaustion. Let me take a closer look at their minds.”

The parents watched as the blanket of green light narrowed. It became a warmer, yellow-green-gold color and moved to cover only their head and shoulders. Radiant circles around the children's heads, like angelic halos. “Oh yes they had much worry and fear in their minds recently. Something terrible and frightening must have preceded their entrance.”

“Do you recall what was happening to the children immediately before their arrival here?” Knowledge inquired.

Thad answered, “If we remember correctly we were stuck in a snow-storm, then fell off a bridge into a gully, then… here, I guess.”

Kay added, “It was more than a fall... we were in an accident, in a raging, unnatural storm. The crash would have maimed us, them, greatly if we had, you know, fallen the regular way. It not only would have probably killed us all, it would have hurt the whole time. I would do anything to save them from that…”

“And so you did.” Restoration explained.

“Aha! The issue is imposed unconsciousness.” Knowledge added with a grin.

“I'm not sure I follow.” Thad hedged, while Kay looked back at the spirits with dubious understanding.

“They are under sedation; strong sleep spells. Whatever happened in the instant of your transportation, through the hole in the veil to our world, you did not want them to feel anything, any pain. In essence you put them to sleep rather than face what you feared for them.” Restoration explained.

Knowledge said, “What a fascinating instinct. Your protective nature prompted you to try to shield them from pain, so fully they have been made unaware of their travels. Oblivious to their surroundings and incapacitated. That is likely why Protection heard you so clearly; so quickly.”

“My dear Kay, I can assure you they are feeling no pain right now. Their minds are working, their bodies are working. They are like to be dreaming.”

“Wait, you can sleep and dream while in the Fade? I thought the fade was a dream world? Wouldn’t that be like a paradox? Or something? Like Inception-style dreams…?”

“‘All that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream.’” Quoth Thaddeus.

“Ooo, is that a poem? Is it yours? Did you write it?!?” Curiosity Cat inquired of Thad while he walked over to rub his cheeks and ears against the new chair. Thad simply answered with a shake of the head, and pulled up his sleeve.

“No, it was written by this guy. Poe.” Thad pointed to the unique tattoo portrait on his upper arm, of his favorite poet. “But how often in life can someone talk about dreams like this? While in a dream. It seemed apropos.”

Kay let out a snort of a giggle, and said “‘Ah, per Poe.’ Nice pun.” And Thad rolled his eyes loudly at her.

“Lovely wordplay.” Knowledge praised. “To your concern, normally, a person does visit here as a dreamer. However, you all are here as physical beings. Perhaps they dream in another place, or their dreams are so unfocused as to not be observable where we are.”

“Is that bad?” Thad asked.

“It is neither good nor bad, just different. But perhaps it is time for them to be awakened?”

“You're sure they're well, Restoration? They don't need any healing there? or treatments? Other than a magical wake-up call?" Kay implored again.

Compassion happily answered, “Reassure, Reawaken, Reunite. Pain and passage, past. Passed through, passed over, prevented. They are well. They... they crave attention, connection. They ‘Want Mommy and Daddy.’ See! They are fine, they are well! Keep them close, let them look, linger, lean, love.” Compassion’s arms and smile spread wide, as if to hug the whole bed and everyone in the room at once.

“As they are well, perhaps we should wait a moment more?” Restoration turned back to Thad and Kay and suggested, “I believe we should treat you now, while they still rest?”

Vitality spoke up, “I believe Thad here could use some pain easement, and he has many old scars that need attention. But we should wait for Transformation for the majority of the work. They can help us remove the foreign objects from the body, so that the healing can be complete. It would be most efficient to treat all parts at once. I don't think Thad is quite ready for that yet anyway.”

Thad glared up at the glimmering spirit, uncertainty written on his face. “Yeah, my wife is more trusting than me in general. But how I feel doesn't really matter. Not saying, it wouldn’t be nice to be able to get up and walk around without so much pain, but if that means delaying any help for her or the children, then forget it.”

Knowledge explained, "Thad, we can just do a temporary fix until we can speak with Transformation. The children are fine. They are simply resting and with a little effort, application of spell, they will be awoken. It is not something that you need to worry about any more right now. See to your needs.”

“Oh yeah, because I will stop worrying as soon as you tell me, ‘No need to worry.’ That's not how parenting works.”

"Yes Love, I agree,” Kay confirmed. "We...we do want to see to the babies first and foremost. But as they're just taking a very well-deserved nap, maybe we should just let them rest a little longer? Let's get ourselves a little more grounded where we are; get an idea of what is coming, get ourselves fixed up if possible so that we can help them.”

“But why are they intent on ‘fixing’ me? I mean, if they really want to ease some of the pain, sure, I can get behind that. But all this talk of ‘transformation’, ‘old scars’ and such. It’s making me twitchy.”

“Consider it like getting a... cortisone shot to help with your back pain before a… a, ‘reverse-surgery’. An Undoing. Can you imagine getting those rods out of your spine? Not needing the heard pump? Being able to bend and lift, run? When was the last time you could more than shuffle your feet, let alone run? Even if this is a dream, I think that is a very good way to spend dream-time.”

“Fine, fine… What about you, what's wrong with you?”

“You know I'm not a hundred percent sure what's wrong with me. I know I was in a lot of pain before, with that lamp thing… God, I can't even remember!”

Restoration interrupted her before she got too panicky. “Your children are confirmed well, I would also like to heal you, Kay. Let's walk a little ways. Maybe you need a moment to clear your head?”

“Sure okay. Thad, are you all right here with the babes?”

“Yeah, I got the best seat in the house,” he added, ironically. He leaned back and breathed deeply for a moment, his eyes half closed, as Kay walked away.

Restoration took Kay by the hand again and they walked out onto the front porch area where a couple of wooden deck chairs had appeared. They walked a lap around the open grassy area between the stones, then Kay headed back towards the hut, still very restless.

"It's much brighter out here now...” she commented, squinting.

Knowledge came out of the hut towards her and said, “That is likely because your mind is becoming used to your area, you're seeing things more clearly, creating things and understanding their placement. ‘Pushing back the fog’, as it were.”

“I guess that makes sense…” Kay said vaguely, feeling agitated, as they sat in the new porch chairs.

“Now, please Kay let me check you over; take care of any residual scarring, bleeding, or pain. That was a very hard delivery; a sudden and powerful birth. I would be very surprised if you were unaffected.”

“Birth? What? I had my babies years ago.”

"I just witnessed the feat.” She added in a calm, matter-of-fact voice.

