Glimmers of a Dream

[Thalia]

Jon came here to study? She found the thought amusing, and it showed in her slightly puzzled expression. Study what? The possibility had never really occurred to her, how time spent here might be used to inform someone's waking life - that choosing to enter the Spirit World could be used to serve a purpose at all. Why did she come here? Accidently, surely; she did not even understand the process, let alone have control over it. Memory buzzed, but the consideration was slippery enough to find little purchase for long. Instead she nodded to Bear's words, as if she understood; which, in that moment she did. A place of souls. Both respect and caution encompassed her inherent reaction to talk of wolves, a sentiment ancient as roots dug deep into old, old earth. Nobody had explained the nature of wolfkin to her, but she knew the bonds he spoke of - as much as any outsider could, anyway.

Dreams she also understood, on an intrinsic level. Sometimes, on the verge of waking here, she was instead tugged another direction; a place of in-between, vast as the night sky, where every star glittered as a doorway. Some of the faces there were familiar; a woman, in particular, with features not so different from the ones she wore these days herself. A name dulled the end of her tongue, but wouldn't reveal itself - not beyond the dream, anyway. Others were less recognisable, and occasionally a new face revealed itself. Usually she only observed, distant, curious - and on rare occasion with an odd sense of guardianship. Sometimes she interfered. Rarest of all was when the choice was stolen, and she passed the threshold whether she willed it or not.

"Or you could find me," she added matter-of-factly. "If you wanted to." Once again, when she was done thinking through the things he told her, her thoughts circled back to her original question. A small frown crinkled her brow with the effort, then smoothed itself. Study. His sombre attire painted a serious picture, but he didn't look like a student. At least she didn't think so; it was hard to muddle through such deductions. "Did I interrupt you? Before. You were dressed like a... like a... scout, or something." A smile lit her expression, though if she was teasing it was with pleasant enough intent. If Jon came here with purpose, then she had utterly diverted him. "What do you study? It must be hard work if you need to read in your sleep too."