Dream Mountain

I was the first to break through the thin veil of mist. I had reached a smooth ledge that was at least six feet wide and formed a broad path going horizontally around the mountain. I took a few steps forward and behind me the others stepped from the mist. The mist laid a blanket at our feet making it impossible to see down the mountain’s side, but the way in front of us and above us was perfectly clear.

  “Um, are we above clouds or something?” Hunter asked looking around. “If so, should be harder than this to breath. We should need oxygen masks or something.”

  “Oxygen masks?” Nightmare question, “what world are you from?”

  “Not here obviously,” Hunter muttered in reply.

  “It does seem a little weird,” I agreed, noting also the deep purple black hue was back. My vision was normal again.

  Just then a young man stepped from around the mountain’s curve and stopped a few feet in front of me. I gasped in surprise, but could make no other sound. He looked completely at home and in control. As he coolly studied us, I took the time to study him. He was tall, maybe six foot two or three and his build was lean and lanky. He had a lean and handsome face. His eyes proved to be such a piercing gray, that I actually had to force myself not to take a step back from him. His hair was straight brown and went to just barely past his shoulders. To my chagrin, I found myself wondering if it was as soft as it looked. His skin tone was so even, that I knew it wasn’t just the sun, I strongly suspected he was at least part Native American. The thought fascinated me, as I had always been interested in their culture.

  As I waited for our challenger to speak, I heard the song began to pulse loudly again in my heart. This time though, I willingly let myself fall into the music, knowing it would show me something I needed to see. The song gently flowed out of me and to my surprise surrounded the young man. Somehow I knew beyond a doubt the song wanted me to trust him, and I found myself whispering my consent to do so. But the song only became stronger. Its power grew to the same intensity I had felt when we first reached the mountain and the strength of it forced me to step towards the man. “I don’t understand,” I whispered, but in the moment I had taken the step it settled back to its constant humming in my heart. Whoever this guy was, the song felt he was important.

  Not able to see more than the song wanted to show me, I looked up curiously at the man. “What’s your name?”

  “Tommy,” his voice was strong, but held a gentle quality. Any doubts I still had about trusting him vanished when he spoke. “It is good to finally see you.”

  “Oh no,” I groaned, “Not you too!”

  Tommy’s smile lit up the air around him. “Yes, even me. Come on, I’ve got a place already for you to rest. I imagine your climb has not been the easiest one.”

  “Well, not until we found the steps,” I replied.

  Tommy looked at me in surprise. “Then you’ve already learned more than I hoped. You really do belong here.”

  “Um, apparently you know more about this than I do,” I started, but Tommy interrupted me.

  “Yes, I know a lot. But as I’m sure you’ve been informed I can only tell you so much. Most you have to figure out for yourself.”

  Hunter groaned in frustration behind me. “Not again!”

  I completely agreed with him, that line was way past old, and somehow hearing it from unicorns made it easier to take than from someone my own age.

  Tommy laughed out loud at that. “Sorry, but those are the rules of the mountain. Maybe you have some questions that I can answer.”

  “Let’s start with who you are,” Hunter demanded, stepping to my side.

  Tommy looked at him amused, but answered. “I am the caretaker of this mountain until the true guardian returns.”

  “And who is the true guardian?” I asked.

  “That has yet to be determined,” Tommy answered.

  “Right,” I said.

  Tommy smiled at me sympathetically. “I know it's confusing right now, but I can give you some answers. Let’s start with getting you a good meal and rest, okay?”

  I nodded, realizing a hot meal sounded great and I was sleepy. We followed Tommy single file on the mountain path, it didn’t seem to go up or down, but straight around to the other side, where it entered a dark hole. Tommy never hesitated. I looked back at Daydream who nodded at me reassuringly. Shrugging, I followed into the cave.

  Inside, it was shocking to see a full home. In front of me, was a very large room with a wood table and three chairs on the left side. The back wall had four opened doors. The right wall spilt in two, with the second half holding an open door, and the first half giving way to a second large room. The angle I stood at prevented me from seeing inside. Next to the door I had just entered through was the living room. It was the strangest sight of all.

  It was a rounded room with a purple tiled floor. Arabian styled pillows sprawled across the floor. Each one had tassels on all four corners and had either stripes or solid colors of red, green, blue, orange, and purple. Both side walls held rock shelves full of books that looked to be from every age of man and in the center wall was a large screen television. It was hilarious because it seemed so out of place. The room had no lights, but there was no need. The mountain provided a purple light that penetrated every corner, making it seem only slightly darker than outside.

  Tommy stopped in the middle of the room and I noticed he watched my face with undisguised amusement. “Welcome home.”

  He pointed behind him and continued, “The first door on the left is the kitchen, the next door is my bedroom, after that is Hunter’s bedroom and finally your bedroom, Grace. The last door is the door to the Command Center, but we’ll save that for later. The open space leads to the stables, and yes, they are all prepared for Nightmare and Daydream. Rougefire’s, that’s my horse, has the first stall, than Nightmare’s, and Daydream’s. There is one extra stall too, which will remain empty for now. I’m sure the unicorns are tired and could use a long rest, so why don’t you guys help out your friends, while I get some food ready.” It wasn’t a suggestion, but somehow he made it feel like it was the best idea.

  We stood there for a second, before we headed in the direction he pointed, as if we had any other choice. The stable was very spacious, and the stalls were not only big, but also neatly made up with clean sweet smelling hay. Rougefire looked up at our entrance and neighed a greeting. Daydream and Nightmare responded in like, while I waved. Hunter was concentrating on the stall door.

  “Hey, Hunter, you okay?”

  “Grace? How did he know all our names? And how could he have everything exactly ready for us?” Hunter asked looking up from his study of the stall door latch.

  I shook my head. “I don’t know. But nothing surprises me anymore. I guess we can ask.”

  “Not that we’ll get an answer,” Hunter grumbled and I nodded my agreement.

  Daydream laughed softly. “You will find that answers will come more quickly now that you are close to the heart of the mountain.”

  “Why is that?” I asked her as I undid the latch on her door to allow her entry.

  “You know the mountain and the song are connected, it only makes sense that at the heart of the sentinel mountain are the answers.”

  “Or at the top,” Nightmare amended and Daydream nodded her agreement.

  I shook my head not sure whether I felt amused or annoyed. “You guys are as bad as ever.”

  “Yeah, no help,” Hunter added, but his smile took away any sting his words might have had on his friends.

  Nightmare nicked him in the shoulder and Hunter let out a small yelp, but got the message and opened his friend’s stall door. Nightmare looked quite pleased with himself as he entered his home. “Ah, this is most satisfactory.”

  Daydream sighed her agreement as she too entered than turned back around to face me. “Please, don’t worry, Grace. I promise you shall receive answers soon. You just need too…”

  “I know, let the song guide me. I will, Daydream. But I need
answers with words too and the song doesn’t have those.” I closed her stall door.

  “Yes, it does,” Nightmare said, poking his head out over the half door that Hunter had just shut.

  “Huh?”

  “Remember Hunter’s parchment?” Daydream asked.

  “Oh yeah!” A picture of the scroll of words formed in my mind. “There must be more verses.”

  Daydream nodded. “Yes and that is not the only thing that will have answers. But perhaps Tommy can help you.”

  “Yeah, I want to talk to him anyway,” Hunter said smartly.

  I smiled at him and nodded my head. “Sounds like a plan. I want some of that food too.”

  Hunter rubbed his stomach. “Now there’s a plan!”

  The four of us laughed together and Hunter and I turned to go. As we walked away, I could hear the three animals talking together like old friends.

  ^^^^^^^^^^