Dream Walkers
Dream Walkers
“So, he’s been hiding it… because he’s worried he’ll worry us?” Carmen frowned, peering into Ken’s room. The six year old had fallen asleep, exhaustion finally getting to him.
I picked the worst day to see a client face to face. My baby needed me and I wasn’t here… She bit her lip.
“Eiji... “
Eiji frowned, bringing an arm around her, following her gaze.
“I know…”
Ken whimpered in his sleep, rolling over.
Carmen hurried over, shaking him.
“What do we do?” She asked as Ken started to stir. “If he can’t sleep for more than an hour…”
Eiji sighed heavily, leaning on the door.
“We get more coven members involved. Skyler knows a therapist who specializes in dreams. More specifically, helping kids overcome night terrors.”
“Well, where do they work? What hospital?”
Ken yawned, giving his mother a bewildered look before curling up against her side, dozing again.
Carmen gave her husband a pleading look.
“She doesn’t work for a hospital. She basically runs her practice solo. All I have to do is call and she’ll come here.” Eiji explained, kneeling with his wife. “And she can help him.”
“Then call her. I don’t care how much it costs, just call her.”
“I’ll go do that right now. Just stay with him.” Eiji frowned. “We’re gonna fix this. I promise.”
“I know… I’m just worried.”
It was a few hours later when a knock at their door caused Okami to go running towards it.
“W-Whoa, down girl!” Eiji pushed on her head, checking through one of the windows. There was a young woman on their doorstep, her light blond hair hanging around her shoulders. There was a black cat on her shoulders as well.
He managed to get Okami behind him as he opened the door.
“Hello, you must be-” Eiji was nearly knocked over as Okami tried to shove past him to get a good look at their visitor, her tail wagging up a storm. “Ack! Okami, go lay down!”
The woman giggled as the cat on her shoulders seemed to smirk down at the dog.
“Oh, she’s fine. I hope you don’t mind felines?”
Eiji smirked, ushering her inside.
“I’d be a hypocrite if I did, Ms. Thomas.” He offered a hand as she shook it. “Eiji Miyamoto, we spoke earlier.”
“Please, just call me Sammy.” Sammy smiled gently, sympathy in her eyes. “Sorry we had to meet on these terms. I’m quite familiar with the stories.”
Eiji raised an eyebrow, smirking a little.
“Hopefully all good.”
“I’d say a fifty percent good, fifty percent “Why do I listen to him”? from Sky.” She retorted as he shook his head.
“Yep, you work with Sky alrighty.” He frowned. “We’re… honestly at a loss here.”
She frowned, squeezing his shoulder.
“I promise, we can make sure he gets better. First, I’d like to meet him though.”
“Right this way.” He lead the way to the family room.
Carmen got up, making her way over, shaking hands with Sammy.
“I’m Carmen. I’m the mother.”
“Pleasure meet you. I just wanna let you know we’re just gonna go through your son’s usual bedtime routine then I’ll get to work.” Sammy gave her a reassuring look.
“Thank you.”
She nodded, looking around the room.
“So, where is he?” She gave a small grin to the twins. “Sorry, but I don’t think either of you are six.”
Carmen and Eiji exchanged a look.
“I thought…”
“ACK! KAAAMMIIII!!!”
Okami came walking into the room, dragging Ken by the collar of his jacket, the little boy squirming up a storm… a bottle of cola in his hands.
“You traitor dog!”
“Good girl.” Eiji patted her head, giving Ken a stern look. “Give it here. You know the rules about caffeine. None after three and it’s almost your bed time.”
“But-”
Ken forgot about the soda as the cat on Sammy’s shoulders leapt down off them and onto the boy, quieting him, their blue eyes… almost human, stared at him as they nuzzled him, purring.
“Kitty?” He leaned up, petting her. “Where’d you come from?”
“She’s my kitty.”
Sammy got down to Ken’s level, a smile on her face.
Ken tilted his head.
“Who are you?”
“My name’s Sammy. I heard you were having some really bad dreams.” She pulled out a necklace showing the crest of the Sommnia coven. “I know a thing or two about kids with The Sight.”
