Dreamworlds 5: Distance and Words

By Victory Low

(Dreamworlds Series, World 1, Book 5)

The Lamico Continent arc whips up into an almost out-of-control climax in Dreamworlds 5: Distance and Words.
Chaos has erupted over Lamico.
Major factions move, hearts and minds change.
Relationships are tested on every side.
The civil war must come to an end.

Nobody is going to sit still any more. Not Colin, not Katrin, not Satrox, or anyone involved with the three of them. The Forest rises to protect itself; the Order of Justice moves on the Lamico Underground; the Protectorate, the Republic, and the Union race to implement their schemes.

Yet for all the plans of men, the final fate of the Lamico Continent will be decided by the minds and hearts of a select few. Decisions must be made... and there will be no going back.

(Dreamworlds 1-8 Cover Art recombined, edited, adjusted, and otherwise tampered with by permission from the artist who drew the originals; Melissa Wullur)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Victory Low
• Release date: Dec 5, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465908117

Victory Low

Loves martial arts, performing arts, anime, manga, sci-fi, fantasy, philosophy and theology.Really likes to think ahead.Doesn't believe in 'dumbing things down for kids'.Mixed Chinese and based in Malaysia, a land of many cultures and all that comes with multi-racial communities.Currently serving as Vice Principal in SCM, ordained Pastor of LRCM with a Master's in Ministry.

Book preview

Colin?

Katrin? Is that you?

I waited for hours and then searched all over for you! Where did you go?

Um… Kat… I’m back on the Lamico Continent.

You LEFT me waiting for you on the cliff?! Katrin actually screamed. And I waited for…

You KILLED me! Colin shot right back. "You kicked me right off the cliff and I died! There were rocks in that sea! Sharp rocks! I respawned back at my Home Base!"

You… died…? Katrin whispered now. "Oh… oh no! I actually killed you?"

Kat, I’m in the middle of something. Just…

I’m sorry! I’m so, so, sorry! I didn’t know there were rocks in the sea! I thought you’d come back soaking wet and I waited and waited and you never showed up, and I…

Katrin! Colin barked. Please! I’ll call you back later, okay?

Katrin flared up. Why didn’t you call me earlier, to tell me where you were?! Didn’t you say you weren’t going to leave me?!

Colin cut the comms link.

Phase 74: Heading north

[Wasn’t that Katrin?] Lynn asked him, speaking to his mind.

[Yes. She was waiting for me on the cliff. She didn’t know I died.]

[You don’t sound as angry as you were before.] Lynn noted.

[She was waiting for me. And she searched all over thinking I was still around.] Colin paused. [I guess I sort of feel bad… even though it WAS her fault.]

[You two…] Lynn let out a small chuckle.

Well, it was good she was laughing. At least it meant she wasn’t angry any more. Colin glanced around at the burning town, which had been the biggest source of raw materials for the Lamico Continent just an hour ago.

They broke their promise and betrayed the Forest. Lynn wanted to destroy them already. I tried to talk them into a peaceful arrangement and they swung an axe at my head. Lynn got so mad, she wiped out the entire town.

When I came here to get away from the Green Men, THIS wasn’t what I had in mind.

Around them, the Lords of the Wilds were gathered, touching the Tames of their kind coming out of the Comrade Home and calling them back to become Wilds once more.

As for those who weren’t of their kind, well… those were a bit more complicated.

[What do we do with them?] Colin wondered.

[What do you want to do with them?] Lynn asked. [You can bond all that are creatures of the Forest. Or you can take them to the next Comrade Home and sell them.]

[It feels odd, selling off the Tames of a Comrade Home to another Comrade Home. It’s not like I fought them as Wilds and Tamed them myself.]

[Then just give them back for free or something. I leave it to you.] Lynn shook her head. [You’re the Forester here. Take care of the forest. Protect it with all the power of the Lords of the Wilds when you must. Don’t hold back.]

[You’re leaving?]

[Of course. I’ve got other forests to tend to.]

