Animation Source Forums

Rue nodded slowly. She stretched her wings, a loose feather floating gently towards the ground at the moment.

Setsuko opened her glider and stood, balancing carefully, ready to take off. "After you."

The small nod wasn't all that visible as Rue jumped. She felt the wind catching in her feathers, lifting her higher after a few seconds of freefall.

Setsuko followed, feeling the wind in her loosly-pulled-back hair as she flew through the sky towards where everyone else was waiting. She landed as soon as she saw them. "Where were you?" Kuilak demanded, confusion was tire making him short-tempered. "I had to talk to Rue," Setsuko replied softly. "And there's something important that we have to discuss."

Rue landed only a moment after Setsuko did. Tariq was soon to come out, Tess trailing behind him.

"Momma's back!" the seven-year old shouted, smiling widely. She rushed towards her mother, arms wrapping around her. A smile broke across Rue's face as well, and she stroked Tess's hair.

"Tariq...I need to talk to you." Her words almost echoed Setsuko's. Rue wasn't sure whether the conversations would be seperate, or they would break the news together, all she knew was once again, her heart felt heavy, and her stomach was sinking.

Kuilak cringed nervously. "What is it?" He asked.
"It's about that certain place," Setsuko began carefully. "The one we need to visit if we are to go home."

Rue shot Setsuko a look that hald a question. Should we tell them together?

Tess looked up at her mother. "Momma, what do you need to tell Daddy?"

"You'll know later, sweetheart. Go find Maddy and Gale, okay?" Rue said.

"Alright," agreed the seven-year-old releculantly.

Setsuko returned Rue's glance. She figured it would be best that Kuilak and Tariq learned together.
"Mom, what is this about?" Sumi questioned impatiently.

Rue gave a small nod in reply.

Setsuko sighed and turned to face the group. "Ok, listen up, everyone. This world we are in now is not my world, nor is it Rue's world. Rather, it is the realm of a spirit named Ayumu. He is the dream spirit. This is the world of dreams.
"In this world, several other worlds can mash and combine if Ayumu calls two people from them. Many years ago, he brought Rue and me here so we could learn from each other. We did, and after a while, we went back home. Our worlds had collided, but then separated. Now, he has called us back, with our families this time. Indeed, this is the second collision.
"But if we ever wish to get home once more, we must visit Ayumu's dwelling. Unfortunately, it is very dangerous. The official name for the place in the Caverns of Life. It is where the dreams are stored." She paused, wondering if Rue would want to add to the explanation.

"Inside, there are different tunnels. From what I can tell, each color is a different emotion. Try not to stare into them, otherwise you'll immediatly feel whatever the emotion is," Rue added.

Setsuko nodded. "As far as I know, the dreams are sorted into the tunnels by the emotion they made the dreamer feel. Each emotion emits a different hue. As Rue said, if you stare directly into one of the tunnels, that one emotion takes you over. It's a terrifying experience; it feels very real."

Rue nodded. "We've both experienced it first-hand." She clearly remembered that particular moment.

"Indeed," Setsuko agreed. "But now, there's something wrong with Ayumu. He claims to be plagued. He wants Rue and I to bring you all with us to the Caverns," She trembled slightly as the spoke. As the news tumbled out, mumbles gathered in the small clearing. Everyone was surprised and a bit confused.

"Are we actually going to bring the kids to a plagued spirit?" Tariq questioned.

"What other choice do we have?" replied Rue. It was hard enough to do this, and her husband voicing her own thoughts wouldn't help.