“I don’t understand; you can see them right there. Those little ones are my only children, and I could barely have them.”

“They are your human babies, of course. But your spirit created as well. You labored and birthed this Orb.” She added, pointing up to the star gently burning above their heads. “You bore it from energetic creation to solid form, and delivered it from your body."

“Huh? My light thing?”

Knowledge agreed, “Correct. You made this Foci. I’ve not seen this type of artifact in many ages. It used to require decades, if not centuries of focused magic to create one. But your fantastical arrival, and the onslaught of your magical energies on your physical body… it caused the spontaneous growth of a new orb. It is not completely unprecedented, but it has not been seen since the creation of the Veil.

“What?!” Kay exclaimed, hopping up from her chair, and starting to shift on her feet and pace uneasily. “An Orb!?? A Foci? Please tell me you’re joking?! I don't have one of those! How?” She added, wringing her hands together.

"You created it. A Focus for the intensity of your Magic. Your body needed to express this new ability physically. It is familiar with the act of growing a baby, and birth, so that is how the orb manifested." Restoration explained. “And as I mentioned, the birth looked to be particularly difficult. I’m uncertain how it has affected you, physically or emotionally…”

Protection walked closer to where they sat to listen to the conversation about the orb, and furrowed her brow in thought. She examined it where it floated above her, with a tilt of her head, a raised eyebrow, and a hand to her chin. She confirmed, “This is a fascinating artifact. It was created by a combination of desperate fear and need, the fierce protective instinct of motherhood, and of new energies blooming in you, that had been repressed for so long. Your spiritual and magical flow made corporeal… Sometimes one’s magic materializes in a strange fashion.”

“No, no that can't be right! It can’t be one of those, those…” she fluttered her hands, searching for the right words. “Evil-rocks-of-dark-OP-ambition?! That’s not me, or mine. I’m not even holding it for a friend.” She added with a slightly hysterical giggle. “That's well, I would say it's ‘impossible’ but here we are in the Fade, so ‘improbable’? No, no, nope.” She added and she turned and went back into the hut, shaking her head quietly. She saw her husband sitting in his chair and her children resting. She started worrying her hands in front of her as her mind raced to piece together the implications.

“Ah, F-me-sideways! That’s the last thing I need! What if Mr Fen Fade-walker finds out? Are these things easy to hide??” She's pacing, agitated, back and forth in front of the room. Crap, crap, crap! The rusty red glow of Courage followed her in and watched her move about. He caught her attention for just a moment, and used four of his arms to mimic a deep, yoga-breath movement, and the others to copy her habit of touching her forearm tattoos. She followed along and stopped still to take a couple deep breaths and touch her reminders. Glad he’s around...

Thad finally opens his eyes and noticed her coming back in and says, “Uh oh. What is it now? Are you all right, are they all right, am I even anywhere close to okay?”

“Maybe? Thad my dear?”

“Yeah?”

“I just found out that I... I somehow... gave birth? When we got here. Before I found you.”

“You're kidding me. How? When? Birth to who? I don't see a baby!?”

“That big fiery rock that's been hanging over us like a lamp. I guess it's a bit more important than I realized. According to the Lightfolks, I “gave birth” to it... with all my “magical protective intent.” She explained with air-quotes.

“Um, I'm not calling that a Boo-boo….What is it?"

“In Dragon Age, they're called ‘Orbs’ or ‘Foci’. And I’m sure there’s some fancy Ancient Elvhen word for them that was cut from the game for time and relevance….What it really is a Giant-Freaking-Craptastic-Target! Those things are rarer than rare and super powerful little magic nuggets, with way too much Dark Side Potential.

“Kay, you’re not making sense again. Even if I humored the idea that we are somehow in your game, why is a magic rock a big deal?”

"Do you remember the inquisition game plot? Mr. Bald Elf, AKA Ancient-Elven-Loki-type, God-of-Mischief-and-Betrayal, the secret Real-Bad-Guy-Afterall… He has one of these; or did have one. He freakin’ gave it to Corypheus-the-Darkspawn-Dickhead! That's how this whole thing started! The Breach, the holes in the sky, all the Demons wondering about… And now I'm guessing it caused some Stormy-Wormhole-Vortex-Magic things to our world. All made by a crazy person with a lot of Ju-ju and one of those! Not something I ever wanted to deal with, in any of my playthroughs or DA-daydreams.”

"Ok, shh, deep Breath Kay. You’re starting to spiral."

"I’m trying…" Kay added breathlessly.

“Yes, keep trying. This is not real, and you don’t need to give it all your angst. You're just thinking this all up in a dream right now, right? You’ve obsessed over your game one too many times, maybe from reading your books earlier?... You remember the main plot from the story having to do with one of these Orbeez, and so now you decided to make up one in your brain…

‘Your argument is a little flawed.” Knowledge countered as he walked into the hut behind Kay.. “Your premise is that one version of the story is fact, the other fiction. Dream and reality are more mutable than that. Real is relative. And are you not sharing the experience currently? How would you know about these details, to translate to your own dream, Thad?”

“That’s for science to figure out when we wake up. Let’s not debate right now…”

“You should be pleased that you have such an artifact.” Knowledge encouraged. “It is incredibly unusual to be able to create one; it is nearly unique in this age. And it's very useful to a Mage. It can make learning new skills, spells, and sensations quick and efficient. Complex charms and enchantments should be easy to create. It forms an anchor for complex arcane workings; to an intention or to a point in space/time/realm. And it acts like a storehouse of Magical Energy, Mana, that can be charged, changed and customized to your needs.” “F**k. You just had to say ‘Anchor’, didn’t you? It just keeps getting better and better…” Protection ducked in as well, and took a seat on a low bench against the wall, that grew to accommodate her. She tried to reassure Kay. “I knew when I found you, and heard your instincts screaming, that you would need my Aid. That does not just extend to you, but to your family, to this artifact as well. It is essentially part of you, and I would not let harm come to it. I will guard it as one of your children.”

“Protection, I appreciate that, I really do. But we're talking about Fen'harel! He wants one of these things, Bad! At least he did in the story; he needs it for world-changing events. I'm not sure where it is in the timeline, or Heck, if any of this even makes sense against the timeline, as I know it. I just worry… and right now I am worrying about anything that can draw the attention of the Dread Wolf. Or the Forgotten ones, or the Elven or Magister SuperMages. Or make Demons notice, or the Nightmare, or the Fade-walkers... you know, I.. I just don't want us to be in that limelight, at all, but especially not here. We’re too vulnerable…”

“But Kay, this is *your* ‘here’.” Protection added. “Certain entities in the Fade can create territories; you’ve made this safe.”