Colin watched her go, riding on the back of Nightwind, the Lord of the Shadow Hawks. He turned to the local Lords of the Wilds, the wisest and greatest of their kinds: Oreb of the Wood Owls, Yachad of the Tree Cougars, Lather of the Twig Lizards, Prisme of the Feelo Wasps, Rustle of the Bristle Boars, Deeproot of the Oakin, Kyubia of the Streak Foxes and Sharpeye of the Crested Falcons.

So… what else can I do for you? Colin asked. I’m supposed to help solve your problems, right?

Hoo, hoo! Oreb told him. Greatest worry was this. Rest first. More tomorrow.

We’re done for tonight, then… Colin nodded. Thanks, guys. I’ll see you tomorrow night.

The Lords of the Wilds returned to the West Lamico Forest, them and all their clans. Colin was left with just his Comrades and the Tames of the Floras Comrade Home.

Where’s the nearest Comrade Home…? Colin frowned, tapping his watch to check his map.

Well… ‘near’ wouldn’t be a very accurate description. Riverfork’s the closest town and it’s quite a distance away.

Oh, boy. Colin groaned. Come along, everyone. We’ve got a long walk ahead of us.

They followed him as he started up the only road that led to and from Floras. There must have been over a hundred Tames in that crowd of all sorts of shapes and sizes, none of whom were native to this Continent, and half of which wouldn’t feel anywhere near comfortable in a forest. One ambling Rhinotle had to carry an Electro-Eel in a water tank on its back.

There were a flood of Lynxmice; the Common sort, Plains Lynxmice, Mountain Lynxmice, and River Lynxmice. There were also Thorny Vines and Mandras walking around, plant-types that Rita might want. Not to mention a pair of Mantises.

Colin called Henry first. Hey, Henry, are you free?

Henry sighed. Not really, Colin. What’s up? Satrox says you just wiped out the Union.

Not exactly. Lynn destroyed Floras Town for betraying her and I just happened to be around. I also happen to be stuck with a crowd of Tames all following me to be delivered to Riverfork Comrade Home. Lynn says I should sell them, but I sort of feel better giving them for free. There’s quite a few Lynxmice in this crowd if you’re interested.

Really? What kind?

Why don’t you come see for yourself? I’m on the road north of Floras Ruins, headed for Riverfork. Where are you?

I’m in Benjamin Town. Rita’s here too.

Colin checked his map again, zooming out to view the island that dared call itself a continent.

That’s… really far. Colin said, eyeing it.

Satrox says he’s willing to give us a lift. He wants to see how you’re doing himself. Henry said. Do you have a Starting Location around here?

Better. I’ve got an outpost. Colin told him.

"An outpost?! Henry jumped. In a war zone like this? That’s gotta be so expensive!"

I’ll… tell you about it later. Right now, I should tell Rita about the plants and bugs here.

Sure. See you soon.

Colin cut the link and called Rita. Hey…

I heard. I’m standing right beside Henry. Rita said, talking as fast as she ever did. "It’s nice of you to call me directly, but that’s not really necessary. So… tell me about the Tames you’ve got with you. Did you really take all the Tames from the Floras Home?! That’s got to be quite a crowd! I can just imagine…"

Rita! Colin cut in, knowing that she’d go on forever if he let her. I’ve only got about a quarter of the Floras Home’s Tames. All those native to this land have gone back to being Wilds. There’s a couple of Mantises here about as big as I am. Think you can handle them?

I’ll be right there! Rita said at once.

She cut the link and left Colin staring at his watch as he led the crowd north on the road to Riverfork Town. I wonder when they’ll arrive? It’s really going to be a long, long walk.

Sandy called him before he took more than three more steps. Colin! Don’t give the Tames away!

What?! Colin blinked.

If you give them to the Breeders at the Riverfork Home, they’ll just issue payment to themselves for the Tames. Sell them for standard rates!

Would they really do that? Colin asked.

Of course! Where do you think you are? Sandy barked. This is the Lamico Continent! Everyone’s out for a buck! If you’re going to strengthen the Union by giving them Tames, at least take the standard rates for it!

But it’s from the Floras Comrade Home! I didn’t Tame them myself!

Idiot. You’re leading them and they’re following you, aren’t they? They’re already your Tames.

Colin blinked. Really?

