"I'm a human. I'm Serenity." the girl replied.
"This is Clamity, my sister. Human also." she gestured to her raven-haired counterpart.

Snider squirmed slightly in Greywhisker's arms, trying to find a comfortable position. Four snakes wiggled over and under his arms searching for somewhere to cling. Only Louise had ever held him before, and she made him feel so safe that he could fall asleep in her arms. Not being able to move very well now, he used his snake arms to talk with Rian.

"Hiii Riii...aan" He had difficulty speaking without the aid of his other vocal cord. It was much more natural to pronounce words separately. His narrow head shook sideways when Rian mentioned blueberries. There was no way of knowing which gate they were under unless he went around and smelled a bunch of them. Even if he could find a source of blueberry aroma, it could be from blueberry muffins. His fourteen eyes winced at the thought.

"More friendssss?" Snider was confused, he had never been with so many nice people before. However, he was soothed by Grey's hugging and Rian's thoughtful approach so he went along with it. "Yess...." Carefully, he nudged her hand with a smooth shiny nose. Finding it a sturdy perch he rested in her palm, letting a heavy snake-belly hang between the two.

((I'm going to just go now, if that's okay.))

As Greywhisker closed his eyes and sat, he realized just how tired he was. The blueberries, though small, had filled his stomach like magic, and now that sense of content began to lull him to sleep, despite everything going on. The Rattius did just that, still cradling Snider as his breathing slowed. Speaking of which, now, every time he breathed, a large cloud of blue mist swirled out, and began to circle around the rat, eventually so thick he could not be seen. Snider was caught in this, and would also fall asleep at inhaling the blueberry air. Anyone who did, human, rat, or snake/spider, would be encircled and knocked out. Then, they would all turn into mist, and would then seep through the seal in the dome where the girl had come from, which would also unlock for anyone not caught in the air. On the other side of the dome, the mist would reform into the separate beings, and then, everyone would wake up, and Greywhisker's small ailment would be gone.

Calamity sniffed the air again, "I smell something...strage," she said, directing the words to her sister.
Serenity was staring forward.
"Darling, are you ill?" Calamity asked, "Your face looks a little...blue."
"Not ill..." the words came slowly, "Just...ever so tired, my love."
"As am I" answered Calamity, "Strange that we're tired while sleeping."
"Yes," the girls yawned, each putting a hand to thier mouths, each drawing back in surprise at thier blue-tinged skin.
"Well, perhaps we should rest."
"Yes, dearest, I think that would be best."

As the girls slumped downward, they fell toward the Rattius and Snider, a mist escaping from them and settling on the two creatures.
Before they knew it, the blue mist had spread to surround the two girls, lying sleeping with their hand still clasped.

Eric walked down the street. This all seemed so familiar, but it was at the same time, different. It was odd, how knowing it was dream changed your perspective on things. It was a regular street, yet it was dark, but was it? And he was still in his pjs, something that would have to change. He called upon his knowledge of alll the things he had read about lucid dreams. How to change scenery? That's right, spin. He began to spin around, and imagined himself in a hoodie and cargo pants. That's when it happened, he didn't know how, but it did. He changed his clothing. This truely was amazing! If only there was a way to catalog this and take back to the waking world. He ran down the street, a large smile on his face.

Rian smiled down at Snider as he partially rested in her hand. As strange of a creature he was, she decided that she liked him. He seemed gentle, even in his caution.

Rian reached for the rest of Snider, but before she could grab him, Greywhisker pulled Snider close again. He closed his eyes, waivered for a moment, then lay on the ground. A fine blue mist enshrouded him. Puzzled, Rian turned to the twins, and realized that they too were on the ground, the same blue mist covering their bodies. Rian turned bak to Greywhisker and, reaching down, she gently poked him in the side. She felt nothing but air as her hand went through him. It was then that she realized that he was not being covered by the mist, but rather turning into the mist. Rian quickly withdrew her hand and gasped. What was going on? Oh wait, she was dreaming, she knew that.

Rian stood and followed the mist with her eyes as it grew thicker and lazily drifted over the ground and dipped itself into a crater adjacent to the one she had been laying in previously. Curiosity replaced her shock, and she followed the path it took into the crater.

((I don't have much else to write about, so it's about time we moved to the next world))

Snider's numerous eyes glazed over as he was drawn into blueberry sleep. His form expanded and stretched as he was sucked down the crater and through the glass door. One snake eye sleepily opened to see green grass and another large eye staring down at him. Startled, his legs scrunched up and he scurried away. A fading rose odor drew him hastily away from his new friends.

(@)>--,-‘--,‘---‘--‘--,---,---‘--‘-,----‘---,----,‘---,-----‘----,----‘---,---‘----,--‘--,--‘--‘-,-‘-,--‘--<(@)

"Hmm, what a strange creature" the new voice spoke sharply as Snider ran past. "Come look, we have visitors!" It shouted again. Others began to gather around the group of travelers. They wore light round faces and simple clothing. Their colorful eyes darted excitedly over the group. One hooded villager reached out with a blue feathered hand to try and awake one of the sleeping ones. Another hopped over and slapped his hand away; the strangers could still be dangerous.