“That doesn’t sound right; I’m not a Spirit… at least I hope I’m not yet.

“’Entities’, Beings can be Other; Spirit or no. Mages tend to do it on a small scale when they dream. Denizens tend to make a larger more secure space.

“Really. Since when do I count as powerful?” She huffed, unfortunately out loud. “Um…What about you? Where is your spot? Is it here too?”

“Myself, I have a few preferred places I choose to travel, and places that I claim. But generally I protect those beings that Wander, those things that grow, change. Wisps and Mages, curious minds of the passersby, thin spots in the Veil where I can observe the world. I look for the Dreamers that need the most help; the Heros, the Harrowed, the Haunted. I guard their journeys. I exist to shield and encourage. And now I’m glad to find you, your family... The Other-Worlders.”

“Interesting, yes. And I’m glad too," Kay added uncertainty. "But… but. I don’t like hanging a neon sign out that yells ‘Newbies over here. Take our stuff and snuff us out!”

“The best way to get over your insecurities, about the Orb and all your activities here, is to center yourself, and focus on your connections.” Protection continued. “You can gain skills quickly, learn what it takes to protect yourself, and what you need to do to move forward in your travels. In the meantime I will do what I can to gather support for you here and to prepare you. I believe you are worth My Care.”

“I’m touched, truly. But, I mean, what can we do about it right now? I’d really rather not have it… Can we hide it? Dim the glowing beacon somehow?”

“It is mostly hidden, not a beacon. It is within your space,” Knowledge explained. “Right now, it is best to continue to care for yourself and improve yourself and your family. We will share, as we have discussed, knowledge, ability and skills. You are not alone, and you need not worry so.” He added gently.

Compassion misted over and placed a hand on Kay’s shoulder in sympathy. “Not alone. Not exposed. Not netted, knotted, strung along. We are true, as are you. Worry not for light or leverage. The learning will come, the lightening of light.”

“And Kiara? I strongly believe that once you have an opportunity to reunite with your family, and see how physically well you can all be, your anxieties will ease significantly. You will be more prepared for your journey to come.” Restoration added.

“Why does everyone keep talking about a journey?” Thad asks. “The only ‘journey’ we’re taking is to the campsite… or many at this point a hospital somewhere. We don't even want to be here; we want to go home. Back to our right minds...”

“That... may not be possible.” Knowledge almost whispered, making Kay walk back over to Thad and grasp his hand in concern. “It is unclear what prompted your arrival and I know of no passageway, no path back to where you started.” Knowledge began, with a lost look. “I can try to confirm or contradict my theory. I must search. Research. There may be one person I can look for, who knows the pathways better than most. That may be able to help.”

“Please tell me you're not talking about an Elvhen God-Man?!”

“No, no, I would not put you at risk with the Veil-Maker. But there is a Traveler, who quests to know the paths. Yes, that should help. I will seek her and see if she can bring you insight. I shall return.” With that vague announcement, Knowledge stood and disappeared, with a little pop of blue smoke, like a stage-magician making an exit.

“That was abrupt…” Kay complained.

Chapter Text

“Yeah, Rude.” Thad added.

Restoration grinned at Thad, and reassured that, “Knowledge is quick to chase after a new discovery. If he says he will return, he shall, in time.” Then she misted back toward where Kay stood, agitated, and led her to a bench along the wall. ”Now, Dear Kay, please rest and allow me to scan you, heal you, check your womb.”

Thad responded to The Green lady with a warm smile. Something about her just seemed to calm him. “I can tell you from experience that getting her to slow down, or stop, is near impossible… at least until she’s hit the exhaustion phase… then it takes as long to get her back up!” Thad teased.

Kay glanced over at him, surprised by his teasing tone, but glad to see it. Then she gave herself a shake and tried to put her ‘orb’ worries from her mind, and refocus.

She turned and addressed the Green Spirit, “I'm not ready for those attentions, Restoration. Take care of everyone else first, and I could revisit my ‘womb’ and its needs later. Please, Vitality, Restoration? Relieve my husband's pain, if you will, and wake my children.”

“As you wish.” Restoration stood and turned about. She bobbed herself over to Thad’s side, giving him a warm smile.

“Are you comfortable? Good, good. Thaddeus, please allow me to give you some pain relief, and energy. Vitality and I will work to find Transformation, but until then, we will do what we can to undo the damage and pain to your system. Then we can address removing those artificial things within you.”

“Are you okay Thad?” Kay asked, raising her eyebrows at her husband, and coming over to hold his hand.

“Yeah sure, let's just give it a whirl. What else am I going to do, as I lie here in dreams? Hmmm, Maybe if you heal me here, it's because the paramedics or doctors are helping me out there, and my brain is interpreting it. Actually, that would explain a few things…”

Vitality nods, “Whatever makes it easier for you to comprehend, but eventually you will understand the situation.” He stood close to Restoration and his outlines blurred out again. It seemed like he put a hand to her shoulder, but their bronze and brown lights started to fuse together, so it was difficult to distinguish.

“Shhh Thad,” Restoration hushed reassuringly, and cast her green and yellow lights over him. Thad’s body clenched, and he gasped out a surprised “OW.” Then he sighed as his muscles began to relax.

“Hmm. It’s like sitting in a tub; a little too hot at first but then soaks in. Yeah, I could get used to this…” Thad added as he let out a soft moan and leaned back.

“I have a good look at your body systems Thad; there is much to do. For now, I am fixing some of the nerves in your neck, back, hips, and legs. Regrowing where the connections are broken or misaligned, calming the overstimulation, recoating their protective layers. Adding strength, mass and blood flow to your atrophied muscles and tissues, to support your movements. And relieving some of the pain signals that are constantly throbbing into your brain. This will soften the effects of the damage, until all the damage itself can be corrected. And Vitality is giving your heart some strength to get your blood moving to the healing areas, though it’s difficult to maneuver around your devices.”

Thad let out a large yawn, and tested the strength of his shoulders and hips with a stretch and a wiggle. “Man, I haven't felt this relaxed for ages! Like I just got a deep tissue massage, and a shot of Morphine. I don't know whether to get up and hug you, or fall asleep right here. Is this what you did for the kids? No wonder they don’t want to get up...”

“Rest is necessary, for now.” Vitality advised as he re-solidified, and a large, toothy smile spread across his face. “This is only the beginning, Thad. We will have you fit and strong, and in no time, you will rival your younger self. Perhaps even better than you've had in your lifetime, knowing your injuries occurred as a Young Man.”

