When A Dream is Not a Dream

Finally she felt herself drifting off. The insomnia had been especially persistent this round and her whole body was weighed down with fatigue. With a sigh, she slipped into the comfort of sleep…and found herself in a wholly unfamiliar place. Puzzled, she looked around, taking in the scene. She was in a city, standing in a darkened side street and all hell was breaking loose around her! Somehow it didn’t seem as strange as she knew it should. People were running and shouting, and there were all sorts of other creatures. Wolves, cats, various others, and a selection of mythical creatures were all part of the fray. She rubbed her eyes in confusion. “I am dreaming”, she told herself. A bit louder, she declared, “I AM dreaming!” Her raised voice caught the attention of a hard-faced man stalking past the entry to the street and her breath caught as he changed course to move toward her, menace radiating from him. With more urgency, she tried to shake herself. “Wake up!” Nothing changed except the look on the man’s face as he slid a blade from its sheath and slashed at her. The pain was like an explosion across her cheek as she hopped awkwardly backward, shocked. A sudden flurry of wings made her look up, just in time to see the largest raven she’d ever seen attack her assailant. The last thing the man saw was talons as they claimed his eyes.