Beneath Rian, Greywhisker, Serenity and Calamity was a bed of voluptuous green grass and around them lounged bushes and trees bearing the most heavenly looking fruit. Peach vines mingled with watermelon trees and black raspberry bushes protected kumquat shrubberies. High above them was a colossal ceiling of gold and glass which the sun could shine fearlessly through.

Murmuring spread through the crowd of Dixies; the elder was approaching. Coughing with almost every step he made his way through slowly. His stubby pale hand clenched a watermelon wood cane tightly. After lowering a course brown hood one could see his grey eyes and wrinkled head covered in white feathers. The Dixies were dwarfish in appearance and stature, but their feathers and tender features gave them a kinder look.

"Welcome to the Grove. May you eat our fruit and rejoice, and perhaps help us in our time of need." The elder spoke in oddly sad tones that contrasted the beautiful landscape around them. He awaited their reply patiently while others rushed to bring fruit to the strangers.

Eric ran down to the end of his street, a place he had been a hundred times at least. That's when he noticed it, a silence, a disturbing silence. No sound, no traffic, just the blank slate of ones mind. It made him think, what if you could create everything, from everything you knew? That's what a dream was, correct? Your thoughts and experiences, all jumbled up, and given back to you. So a lucid dream would be your knowledge, your experiences, and instead of being randomly thrown up, be at your command, to make a new world, if only for a few hours at most. Paint to the canvas of your subconscience. It was almost to much to comprehend.

Eric made a decision. He would try to change his surrondings. This time not only his clothes, but his backround as a whole. He began to spin again. He imagined a warm sun, on a summer's noon. He shut his eyes. He thought of the grass between his toes, as if he were barefoot in a plain, which is what he was going for. He began to feel dizzy, or at least the illision of dizzy, as he wasn't actually spinning. He feel back ward, and landed on his rear.

Eric opened his eyes. He was in a strange place, not exactly what he was going for. He was some sort of forest or garden. Fruit grew the likes of which he'd never seen, such a fertile area. Did this reflect some form of his subconscience, a memory perhaps? His shoes were missing, a result of imagining himself barefoot. A group of people were already here, and they were being greated by another group, some sort of dwarveish like people. He got to his feet. Eric walked through the green grass, over to the group, to greet them. What harm could it do?

Calamity awoke suddenly, her sister rising beside her to a spitting position.
"Wha...What is that smell?" Calamity exclaimed.
"I don't know, darling," Serenity sighed, "But now that I've smelt it I have to a gree with that sentiment you made about hunger earlier."

Calamity sat up and gazed wide-eyed at her surrounding, the plump and healthy fruits, the tiny feathered figures everywhere.

"Welcome to the Grove. May you eat our fruit and rejoice, and perhaps help us in our time of need."
The creatures said,
Calamity reached immediately for the nearest peach and bit hungrily into it.
Serenity looked shocked, and focused on the creatures with an emphatic smile.
"What do you need help with?"

A smaller Dixie with pink feathers and a yellow sun dress noticed Eric suddenly appear. She skittered over to him, swiping a ripened pear on the way over. Her green eyes glittered as she offered him the yellow pear with both hands. Grinning, she spoke happily "Hi, what's your name?"

Over by the rest of the group the elder took on a more somber tone. He cleared his throat before speaking again. "We need a mystery to be solved... see we've built our village around The Tree of Knowledge." Proud of their accomplishment he let his mouth wander. "All of our delicious fruits come from The Tree. Replanting them we can feed ourselves and our children, and we've built The Dome to protect it all." He turned at the sound of some commotion behind him.

A gigantic fruit platter was scurrying towards the group on six legs. The Dixies were overjoyed to have others to share their magnificent bounty with. On the golden plate was a sample of every fruit imaginable, from mangoes to strawberries. They set it down next to the elder and waited for their guests to eat. The old Dixie finished by saying "For now eat our fruit, I will show the problem later."

One of the little creatures walked over to Eric, and offered him fruit. It had pink feathers, and a yellow dress. It held the pear up to him. "Hi, what's your name?" she asked. Eric grinned and looked down at the little creature. A thought came through his head, a Dixie. He first thought it odd, but then again, it was his dream, wasn't it? Even if the change of setting hadn't worked out too well, it still was, or at least appeared to be, his own mind.

"Eric." He said to the little Dixie girl, smiling. "Thank you." He said as he accepted the pear from her hands. He looked at it, then put it in his pocket. "I'll save it for later." He said. He noticed a rather strange platter approaching the other group. He put his hand on the Dixie's shoulder. "If you'll excuse me." He said. He walked around her over to the group of other humans. "Hello. Mind if I ask where I am?" He asked to them.