“I see. Well, Hercules, if you're going to make me a young man again, let's get rid of the gray in my hair and beard, smooth out the bags and wrinkles.” Thad chuckled. “Maybe ease up the waistline, while we're at it. Add a few ‘Young Man’ muscles… maybe a couple more inches…” Kay couldn’t help a small snort at that comment… “To my height! Don’t look at me like that Kay. But yeah. Might as well go whole-hog, as this dream is pure wish-fulfillment at this point.”

A tinkling bell sound echoed into the hut, and the Rainbow Cloud entered with a charming full-lipped smile beginning to form. She approached the gathered spirits around the chair and sang out a comment. “Dear Thaddeus, I will be happy to give you a youthful countenance again, as you choose. If you do not wish to have gray in your Ginger locks, please allow me to color them; back as they were, or I could change it anyway you wish.”

“A massage, magic pain drugs, and a haircut? This really is a dream-come-true.” This produced a cheerful laugh from the Cloud, which now seems to be much more human-shaped but still twinkling and shifting within the person outlines.

“Oh Beauty, you may work on him shortly. I think he should have a little more rest and relief before he begins cosmetic changes.” Restoration instructed with an indulgent smile.

“Beauty? Nice to meet you,” Kay added as the nebulous form put a hand, I think? An appendage over her mouth as she giggled.

“Lovely to meet you too, Visitors. I so look forward to learning about you, and helping you reach your ideals.” She added, with her eyes coming into a more focused outline. Enough to show the shape and depth of her pupil, and to twinkle in their purple lights.

Thad responded with a thumbs up, that spoke volumes. Sardonic, sarcastic, skeptical, and supportive. This produced a cheerful, feminine laugh from the Cloud, which now seems to be much more human-shaped. Kay offered her a grin, but turned her attention back to the Green Healer.

“Um, Restoration? Is there any way I could learn to help him like that? Or is it just a Spirit thing?” Kay asked quietly.

“Jealous, are you?” Purred the grey blue fuzz-ball now happily perched on the bed, near the children’s feet.

“She makes it look so easy! I’ve spent our entire relationship looking for ways to ease his chronic pain. And your lightshow did more for him in 5 min than I can do in a hours of hot baths, medications, and massage. And on a truly Bad Back Day, even those methods and the tens unit, I couldn’t get him relaxed and mobile.”

“I can teach you! Your interest is flattering to me.” She added with a small hunter green blush forming on her cheeks. “If you want to learn, we can practice with your family. You can try to scan on the children and perhaps heal an old hurt in your husband.”

“Yes. But I'm not looking to be a Full-on Midwife, or what passes as a surgeon or anything… True healing, magical or practical is be very difficult… is there a quick ‘mom-nurse’ version? Kiss the boo-boo and make it better sort-of-thing? First-aid to return-to-functional?”

“Magical healing can be simple or complex, depending on your skill set, will, intention, and experience. And you will likely learn quickly, given your heightened mana levels and creativity. I will start with the basics, of course, and if you align with it, we’ll continue.” She answered with an excited lilt to her smooth voice.

The Green Spirit hopped over and took Kay by the hand again, giving her a happy squeeze.

“To begin, let us Assess. See how a body should ‘feel’ to you. Come, sit next to your children.” Kay gave her sleepy looking husband an encouraging smile, then walked over the bed to sit on the edge. She pressed a passing pat to Chester as she planted herself at Tommy’s feet. “Now I want you to put your hands out, and hover your palms just above their bodies, and feel their energy. It might have a taste or smell, like my workings did. It could have color or even a sound associated with it, to you. But it'll be uniquely theirs and it'll change its flavor or tone depending on how they feel, how healthy they are, how their minds and emotions are working.”

“So like an aura reading? But with synesthesia…”

“Yes, exactly an aura, though I’m not familiar with the other word. Many mages focus on learning to treat this energy layer, then it transfers back to the body, thus fixing the physical. And the opposite is also true. Sometimes those who are extremely ill of body, or suffer extensive injury, their spirit is too ill even if the form is mended, and that connection is almost broken. When the spirit is split, struck, severed from the body, it brings physical death. As healers we try to keep the connection strong, dynamic, healthy and vibrant. Without that bridge, it’s just a moving body, flesh untethered.”

“So, Necromancy? Yeah, a very late healing process” Kay quipped, but then took a moment to think over the process Restoration described. “I've heard of energy healing; It’s a fringe method on Earth. Like Reiki or Chi healing. It’s actually a popular study for Pagan folk, who want to help, but can’t dedicate themselves to the Medical Field directly. I never got too into it, but I can see how a Mage would.”

“I see, I’m glad you have a starting place." She gave an understanding nod, then turned her attention back to the children on the bed. "Now, concentrate on how they feel to you. Close your eyes if you need, and press your hands gently to your children.” Kay reached out and laid her hands on Tommy’s shoulder, and Emily’s chest near her collarbone. “Close, but it’s not on their bodies, it’s their aura, enveloping them. Press to the layer over their forms, with your will. Imagine there is a pillow above their bodies, and you need to fluff and smooth it.”

“Or like they have a thick layer of fur, like me, and you get to pet and rub it. Push your hands into the scruff to feel the body frame underneath. Then stroke it smooth again.” Curiosity added with a mew.

It took Kay a moment to calm and direct her scattered mind, but the cat-petting analogy helped her. She visualized the layer above and adjacent to her children. When she imagined petting them, in a calm cuddle, she began to feel a cool prickling on her own skin. She closed her eyes and she could start to see the lights.

“I can see swirling colors, like a kaleidoscope. Wow, sparkles and flashes, and static-electric arcs… It's like the happy flip-side of a migraine aura.” Kay let out a small gasp in wonder as she watched the interplay of the lights. “The kids have a special main tint, like you and the other spirits... then… then there’s other lights in undertone or highlight.” Kay took a moment to try to separate and ‘read’ the colors as they flowed in her mind, and she began to notice distinctions. “Emily feels... bright blue, with purple and green underneath, like looking at a very deep lake or calm Sea. And Tommy, he's more earthy; honey-gold, warm red and orange.”

“Are you experiencing anything besides colors?” The Healer asked. “Maybe a smell or taste? You need to let all your senses work, to get a full picture.”

“Huh,” she began. Kay took a few deep breaths and unconsciously moved her tongue in her cheek a bit, trying to find more sensory input. “You know, if I had to describe a flavor, I would say Tommy's a crisp apple; he tastes like fall. And Emily? Hmm, her scent reminds me of something flowery. Roses and... maybe, lilacs or lavender?”

