Hello folks!
Just came up with a little fic that will probably be disproved very early in the next chapter.
But anyway:
What if Lalli's Luonto needs a little
help?:
.....
Reynir paused for breath. "Didn't know you could get tired in your dreams!" he huffed.
The dog circled back, yapping happily. Reynir eyed it in a slightly unfriendly manner. "Remind me please -
why am I following you again?"
That was a little unfair, he knew - he had had no qualms about following the dog when it had started persistently leading him in one direction, looking back and barking, plainly urging Reynir to follow.
Besides, the dog had already shown that it
knew important things - things vital to Reynir's very survival - so he had readily followed the dream-dog.
But now, after what seemed like hours of traveling through featureless dreamscapes, with no apparent destination in sight, Reynir was beginning to have doubts. He had already begun thinking of turning back...but the chilling memory of a dog speaking in a human voice:"Remember this..." kept him on his unknown course.
They continued in this manner for...minutes?... hours?...hard to tell in this timeless realm.
Then the dog stopped suddenly, ears pricked. It began running in a circle, sniffing the cold ground.
Then it barked again, heading off slightly to the left of their original course.
With a sigh, Reynir followed.
Reynir began to notice a change in the surroundings. They had been running over calm seas, then flat featureless plains up until this point, but now the land began showing signs of new detail - shrubs, low trees, narrow streams.
The dog sped up, barking excitedly. Reynir gritted his teeth and increased his pace, vaguely wondering how he was supposed to "rest" after all this was over - after all, he was
already asleep, wasn't he?...
The trees had grown taller and more dense, the streams becoming wider, meandering into pools and ponds.
Reynir realized with a start that he had been here before...or at least, somewhere just like it.
Reynir looked around, frowning. It looked remarkably like...Lalli's place?
But it couldn't be - he knew the way to Lalli's sanctuary and this was way, way further out!
All the same, it all looked remarkably similar to Lalli's little piece of Finland...
Reynir ducked under a branch - and froze.
There, sitting in front of him, was the biggest Cat he had ever seen.
Reynir, gulped, vainly attempting to swallow the huge lump that had appeared in his throat.
Reynir stood frozen - then jumped as the dog stuck a cold nose in his hand. He looked down, suddenly especially thankful that he wasn't alone.
He looked back. The Cat (which Reynir now recognised as a lynx) had not moved, calmly gazing at the Icelander.
Reynir straightened up and met the Cat's gaze squarely - and was suddenly struck by an unexpected sense of familiarity.
"I know you..." he murmured. He had never seen the creature before - but its gaze was direct and piercing...its eyes, unlike most cats, were a pale grey...
Reynir's eyes widened. "Lalli?..."
The Cat yawned, displaying unnervingly large canine teeth. Then, unexpectedly, the imposing creature flopped down before him, at his feet.
His dog jumped back with a nervous yip, then slunk back to stand by Reynir.
Reynir stared down at the creature. It plainly wanted something - but what?
He squatted down in front of it.
Reynir's eyes narrowed as he looked deep into the Cat's eyes, holding its gaze.
Reynir thoughts flashed back: Lalli's unnaturally deep sleep - and Emil's bewildered question, "I don't get it. Is he ill?" - then Tuuri's rather evasive answer:"Oh...you could say that. He just needs to rest up a bit..."
Reynir looked deep into the proud, penetrating eyes - and saw the kitten inside...
"You're...
lost...aren't you?" Reynir murmured.
He put his hand out, hesitated, then gently stroked the Cat's head. It made no protest, merely closing its eyes momentarily.
He stood up. The Cat also came to its feet, eyes fixed on him. Reynir looked round to his dream-dog, which wuffed expectantly, wagging its tail.
Reynir grinned. "Okay, boy - find Lalli!"
The dog barked happily and spun around, racing off into the darkness.
Reynir and the Cat followed.
