The floral door lead into a jungle bordering the side of a mountain. I was on a sand path that seemed to have been taken quite a few times – the brush was cut away. I walked along for a few moments until I found that it was part of a network that ran in the direction of the mountain.

After a long walk on which I was pestered by insects in the air I found that the tall trees grew more sparse and soon I could see they were strewn evenly as if planted with intent.

The jungle on either side of me grew into a hedge that seemed maintained but sort of sickly and dark condition-wise.

Not knowing which route to take I followed my intuition when taking avenues at a crossing.

It grew darker and as I was wandering almost aimlessly at this point I heard feint voices in the distance. I made it my goal to find the people that lived in this place. As the sounds grew louder I saw a shadow coming my way and thereafter I heard someone call: “You there, stop!”

I did not know whether I should be alarmed or happy that someone found me, so I simply called back: “Hello?”

A young man approached me and said: “It is not safe to wander at night, you are a stranger, easy prey. Come with me. There is a festival in our garden where it is safe from now on.”

I accompanied her along the path and not far from where she had found me the entrance to a garden was to be seen in an old glory – overgrown and mystical.

The woman introduced me to some of her friends and on the way to a man in charge as someone new that had been found on the way home.

Getting to a higher-up I found out that they were seeking someone naïve – someone new to their world.

The chief I spoke to gave me a place to stay, that I was sent to by the woman that found me – I was not allowed to join the festivities which made me want to know what they were for. This night did not seem very special since the moon was not out and there was this hush-hush atmosphere as if it were a secret that they were celebrating.

There was a sound coming from the festivities but it was more of a bustle. I was wondering how I noticed them in the first place – yet the route was awfully quiet.

When we got to one of the trees the woman, who’s name I cannot pronounce, folded away the hedge and climbed up the tree into its core. She motioned to me that I should do the same. So with trouble I jumped up and wrapped my legs around the trunk as she did and slowly wriggled and grabbed my way up to find a small shelter embedded in the trees centre.

There was a bed, a lamp and a bell – the bell I should ring once I got up in the morning so that someone could fetch me for breakfast. The woman told me that I would be informed of more in the morning but for now I had to stay quiet and not go outside anymore. She left to go to her own home – I had the bell if anything was wrong.

Not being able to fall asleep I was imprisoned in this place with the people that seemed somewhat secretive and elf-like. They spoke their own language among one another but could speak English with me – maybe my mind just translates everything into understandable material.

I have taken this entire state of being up as if I am living within a giant dream where everything goes according to my plans, along with a little mystery like this one.

I tried startling awake due to boredom and just genuinely being disinterested in this dream but I ended up thinking of where I needed to be sometime soon once this corridor in my dreamscape is over. I had nothing to do so I waited arduously until the sun went up.

As soon as there was enough light to call it morning I rung the bell and climbed down into the thicket and onto the sand path.

A short while passed until someone new appeared – a girl that had long brown hair and a green gown that seemed to be the way women dressed in this culture. The gown was not overly intricately woven but more than being too simple. A sort of nobility was embodied in it – as if this culture had some sense of distinction and self-confidence.

She wished me a good morning and said she would show me to her elder. There I would be served breakfast. We did not speak much on the way – she was curious where I came from and the term “dreamtraveller” did not mean much to her so I stayed quiet after that.

She said hello to a few people on the way and I got some intriguing looks.

It seemed as though most of their houses were in trees, we had to climb a tree once again to get to a network of vine-bridges that went from tree to tree further away from the garden that I saw yesterday.

Stone houses that were overgrown were on the ground in some places, as if forsaken for the high ground. There was something about the ground in the night – as if it were forbidden then.

Finally arriving at the elders cabin the girl said good bye after seating me at the table in a bigger than usual home in a giant tree.

The elder was in the kitchen making food. His wife and him both sat down at the same time after having discussed something in their language.

“Good morning” The elder said kindly – to which his wife also greeted me.

“I am sure you are wondering why you are here with us.”