Kay turned to her side, and moved her hand off Emily and up towards Restoration’s glow, and ‘felt’ her too. “You, Restoration, are Piney! Much easier to read… There's a tannin smell. I like it... and then that nutty, spicy, roasted taste. You smell like something cooking over a fire with pinecones, pitch and wood. It’s very cozy…” Kay trailed off, enjoying the stronger feelings from the Green Spirit.

“Ah, this is so surreal! It's like trying to do a wine tasting, naming all the subtle background flavors. At first it just tastes like grape juice and alcohol sting, but the longer you're around it, the more you swirl it... Oh I have to see what Thad is!”

“We'll get to him in just a moment. Let's learn to finish the scan with them since they are resting. This is a strong beginning. What do you know about the human body?” Restoration inquired.

“I'm pretty familiar with human anatomy. I took biology courses in college; took a few massage classes once upon a time. And I actually taught first aid, for Scouts. And with Thad’s issues, I’ve learned how to use an AED machine for heart attacks. I’m not as good as a doctor or nurse, but better than a lay person?”

“That's a good foundation, Kay! Did you never think to become a healer?”

“I thought about nursing, but my stomach isn’t strong enough for all the… fluids… they have to deal with. Or at least it wasn’t pre-pregnancy and babies. I may be a bit more immune now.” Kay smiled at herself as she recalled her long battles with morning-sickness that retrained her ick-acceptance-level.

“Healing is a messy venture, as is motherhood; but so worth the effort, yes?” Restoration gave another warm, longing look to the babies on the bed before returning to the work at hand.

“Alright. Think about how the body is put together and try to see past the lights. Cut through the shimmer right in front of you; move the light flares to the corners of your eyes while you look to the center, deeper. You should begin to see clear to the body, to their skin, then below. Layer by layer. If you keep looking deeper and deeper, you'll see their insides through the light. Look into each layer below you, hair and skin, then flesh and muscle, tendon, bone and organs, and systems as they move and interact.”

“Past the light… past the light… huh, like looking into water, past the reflections on the surface. But it’s not very clear water…” she described, while inching up to sit between the children on the bed, kneeling between with a hand over each one.

“The more experience you have, the clearer and quicker your exams will be, particularly if it's an emergency situation. It will become second nature to you, in time. Now, what do you see?”

“Whoa, X-ray Vision! I can see right down to their skeletons. They are so small…”

“Good, keep going! Look at the blood in the veins, see how the air moves in and out of the lungs. Listen for the gurgles of the gut, and the beats of the heart. Feel the ebb and flow of the energy in and around them.”

Tears filled Kay’s eyes, then overflowed down her cheek as she continued her exam, seeing her children as patients before her. She tried to focus on just Emily for a moment, and felt her wash of blue flowery energy. Ah. There. She could see; the small beating heart of her sweet child.

“Oh, I see her heart! It’s so little, birdlike, but perfect. She’s perfect, my baby girl!” She hiccuped a sob, as she moved her other hand back over Tommy, and found his center in the happy thrum of his strong beats.

“And Tommy, my beautiful brave boy! Tommy feels solid and bright. It makes me ache, in my chest. My babies…” and she closed her eyes and pressed her hands down to their bodies, sliding her arms across and around each of their chests. She pulled them close to her where she knelt in a bent, overwhelmed hug.

“Your love and connection. It soothes, salves, strengthens them, their energies, their forms. But tight tethers tug and twist, pull and press. Makes the love more, makes the hurt happy, and the Happy hurt.” Compassion whispered, floating over to lay across Kay’s back where she hunched over her children, embracing their still-too-still bodies and trying not to sob. At the spirit's light touch, Kay felt comfort and calm seep into her shoulders. She sniffed loudly, and carefully set the children back down, wiping her eyes on her sleeve as she shifted.

“I, I’m sorry. I don’t know. I don’t know what came over me… Didn’t mean to cry.”

“It’s alright dear. Here, in our world. Here, everything sings louder. Here it feels stronger, looms larger, pushes harder. You’re blooming in your magic, you’re creating, building, learning. It pulls your thoughts, grows your feelings. It’s more, but so are you.” Compassion wrapped wispy arms around Kay’s shoulders.

“You’ve done well, dear Kay. Take a moment to center.” Restoration instructed. “With practice, you'll eventually be able to see, while also being able to remove yourself from the situation, keep up a clinical distance. But since these are your children, you are perceiving them in a very complex, personal way. Their energy floods your senses, mixes with your own. It can be difficult to swim against the tide.”

“Thank you… I really needed a hug.” She leaned back slightly into Compassion's embrace and marveled at the weird mix of solid and airy.

After a quick squeeze, Kay scooted back down off the bed and stood to shake off the sudden sadness that side-tracked her. Literally, she began to flutter her arms and twist and shimmy, like a puppy shaking water from its fur, for a moment, until she felt more herself. Thad by this time had risen from his chair and walked across the now-wider room to get to Kay and hug her too.

"Thank you Thad-my-Love." She pressed her head against his chest for a calming squeeze. "Wait, you do feel stronger already! Did you realize you just walked across the room, without thinking about it? Without prepping yourself? You just... did it?!"

"I did not notice.... but now I do. This is weird... good weird. I feel oddly refreshed... like that first day after a long cold finally leaves... not as dragged down."

"That's fantastic! I wonder if I can scan you too..." she added as she lifted her hand a few inches from his chest in front of her. "Oh my God, Thad you have a flavor!"

“I has a flavor?!” He mewed, like the cute cat meme.

“Yes, a great flavor! Past Reddish, swirls of light… It’s sweet, but subtle. It’s...mmmm ...Chocolate! and uhmm, a bitter coffee aftertaste... Ooo and maybe some graham cracker?... You're tasty! Your energy is like a dark chocolate cake… Tiramisu?...No wonder I'm head over heels for you! Can you believe it? When I said I ‘love you like chocolate,’ and ‘You're my cupcake’ and all that smoosh, I was really kind of accurate. It's amazing! I could totally ‘eat you up!’”

“Uh huh… I can live with that.” Thad added with another tight squeeze, resting his chin on her head.. “You still just smell like your flowery shampoo. I guess I don’t have a nose for this magic stuff.”

“You have done well with the assessments, Kay. Let us work on healing. What do you want to try? He has many old injuries and illnesses that need to be corrected, but we should try something small.”

