Dreamscape

The Lingering Dream

A cat who normally fears little ran like a raindrop falling parallel to the ground. The air reeked of malicious intent and suffocating hatred. Stone gargoyles trailed behind it on the ground and in the air. The night sky was a violent thunderstorm where lightning struck trees and flashing silhouettes struck the eye like snake bites. The trees seemed to laugh and mock the cat even as some of them burned in a growing fog of smoke and fell giving way to the pursuing gargoyles awakened by cruelty. Blood from other cats who weren't quick to escape painted the stone beasts' mouths and claws, and those flying in the air carried a stench from lightning strikes they sustained on their blackened backs and wings.

The cat reached a cathedral where lifeless gargoyles sat, and as it ran for its entrance many other cats who escaped ran out of the treeline and entered the limestone building. As our cat entered first, a bell started ringing and lightning struck all the gargoyles on the cathedral in continual, unchanging bolts giving a blinding light in the area like a violent sunrise. The evil stone beasts backed off immediately and the guardians of the ancient shelter woke up, still lit by lightning bolts that were now visible to be from far above the clouds.

Soon the lightning stopped, and lines of gargoyles met in battle. The clouds cleared, and the moon and stars revealed all fires died while a circular stained glass window became brighter as if absorbing moonlight. The bell continued to ring, and in answer a trumpet sounded. One last lightning bolt struck the window and arched onto the ground in front of the entrance. The following thunder boomed loudly and put all the gargoyles on their knees.

A winged wolf emerged from the lightning strike carrying a girl on its back. The grey wolf's eyes were a deep yellow and their gaze pierced into the soul of any who looked into them. The girl stepped off the wolf as it howled when the bell stopped ringing. The girl went into the building, and statues of angels inside stepped out awakened by the wolf's howl. Wings flapped everywhere lunging their owners blindingly fast at the evil creatures. Some of the blood stained beasts growled in distraught anger while others fled the conflict.

The guardians of the cathedral struck down all who dared to stay and easily hunted down the fleeing gargoyles. Rachel found the cats inside huddled together and went to comfort them. One of the evil creatures managed to get past the angels and moved to finish what they started. Rachel, angrily indignant to this thing who would do harm to these who she loved, turned to face the monster.

Seconds later the sunrise hit the windows of the cathedral, and one last statue in the building woke up. A lion leapt between Rachel and the gargoyle. It had no wings, but the lion's presence stopped the gargoyle colder than all that happened before. The lion's stare was enough to turn the gargoyle to the door. The lion pounced and bit into the hideous creature, dragging it to the center window aligned with the sun. The lion stepped on beams of sunlight and dragged the flailing gargoyle into the sky.

Rachel turned back to the cats and hugged them. Darla felt Rachel's passion for helping people and animals, and in this dream her paws wanted to hug her back before she woke up. Darla's dream renewed her commitment to honor Rachel's last wishes and admiration for her kindness.