[b][i]”Arianna…”[/b][/i] The voice murmured.

[b][i]”Arianna, wake up.”[/b][/i] The voice said again, louder.

Arianna stirred softly, rolling onto her other side. She pulled the covers up over her head in an attempt to block the voice from speaking to her.

[b][i]”Arianna, you can’t block me with your covers. I’m in your head.”[/b][/i] The voice of Castiel said again, chuckling lightly.

Arianna took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled as she pushed the covers back down. She opened one eye a little, squinting as the sun shone through the window and cast a long streak of light across the bed. “What is it, Cas?” She asked groggily as she slowly sat up. She yawned and stretched, feeling much better after her rest in the soft bed.

[b][i]”There are men nearby. You should be able to hear a little of their thoughts, once you’ve awoken.”[/b][/i] Castiel said, alerting Arianna to the nearness of strangers.

Arianna instantly felt more alert as Castiel mentioned the men. Sure enough, after a little while of sitting quietly, Arianna could hear the muffled thoughts of men coming in at different rates and intensities. She swallowed, unnerved by how close they were. Without waiting another moment, she reluctantly slipped from the bed and sat down near the door where she had kicked off her shoes.

Arianna paused, hearing one clear word, or name, stick out from all the others. 

[i]Iktomi..[/i]

What did these men want from Iktomi? Were they friendly? Did Iktomi know them? Arianna’s mind was clouded with these questions, which made listening to the thoughts harder and harder as she lost concentration. “Cas, why his name stuck out from all the others?” She asked curiously

Castiel pursed his lips in thought. [b][i]”They must all be thinking of him. Plus, it’s something you’re familiar with. Familiar things stick out more than unfamiliar things in this stage of control you’re in.”[/b][/i]

Arianna simply nodded in response, her uneasiness growing. She stood after she had finished tying the double knot in her boots and opened her door, stepping out into the hallway.

With a little to no trouble remembering the way, Arianna made her way through the halls. She had been a little confused at first due to her exhausted state when she first traveled through, but thankfully she ran into Alex and he helped point her in the right direction. She felt odd as she walked past men and women, wondering if they were hosts too. Certainly Iktomi wasn’t the only one with the host in his… organization. Arianna only stopped when she neared what seemed to be the kitchen area. Her dry throat seemed to shout, “Quench my thirst!” Arianna entered and asked a nearby personnel for a glass of water. She smiled and thanked her when she was handed one, then left and continued towards what Arianna amusingly dubbed Iktomi’s “throne” room. 

After running her hand through her hair, Arianna knocked on the door to his room. She’d show him how she had kept her manners.