“What do you think, Thad? What little hurt can I help you with?” Thad only answered with a shrug, as he disengaged from their hug, and shuffled back toward his magic recliner. “Ooo, I know! You always joke about that ‘old football injury’ you got in high school. The clicking in your shoulder... Maybe we can fix that? I know it's not a giant issue like your heart or diabetes, or your back. But maybe I can learn by fixing something older.”

“Sure, go ahead. Whatever you want to try. I'm just going to go sit back in my chair, and relax in the heat again... from whatever you and they just did.” Kay gave another quick look at the littles. Still peaceful, despite her breakdown. Then she and Restoration followed Thad back to his chair, where he happily leaned and lounged. “If you could attempt to keep that warmth up, I’d be glad for it.”

“Alright Kay, if you want to work on his shoulder, stand close to it and put your hands up and off, slightly above the joint. Remember to move past the lights and sensations, Acknowledge the lights and tastes, then look for the part that needs fixing." The Green Lady reminded her. "Think instead of how they connect to the physical. In joint problems, the click, as you call it, is usually damage to the cartilage that buffers the joint, and perhaps to the tendons around it. Or a shallowness to the joint itself, leading to slight dislocation. Does that sound familiar to you?”

“Yes, I mean, I'm no doctor but that makes sense. And I kind of know what it looks like, or what it should look like on a skeleton.” She added, remembering images of x-rays she’s seen in various books and internet searches.

“All right, focus on the joint and its movement. How it feels, versus how you think it should feel.”

“It kind of feels, unfinished... incomplete? Raw. Does that make sense?”

“It does. To heal something that is not ‘finished’. Focus on completion.”

Compassion came over to Thad’s other side, and ‘read’ his shoulder too, with a barely perceptible flash of silver shine. “Knobs, nicked, neglected. Knotted. Old pain hidden, hated but not heeded. It annoyed, but not enough to treat. And the body had other pains to press it aside.”

“Annoying, that’s the long and short of it. He never really let me look at it before.” Kay added.

“I forgot about it most of the time, you know, with the back pain.” Thad explained. “But now that you mention it… it’s feeling achy today, after all that crawling about… that was today right?”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure. Ok, Thad love, I regretfully have to move past your chocolate layer, and look at your shoulder. Please be still…” Kay concentrated on Thad's energies and light, "Ok, brown like the chocolate is flashing through. Then a mix of orangey-red, and umm... some pale peachy color... like your eyes, skin and freckles, but as flickering lights."

“Uh… Kay? Your eyes are glowing. Like bright purple string lights, glowing. Can you see?”

“Yes, I can see so much! Your freckly skin, your fuzz, beneath your clothes. Then… muscle tissue, some blood pumping through. hnk-ugh…” she gulped unconsciously. “Eh, sorry, ahem…” She continued after clearing her throat. “Ok I see bones, and the socket. Everything looks… wet, and red. Not his light-show red, but… visceral red, and unhappy. And there is that ‘wrong’ ness. Restoration, how do I ‘complete’ this? Heal it?”

“Will it better, mended, whole.” The Green Spirit-Lady replied simply.

“You know that doesn’t make much sense, right?” Kay huffed in frustration.

“You have the concern and compassion for the person, and the desire to fix it. That is your Will. Channel it, and heal with it.”

“But how do I apply that, in a practical way?” Kay asked, slightly irritated. “Like, I know how to wrap a bandage, or press ice. I can understand stiches or flushing wounds, even setting bone. I’ve not done it, but I get the theory. How to I use the energy?”

“Use your light. Work on and through his, like mixing colored paints. Lift, layer. Shape, shade. Make a new tint, that is you, and he, and correct. That is whole, well.” Compassion offered.

“Ok, painting. That metaphor helps a bit.” She closed her eyes, lifted her right hand and gripped her fingers around an imaginary brush. She thought about using her light-paint, to create a picture of a healed, healthy shoulder. A zoomed-in focus picture of just the shoulder, like on an x-ray. Then, when that looked right in her head, she zoomed back out. She saw Thad's whole body like a 2-d picture. No, an illustration, a colorful portrait. An Impressionist work on a canvas, in her mind’s eye. Strong brush strokes, and thick, layered paints. She ran her brush over the shoulder part of the image, and painted her purpley color lightly over his red and brown, re-tinting him for just a moment. Thad leaned back into his chair again, relaxing as she ‘brushed’.

“Mmm, not sure what you're doing Kay, but it’s working. The ache is easing, and my arm is tingling… in a good way, like it’s been asleep; like I need to pick something up and use the muscles.” Thad added gruffly.

Restoration lifted her hands and cast her net of color over the both of them, and confirmed. “Just so Kay. You’re using the light, which is your will and magic, to complete the picture of health. His energy and body are both responding to it, and mending the joint and tissues.”

Kay’s irises gleamed with purple shimmer, and an awed smile spread on her face. “I can see it! The lights are sparkling and twirling with colors. And your body looks like a full portrait, a handsome painting. But really a video? with a time-lapse… showing the improvement of the ‘incomplete’ part. What should take weeks of physical therapy, or even surgery… just re-growing, morphing, mending. Healing in just a moment. But painted like a Van Gogh: bright, colorful, huge brush strokes.''

After a minute of focused ‘painting’ and observation, Kay felt satisfied that his shoulder was corrected. She announced, “Now, in my sparkle-vision, you have a healthy joint, and strong muscle fibers in your arm and shoulder. If I did this right? I think I did…It’s like I’m painting the surface image, but the magic is working at the cellular level, rebuilding the tissues, bone, cartilage, muscle, all at once, and super fast!”

“That’s fascinating Kay. Odd, unbelievable, but fascinating. It does feel better, somehow. And that’s more than I would have thought to ask for.”

“This is crazy cool!” Kay added, bouncing on her toes.

“I’m glad you’re excited Kay, but could you stop hopping like that? With your eyes glowing neon, it’s ... unnerving.”

“Oh, yeah sorry. But how does it feel Love?”

Thad sat up in the chair and hesitantly moved his shoulder around in a low circles, rotating the joint slightly higher, until he could reach above his head. “Um, wow. It’s working… no click, no tightness… and look how high I can move it… It usually catches mid-way. You did this? That, well that is freaking amazing!”  

Chapter Text

“Glad you’re on board with this now,” Protection added from her corner of the room.

“Hey, now I didn’t say that… exactly. But I’m willing to pretend along with this weirdness. Until we wake up. I mean, brains and dreams are weird… might as well enjoy the side benefits… Pain-free mobility? Yes please!”

