Dreamscape

Chapter 5 ~ Nightmare Night

The village was alive with the bustle and hustle of the day. The chipper voices of its inhabitants filled the air. Little, fluffy, bear like creatures wandered about the streets. Emerging from the small, wooden huts they called home. Stands that looked to serve as shops of sorts were set up along the road. Each manned by one of the fluffy bear creatures. The heim of her dress dragging along the ground. She had given up on trying to stop it from dragging, since it seemed to get dirty anyways. It didn't really matter. This was a dream, after all. Lana glanced around the village as she walked along what she believed to be the sidewalk. A look of awe and bewilderment plastered across her face. She wasn't the only one in awe at the moment, though. The little creatures returned her looks of bewilderment as they watched her pass. Whispering to one another as they watched her walking through their small town of huts and stands. They didn't seem upset or scared that she was there. They seemed almost... exhilarated. Ecstatic that she was there. As Lana walked past, she saw them clap their little furry paws over their snouts in an attempt to contain their excitement. She smiled back, waving occasionally to the little creatures that came up to her knees. Oddly enough, she felt welcome here. Happiness bubbling up within her like the lava within an active volcano. Lana looked around the village as it finally dawned on her. What were these little critters? Wanting answers, Lana shuffled up to one of the stands and wrang the small, silver bell that rested on the counter.

"Just a second!" Someone called out.

Lana leaned over the counter. The ground behind it was cluttered and packed full of oddities and items of all shapes and sizes. Without warning, a small, rotund creature popped out of the mess. It was covered in thick, brown fur. A pair of thick-rimmed, foggy glasses rested in its small snout. It smiled at Lana. She returned its friendly gaze.

"What can I do for you today, miss?" It asked, stroking the long fur underneath its chin. Lana presumed it was a beard of sorts.

"Um..." Lana started, unsure how to word her question. Lana started with the question that had been nagging at the back of her mind since she woke up. "Where am I?"

She knew this was a silly question. This was a dream. She didn't need to know where it took place. But, still, she needed that question to be put to rest.

"New around here, I see?" The creature commented, "Understandable. We don't get many humans in these parts. You're in the realm known as Skylands. That is what you meant, right? What realm you're in?"

Lana nodded. She was still a little confused, as his explanation had been vague, as if he expected her to know what 'Skylands' was. Nonetheless, she pushed the answered question out of her mind to make way for the next one. Lana opened her mouth, but the little creature interrupted her. Oddly asking the question for her.

"And I presume you're wondering what we are?" It asked, tilting its fluffy head to the side.

Lana nodded again, "If it doesn't come off as too rude... yes."

"No, not at all. It's an understandable question." It smiled. "We are Mabu. We largely populate this realm. My name is Osborn. I'm the tinkerer of this little village. And, if it's not too much, might I ask who you are?"

"I'm Lana." Lana replied.

"Lana." Osborn mauled this over for a few seconds before meeting her gaze again through his foggy glasses. "That's a beautiful name. Lana. Anything else I can do for you, Lana?"

Lana shook her head. "Nope. That's all I needed. Thanks for the help!"

"The pleasure's all mine." Osborn bowed his head towards Lana, "Spend as much time as you need here. You're always welcome within our humble village."