If you touched them and they ran away, they’d be Wilds, wouldn’t they? Sandy said. If they’re willing to follow you, that means they’re willing to bond with you!

Colin gasped. "All of them?! Sandy, there’s almost a hundred of them out here!"

Yes, all of them! Sandy told him. Every last one! I can’t guarantee they’ll keep following you if you start bonding Comrades they don’t like, but as it is, with your current status and Comrades, each of them is willing to bond and Travel with you!

All of them… Colin looked at the crowd around him in a daze. But Lynn said I can only bond Forest Comrades. That was the price she asked of me, and I accepted.

Then you’ll have to choose, wouldn’t you?

Colin shook his head. Sandy, I’ve got no intention of bonding any of these Tames.

So? They all still seem to think you’re worth following. Trust me, Colin, even if you can’t take them with you, at least sell them for what they’re worth. Don’t throw them away.

Uh… right…

"And you really, really should look over them yourself. Sandy said. Last I checked, you were borrowing money to buy Comrades from the Lamico Home. Now you’re surrounded by Tames. You should pick the ones you want to bond from that crowd, because the entire crowd wants to go with you."

Uh… okay.

Are you still giving Tames to Henry and Rita? Sandy asked then. Because you might jump all the way up the rankings if you bond that entire crowd.

Sandy, I can’t bond the entire crowd. Colin sighed. I really can’t. I’m letting Henry and Rita take their pick. If you and Satrox want to come along and have a look, you can take your pick too.

Sandy paused. "Fine, but Colin, you better take your pick before any of us do. If they’re willing to follow you, they’re practically your Tames already. You should at least give them consideration."

Okay. I will. Colin said, and Sandy cut the link.

Phase 75: Choosing Comrades

Colin stopped right there in the middle of the road and the entire crowd stopped with him. He turned around and viewed them all.

So many types… so many choices… what do I do…?

Yip? Shiro asked from Colin’s shoulder.

You got any ideas? Colin asked him. Any of them you want for Comrades?

The white wolfcat grinned. Yip.

Huh? Colin blinked. What do you mean, ‘sort of’?

Yip. Shiro barked, cheerfully. Watch.

Colin watched.

Shiro didn’t dash into the crowd like Colin expected, though. Instead, he turned to Colin’s other Comrades. Yiyip! Yip! Yi!

Mew? Raiki stepped out, with Foxie, Kirin and Eclipse. Mew…?

Yip! Shiro told them all.

The Command-types. Colin realized. He’s called out the Command-types.

The five of them spread out and started going through the crowd. They inspected Tames, and considered them on their own.

I don’t believe it. They’re choosing their own team-mates?!

But of course. Travelers with many Comrades relied on their Command-types to lead squads of Comrades in battle.

Until now, I never had as many Comrades as Henry or Rita. Shiro and the handful of others had always been enough for me. Satrox said it too; better a few very strong ones than a whole mass of weak ones. That way, they grow faster, and having Shiro and Raiki grow fast is extremely important.

But my few are not ‘very strong ones’. Not yet. And until Shiro, Raiki and Kirin are grown, I’m almost always outmatched by whatever and whoever I face. Lynn’s had to rescue me three times already.

As a Forester, I have the power to defeat whole armies, simply by calling on the Lords of the Wilds. But I can’t depend on them forever. I need to gather my own power… and I haven’t had the time to do so seriously, even now.

In other words, Colin realized, he really didn’t have much choice. To be at all effective in the kind of conflicts going on around the Lamico Continent, he needed his own power.

But I’ll never be able to remember them all…! He groaned.

Yip. Shiro told him softly.

You’re done? Colin raised his head.

He blinked. There were Shiro, Raiki, Kirin, Eclipse and Foxie, standing in a row…

With just two Tames behind them.

Two. Not twenty. Colin felt both relief and disappointment.

One was a Red Panther, like Fireheart, Colin’s old Comrade. He’d given her to Katrin earlier, but here was another one, except this one was older, at a Juvenile stage.

The other one was…

A Shadow Hawk?! Colin jumped. I didn’t even see it!

It didn’t have the crown of Noble Shadow Hawks like Eclipse had, and it was small, little bigger than a raven. If not for the tints on the edge of the feathers, Colin would have thought it little more than a black hawk.