Sernity had taken a handful of Jabote Kaba's from the platter, biting into the firm purple skin and closing her yees, savouring the juices that poured into her mouth.
"Hello, Eric," she said, after swallowing.
"We were on the moon, and now we're...here," she swept an arm around, and bit into another of the fruits, obviously feeling that this was enough of an explanation.
"What she means to say," Calamity cut in, having finished her peach, "Is that I am Calamity, and this is my sister, Serenity, and we're very pleased to meet you, and these are our friends, and as for where we are, I think it would be best to ask the residents."
She smiled, then turned her attention back to the platter.
--
ooc: for those who dont know what Jabote Kaba is, it is THE BEST fruit in the world, my favourite. It grows on the trunk of the tree instead of the branches. Brilliant. ^^

((Sorry, been away a few days.))

Greywhisker woke up just as Snider began to scuttle away, and immediately started to chase him. "No! Please Snider, don't leave!" he cried, wanting to keep his friend close. He stopped shortly, however, at noticing the newest people. They weren't normal, which helped calm him down a bit, and as he listened and smelled, he started to like this place.

"My name's Greywhisker," said the Rattius, with more and more confidence. This place didn't seem that bad for strange creatures. Before anything else could be said, a familiar aroma caught in the air. Strawberries.

The rat looked at the platter, and saw a huge batch of them to one side. Coming over, he cautiously picked one up, and popped it into his mouth, relishing the sweet, yet somehow sour, taste. He ate as many as he could, but left a few for anyone else who would like them, not afraid of what they could do. After all, the blueberries hadn't been that bad. What could strawberries do?

The child dixie rubbed one foot into the grass shyly when Eric put his hand on her shoulder. It was nice to meet such a kind stranger, she would have to find some special food for him. She looked up to find the perfect fruit only to find a disapproving mother dixie face peering over at her. The dixie chick hopped into the air and ran faithfully over to her mother. Her feathered hand waved good-bye to Eric before she was whisked away.

Elder Dixie Jeremiah nodded in a welcoming manner at the arrival of Eric. His voice was too tired to introduce him to the Dixies in the same formal way, so instead he became more casual in his speech. "We call our haven Eden, although we are the ones who made it this way."

Jeremiah examined the strange rat creature. The rattius was taller than he was, and had sharp claws, but he seemed extremely friendly. "Welcome Greywhisker, my name is Jeremiah." He had forgotten to introduce himself earlier. "I am the elder of the village, and as such I have many matters to attend to."

After a quick cough or two he patted his son Ezekiel on the back and hobbled off to his hut behind a peach bush. Zeke would know what more to tell the strangers.

The new Dixie was young and taller than most. He had bright pineapple colored feathers and pale blue eyes. Zeke blinked nervously and introduced himself. "Hi, I'm Zeke. Um, I suppose I should be showing you the tree now, but feel free to eat as much fruit as you like first. Have any questions?"

Eric reached up and pulled down an apple off a branch of a tree. "Well hello everyone." He said. "For those of you who don't, I'm Eric." Although he didn't really see the point, this was a dream after all. He took a bite out of the bright red apple. It was sweeter than any apple he had ever had before, it seemed to have more texture, too. He took another mouth watering bite. He swaled what was in his mouth. He ate the apple to the core. But where to put the core? He held it in his hand, he would keep it there until he found some where to put it.

Greywhisker smiled, finishing off all of the strawberries on the plate when he realized no one else seemed interested. Polishing them off, he went to lick his claws when he noticed something...They were red! Well, a sort of pinkish-red, the same color as...strawberries! He looked at his fur, which had gone the same color, and he didn't doubt that his eyes had done the same. However, after the blueberries, this did not seem that bad. After all, he still felt marvelous--better than ever! With an unusually cheery attitude, he smiled and nodded at everyone.

"Hi Zeke! Um, my only question is...What's the mystery? Jerimiah talked about it earlier...And why is the Tree of Knowledge called the Tree of Knowledge?"

"Yes, hello, well...it's not so much a mystery...but I guess you could call it that, maybe it is to you... " Zeke stumbled with how to best explain the problem, his hands fidgeted next to each other. He went on to the next question. "Well the Tree of Knowledge is a part of Our Eden, so of course it's called that. We don't eat from it either, we just gather the fruit and plant the seeds form it..."

Zeke noticed that their faces still looked rather confused. "I guess it's time I show you then." He started waddling backwards, towards the blueberry vine-covered strawberry trees. "See we're never quite sure how each fruit is going to grow, but each fruit we plant makes the ground become more fertile."

It took Zeke a long time to get anywhere like this but eventually he came upon the watermelon grove. "Now these...aren't these great?" Giant watermelons congregated together, squashing out any remnant of leaves of the bush they were growing on.

"We're getting closer now, anyone want to stop to have something to eat before we get to the tree? You'll probably lose your appetite once we get there..." Zeke's face darkened slightly and his brisk backwards pace slowed significantly.

"Oh, no thank you sir, I'm fine." Eric said. He noticed a watermelon was being over shadowed by a larger one. He pushed it into the sun light. He turned back and noticed he had droped his apple core. He ran over to pick it up. He looked down at it. He noticed something, he was being awfully nice, some would call it sweet. Sweet like an apple... He stuck the core into his pocket, and noticed someting else, the pear was gone. Out of sight out of mind, huh?