Starry Heaven Dragon: Starcatcher's Summer

Night. A calm maiden that gently sweeps over the bed of earth, bringing her vast blanket of magnificent blue-black and millions upon millions of twinkling lights that smile upon the sleepy watchers. The great silver moon with his sweet smile accompanies her, chasing away terrors that dare strike into their hearts.

The very last thing most of you see before you drift away from your world and into this one. Funny, because those words were just playing in my head on this particular night. The bright sky of vibrant, almost velvet-like blue-black was there, along with the stars and the moon and a vast number of planets, some with rings of ice and stone, and some who’s surface resembled a freshly disturbed tub of powder. Joining them were mighty curtains of vast color, from pink to orange to red to green, all captivatingly beautiful and inviting, as if they were saying ‘hello, Starcatchers. We look forward to seeing you work.’

Down below, the Sea of Starlight, an endless stretch of sparkling, glittering water that swayed and splashed in her gentle dance, while the reflections of the great lights above distorted and spiraled in her soft rhythm. This, where creativity and dreams connect an infinite number of worlds and realities. Nothing can disturb the simple yet charismatic allure of this waltz. Not even our boat as it cut through the wrinkles and folds, leaving wakes that joined the crowds, or the paddles we used to push it along the way to our destination.

It was a small yet sturdy row boat made of fine, robust wood, and had steady oars that were light to lift yet had the strength for travel. Yet who am I referring to, you must be asking. There were three of us, one, a Faun, the second, a Mermaid, and myself, a Dragon, as passengers and all clad in black tunics and wearing bracelets with blue square-shaped stones around our wrists. Our apparel marked us as a group who shared a task in common. Sorry for not providing any names. The truth is, I believe I heard them a few times, but I never asked for them formally or remember them.

Now, you’re probably wondering what’s going on, along with who and what we are, don’t you? Well, let me emphasize on exactly what this night is. It was just five years ago on the first night of Summer, which was the perfect time for clear skies that seemed to travel out into the very depths of infinity. It was this particular season that was to be my first, and only, time as a Star Catcher.

Across the horizon of the Sea of Starlight, I skimmed the waters, beholding the dazzle that was reflected upon the two surfaces, like a gigantic mirror.

“There’s our destination, right up ahead, girls!” Our boss, the Faun, suddenly called out, breaking the silence.

My colleague and I looked up, and beheld something that was mostly seen as shadow, but could still be recognized by the light reflecting off its face. It was an island, small enough to navigate and return to where you start, but large enough to be a home for any small group of people. It was slightly elevated, with the higher end being covered with tall trees. The auroras were gathered here, as if they were guiding us to our point of interest. I could feel myself becoming fascinated and excited about what was to unfold there.

“Is that Sandman’s Island?” I asked in excitement.

“That’s it, alright!” He confirmed.

After another good ten minutes or so, our boat came onto the beach. I don’t know if it was an effect of the night or my eyes, but the sand appeared to be lilac, and it was soft to the touch beneath my feet. I couldn’t stare at it for too long, for we had to push our transportation higher up the shoreline until we came to a tree close to the grass. There, my Boss secured it while my colleague and I unloaded our cargo. Woven baskets, a box of glass tubes with black rubber caps, a jar full of rolled-up parchment, a large piece of tarp and metal sticks were amongst what we have brought. It didn’t take too long before our boat was empty.

“Is that everything?” My Boss asked.

“Yup.” We answered.

“So, what’s next?” My co-worker asked.

“Time for us to look for a spot.” He explained. “We need a space that’s clear, has a lot of room that way we can gather stars, but also flat that way we can set up the tent, and beneath one of the auroras so that we’ve got easy access.”

With the criteria at hand, we began our trek up the island’s slope. The grains beneath our feet were replaced with soft strands, and the sound of waves became dimmer the higher we went. It wasn’t too steep, so even though we were carrying our entire supply, it didn’t feel like a chore just to climb up this hill. Crickets chirping accompanied us, joined by small whistles in the night. Despite the noises, it was still calm and gentle, and to be surrounded by nothing but forest and fields gave me a deep sense of peace and excitement as to what this Summer has to offer.

Not too long in our search for a good spot, the sound of a twig snapping caught my attention. I turned to my left, and noticed another group of three setting up a table. Their uniforms were a dead giveaway as to who they were and why they were here.

It was not too long before we came to a wide, flat part of the hill close to the top and beneath the pink aurora.

“This is perfect.” My Boss said as he laid down his equipment. The first thing he pulled out of his basket was a rectangular slab that appeared to be made of black glass. It levitated and stretched out, lengthwise, into a hovering rectangular table. There, he placed one of the parchments and a metal box as his basket went to the side next to his leg.

“So, where should we set up the tent?” I asked once he was settled.

“Just a little away from the aurora that way we won’t have any stars falling on our heads while we’re asleep.” He instructed. “This part right behind me between these two trees looks fine.”

The tarp was unfolded into a massive triangle, with one end against the trees, before the pillars slid into loops and sleeves to help give it body and structure. Metal stakes were then hammered into rings sewn into the material to anchor it down. In just one short half-hour, our tent was complete.

“Good job on the tent, ladies!” The Faun smiled. He then checked his amulet. The reflection of aqua numbers could be seen on his glasses. “So far, there’s only one other team on the island, and we’ve still got about an hour before the stars come. You can bring the rest of our equipment inside to the left, and get comfortable. The top floor bedrooms are yours. Once you do, grab a basket and pick a spot to scope the skies back outside.”

The Mermaid and I obliged to that, though I was confused about what he meant by ‘top floor bedrooms’. Once we stepped in, however, the space inside was as big as a house. Here in the entryway was an open safe to the left, while at the back was a small hall divided into two floors with different rooms, one on the bottom, and two on the top. Now I understood what he meant.

I guess there was this deep sense of childlike excitement for this tent as we placed everything else in an orderly fashion next to the safe before checking out the back. A ladder made of interwoven rope was anchored between the ground and a wooden platform that was laid against the doors. To the left of that was a metal slide.

After climbing up the ladder, I was pretty compelled to check out the room to the right. The door was one of those curtain doors that was secured with a zipper, and had a small cubby on the left, which I presumed was used as a sort of mail deposit. Behind the tarp door was a slightly smaller room with white tarp walls, and had a hammock hanging from the ceiling with a pillow and blanket to the right of a window covered with mosquito netting. Next to the hammock was a square wooden chair that had a basin, white towels, and small glass bottles on top. Even though it wasn’t much, it was still great.

