In this dream, a lion-taur (like a centaur, but with the lower body of a lion, rather than a horse) was hired to safely escort two young girls across a dangerous, chilly terrain.
The lion-taur man was stoic and serious, dedicated to his duty; a seasoned warrior. He was large and strong, and needed neither weapon nor armor. He seemed to be unaccustomed to social situations, and this escort duty was testing his limited communication skills – he was a warrior and a guard, not a babysitter. And yet, he had pouches full of first aid supplies, food rations, and other items for the girls, and has even worn a rough-but-warm handmade blanket to give them something comfortable to sit on while they rode on his back.
The supplies he brings are almost entirely for the girls’ comfort. He makes a campfire every night, hunts and prepares their food, and defends the girls from monsters and the environment.
The girls are dressed in modern Earth clothing – but this is definitely not Earth. Where did they come from? Where are they going? He doesn’t know, he only knows that he needs to get them to the other side of this land safely. Their journey is not an urgent one; safety is much more important than speed.
They are crossing a large, marshy field. It is cold, but there is not snow – just chilly, wet mud and brown, overgrown grasses. He feels safe and shielded from the eyes of the enemy in the tall grass. They are looking for the girls, and above all, they cannot be allowed to see them and report it back to others. If they are seen, he must utterly dispatch the foes. His eyes are always scanning. He is always making sure he can feel the touch of both girls at all times. If either isn’t riding on his back, he insists on holding her hand. He doesn’t speak much, but they have come to like and trust him. They can be reckless and playful, and while he is stern, he isn’t mean. If one of them wanders off, he retrieves her silently and simply holds her hand.
The relative safety of the field will not last, however. It is an unsuitable location for camping that night; too wet, too cold. They continue until they reach a tree line, leading into a mountainous forest. A vague, old path winds up hill among the trees. It is an old forest; the trees are spaced far apart, with little undergrowth. Both fortunately, and unfortunately, they can see quite far.
He wants to make sure they ascend quickly – here at the base of the mountain, they are easy to spot, and their own visibility is very limited. Any number of foes could be hiding among the trees uphill.
He hauls the younger girl, the more troublesome one, onto his back with a single hand. Both girls fall quiet, and he feels their grip on his back tighten. They have become adept at understanding his mood shifts.
His paws are quiet, but his frame is large, and his red-fringed fur is bright in the drab brown-grey early winter weather. In a bit of cruel irony, the bodyguard is the main reason why the girls have trouble staying out of sight.
They weave around an old fallen tree, and there is suddenly a figure on the path ahead of them. It had not been there mere seconds before. It is small, humanoid, no taller than the girls, but far from a child. It is floating, toes pointed down at the ground defiantly, hands held out dramatically to either side as if treading water. Or making a performative entrance.
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