Vitality gave a small air punch in celebration. “You think this is amazing Thad, wait until we get rid of the odd metal pieces; Transformation will see you running marathons with me.”

"Not sure I would want to, even if I could. Never go the point of marathons… unless you really needed to be a messenger like the original guy. But yeah, a discussion for another time… Kay, are you good? Is this dream treating you half as well as it is me?"

“Yes, it’s just… so much! Spirits are much more able than the cannon gives you credit for… So what’s next for Thad? Who is Transformation, and is he/she? They? A Healer too? Or different?”

“They are not a healer like I am,” Restoration. Explained, “But the act of changing a body, to grow or heal it as a kind of transformation. And they love to build and change things. Very motivated to see new things, reimagine things.”

“They’re very creative?” Kay asked, confused. “Didn’t think that was a thing for you ‘First Children’.”

“Creative? Controversial connotations. We as spirits can only do so much. There are very few if any of the old ones that can create from nothing. But we can imitate, mitigate, mimic, move and manipulate. With enough power, enough direction, enough will.” Compassion added.

“That is making my head buzz. I have so many questions…”

“Of course you do, Kay,” Thad sighed. “I wish you’d ease up, a little? This is the biggest dreamscape you’ve ever had, and you’ve got journals full of story-plot dreams. Like you said, this is all too much… if this is my dream, I much prefer the mundane. Time with the kids, going over old memories… or punching the imaginary clock, at a job that no longer exists. That’s more my speed… this place is beyond ridiculous. In detail, characters, sensations….”

“I think my dreams are more fun then.” Kay continued, “But the flip side is also true: Brighter, better dreams. Darker, scarier nightmares.”

“Maybe. But I need a breather from all this. Can we? I like the feel of my shoulder, like my chair… like meeting these Oddballs, but I need to talk to the kids. We keep moving away from that goal… I need to see them wake up! Can you concentrate enough for that? Do I need to do it?”

Protection answered, “It’s alright Thad, we can refocus our attention to them. You’re feeling better, able to move well. Kay is… well expanding her mind, skills and claim space. Restoration, let’s move them over to the bedside and rouse the little ones. I admit I’m excited to meet some human children, it will be a new experience for most of us.”

“Kay dear, please come over here and help me remove the sedation. It will be easier if you do it since you placed it.” Restoration gently prompted.

Thad grabbed the arm of his chair and began sliding it across the wood plank floor. He pulled it up beside the bed within reach of his son’s open hand, and sat carefully on the edge. He leaned down and looked at the 2 sleeping kids and his brow knit in a worried frown. Kay walked to the other side with Restoration, where Emily slept peacefully. She sat on the edge of the bed and ran her hands through the soft, mossy coverlet over them, and nodded to Thad, while the Green Lady sat on her stool, and fixed her skirts.

“Alright Restoration, how do I go about this?”

“Just to be sure, do you feel tired at all Kay? Do you feel overworked or strained from what you’d accomplished so far?”

“Um, no? Still a bit mind foggy, but it’s probably just because there’s so much going on, a lot to process.”

“If you’re not feeling drained, I don’t think there should be a problem continuing. And this should be a fairly simple spell.”

“Is it more sensory reading? Or energy painting?”

“It should be even easier than that. As soon as you start to feel them, their energies stirring in response to your ‘read’, just rouse them. Give them a gentle shake, and bring them back to us,” she added as she gently laid her long fingers on Emily’s forehead.

Compassion added, “Wake them willfully. Will them wakeful.”

“Ok, I’ll try it, one at a time. I’ll start with Emily. Thad? Spirits, are you ready?”

After seeing them all shimmer a nod at her, Kay reached out and laid her hand over her daughter once again. She was not as bombarded this time with Emily’s dancing blue lights, nor her perfumy garden scent. They were there, but more muted and Kay was more prepared. Kay worked to keep herself calm and controlled while images of her little girl’s body systems made their way to her view, skin and muscle, blood and bone. And there again, her small strong heart. Kay gulped down a deep breath and tried to move her attention to the chaos of color that surrounded Emily’s head. Images flashed and curved in Kay’s vision, almost like trying to watch the road through a rainy windshield.

She heard Restoration’s voice slightly distorted, remind her to, “give her a nudge”. So, she tried to ignore the fluttery lights and images and just focus on Emily’s resting face, and imagined her opening her eyes and flashing her sleepy morning smile. Kay felt an odd tug on her hand, and a quick flash of purple light moved from her palm down upon Emily’s torso. Kay gave a little shake of her head and blinked her eyes a few times to refocus, away from the flickering lights, and watched her daughter start to shift her body on the bed. Her little hands came up from under the cover and pushed over her head in a shoulder stretch, with her little fists closed. She then started to rub one eye as the other blinked open.

“Huh? ::yawn:: Mama? Hey Mama?” She quietly called as she opened her eyes to the strange scene around her. Kay and Thad were so grateful to see her well, that they also rubbed their eyes with her, trying to suppress the tears. Emily half-consciously pulled up the corner of the soft blanket to rub against her cheek, then seemed to focus more on her parents leaning in to watch her.

She noticed the tearful faces of her mom and dad, and finally seemed to register Restoration’s hand calmly upon her forehead.

“Wha's wrong? I ok? Mama, Dada ok?”

“Yes my dear Emily I think you are going to be okay. Do you have any hurts? Can you tell us?”

“Sleepy,” she punctuated with a yawn. “I sleepy an’ thirsty.”

“Any owies, any boo boos? Is your tummy ok? Feeling sick?”

“No? No boos, sleepy...Who Doctor? Mama who is Dr? Priddy doctor.” She added lifting her chin to get a better look at the Spirit sitting near her head. She reached up her little hand to touch the fluttery edge of the spirit’s ‘sleeve’ where it hung above. “So shiny! Priddy, priddy, priddy. Priddy doctor. Doctor help me?”

“Honey, this is Restoration. She's kind of like a doctor. She wants to help you feel better. We were in an accident. Do you feel okay?” Kay started again, with her hand laying upon Emily’s sternum.

“Uh-huh…no acc’dent. My pants dry. Doctor. Resto, ristor. Ristashun.” She tried out the word with her baby mouth working and puckering over the sounds.

“Res-tor-a-tion,” Kay enunciated slowly for her.

“Ris TOR shun. Res Torie shun. Doctor.”

“Doctor Rest-TOR-a-shun.” Kay repeated.

“TOr… tor… Res tori sun. Torie?”

“Alright Emily, don't hurt yourself,” Thad joked.