“Now THIS is cool!” My colleague laughed in excitement as she and I leaned over the railing of the flight.

“If this isn’t camping, I don’t know what is!” I agreed. “Even though we’re working, it feels more like I’m a kid again.”

“I know, right?!” She replied. “I bet my daughter would have loved this!”

“This is the kind of trip kids must imagine when they enter our world for all the time!” I suggested. “Not to mention, a few adventurous adults as well.”

“Well, once we start gathering those stars, they can definitely experience it for themselves!” She answered. “Speaking of which, we should probably get ready.”

“Good idea.”

My wings spread out and I gently glided back down to the ground floor while she took the slide. We each grabbed a basket and walked back outside to see our Boss at the table writing on the parchment.

“Mind if I take the top of the hill?” She asked.

“No problem.” I answered.

The area I chose was just a little bit lower down the hill, but not too far to make the hike back up feel tiresome. I took a seat on the soft grass and beheld the view of the skies. The auroras continued to sway to the invisible wind above our heads, while the stars accompanied them as if they were back-up dancers. Staring at those made me wonder about how many stars we should be expecting tonight when they come down to the island below.

Down below, across the Sea of Starlight, ripples and wakes were sweeping about as two more boats arrive on the island. While I couldn’t make out what the number of members that were riding in them, I could see that they were unloading their equipment, finding spots, and setting up their shelters, just like my group. One stayed next to the beach, while the other went over to the large climbing tree to the left of the hill. As for the group I saw earlier, they were situated next to the river.

Four Starcatcher groups on one small island, spread out and situated at the areas where the great curtains of light were gently pointing. Sleep wasn’t the sudden sensation I felt watching this. No, it was the thought behind sleep, and how it was the passageway that permitted Dreamers to arrive on these islands on the sparkling sea that stretches into infinity. To think that it’s those very sands that are the building block, the calling whisper, the very foundation of the Telepathic Vortex we live in. And this summer, I and the rest of the Catchers have the honor of capturing that magic in order for the cycle of calling and creation to continue.

I wasn’t joking when I said that I felt like a kid once again, just beholding this island and what awaits all of us for these next four months. While it was mostly going to be work, to me, it was more like I was starting an adventure. That’s what made me excited for the application and the acceptance.

The fun couldn’t have come sooner, for my thoughts were interrupted when I noticed a bright streak shoot across the skies. Even though it wasn’t close enough to come down to the surface, I knew that it was time. My basket went over my shoulder as I stood back up, and braced myself for the first stars’ arrival.

Soon, another beam shot by, this time being pulled by the gravity down onto the island, until it crash-lands next to the tree. In just a heartbeat, whatever was in it was quickly retrieved by the group beneath it.

“Get ready, ladies! It’s show time!” I heard my Boss call out to both of us.

Better words couldn’t have been said as one blazing body with a glowing, spiraling tail came down, crashing to my left. A burst of light emerged from it, and once it died down, all that was left was a small crater. One look inside, and there it was: a glowing red stone that appeared to have a spiraling galaxy inside. I almost hesitated, reaching inside to grab it, but luckily, it wasn’t hot to the touch. As quickly as that one came, however, it was followed by another one, so I had to rush putting it in my basket before moving on to the next.

In just a few short seconds, an entire shower of stars came down upon us. Tail after tail of light, and stone after glowing, galaxy-infused, colored stone. No matter how many there were, we kept gathering them, driven by an intense determination, if not a sense of fun in this.

There were still some that fell into the Sea instead, where their magic was dispersed in the sparkling waters, leaving the empty sand to be pushed in by the waves, thus adding more foundation to sustain the island. No matter how many we gather tonight altogether, losing one to the sea isn’t that much of a loss.

“Hey!!” I could hear the Mermaid suddenly call out. I swiftly turned toward her. She stood above her latest crater, swatting her hand in annoyance. “This one just zapped me!” She called out.

At that moment, the Faun put on a pair of black gloves with greyish-blue stones infused in the wrist, grabbed a glass tube, and walked up to her. As for me, I was retrieving my latest star, but as I pulled it out of the soil, I noticed something odd about it. I took a closer look. It was bright green in color, but instead of having a star cluster formation inside, it had a growing sprout.

I walked back up to my Boss as he returned to the table, the glass tube containing a dark blue stone with what looked like active lightning inside it.

“I think I just found my first elemental crystal.” I explained.

“You sure did.” He confirmed as he took it. Carefully, he slipped it into one of those tubes before capping it with a rubber cap. “I wasn’t expecting to find these tonight as well, but thank goodness we’ve come prepared with the glass tubes for containing them. You can never know when they will be needed by someone, when they contain vast power to start up machinery, or give life in the form of greens and plants, as we can see with the ones you two found.”

Meanwhile, a Ladybug, one of the Beach Group members, placed a glowing red stone in his basket. After a while, it began to glow bright red. “Hot! Hot hot hot!!” He cried, tossing it aside as it burst into flames. The leader, a Grasshopper, grabbed a nearby water bucket and quickly doused it before it could cause any real damage.

“Whoa! I’m lucky I’m not that poor guy.” My Boss said witnessing that as well.

“I do hope they have glass containment tubes to prevent more disasters.” I admitted, placing a white crystal that looked more like a large chunk of ice on the table.

Soon as the fire on that basket was out, that Grasshopper actually grabbed him and started yelling at his teammate. The Fawn got wind of that, and immediately stood up from the table. I could tell from the look on his face that he was about to break-up the conflict. Before he could, however, a huge shadow swooped down, and a wave from the sea splashed onto the bully. My colleague and I began to laugh immediately after watching that.

“That ought to cool him down.” I said to that.

“Yeah, but that doesn’t mean he won’t get the riot act from me once all the stars are here.” The Faun answered, chuckling.

At least we could resume gathering stars, albeit I was a little bit more cautious with which ones I picked up. It wasn’t long before I noticed that they were becoming less frequent. I looked up to my aurora, and could see that it appeared to be dimmer. It was a sign that the shower was coming to a close.