But Colin had Eclipse for a Comrade a while now. He recognized a Shadow Hawk when he saw one.

Cripes. I almost missed it. Colin gulped, feeling a bit unsteady. If not for Shiro and the others… I almost threw it away for nothing.

Why hadn’t anyone bonded the Shadow Hawk before? Colin had to wonder. Was it because they didn’t realize what he was? Or because he wouldn’t accept them?

And yes, this was a ‘he’. The tail said it all. It was ‘v’ shaped, not flat like the female Shadow Hawks’ were.

He scanned the Shadow Hawk first.

Long-ranged attacker. Definitely. Colin nodded to Eclipse. He’s one of your kind, but doesn’t have your Shadow Infusion. Shadow Essence would protect him from your attacks, but he won’t be able to do much damage with his claws the way you do.

Eclipse nodded in reply.

Still. High intelligence and Focused trait means he’ll be dealing out lots of damage and fast. Perfect for air support.

Yip. Shiro wagged his tail.

Colin gave him a suspicious glance, then turned to the Red Panther next, feeling a bit nostalgic.

Fire bond?! Colin almost jumped. That means he’ll use his strength in long-range fire attacks?!

Rall had Earth Bond, Colin remembered. That honey bear had been specially bred by Aoi, the Chief Breeder at Riverside Comrade Home. He’d been able to use his strength to boost his earth-type attacks, so that his earth barrier had been one of Colin’s favorite techniques.

This Red Panther had strength and speed, the same Spirited trait as Fireheart, and an aggressive mood to boot. He was good both at long-range and short-range attacks.

He’ll be a perfect guard for Raiki. He can join her and Ardent in long-range fire support, and if anything gets too close, he can take them on at short-range.

Colin had a moment of pause. Comparing the Comrades he’d picked for himself and paid for with money, the choices Shiro and the other Command-types made were far better.

Hey, these two were probably top of the line in that Comrade Home, priced way beyond my budget. I probably wouldn’t have been able to see beyond their price tags.

Letting his Comrades pick out their team-mates felt a whole lot different than scratching his head on his own.

Just these two? None of the rest? Colin glanced about.

Yip. Shiro said shortly.

Fine. Just these two, then. Colin said. It’s not good to bond too many too soon, right?

Yip. Shiro nodded.

Familiar shapes were coming in for a landing. Colin recognized Noble, Satrox’s Pegasus, as well as Strife and Temper, his two Chimera.

Satrox, Sandy, Henry and Rita climbed down from those three Comrades of Satrox’s and went to meet Colin. Satrox waved. Hey! How have you been?

You told me to keep out of sight. Colin told Satrox. Since I left Lamico City, I went to Crabby Island, got killed by Katrin, respawned in the Forest of Legends, and flew back here with Lynn, who made me Forester over West Lamico Forest and destroyed Floras Town. Colin summarized. Anything else you want to know?

Not really. Satrox still played it cool while Rita and Henry were spluttering behind him. But you might want to know, Lamico City has been so badly hit, it’s reduced to a town.

What’s the plan, then? Colin asked.

Stay out of sight and let the Protectorate and the Republic handle everything between them. Once they finish off the Union and things settle down, it’ll be business as normal.

Minus Floras Town. Colin glanced at the burning ruins behind him.

We can always rebuild. Satrox shrugged.

I don’t know, Satrox. Colin paused. I don’t know if it’s a good idea to let anyone else do logging like they did.

That’s up to you. You’re the Forester, right? Satrox mentioned. We’ll deal with that when it comes. For now, what’s with all these Tames following you around?

It took a while to explain and a bit more time for Sandy, Henry and Rita to pick out the Comrades they wanted. Sandy took the Rhinotle and a few other large plains creatures. Henry took four Lynxmice. Rita took a Thorny Vine and both Mantises. Satrox didn’t take anything.

They continued up the road north as a group.

How did you get killed by Katrin? Rita wanted to know.

She kicked me off a cliff. Colin answered.

Why? Rita asked. Did you say something that made her angry? What were you doing on a cliff, anyway?

Colin felt heat in his face. Uh…

Rita saw his face red