Ken’s eyes widened before he relaxed.
“So… not a normal kitty?”
“Nya! He’s a smart cookie!”
Carmen was giving her husband a bewildered look while the boys didn’t even look phased.
Ken giggled.
“Talkin kitty!”
“Dream Troll to be precise.” The cat leapt into the air, performing a flip as her form changed to that of a young woman with long black hair, wearing a colorful dress. Her eyes were now red with slitted pupils, a gentle looking in them. “More specifically…” She took a sweeping bow. “Dreamster!”
“Wow!” Ken got up, looking at the two girls with wonder in his eyes. “All… just to help me?”
“That’s right, kiddo.” Dreamster ruffled his hair, eliciting a laugh from the boy.
Okami sniffed around her before going back to Ken, nuzzling him.
Sammy hummed in thought before an idea came to her.
“Does she sleep near his bed?”
At this, Carmen and Eiji nearly doubled over laughing while Ken just hugged his dog around the neck.
“NEAR!?” Carmen gasped. “Try, we can never get her out of his bed! She’s always sleeping with him!”
“He doesn’t even use his pillows, he sleeps on her!” Eiji added on, trying to catch his breath. “We gave up!”
“Okami thinks I’m her baby.” Ken chirped, giggling as the dog pressed her nose to his cheek. “Kaaami that’s tickling me!”
“Then I know an idea. For now, let’s prepare.”
“Let me show you to the guest room.” Carmen said, leading Sammy off.
“I’ll be back, Kenny. C’mon, Dream!”
Dreamster took the form of a cat once more, hopping onto her shoulder.
“Nya!”
Ken looked to his brothers, giving them a look.
“That wasn’t different to you?”
“Nope.”
“My therapist was gonna suggest Dream Therapy next if my own night terrors don’t ease up after a while.” Hikaru looked up, giving him a gentle look. “Don’t worry bout a thing Kenny. You’re gonna get a good night's sleep finally.”
Ken sighed shakily.
“I dunno…”
“I promise.”
oooooo
It was still a bit before bed, so Ken was just sitting in the sun room with Sammy and Dreamster, his drawing supplies strewn about the floor. Quiet time was part of the routine… even if right now he was too curious.
“So, why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself?” Sammy asked, watching as his hand glided across the paper. “Do you like drawing a lot?”
“I like it fine. What I really love is parkour!” He grinned.
Dreamster snorted.
“Like father like son.”
Ken smiled innocently, going back to his drawing. There were two black boxes for buildings as he drew a little figure jumping across.
Sammy smiled, understanding it now.
“You wanna be just like your daddy, huh?”
“Ahuh… I wanna investigate hauntings and help people.” Ken looked up, tilting his head. “But Daddy doesn’t have my eyes.”
“That so, huh?”
“Mm-hm… He said he used to but they got broken.” Ken frowned a little.
“Does that scare you? Worrying you might lose your gift?”
“Noooo. That’s silly.” Ken smiled before he frowned, looking back down at the paper. “I’m scared of what the dreams tell me.”
“Aww that’s no fun… Do you wanna talk about it?”
Ken instead drew a picture. Turning his drawing around, he started sketching a large hulking figure that had gleaming red eyes and outstretched claws, chasing after a tiny figure with quick slashes of green and black for its “wings”.
Sammy and Dreamster exchanged a concerned look.
“Is this what you see?”
“Now? Yeah… This monster… It chases me… It hurts me. I’m always trying to get back to a cave cause someone’s waiting for me… but it always catches me.” Ken whimpered. “And dreams aren’t supposed’ta hurt but it does!”
“Awww kiddo.” Dreamster nuzzled him. “Don’tcha worry, we’re gonna fix that.”
“We promise.” Sammy tilted his chin up, giving him a reassuring look. “We’ll play a lot in your dreams tonight. We’ll do whatever you want.”
Ken sat up fully.
“What about after? D-Do you just go away forever?”
“Naaah but we don’t need to stay more than one night. Every time after this, you’ll see us in your dreams… though I will stop by every now and then to see how you are doing.” Sammy smiled gently. “Would you like that?”