After retrieving my last crystal, my gaze went to the other teams. I could see that they were beginning to put their supplies away for the night. I could also hear my boss call us, indicating that we were about to count all the stars we got, with my colleague having 53 while I got 48, along with the elemental crystals, which we had 23 total. The Faun recorded it on some parchment before rolling it back up, and we began to put our supplies back into our tent.

The safe had an open door, as if it was waiting for us. Our combined stars went into a much larger, sturdier basket with a flat, circular lid, while the crystals were stored separately in a black wooden box. A large book full of pockets was where we kept our individual records as well, including catching nights. All we had to do was to put our finger print on this particular night as proof of our presence, along with the number we got, and we could put everything to rest for the night. This may resemble how workers complete their shifts on Earth, but strangely to me, it resembled a bedtime routine for our supplies. The secure shut and lock of the safe door was a final ‘goodnight’ to this moment, thus concluding our work. ‘A job well done’, if I have to say for being the first night.

Just then, a Vixen with a splash-colored coat from the Tree Group entered our tent. “’Scuse me?” They called out, grabbing our attention. “The other teams, including mine, are having a camp fire down the mountain. Wanna come?”

“Sure.” The Faun answered, and the Mermaid and I agreed.

Out of the tent and down the hill we went, until we came to flat ground with a campfire surrounded by logs. There, the other Dream Catcher groups had gathered around.

“Hey there!” The Vixen who invited me called out. Joining her were two more of her kind, but with different coat colorations. “Glad you guys made it!”

“Thanks for inviting us!” My boss answered as we took our seats on the only unoccupied log.

There was a large stash of marshmallows, graham crackers, and chocolate nearby as well. “Look at all of that!” I had to call out in surprise.

“How did it get here?” My colleague asked.

“Little trade secret.” A red-furred member of the Vixens answered.

Well, if this was a little surprise, best not to spoil it, I decided. After all, we’ve all worked hard, and deserved a little fun before going to bed. On top of that, this was the first night of Summer, so we had to have a little celebration to that. The fire was started and s’mores were made by the platefull. The groups even mingled amongst each other, chatting, laughing, and telling jokes.

The Faun and the Mermaid wasted no time getting to interact with other group members. However, I didn’t want to stick out like a sore thumb among strangers, so I climbed a tree instead. If I were to refer by the individuals, since I haven’t yet known their names, I’ll be referring to everyone else by what creature they looked like and where their Starcatcher group was located, just like my team members.

There was the Beach Group from before, with the mean Grasshopper, who was having a serious argument with my boss, while the Ladybug and the Cat were playing cards with my colleague and the River Group. Their members included a Sea Otter, who appeared to be the leader, a Mouse, and a wispy flame-like entity. This group seemed pretty friendly and outgoing. Good thing, too, considering how mean that insect is.

“Hey!” I could hear a voice say. I looked down, and saw the Tree Group, or I should actually say the Vixens. They were all together, but their attention was turned toward me. “Wanna come sit with us?” The one who invited my group asked.

“I’d hate to be any trouble.” I answered.

“What’s there to worry about?” The one with a black-and-white coat, maybe she’s an Arctic Vixen, answered. “We don’t bite.”

Considering how the rest of my group were interacting with the others, and these girls seemed friendly enough, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to hang out with them. After carefully and easily leaving the tree, right on the log next to the three Vixens I sat as we were roasting marshmallows.

“So, how’s your first night going?” The one who invited me asked.

“It’s going great. I don’t know if this would sound strange or not, but although this is a job, it feels more like a game of baseball and Easter egg hunting combined.” I answered.

The other two laughed in agreement.

“That’s not strange.” The Arctic Vixen answered.” At least, here in the Sea of Starlight, work is more often a game, and a game is more often work. Of course, the real fun is when we get to enter other worlds to make our first deliveries.”

“I already can’t wait to get our first assignments!” I replied. “I just hope I’ll be able to do this perfectly.”

“Perfect, shmerfect!” The red Vixen scoffed. “I gotta say, though. It’s been a long time since a Dragon was a Star Catcher.”

“Seriously?” I asked.

“Yeah, girl.” She confirmed. “The weird thing is there used to be a lot of Dragons flying and swimming around the Sea of Starlight. Legends even say that they were the ones who protected this place from the nasty parasitic monsters from the bowels of the Vortex.”

“I think you’re getting a little bit too general, there.” The Ladybug from the Beach Group spoke up. “Everyone knows that the only one who COULD protect the Sea of Starlight was the one who had the power to freely travel across the fabric of space without the need for portals.”

A hush went over the conversation. “You don’t mean…?” The Parakeet asked.

“Oh, I’ll tell ya!” The Ladybug grinned.

“The Star of Heaven Dragon!” They said in unison.

There’s a name I haven’t heard of before…

“Hey!” A loud voice interrupted. It was the mean Grasshopper… “You telling that fairy tale about some magical Dragon again?”

“Hey! This is a Dream Dimension! This is where fairy tales are SUPPOSED to come to life!” The red Vixen protested.

“Yeah, but the problem there is that Dragons have been getting really rare lately, even here in the Sea of Starlight.” The Cat admitted. “Plus, nobody has seen the Star of Heaven Dragon for decades, let alone know if they have been reincarnated.”

A Dragon capable of traveling across space without the need for portals or highly advanced technology, yet is associated with the Sea of Starlight? I didn’t even know there was one with that kind of power.

“Hey, um…” I finally spoke up. “If the Sea of Starlight used to be more abundant with Dragons, then what happened to them? The Star of Heaven included?”

“Nobody knows, really.” My Boss admitted. “Rumors have been circulating that as creativity has been dying for the humans, the Dragons have been dying with it. Either that or unfeeling dogmas kept shooting them out of our skies.”

“Where have you been, asking about what happened to your own kind here?” The Arctic Vixen asked.

…I dare not answer there… being reminded of that is too painful…

“Hey!” The Faun spoke up. “To get us all in the right mood for this summer, how about some tunes?”

Speak of the devil, he was holding a guitar. Of course, what night wouldn’t be complete without a campfire song or two. We all took turns making suggestions for different songs to sing together. After a good long while, we could feel the hours creep in. That was when we all decided to hit the hay. Back into the tent the boss, my colleague, and I went, and after a little last-minute prep, we were finally snoozing the night away. I was expecting the camping cot to be really uncomfortable, but there was a mattress on it that was the perfect size, and really comfy. Plus, the sleeping bag was really cozy as well.