“Doctor. Doc-To-re shun. Doc-Tori sun… Tori. You, Dr Tori Sun?”

“Why yes, I am. I like the name, I'm Tori Sun.” Restoration agreed with deep-green blush spreading on her cheeks.

“Dr Tori, so Warm. Dr needs hugs!”

Kay grinned at her precociousness. “How do you know the doctor needs hugs Emily dear?”

“I know. She like Grandma. She needs hugs. She Good. Sit on Dr.” and Emily shifted over and flipped up onto her hands and knees. Then she fully sat up on her knees, bouncing on her bottom and reaching her arms out in an ‘Up’ motion, with grabby hands, to Restoration.

‘Tori’, for her part, was so happy her eyes began to water too. She reached for Emily and lifted her into her arms, wrapping her baby legs around the curve of her tummy and hip, cradling her close. Then the stool behind her morphed into a large, cushioned rocking chair, and they sat together to rock. Emily perched happily on the Spirit’s lap, and wrapped her chubby baby arms around her neck and shoulders. She even rubbed her cheeks up against the smooth collar of her tan shirt, near her shoulder, whispering a “so soft…” under her breath.

“And suddenly, we’re chopped liver,” Thad complained, but still smiling with relief.

“Yeah, what’s up with that? Let's get Tommy up too, so we can get some hugs over here.” Kay teased as well with her watery smile.

“Not Liv’r. Love Mama Dada. Dr has a sad. Needs hugs. al’bedder now. I hug you too, Mama. I tumin’, I tumin’...” And she slid down the lap of the Green Lady, and toddled over to Kay with the same up motion. Kay swung her up and squeezed her close, the tightness around her heart finally easing up a little. Emily leaned her head against Kay’s full chest for a ‘Big hug’, then patted her shoulder and pointed to Thad. Kay laid her in her Daddy’s lap for another tight squeeze and a kiss to her hair. Kay could see the lines ease across Thad’s brow, having her awake and chattering in his lap.

“Dada,*Gibberish, Gibberish.* otay *mumble* I d’eam’d, Dada, *Babble gibberish* d’eam’d we swimmin’ *whisper gibberish,* an’ a boat. And jumpin’. *Babble nonsense gibberish* An’ cake. Yummy cupcakes an spr’nkl’s, an’ Ice d’eam.” She recalled aloud to her Daddy, who nodded along, happy to hear and hold her.

Restoration leaned forward off the rocking chair and took Kay’s hand again, holding it towards her son's forehead and directing it.

“Alright Kay. Now try without my guidance. Feel his energy, restful and still. Then give it a little shake with your mind. Tell him you’re here, that it’s safe now. Tell him to wake up.”

Kay looked back at her daughter cuddling and jibber-jabbering to Thad, and she took a breath to steady herself. Finally, she scootched back across the bed to the middle, next to her son. She carefully placed one hand on his forehead, like she was checking for fever again. The other hand she hovered just over his sternum and closed her eyes to let the lights reach her. Kay felt oddly comforted by his warm orangey light, like it was a ray of weak sunshine warming her face in the is odd green fog. She let the images of his body and biology show and pass by, until she could see the kaleidoscope of shapes and colors coming from his mind. Kay was tempted to stay a moment and try to make sense of some of the images, but she felt Restoration’s presence next to her reminding her to continue. Just a nudge away. Ok.

Kay concentrated for a moment on the flickering lights and imagined seeing her son’s grey blue eyes opening to his rocket ship alarm clock, and mentally told him “It’s time to wake up now Tommy.” There was a shift in the swimming colorscape in Kay’s magic-view, and she moved her hand off his forehead to see his face below her. She still hovered her hand over his chest as he took a very deep breath and stretched his feet under the coverlet. Then his eyes popped open and blinked up at his mother’s happy face.

“G’mornin’ Mama.” He said in his warm sleepy voice, then he rubbed his arm and wrist across his forehead to move his hair from his eyes.

“Hello my Sweetheart. I’m so glad you’re waking up.” Kay greeted, trying to keep her voice calm.

“Hi Mama. Hi. It’s weird, but I think I was dreaming about you and Daddy and Emily, and we were all taking a nap at the park, right out in the grass. Then there was a lot of big rocks and shiny people…. Hey there’s one now!” He said, pointing to compassions silver-blue frame hovering near the food of the bed.

“Are you a good ghost or a bad ghost?” He asked, pulling up the cover just to his chin.

“I’m a Good … Ghost? Um… Ghostly grim, but purely positive. I’m Compassion…”

Kay explained. “Tommy dear, this is weird. You’re dreams were right; we’re in a dream space now. We’re on a Magical Adventure. And these ghosts are good Spirits, come to help us. We were in an accident. Do you have any hurts? Is your head ok?”

“Yeah Mama, I’m ok. I don’t have any hurts or sick-icks. Just a,” he yawned wide. “I’m just tired. Still. Can I go back to sleep? Or is it time to get up?”

“We can rest again later, but right now nap time is over. Let’s get up, Honey. There is so much to show you.”

“Ok, jus’ a minute,” he added, sitting up and giving his back and shoulders a stretch.

“Hey Mama? This s’not my bed? And it’s not a tent? Are we still going camping?”

“Sort of? There’s a lot of strange things going on right now, but you’re safe, and Emily and Daddy are right here too. We’re all safe and rested, for now. We need to start working on getting back to our camping trip. This is an unexpected detour.”

“Big Bwudder!” Emily practically shouted from her perch on Thad’s lap, and she clapped her hands together in excitement. She slid down Thad’s lap and clamored back up onto the bed next to Tommy. “See? see the dr. Dr Tori” she told him, pointing to the green and brown Lady in the rocking chair. “And Mama magic!”

“Yeah, I know Mama and Daddy are always magic.” Tommy answered with a smile, “But where are we?”

“Dr’s house.” Emily answered, matter-of-factly. “Magic house.”

Finally, Protection stood, and the ceiling raised above her to accommodate her extreme height. The family on the bed turned at her motion, and the kids leaned back with their eyes large to watch her stand.

“Mama!?! What’s that?”

“Waah! Aah.. Mamamamamama!” Emily squeaked.

“It’s ok, shush its ok. She is a friend. Kay pulled Emily back up onto her lap and explained, wrapping her arms around the babe. “This is tall Gold Lady is another spirit. She’s helping us too, she’s just made of magic so she can grow really big.”

“Sweet!” Tommy exclaimed. Magic Giant Gold lady ghost! Blue guy, and green dr. and there’s more over there!”

**********