“Indeed, I couldn’t sleep last night, which troubles me.” I lead on.

“Of course not, otherwise you would escape us. You see – we were in search for a newcomer to this world. Preferably a person open to some creative action.

We know that there are those who can travel the world in the blink of an eye for we were able to do so long ago, but since a terrible curse befell us we could no longer and now this mode of travel is the stuff of legends.” The elder stated nervously.

“I see, it is true though – I do wake up into another dream every now and again but its more like life that has no end to me. I travel far off places but always return to the source. I do not know how I got to be blessed or cursed with this way of life but its starting to dawn on me that it is permanent.” I explained.

“So you go from destination to destination after having fulfilled the purpose of you being there, is that correct?” asked the elder.

“Since you put it that way, yes. I never noticed that I had some sort of goal – I just go with the flow until its over and I wake up or die.” I said.

“That is good – we need someone that is daring to get out of this place by any means.

Don’t grow a foothold here – you have been called by our healers to aid us in our battle against the “nightmarish”.”

He paused to see if I was following or not, and indeed all I needed was more so he went on.

“We have lost our powers and are banned to this forest until we can defeat the turned ones of us that live close to the mountain on the ground.

We call them the nightmarish, for they have taken up a life of wandering in certainty and what they know to be of controllable influence. So they brew concoctions that keep their gifts in their control.

What they have achieved though, in doing so – is crippling the essence that made our tribe be able to travel like you do.” He went on.

“What keeps you from killing them then? Or have you got a different solution?” I asked somewhat outspokenly.

“We are peaceful, plus there is no way we can defeat them all. We are auric being s and so are they – we have made a healing potion that should make the effects of the substances they drink and bathe in wither away when administered onto the skin sufficiently.

Furthermore – they practice fighting and we do not. They have degenerated into a more primal culture that revels in distortion and self defeating acts such as power measurement and the like.

Their witch doctors make substances that keep them from dreaming and they preach doctrine to stay in this controllable realm. I think they gather their pride by controlling us.

We have to give up someone when they feel there is a need to put us down again – so we find volunteers that are willing to travel the nightmares until we can save them.” He admitted.

“So you want me to volunteer? No, I am not taking any substances that keep me down in what you described as a sort of hell in comparison to my heaven.” I repulsed.

“No, that is not it. We wish for you to be the one that administers the potion to one of their high council or better.

That will lessen the negative aura and influence and we will gain a soul back. Furthermore it will encourage our younger ones to follow in your footsteps.

Once they know we can turn them back there will be a new era in this war.

We have enough of the potion to encounter quite a few of them. To boot – we are making more every day.” He prompted.

“So what is your plan? How do you want me to infiltrate them or lure them out?” I asked.

“At the next surrender of one of ours you slice open the back of the priests cape and pour the liquid onto him. We will give you a perch and a sickle to do this with. We have but a few days for you to get ready in. Are you in?” He almost shouted.

“I suppose I have no choice – I can’t leave and this is the way I can so as long as there is no more to the issue then I shall do as you wish.

Something tells me that these beings aren’t as easy to catch as you lead on, though.” I suggest.

“They are mostly blind, but keen listeners and their sense of smell is outstanding, so we will coat you in powder and you will have to be stealthy.

The surrender happens as part of a treaty we have with them so we are present while they take one of ours. We will subdue the bystanders while you jump onto their leader and do as I explained before.

This can all go horribly wrong if the potion does not render the others peaceful, but its smell should have them subdued for long enough.

With the priest subdued his followers can be taken into imprisonment and nursed back to health. In time we will feel some of our power resurge and so the war will go on. All we need is for you to be the initiator.” He offered.

“I will do this, if it goes wrong the worst that can happen is death – then I am free again. But I would be lying if I did find some sympathy with your culture. Its like saving one of my own.

Even though this constant travel and newness and insecurity has its ups and downs – I would not trade it for the mundane any day. You have my word – I shall do as you ask – let the preparations begin.”