Dawn couldn’t have come soon enough, because that was the moment we started to get our assignments. After waking up and changing into my tunic, the first thing I did was check the mail cubby next to the door. Empty. Guess I shouldn’t be surprised there, as this was our first day, after all. Plus, I guess things wouldn’t really start until after breakfast.

Once I was all put together, back outside the tent I went. In contrast to last night, the stars were gone, seemingly outshone by a sun surrounded by blue skies with barely a cloud. Gliding down the slope I went until I came to the picnic table. There, I could see the rest of my team and the other members all sitting together. The smell of pancakes and maple syrup filled the air as I came closer, taking a seat next to my crew. I would have asked my boss if we got any assignments yet, but I didn’t want to push things, and instead just focused on my serving.

Eventually, we had just finished eating, and we had cleaned up the table and dishes. My colleague and I were the only ones there as our boss finally began to speak up. “Alright, girls. It’s still early hours of the morning, and it might be a while before we get our first assignment. You two wearing your amulets?” We held up our wrists, showing the bracelets with the blue stones. “For a little refresher, those are basically not only your ID’s across the Sea of Starlight, but also your main methods of communication, and your lifeline. The crystals will start to flash when we get orders on the bulletin board over there.” He continued, pointing to a large board just a little walk away from the picnic table. “Whenever you find yourselves in emergency situations while you’re out on assignments, the crystals will release a really bright light. In the meantime, you’re more or less totally free to do what you want on Sandman’s Island, but if you get an assignment, let me know. Over the course of the Summer, dinner plans will be made, with either one of the groups cooking for everybody, or going out in one of the worlds. Tonight, the Beach Group is cooking supper. If you guys are still out on jobs, I’d like for you to be back on the island by night, safe and sound. Any questions?”

I raised my hand. “Real quick, transferring an order of fallen stars seems simple enough, but what about elemental crystals when the orders call for them?” I asked.

“Once we finally start to get assignments, I’ll get to that.” My boss answered.

“Also, how long can it take before we get our first orders?” The Mermaid asked.

“Well, since it’s Summer, it usually takes around either a day or two to a full week.” The Faun replied. “At least with there being four Star Catcher groups, we don’t have to worry about the board overflowing. Yet our assignments tend to be first-come-first-serve, so remember to act fast there.”

Speaking of acting fast, the blue crystals on our bracelets began to glow. I was the first to jump up and try to get to the board, but the Ladybug beat me to that assignment. Just one look at it, and I could see that they already accepted it.

“Oooh, so close!” The Faun winced. “No matter. You two will get your chance soon.”

I really hoped so there. I guess I was just so anxious to finally start having an adventure or two with this ‘job’. At least before I came here, I packed my art supplies, a handheld video game console, and a few books to read to make the wait a little less grueling.

Too bad it wasn’t until sunset when the stone on my bracelet flashed again. Finally! This time, I was able to make it to the board to see what assignment just came. Three different pieces of paper held by pins had appeared. I took a quick look at the first two, which were assigned for two different islands in the Sea of Starlight, while the third was for the Planet Earth where most of our visitors come from. That one I took a closer look at and started to read.

‘To the Starcatchers of the Sea of Starlight,

The students of this university have worked hard on their studies and assignments, and have been looking forward to Summer vacation. There’s 30 in particular who could use a little extra spark to give them ideas and motivation for finding jobs or fun during that time. Oh! And let’s not forget a nice, big leap for the following Autumn.

Yours truly,

The Academic Sandman’

University students, huh? Man, do I relate right there. Over to the Faun I went, showing him the parchment.

“Oh, that’s a good one right there.” He stated after reading. “Those guys definitely could use a vacation not only on their Planet Earth, but here in the Sea of Starlight.”

He stood up from his desk and brought me over to the safe with the fallen star crystals, opening it and loading a belt pouch I wore around my hips with the required number. “Hey, real quick, do Star Catchers get especially busy when school or university are in session?” I asked.

“Oh yeah!” He nodded. “Students and teachers become our most major customers, as they always need that extra creativity for homework, field trips, you name it. You should’ve seen how crazy it was in autumn, albeit I wasn’t there then.”

Once my belt pouch was loaded up, I zipped it closed, and following the Starcatchers’ training instructions, the assignment slip was signed by my boss and went into a nice, flat pocket in my belt pouch. 

“There you go. You’re all set.” He said to me. “Now all you gotta do is just command the crystal on your wristband to take you to your destination, and it will lead you straight to the portal. Good luck.”

“Thanks, boss.” I returned. True to his word, I prepared myself for flight and turned my attention to the blue stone on my bracelet. “Show me the way to this university.” I commanded it.

The crystal immediately began to glow, and out emerged a butterfly made of light. It began to flutter off, prompting me to follow it, first by running to gain speed before spreading my wings out and taking off behind it. Just a little distance from the island it traveled before the butterfly disappeared and a circular opening in the fabric of dream space appeared. I flew right in, and emerged to find that the Sea of Starlight had been replaced with a really large, wide area at night. Great building complexes, and with architecture fitting for a place of higher education.

Looks like I’m in the right place. Back to the stone on my bracelet, my attention was returned. I was about to command it to cast a particular spell, but the name wasn’t coming to me! Uh… no! Not that one! C’mon!! “…boo mode?” I asked on a whim. The crystal flashed a bright blue before dying down. I was initially unsure if that worked until I noticed that my arm was see-through. In fact, my body was just the same. Hey! It worked! Even though I didn’t use the right words, I guess what I meant was all that mattered! Now time to get to work!

Across the campus, I carefully began to navigate. Even though I was now invisible and most of the people here were sleeping, you can never be too careful, so I moved as quietly as possible. Up ahead, there were what looked like dormitories. A little bit of intuition and the fact that the stone on my bracelet was glowing again showed that this was definitely where I’ll find who I’m gonna deliver these to!

Coming closer to the buildings, I could see through the windows that most of them had their lights out, showing that they were most likely asleep already. Only a few of them were still on, but one of them had flashing multicolored lights. Looks like someone’s having an end-of-the-semester party. Good for them, though I don’t think they’d want to fall asleep anytime soon.