Ken nodded, exhaustion in his eyes. He let out a yawn, leaning forward a little.
“I think he’s ready.” Dreamster noted, sympathy in her eyes. “Time to get little dreamers to bed.”
He held up his arms, giving Sammy a puppy eyed look. She scooped him up into her arms, rocking him a little.
“C’mon. We got work to do.”
Carmen met them in the hall, concerned at how tired Ken was. He was usually at least a little lively still by bedtime, but it seems the day of exhaustion finally caught up to him.
“Oh, Kenny…”
“Don’t you worry, Mrs. Miyamoto. I promise, we’ll get him better.” She offered him to her.
She nodded, taking him into her arms, kissing his head.
“Do you do something like bedtime stories or…?”
“I sing.” Carmen whispered, leading the way to Ken’s room. Okami was already waiting by the door, whining a bit. “I know, I know, I got him.”
Ken’s eyes were barely opened as he reached down his fingers, brushing the top of her ears. She hopped onto the bed, making herself comfortable.
“Good girl.” Carmen laid Ken down, stroking his hair. “I love you…”
“Daddy said goodnight earlier… So did bros…” Ken mumbled, trying to open his eyes wider.
His body felt so heavy now that he was laying down, sleep threatening to take him under at any second.
He knew what the girls were here for… but at the same time he was still nervous.
Carmen tucked the blanket up to his chin, starting to hum softly. Ken’s eyes slowly closed, burying his face into Okami’s fur.
“¡Ay de mí!, Llorona, Llorona, Llorona de ayer y hoy.” She sang softly.
Ken smiled, his breathing evening out… fast asleep, right where he felt the safest. His dog right beside him, his mother singing his lullaby.
Carmen pressed a kiss to his forehead.
“Goodnight mijo… Te amo.”
She turned to Sammy, giving her a hopeful look.
“What happens now?”
“Well…” She walked over, carefully tying a charm in the shape of a wolf’s head onto Okami’s collar, just behind her neck. It glowed briefly as the large dog shifted, her head brushing Ken’s. “There.”
“What does that do?”
Sammy took a step back, giving her a grin.
“Okami and Ken will be in perfect sync. She’ll be able to be with him in his dreams and it will really be her.”
“Incredible.” Carmen’s gaze softened. “Thank you again.”
“Hey, it’s no trouble.” Sammy grinned, heading to the guest room. “Ready Dreamster?”
“Ready.”
oooooo
Ken looked around the forest, shaking like a leaf. He knew this area. He knew it all too well.
The boy started along the leaf covered path, the foliage crunching under his shoes. The wind blew his hair around as he listened to the sounds of the forest.
“Arrrooooo!!!!”
Ken was off like a gunshot, sprinting as fast as his legs would allow him. He kept his eyes focused on the path, trying to tune out the creature that leaped out of the forest, chasing after him.
“NOOOOOOOOOOO-”
He was tackled, letting out a shriek… before giggling as he looked up. Okami stood over him, her bushy tail wagging up a storm.
“Okami!” He squealed, hugging her around the neck. “You’re here!”
Okami nuzzled his head, keeping close to him. She sniffed the air, her fur bristling up as she growled.
Ken shivered, huddling close to her. She never reacted like that. EVER.
Okami shoved him behind her, getting in front, letting out a loud howl.
He could see it now… The lumbering figure that was moving towards them.
“No… No, no, no…” Ken whimpered. “Okami…” He whined, tugging on her collar. Still, the large dog didn’t move, her lips curling back into a snarl. “Please…”
It can kill her.
It’ll kill her.
The creature appeared before them, lunging as Okami snapped at its leg, digging her teeth in, eliciting a scream from it.
Ken stumbled back in shock, falling backwards… as someone caught him.
“Easy now, Kenny-boy.”
He looked up to see Dreamster holding him as she grinned.
“Your dog’s a good girl. Sammy! Hold this!” She handed Ken over to Sammy as she materialized. Dreamster pulled out a massive mallet, raising it over her head. “I SMASH!!!”
