The Stage is Set

A Means of Contact pt.2

Dream and Cross groan as they push themselves off of the ground. Cross looks around; when did it get so dark? "Dream? What happened?" Cross rubs his skull as footsteps come closer to him.

"Cross, you're okay!" Cross groans at the volume before leaning into Killer's side. Killer lowers his voice, "You both were so close to that explosion. Creation or Ink, not sure which, covered us all in an ink bubble shield thing."

Nightmare moves over to Dream; picking him up and checking him over. "You look alright. Nothing is broken or stone. Your wings are alright. Only a few feathers are sticking out." He sighs before looking over at Error. "How is the shield looking?"

Error grunts. "I can't get through it! None of my strings can pierce it, nor is it recognizing my magic." He looks over at the others with a frown. "It's thin enough to see through it, but I can't get through it!"

Cross rubs his skull as he stands up with Killer's help. "Maybe we aren't supposed to get through it? What if Ink is trying to protect us from whatever is out there."

Dream looks over to where Blue is lying. "If that is true, Ink would've brought Blue here too! But he's out there, somewhere..."

"Maybe Ink put him in another bubble like he did with us?"

Dream huffs. He's tired and hurt. His soul aches in a way that makes him want to cry. He just wants Blue back in his arms. He sniffles as he tries not to cry. He isn't usually this emotional, but having your soul torn into two and then put back together is emotionally draining. He feels rung out, frazzled, and tired. Cross stares at him with a soft frown. He gets it, to an extent, he understands what Dream is feeling.

He walks over to Dream. "Here, let me fix up your wings." Dream looks up at him with hesitation, and he shrugs. "I have experience; Reaper has Ink and I groom his wings every week."

Dream shuffles before nodding. He sits down before spreading his four wings out for Cross to go through and groom. Nightmare leaves them alone as he joins Killer and Error to figure out what they can do from here. Dream sniffles as he wipes his dry sockets. He doesn't like sitting here and not doing anything, but he can't bring himself to move. He doesn't feel strong enough to pick up his bow again. He doesn't know if he can stand up; his legs are burning with pins and needles. He wants to go home. He's tired. He wants to have another sleepover in the stars' main base. All his friends cramped together on the couch, watching a corny movie as they fall asleep. Then he would watch their dreams... Their dreams... Watch-

"OH MY STARS!" Cross startles backward as Dream's wings fluff up. Everyone turns to Dream in concern.

"What?! What is it?!" Nightmare looks around, trying to see if there was something that got through the shield.

Dream looks up at Nightmare in bafflement. "If Ink is recovering, he would be asleep! He only recovers when he sleeps! We can go into his dreamscape and talk to him! We can communicate!"

Nightmare slumps at the statement as the others look at each other. "Dream," Nightmare sighs, "That would only work if he's asleep. We don't know if he IS asleep. For all we know, he's awake right now."

"We won't know unless we try. He may know what we need to do! What's going on outside of the bubble!" Nightmare stares at Dream's determined face before looking around.

"Alright. We'll give it a try." He sits down before his brother, laying his staff gently against the floor. He holds Dream's hands in his. "Are you ready?" Dream nods. "Alright, here we go."