The gem on my bracelet was starting to glow! I’m getting warmer! In the direction it shone brighter I turned and began to climb the wall of that dorm. Eventually, it was glowing brightest here at one window. Looking inside, I could see two guys sleeping in beds opposite from each other. Looks like one of them is awaiting their invitation to the Sea of Starlight. Toward the bottom of the window I tried to reach, but my hands went right through it. That’s my cue to carefully climb through. Being able to walk through windows and doors, and invisible to most humans? Pretty nifty spell, huh?

Carefully walking closer, I positioned my hand with the bracelet forward. The gem glowed again, but no matter who I aimed it toward, it glowed brightly, only dimming when I was in the middle. That meant that both of these guys are gonna be Visitors. I started with the one on the left, unzipping my belt pouch, and removing a glowing bright red star. Just to think that this little thing sprinkled in dreamers’ eyes is what grants them access into the dream dimension where creativity comes from… it’s also the building block for creatures like me to build their own worlds… those thoughts went through my mind as I crushed this and the following stone in my hand and gently sprinkled its sandy form over these college dudes’ sleeping eyes.

‘See you in the Sea of Starlight, guys.’ I whispered to them before carefully making my exit. Two down, only 28 more to go. The rest of this routine was pretty straightforward, with plenty of help from my wristband guiding me to the other college students who could use a little bit more inspiration. One-by-one, the fallen stars were crushed into sand and carefully poured on the eyes of more students until only one was left.

Finding them wasn’t as tricky as I thought it was gonna be, and once I did, I saw that they actually fell asleep at their desk. Their hands were covering their head, while their dorm room was a mess. Coming inside, my bewilderment turned to concern as papers scribbled with red lie scattered around the floor. Especially upon closer inspection. ‘NO! NO! NO!’ ‘WHAT THE FUDGE?!’ ‘PREMEDITATED FAILURE!!!’ Is this their stresses going crazy or something?

A groan momentarily startled me, and drew my attention back toward the attendee at the desk. Good thing I have nocturnal vision, allowing me to see that it was a woman at the desk, but there appeared to be something radiating from her head. It looked like smoke, but there was no fire, and it was dark and thick. What was undeniable was that it didn’t look so good…

Even though we can only give dreamers invitations to visit the Sea of Starlight, nobody said anything about if they’re being tormented by bad thoughts or nightmares! Come to think of this, this kind of info wasn’t brought up at all before the Summer began! That being said, the other Starcatchers said that Dragons are protectors, so though this was starting to make me nervous, it looks like this is up to me!

Carefully stepping closer to her, I gently rotated her head that way I could see her eyes. The final crystal in my belt pouch was crushed into sand and carefully sprinkled on. It began to sparkle and glow, and from the sand, something began to emerge and take form. A soft glow of light and dark that had a circular movement starting outward and pulling inward, like a galaxy formation. So THAT’S what those kinds of portals look like? Whoa… here goes nothing… my wings spread out, and softly began to flap, bringing me into a slight hover. Once the formation was big enough, I dove right in.

The light was replaced by clouds that flashed, and the only sounds surrounding me were what resembled explosions. MAN, were they thick, because I couldn’t see what was past them. At least it didn’t take long before they got thinner, and I could finally see the surface! It was here whereas I finally regained my fight, and began to take the scenery in! It looked like a dead, craggy landscape whereas the earth was breaking apart, allowing its’ molten rock blood to ooze out uncontrollably… in the distance, a volcano was erupting with utmost violence… the clouds of darkness it coughed up cloaked the skies, leaving them devoid of any sun, moon, or starlight… yikes… looks like this poor girl is having some serious stress issues right now… but where can she be?

A scream echoed in the distance. Well, that answers that question there. My wings spread back out, and after gaining some air, I flew over to the location where it came from. Down below, the dry, cracking ground continued for miles until something caught my eye! There, a huge, monstrous scorpion had its tail raised up, preparing to strike someone running away from it! What surprised me there was how fast that arachnid was running after her! A left turn she took, but the ground dropped down, causing her foot to slip, sending her tumbling down. The scorpion took a jump, landing right before her.

“You little ingrate!!” Hey! It speaks! “That was your LAST chance to prove it, and THAT was how you REPAY THEM?!?!”

The razor-sharp end of its’ tail lunged down, forcing her to dodge out of the way, but causing a rock to get the damage instead.

“I SWEAR! I STUDIED!!” She pled to it, sounding like tears were sliding down her face. “Everyday! All day! I knew all the answers!!”

“You expect me to believe THAT load of crap?!” It screamed. “Let alone, do you expect THEM to believe you would actually pull your weight only to BLOW IT?! You just WANT them to see you for the failure that YOU are!!!”

“No…” She wept. “NO!!!!”

The scorpion’s tail went up, preparing its’ notorious stinger. A scream was released from me as I came right at it, my foot colliding with the stinger’s side, knocking it off course from its’ target. Right afterward, with a sharp exhale, purple flames were released at that huge arachnid. Its’ claws went up, trying to block out the flames, and though it didn’t look like that did much, at least that forced it to step back a little bit.

The one it was tormenting only stared in shock as I landed on the ground before it on all fours. My flames disappeared from it, and it finally noticed me. Maybe just to intimidate me, it released a hiss, but I hissed back in retaliation. To the left its’ legs began to take it, to which I copied the movement, my anticipation high for what it should do next… suddenly, the stinger lunged out again, and this time, I took a jump, quickly getting airborne! More of my flames were released at it, to which it only tried to block them with its’ claws.

So it has an advantage for both getting up close and keeping its distance, and my flames don’t seem to be doing much to it. Probably because it’s adept to this kind of environment. Trying to get under that exoskeleton would be like trying to crack open a coconut with bare hands. Rocks make for better coconut crackers. Wait! Over there! A ledge with a large boulder ready to fall! That can work!

“You’ve got some serious nerve, threatening her like that!” I began to shout at it. “Why don’t you pick on an arachnid or insect your own size?”

“Stay out of this, freak!” It shouted back. “Unless you fancy a good taste of venom?”

“I already have my own kind of venom!” I retaliated. “And it makes yours look like nothing but regular stomach acid!” Too bad I didn’t bring something with me to help activate it.

What WAS activated, though, was its’ temper, as I could see its’ tail raise back up! Another punch-like jab it shot at me, to which I dodged. Hey! The stinger looks like it’s been dislocated! That gives me an idea!

