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[center][h2]Earlier that day…[/h2][/center]

Three of Morski’s ruffians wandered through the wilderness, an overgrown forest fairly far away from the warlord’s camp. A vague path winded ahead of them between the trees and shrubs. The one in front using a machete to cut their way through while the one in the back shook like a leaf. [b]“Are we sure this is a good idea?”[/b] He jumped a little as a bit of foliage fell on him after the one in front of him pushed it out of the way.

[b]“What, you afraid of some weird bitch in the woods?”[/b] The middle one laughed out in response. [b]“You’re just letting some dumb rumors get to you man.”[/b]

The bulkier one in front chimed in with a dramatic tone. [b]“I don’t know guys, I heard that she can summon some things that drive you crazy if you look them in the eyes.”[/b] And then laughed as the one in the rear began to freak out even harder. [b]“I’m just kidding. Can’t have you wimping out on us, gotta make sure we can overpower her. Sounds like it’ll be real entertaining to have her for Lord Morski’s little show he’s got planned.”[/b]

As he finished his sentence he realized the brush was getting thinner as they kept moving till the trio came upon a clearing with a small cabin nestled within. What appeared to be a small farm located nearby. And strange tracks all across the grass in the area, tracks that didn’t match a normal animal that would live in an area like this. If it wasn’t for the fact they knew an odd Dreamer lived there it would be a peaceful, scenic place. But now all three were on edge, weapons raised and all of them managed to jump as the door to the cabin creaked open. 

Heavy footsteps filled the silent clearing as the tall, imposing woman walked towards the group. The woman, clad in all black and with intimidating red eyes, was their intended target. The so-called Witch of the Woods, Lynette. At first the group thought she would immediately go on the offensive but she stopped. Her face looked surprised, as if she hadn’t processed that they were there at first. And suddenly she began to… smile? She was definitely smiling. And she happily waved at her uninvited guest

[color=39b54a]“Oh yay, new friends!”[/color] The happy tone in her voice caught the ruffians off guard, who slightly lowered their weapons in sheer surprise. [color=39b54a]“Oh it’s been so long since someone else came through here! Not that I’m lonely of course, I have plenty of friends to keep me company. I should introduce you to my friends! Wait… No, I'm getting ahead of myself. My name is Lynette! Did you need anything?”[/color]

As the mad woman babbled on, the bandits just looked at each other in disbelief. They heard that she was odd but they weren’t expecting whatever this was. When she asked what they needed they raised their weapons again, ready to throw down. [b]“We need you to come with us.”[/b] The bigger one who led the three said. [b]“We’ve got something fun planned.”[/b] A threatening tone in his voice meant to indicate it wouldn’t be pleasant. 

But it seems that wasn’t properly understood by their mark. [color=39b54a]”Okay!”[/color] Which once again completely caught her would be attackers off guard. They weren’t even sure what to do at this point but they just started leading her back to camp. [color=39b54a]”So where are we going?”[/color] To which she got no response.

…

[color=39b54a]”What are we gonna do?”[/color]

…

[color=39b54a]”How much longer is it?”[/color]

…

[color=39b54a]”You guys don’t talk much do you?”[/color]

…

[color=39b54a]”Wanna hear about my friends?”[/color]

That was a question she didn’t wait for a response for. Lynette began to ramble about the ‘friends’ in her head and all their little quirks and names and things that interested her. In truth the group was about ready to give up on bringing her back if it wasn’t for the fact that they were certain they wouldn’t be able to shake her. 

Eventually they finally brought her back and were very easily able to bring her to one of the many cages of the arena and shove her inside, much to her chagrin. Although the moment she hit the ground and the door closed behind her she began to panic. Something was interfering with her dream. The swirling whispers of madness, the voices of her ‘friends’ were silenced. Her eyes widened and she began nearly clawing at the sides of the cage. A dull, throbbing headache making the situation painfully more annoying. For the first time in a long time she was alone with her thoughts. And she hated every second of it. Lynette had never felt so alone.


[center][h2]Current[/h2][/center]

Lynette stayed huddled up in a corner as far away from the crystal as possible. The constant pain in her head was the only thing keeping her company as she tried desperately to reconnect with her friends. How long has she been here now? It felt like it was days, weeks, months, YEARS! In actuality it was more along the lines of a few hours, not even a full day. But she was just now beginning to process her surroundings. Her makeshift prison opened up into an open area that looked like an arena of some sort. Multiple other cages seemed to be connected to the same place as hers. A decent sized crowd sitting in the stands overlooking it. They were murmuring, staring, waiting for something. She began looking at the other cages around her and most were inhabited like hers. Most likely other dreamers trapped like her, if only she hadn’t been so naive. A thought that normally her mind would be too full of voices for her to consider.

She noticed that some of the more injured inhabitants of the cages were finally starting to stir shortly before someone began to speak. A loud booming voice shouted down from above them. Lynette’s eyes gravitated up to it as the man she could only assume orchestrated this began to address the crowd. It was a little hard for Lynette to comprehend with the constant thrumming in her head but she tried to listen. Something about a show… and a fight? Were they gonna have to fight something? Or was he intending for them to fight each other? It didn’t sound ideal but she wanted to be free from this situation as soon as possible. And that shard… it had been so long since she’s seen one. When was the last time she’d seen something like that actually? It was fuzzy, but she knew it could be useful at the very least.

She was distracted by a nearby rattling as one of the other Dreamers began fiddling with his cage. A blonde man about her height, she saw as he backed up and just knocked out the door of the cage even with his strength suppressed. This was the bit of hope she needed to start rattling her cage like an insane woman. Until it opened all on its own with a gesture from ‘Lord’ Morski.

Immediately Lynette shot out from the cage and her mind was filled with a beautiful cacophony. The maddening whispers filled the void that the crystal left. She sighed in relief as the comforting voices returned and she could speak to her friends once more. But the satisfaction was short lived as she remembered the situation she was in and she prepared to defend herself, as much as she didn’t want to who knew how these strangers would react.