Alternatively

2: Through the Clouds

It takes a lot of effort to control their plummet, what with a screaming child and a very pissed off memory snatcher in his grasp. Chunks of mattress and bedding fall with them, the creature's infuriated cry echoing around as it claws at the portal. It's power may have been immense, but at least it had to abide by the laws of reality. It soon fades from his immediate threat list as he realizes he has to land before the portal collapses in on itself.

In a flash of bright light, the group of three stumble across an altocumulus platform, trying to get their footing after effectively falling for so long. Annabeth and Tyson squint, still adjusting to their surroundings, but Percy is already gauging the nearest nightmare. Rumbling over the shelf of cotton candy pink and blue clouds is a nasty looking cumulonimbus, static lashing out as it rains it's course. Best case scenario, someone closes the door it's pouring out of and seals it away. More likely, though...

"We have to take him back."

He looks at Annabeth, startled mid-thought.

"He can't be here," she gestures at Tyson before stumbling over a drifting dream. "I can't be here."

"You let me take him, I can't just return him to that thing!"

"It's no safer here!"

"I-" he glances down when his arm is tugged, unjustifiably surprised at the boy's wavering lip.

"Are my mom and dad okay?"

He balks under the weight of his bubbling tears.

"I wanna go home."

"It's okay, buddy," he sighs, kneeling down to look him in the eye and avoid Annabeth's pointed glare. "We're gonna get you back, we just have to make sure it's safe."

"But," Tyson sniffles, scrubbing his tears away with the heel of his palm. "But it broke my window."

"Windows can be replaced, can't they?"

"I guess so..."

The air ripples, crisp and clear, and he glances around, spying a few fluffy whites drifting above them. Squeezing the kid's shoulder, he stands up and asks, "Would you like to catch a dream?"

He tilts his head, confused but curious.

"Here," Percy pulls a net from his pocket, offering it to the kid. "All you gotta do is swipe this through one of those clouds and you've got a dream."

"Mom has one of these in her car," Tyson turns the net over in his hand. "Hers has feathers, though."

He nods, tight lipped as he shows him where to walk and how to pull a thread from the catcher. Humans typically hung them above their beds or in windows, everyone with a different intent behind the decoration. Thousands of beliefs are woven into thousands of dream catchers, but it's an act they don't realize also wards beings like himself from getting too close. It's easy picking, taking from the nets, though the quality just isn't the same.

"I didn't think humans could collect dreams."

He crosses his arms, watching the kid carefully as he drags the net through a passing cloud. "It's mainly imprints, but it should be enough for now."

"Oh," Annabeth cranes her neck with a small smile. "He's trying to copy your claws."

Percy smiles too; the kid has always been detail oriented, focusing on the littlest things when something mattered to him. The pictures in his room never cease to amaze him when he works, so full of color and life.

And horses. Mainly horses, Tyson really likes those.

Another nightmare conglomerate starts to rumble in the distance, lightning webbing around the curves. The usual nervousness that came from being in the clouds amplifies as more catchers slip out of portals and more portals flash closer to their platform. They're the only solid structures, golden door frames that appear from nothing, but even they vanish after some time.