Back onto the ground I landed, keeping low to the ground on all fours. “Missed me!” I taunted it. “Since when did scorpions have that kind of thrust in their tails? That’s just wrong on more levels than just the natural world! Or is that actually the launcher of a pinball machine?”

Another tail attack was launched, to which I dodged to the left. It worked! The stinger punched into the ground! Almost immediately, I grabbed onto it and began to pull! The scorpion pulled back as well, taking me with its’ stinger. It began to swing its’ tail around to shake me off, to which I swung around to get behind the sharp end and continue to push. However, it wasn’t too long before I was finally thrown off, falling onto the ground some distance from it.

I could hear it turn back around to return its’ attention to the Dreamer. “Now that the pest is out of the way…” It began to say. “I can finish what I-“

But just as its’ tail went up again, it noticed that there was something missing! “Looking for this, ugly?” I tauntingly called out to it, standing back on my feet and holding up the end of its’ tail with the stinger.

“Give that back, you GNAT!” It demanded, its’ body rotating back toward me.

“You want it that badly, you big bully?!” I asked. “Come and get it, if you can!”

My wings spread out and made little work of getting me above the ground. From down below, I can see it chase after me! To the left I went, and the scorpion followed! Up ahead, I could see the cliff with the boulder! So far so good! Almost there! Suddenly, a loud explosion sounded off in the skies! My gaze in that direction, and the first thing I saw was fire, smoke, and ash exploding out of the volcano’s top! The ground began to crackle with the sound of rocks hitting it! Gotta move fast or- but the scorpion took a jump right at me, forcing me to barrel roll out of the way to the left! Unfortunately, something big, solid, and hard hit me in the back, causing me to lose altitude and fall. Onto the dry, cracking ground I fell, still clutching onto the stinger. No time to recuperate from that, however, because I could see him starting to gang up on me! Time to run, only to find myself right up against the cliff.

“Dead end!” I described.

“I’ll say!” That gruff, harsh voice answered. From behind me, one of those giant pincers grabbed the stinger, and with little to no effort, pulled it right out from my arms. The tail came down and quickly reconnected with its’ weapon. “Don’t you know that even spiders are afraid of scorpions?” The scorpion hissed. “And for good reason, too! You made a really bad mistake ticking me off tonight!”

“Funny, because you made that very same bad mistake!” I returned. “I don’t know if you’re a manifestation of arachnophobia aimed at your particular species, but you give scorpions everywhere a bad name!”

The tail lunged back out again, and I took a jump, dodging it, and causing the stinger to smash into the wall. The scorpion tried to pull it back out, but it actually struggled! As for me, I quickly flew to the top of the cliff where the boulder was! Good! The impact of that attack made it begin to lose its’ balance! I flew right behind it and began to push. It was like trying to move a full single-aisle bookshelf, but thank goodness it went forward, toppling over the cliff and down, down, down! KAPOW!

Did I get it? From where I stood on top of the cliff, I could only see the boulder, so I flew back down to follow it. One look around the perimeter, and I soon found the scorpion’s pincers, now lying on the ground, limp as a deactivated construction vehicle!

That did the trick, alright! Now to get away from this eruption and find the dreamer! Back into the skies I went, flying the opposite direction of where I first saw her, dodging falling volcanic debris along the way.

It took a little bit of a while, but I soon found her sitting beneath a burned tree. “Whew…” I breathed a sigh of relief after landing. “Hey, you’re safe now. It’s crushed.” Yet her knees were against her chest and her head was down. My ears picked up sounds of sniffling. “Are you okay?”

“What do you think?” She asked back. “You heard what that scorpion said. I’m a failure, and that’s all I’ll ever be!”

Failure? All she’ll ever be? Somehow, this felt very familiar to me… I walked closer and took a seat next to her.

“If it’s alright with you, could you please explain to me?” I requested. She only grunted in response. Despite that, somehow, my heart already knew all the answers… a volcanic eruption… smoke darkening the skies… the earth cracking beneath our feet… “Hey, if it’s too hard for you, that’s okay. Besides, it’s all very clear to me.”

“It is?” She asked, her attention turning toward me.

“Yeah.” I confirmed. “Failing an exam that you’ve been studying so hard for, and absolutely certain that you’ll ace does feel totally devastating.”

“Y-You don’t even know the HALF of it…” She agreed.

“Was it for a subject you were passionate about?” I then asked.

“Well, my folks all have professional careers in that field…” She admitted. “Might as well follow the family business, too. At least they will be proud of me… and it will prove that I’m… but once they find out that I failed, they’ll be so disappointed in me for the rest of my life… I have to study this… I have to succeed… so… after all the studying, and giving it over 100%… why… did I still… fail? Is… it… me?”

She once again burst to tears, but I shook my head. “One failed final exam doesn’t determine who you REALLY are.” I answered. “Yeah, University is notorious for how difficult the classes can be with all the studying, the exams, and the essays, but it’s also a time of exploration and discovering where your mind and your heart really lie. I may not know what your family life is like, but you need to be honest with yourself. You gave it your all, and REALLY put so much hard work into it. That’s pure dedication right there. In speaking from personal experience, maybe the reason why you failed is because that subject isn’t the right one for you. I understand how much you want to make your family proud of you, but how can you achieve a happy life after graduation if you’re not feeling it in your heart?”

Her gaze once again met mine. That look in her eyes… I gave her a smile to show that I meant it.

“Even if I decide to change my program, I wouldn’t know which one to go to…” She sorrowfully admitted. “I’ll be without any sense of direction… I can’t be a waste of time like that…”

Finding another path can be tricky… but maybe she could use a little bit of inspiration. My attention returned to my belt bag, and I began to search the pockets until I found something.

“There might be a way.” I suggested. I stood back up, dusting the soot from my tunic before reaching my hand down to her. “Come with me.”

She gave me a look of confusion, and even hesitated before she took my hand, standing back up. To be honest, I don’t blame her for that.

“Here. Take this.” I instructed, presenting her with something.

“What is that?” She asked me, taking it in her confusion.

“A Star Whistle.” I answered. “Just give it one little toot.”

She positioned it to her lips, one end going in slightly, and blew. It immediately released a high-pitched tune. As it echoed, my gaze went toward the skies. “So, what happens next?” I could hear the dreamer ask me.

“THAT’S what happens next!” I answered.

