The dream started similar enough, but it soon took a turn for the worst. What I didn't know at the time was that the dream was real, and it was only the mismatched characters that I met who were dreaming. I was in a field with no particular idea of what to do. I was complacent here, albeit bored. As I searched the terrain, I found the edge of a forest. Throughout the tangles of brush and trees, one path stood out. It cut through the dark wood like a deity reaching out for its puppet to do its work. I found myself overcome with a sense of exploration and didn't believe my life would be complete unless I followed this path to wherever it might lead, be it disaster or some life altering lesson. As I started on my journey I noticed that in the sand were the footprints of another man. As I kept walking the footprints seemed to become further and further apart. Finally at one point the footprints ceased to be and were replaced with those of some kind of hooved animal. This disturbed me. No that was impossible the horse must have been walking in the woods next to the man. Once the man got tired of walking he started riding the horse. As I put the idea behind me I continued on my journey. As I walked the sun grew higher in the sky, blistering the back of my neck and making the absence of water ever more present. I listened as hard as I could but could not hear the roar or the trickle or even the drip of water. I became euphoric as I thought this would be the end of me. I almost had given up at ever escaping this place when I saw something in the distance. It was the horse whose footprints I had been following this whole time. I was surprised when I didn't see his rider. I finally approached the beast and in a comforting voice said
"Hey boy where's your master at huh" I should have been surprised but the heat and lack of water had made me totally apathetic to anything that might happen, but any other time I would have screamed when the horse replied
"I am my master boy. I do believe I've been brought here to help you."
"Well horse if you're your own master then what happened to the man that was walking behind you" I asked curiously. He said
"The footprints were my own. As I walked I started to change and when the transformation was complete I forgot all about who I was or where I was going." This stupefied me for it seemed impossible for a man to change into an animal. What kind of world was I in and why was I here.
"What should I call you if not Horse" I asked.
"Call me Brian for although I can't remember anything from my human days I do still remember what the people called me" he replied.
"Well hello Brian, my name is Zaxx, its nice to make your aquantince now if you don't mind I would like to get out of the darkening forest before all kinds of wildlife swarm down upon us."
"Agreed, "said Brian "I've only heard of bad things coming from these woods." (to be continued)