Okami got out of Dreamster’s way as she brought the mallet down over the creature’s head.
It stumbled before snarling, lunging at her, going in for the bite.
Dreamster smacked it clear across the face, sending it flying far back into the forest.
“AND STAY BACK YA LAME EXCUSE OF A WEREWOLF!” She screamed, floating in the air.
Ken looked up at the girls bewildered but relieved… more so, because Okami hadn’t been hurt.
“Okami, c’mere!”
Due to how large she was, Sammy didn’t even need to get down to her level. Okami just pressed her head into Ken’s side, letting out a small sound of content.
Her pup was safe. That’s all that mattered to her.
Ken hugged her head, kissing it.
“Don’t you ever scare me like that again!”
“I think she wants to say the same, kiddo.” Sammy patted his head. “Ready for a new dream?”
Ken nodded as he was set down.
“What does the kidlet wanna do tonight?” Dreamster asked, sitting atop her mallet as it floated in mid air.
Ken watched her for a moment before his eyes widened as an idea came to him. He snapped his fingers, giving a grin.
“THAT’S IT!” He turned to Sammy. “I want a big city! HUGE CITY! With super tall skyscrapers, lots of them! With flat rooftops and they’re all different sizes!”
Sammy smiled gently.
“As you wish.”
Ken bounced in place as the forest around them disappeared, buildings taking its place, rising under them as they kept balance on the roof.
Okami whined, looking down over the edge after it was done, giving Ken what could only be seen as an annoyed look.
“C’mon, Okami, it’ll be fun! And you can be different too if you want.” Ken offered. “You can be a ghost wolf and make sure I don’t fall!”
Okami nodded, touching her head to his as the image in his mind overtook her. Her form faded and shifted into that of a wolf formed out of smoke, stars dotting her fur where her previous markings had been. She nuzzled him, floating upwards.
Ken looked down at his clothes, seeing he was wearing proper gear for parkour, not just his usual sneakers and shorts.
“Sweet! Sammy, Dreamster! C’mon!!!” He called to them, waving them over. Like him, they too were properly dressed for the sport.
He could hardly contain his excitement, bouncing in place as he looked over the dreamlike city. Impossibly large buildings, trees that loomed over all, ghostly forms hovering along the ground… So high up, the clouds were in reach.
“So, shall we?” Dreamster smirked, getting into position.
“Whatever the little investigator says.” Sammy, grinned.
Ken got into position.
“One… Two… THREE!” He screamed, as they took a running leap.
His body was weightless momentarily, gazing around him before rolling as he connected with the rooftop beside it.
Okami gave a worried whine, nuzzling him briefly before backing off once she was sure he was safe.
“Ready for another round kid?”
“Ready!!”
The three leaped across the fictional city, flipping and twirling through the air, the only sound in the city being Ken’s laughter as it echoed through the streets.
Sammy and Dreamster exchanged a warm look. This… was their favorite part of the job.
Ken was calm, his dream in his control as he mimicked techniques he had grown up seeing used but never permitted to try on his own… not until now.
“Sammy! Are you guys gonna play with me again soon?” Ken called out to her from across the way. His eyes shining with joy, bouncing in place.
She leaped over to him, getting down to his level.
“Of course, sweetie. We’ll be here whenever you need us.”
Dreamster teleported behind him, ruffling his hair as he squealed, trying to smooth it down.
“That’s all part of the job kiddo… and you’re a pretty cool kid.” She smirked. “You know how to dream. I like that.”
“Hee?” Ken smiled shyly. “I’m gonna be okay?”
“You’re gonna be just fine.”
oooooo
Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait on this update. Lotta stuff happened in real life and I just couldn't really bring myself to work on anything related to Spirits for a bit but... we're back now. And I'm happy to be back. Kicking things off, we're getting a nice little crossover with my buddy's story with her characters Sammy and Dreamster. Dream Walks who make it there goal to help those struggling with Night Terrors. Their story has yet to be released so consider this short a little bit of a teaser for what's to come later down the line. ;) Hope you enjoy.
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