Something came in through the dark clouds, leaving a tail of bright light as it shot down and came closer to us. She released a cry of fear and was about to run, but it swooped over and performed a loop-de-loop before slowing down and coming to a stop. Right in front of us was a glowing star-shaped platform.

“Climb on!” I smiled to her. She looked at me in total disbelief. “Trust me. You’re gonna love this!”

She didn’t seem to convinced, but still reluctantly got close enough to climb onto the star. As she did, I spread my wings back out. “Might wanna hold on tight, though!” I instructed.

With one strong updraft, off the ground and into the sky I went. Right behind me, the star followed with the Dreamer riding on it. She held on tightly, but her gaze was downward toward the shrinking earth below. I slowed down my flight to be next to her. “Never mind the ground you leave behind!” I commanded her. “Eyes forward and toward the skies!”

Reluctantly, she did look forward. We were coming to the clouds above, but at that moment, I sent another spell out from my bracelet. A new circular doorway opened, which we entered. Once we were through, the volcanic landscape with the dark, cloudy sky was replaced by the infinite sparkling waters and endless sky of countless stars. Nighttime already?!

I led the way over the waves while the star and the Dreamer followed. All the while, she took in all the scenery around her.

“This is unbelievable!!” She gasped, her eyes wide.

“Welcome to the Sea of Starlight!” I called back to her.

Out of a sense of fun, I lowered myself close to the Sea and lowered my hand down, allowing it to cut through the waters. To the left and right, little fish that shone like silver began to leap out. Their trip was brief before they returned to the waves, but it was nothing compared to what emerged in the distance far to the left. A large body with powerful flippers and a mighty tail, yet it also had little glowing dots that formed a pattern.

“Look at that!” I could hear the dreamer cry out. That one was only the first, for he was soon joined by a second, then a third, a fourth, and more! “It’s an entire pod!” She then described.

“You wanna get closer?” I asked her.

“Can we?” She asked back.

“Of course we can!” I confirmed. “You won’t believe how friendly Cetus are!”

I flew in the direction of the Cetus, while the star followed. As we got closer, the first one we saw emerge began to rise higher out of the waters. Higher, and higher, and higher still until he was completely out! His gaze was toward the skies, and he began to swim in that direction. The other members of his pod began to imitate the way he took off, and soon, they were out of the waters and joining him, too.

The Dreamer and I had just caught up with them, and we began to follow from the side. One of their huge eyes had our reflections. “Hello!” I called to her on a whim.

She released one of her alls, possibly to say ‘hello’ back. Behind me, I could hear the Dreamer laugh in delight. Just then, a similar, albeit higher-pitched noise echoed next to her. She and I both looked and saw that it came from a Cetus fitting the size. “I think that calf wants you to climb on.” I suggested.

She gazed at me in initial disbelief, but the calf was positioned below her, as if to prepare himself. Even though she still seemed a little reluctant, she carefully scooted off the star platform, and after carefully stretching her legs out, she was able to drop onto his back. He released another echo of excitement and began to take her on a real ride with the rest of his pod. I followed with them to make sure that their trip stayed safe as they wove past the adults and releasing playful calls. The dreamer was having a great time as well! That look on her face… she even held her arms out to feel the breeze. I could even hear her laughing! I think I was laughing with her right there, and why not? This was as amazing for me as it was for her!

Eventually, the Cetus began to descend back down to the waters. The calf she was riding on came with me back to Sandman’s Island, where I landed and she dismounted.

“Hey, thanks for the ride, buddy!” She thanked him. He squeaked back to say ‘you’re welcome’, and joined his family under the waves. Once he was gone, the dreamer turned her attention back to me. “And thank you SO MUCH for this!” She gasped. “I had absolutely NO IDEA that I would get to do or see… well, THIS!!!”

“Bringing you here was the best thing I could think of to help clear your mind.” I admitted.

“Definitely cleared my mind, alright!” She confirmed. “It also made me realize something! As a kid, I used to… and I remember reading a lot of… but my parents said that I wouldn’t… I know what I should do now!!”

“You do?!” I asked her.

“Yeah!” She confirmed. “I know which field I wanna switch to and what I wanna do next! I don’t know if it will work this time, but I wanna give it a try!” With that declaration, she seemed to still be excited, but soon her expression changed.

“What’s wrong?” I asked her.

“Nothing…” She admitted. “It’s just that… I’ve been so worried about meeting my folks’ expectations that…” Boy, does that sound familiar… suddenly, tiny soft lights began to appear around her, and her body started glowing. “What’s happening?” She asked.

“It looks like you’re starting to wake-up.” I answered. I wasn’t kidding right there, because she was starting to turn see-through.

“Wake-up?” She asked in surprise. “Already?! But will I never be able to come back here?!”

“You have the sand in your eyes, and that’s your key to the Sea of Starlight.” I answered. “Anytime you’d like when you’re dreaming, you’re always welcome.”

That was definitely more reassuring to her, for she smiled to it. “Wait!” She cried as the lights and the glowing grew stronger. “What’s your name?”

“Call me Rebecca!” I answered.

“Rebecca!” She repeated. “My name is Annabelle! I’ll never forget this place, and I’ll never forget you! Thank you so much!!”

The lights encapsulated her, and once they died down, she was gone. What remained of that light as tiny, softer ones gently floated upward before dissipating. “Nor am I gonna forget about you, Annabelle.” I answered despite her departure.

I gotta say, if how good this felt isn’t what a job well done is for a Starcatcher, I don’t know what is! However, since it’s now night again, time for me to head to camp. My wings spread back out and over to the ground I flew.

“Good evening, Sea of Starlight! This here’s your local king of the sound waves, master music mixer, and overall best buddy, DJ Time Warp, coming to you live from your nighttime space-loving station, Sat.L.Light Radio!”

That was the first thing I heard as I came for a landing on the island. Something tells me that hearing his voice is gonna be my ‘welcome home’ greeting after a long day! Up the hill I flew until I reached the tent and went inside. The Faun was at a desk, writing things on parchment.

“Welcome back!” He greeted me.

“Good to be back!” I answered as I removed the signed slip of parchment from my pouch.

“Not bad, kiddo!” He smiled, taking it.

What I didn’t notice until just now was that there was a stamp on it. “That wasn’t there before!” I described. “I never even removed the slip out there!”

“No, but it shows not just a job completed, but well done!” He answered.

He placed the slip into a large book, and placed that in another compartment before returning to the parchment.

“So, anything interesting happen in all the times I was gone?” I asked on a whim.

“Well, your coworker got her first task as well.” He answered. “It’s still a slow start, however. At least you both are back just in time for supper.”

“Alrighty, then.” I replied, realizing that I was getting hungry. “In that case, I’ll wash up and meet you at the picnic table.”

“Fine by me.” He agreed.

True to the promise I made, I did just that and then met my team and the other Starcatchers at the picnic table. It was salad night with leafy green lettuce and spinach, along with brightly colored fruit and veggies like strawberries, oranges, yellow bell pepper, blueberries, grapes in two colors, and even star fruit, topped with sunflower seeds and a raspberry vinaigrette! Whoops! Sorry! Did I just make you guys hungry?

At least while we ate, we exchanged stories about how our day went, what we all did, and what kind of places we saw. “And you actually got to fly with those Cetus?” My coworker asked me.

“Uh-huh!” I confirmed. “I always knew that this job was going to be fun, but helping dreamers like that? I will admit, I’m good at beating up monsters, but I didn’t anticipate how affective I was going to be in helping her understand her situation better.”

“So this job is ‘fun’, is it?” The Grasshopper suddenly asked.

“For getting to see the worlds our dreamers come from and the islands of the Sea of Starlight.” I answered. “I just can’t wait to see what comes next tomorrow.”

“How old are you? Eight?” He suddenly and harshly asked. “We’re working nine-to-five without getting paid, and you’re treating it like we’re on summer vacation.”

“Leave her alone!” The Faun stood up, a stern look on his face.

Everyone else shared in that same expression, except the rest of his team. The Ladybug only looked at him in fear, while the Cat only rolled his eyes. The Grasshopper only released an annoyed sigh and stood up from the table. “Creatures like you are why we need to enforce the motto of how ‘if you are having fun, you’re not learning at all’.” He answered. “Come on, you two. We’re going to bed.”

“Whatever.” The Cat answered, and followed him.

“Right behind you.” The Ladybug said as well.

As soon as they were gone, the air just felt really sour… “What’s his problem?” The Wisp from the River Group asked.

“Way to ruin a perfectly lovely evening.” The Sea Otter from his group agreed.

At least this was the moment when we were done eating. I volunteered to wash the dishes, using a scrubby cattail and cracking soap beans, both plants unique to the Sea of Starlight, by the riverbank. In the distance, I could hear my boss strumming his guitar and playing a few songs, but it doesn’t look like we’re gonna be singing anything together tonight. As I kept going, my ear flicked.

“Hey there.” I recognized her voice. It was the Mermaid.

“Hey.” I answered. I guess she could tell that I was still feeling pretty glum after what happened…

“You okay?” She asked me, taking a seat by the river.

…I couldn’t bring myself to answer… yet she snapped another soap bean, grabbed a scrubby cattail and started washing more dishes. “Y-You don’t have to do that…” I admitted.

“It’s not fair to leave you to wash the dishes all by yourself.” She answered. “Looks like that Grasshopper missed the memo of how you’re supposed to clean up the messes you make.”

“Tell me about it.” I agreed.

“That was seriously uncool of him to treat you like that.” She then said. “Let alone, say that to all of us when we’re in a dimension that encourages learning through fun, and fun in working.”

“The worst part is that he’s not the first one to say that line.” I replied. “What’s the point of learning in the first place if you’re not allowed to engage with it or be fascinated by it? On top of that, work doesn’t really feel like work if you enjoy what you do. I learned that the hard way from a professor I had when I started college.”

“It’s detrimental to their psyche and their ability to perform to the expected level.” She agreed. “I read an extensive study about it in a psychiatric journal.”

“You’re in college, too?” I asked her, surprised to hear that.

“I’m studying for my PhD in childhood development and psychology.” She explained. “Since I’m on summer break and get to spend it with my husband and daughter on my Planet Earth, I thought being a Starcatcher in the Dream Dimensions would give me a head-start in finding ideas for my Doctoral Dissertation.”

“How’s that working out for you?” I then asked.

“Unlike the tasks, ideas are coming a lot faster than I thought.” She verified. “Too bad, I can’t write about the Sea of Starlight, because a lot of scientific minds don’t really believe the concept of alternate universes or dimensions or ‘higher planes of existence’.”

“Go figure.” I shrugged. “So, what about your husband and daughter?”

“She’s four and in preschool.” She answered. “I thought it made for the best time to return to university. My husband and I still tag-team on earning the paycheck, though.”

Still, sounds like they came a long way and are doing great. The chat between us continued until the dishes were finally scrubbed clean, dried off, and put away in the cupboard of an outdoor kitchen located some distance from the picnic table.

“All’s well that ends well.” I concluded, closing the cupboard door.

“Yeah.” She agreed.

The Starcatchers were all starting to enter their tents to hit the hay, so we began to walk up the hill as well. “Hey, by the way…” I got my colleague’s attention. “Thanks.”

“Sure thing.” She smiled. “It’s Corinne, by the way.”

“Rebecca.” I returned.

At least we went to bed in better spirits, and when morning broke, it was more-or-less the same routine as yesterday. Time to wait for the assignments to arrive again.

“Hey, Boss, I actually have something to request.” I asked.

“What’s that?” My boss asked back.

“I would like to check on the dreamer I brought to the Sea of Starlight last night.” I explained. “Her name is Annabelle. I just want to see how she’s doing.”

“Huh. That’s very kind of you.” He answered, surprised by that kind of request. “If it means that much to you, go ahead.”

“Thank you so much!” I graciously thanked him.

Back into the skies and through the portal once it appeared, I went. Only this time, it was broad daylight, so I had to reactivate that spell again. You know what, since I can never remember how to say it, I’m just gonna call it ‘boo mode’. Anyways, once I arrived, I followed the navigation spell to find Annabelle talking to someone. They were in some kind of office, and I think the person behind the desk was her professor.

“Well, I’m glad you felt like you could talk to me.” They said. “Sometimes, the things we think we want just don’t work out, but that’s okay. It only means that there’s another way. There ALWAYS is another way.”

Beautiful words spoken right there… seeing that was great, and it gave me a really good feeling for Annabelle.