The trip through the Dream that night was iing. I was gettier at navigating through it and reizing the threads that tethered me to others. Most were dark, inactive, it was still early for most folks to be in bed after all. But there were a few that shoh activity.

  I followed the closest and soon found Flyt’s sister having a nightmare about a bunch of boats sinking on the ke here in Beaver Valley. Daisy ped it and the sudden relief on the elf’s face was overwhelming.

  “Are you alright?” I asked her. She jumped and spun around, blinking and looking fused for a moment.

  “This… is a dream, right? How do I know that? How do I know you’re real too? What’s-”

  “Whoa, calm down, everything’s fine. I avigate The Dream is all. Also, Daisy here eats nightmares so you thank her for mung on yours.” I gave her a warm smile.

  She returhe smile happily. “First y me my sister and now you settle my dreams? What kind god sent you to this realm?”

  I ughed, “Maybe I’ll get to tell you soon. But, what was that nightmare about, sinking boats?”

  She sighed and nodded, “I don’t know if my sister told you, but our hometown made riverboats. A third of our entire ey rested on that particur industry. Our family were minor nobles who oversaw the factories making the boats themselves, other families ran the ones making engines, fishing or towing equipment, so on. I was in training to take over from our father so I had spent three years actually w on the factory floor to make sure I khe ins and outs of the work itself.” She flexed her arms and sure enough she had some bor fed muscle on her.

  “So boats are important to you?”

  She snorted and ughed, “More, boats are important here, in Willow Creek. The kes and ponds and rivers are everywhere and so they make lots and lots of boats. But up until the past few decades they had been making things very traditionally. Modern boats were exclusively imports. I am helping ge that, though let me tell you just getting the artisans to listen to me was a chore. They did start oold them that their traditional boats would then beore culturally important artistic works that they could charge way, way more for if we started making modern designs as well.”

  “Moalks.” I said with a shrug.

  “Very true. But listen they did and now I run a shop making a few different kinds of modern river boats. But…” She groaned and rubbed her face. “I’m nowhere near as good as the folks who did the work bae. I know what I’m doing but I feel like-, like I’m a fake. Like I’m just pretending to be capable of all this and any day now everything will fall apart and it will all be my fault.”

  A memory tugged at my mind. “I think that’s called Impostor Syndrome. From what I remember, I think it’s pretty on for people doing somethiher popur or important.”

  “Well at least I know I’m not the only one who feels like a fraud.”

  I reached over and patted her head. “Have any of your boats sunk?”

  She swatted at my hand. “Not since early testing to hammer out the kinks months ago.”

  “There you go! The folks bae that were better than you? They started out as screwups making mistakes too. I promise you. You’ll get there ahe ohe younguns look up to soon enough.”

  She sched up her face. “Don’t make me sound old!” And then ughed. “But, thank you. That does help a little I guess.”

  I paused. “Hey, so sorry about uh, peeking. But I saw you having a dream a while back with you and Flyt running around as kids with a boy, who was he?”

  She raised a brow. “Running around as kids? That would have to be Ephiltral, the local Lord’s son. Like thirteenth in line so he got ignored by most of his family. He’s always been awkward, especially with the other boys. But he got along with Lafy, er, Flyt— she likes Flyt better noarently. Anyway, he got along with Flyt and me really well until he hit puberty and the super awkward. Just turned into this massive macho ass.” She sighed, “I miss Ephy. He was our best friend.”

  “He’s in Beaver Valley nht?”

  “Oh, yeah he is but…” She looked down and rubbed her arm “He won’t talk to us. He literally ran away when he saw me yesterday.”

  I focused for a moment and realized that yes, I COULD do what I was trying. A soft couch pulled itself up through the ground and me and… Re! Re and I sat. “Maybe he has a secret, something that scares him, or maybe your possible rea is what scares him?”

  She huffed, “Well unless he had something to do with the princes destroying our home and killing our friends and family I ’t see why I would think less of him. He was so close to us we all assumed he and Flyt would be married by now! Though, that is kinda awkward to think about at this point.” She crossed her arms and stared at a cloud in the sky above. “Flyt told me she likes girls. You know like… uh, romantically?”

  I had to fight like mad to keep my posure, but I DID. Daisy however flopped onto her side and made adorable squealing ughs food minute. “Daisy, e o together girl.”

  “What, what’s so funny?” Re asked and narrowed her eyes.

  Welp, let’s try and see how this goes. “What if Ephy was… different than you think?”

  “You mean not an asshole? I’d love that.”

  “No— I mean, well, okay yes but that’s more of a symptom than-.” I took a breath. “How does your culture handle people who, let’s say, differ from expectations of gender?”

  Re nodded slowly, “Well, lets just say that Flyt would not be io family gatherings for being gay. Not that I fug care, let her love who she loves as long as she’s happy. I spent too many nights staring at the roof of my tent trying to not let thoughts of her being dead in to give a damn about anything other than her being alive and well.”

  “And what if something like that was the reason for Ephy’s behavior? A personal, internal denial of who they are making them miserable and sh out?”

  She stared at me for a few long moments as some kind of realization hit her. “Wait, Ephy’s gay? I mean, as a kid he did like pying princess dress up with us, at least until his father caught us and… that was a bad day.” She shook her head. “But, he clearly had a crush on Flyt for years!”

  “You’re almost there, just a few more steps. But here’s the important question. If Ephy is… vastly, powerfully different than you imagine. In a way that your culture might ht n them for, but in a way that doesn’t hurt anyone, how would you take that? Would you accept them?”

  “Ephy was our best friend, they day he started running off to be one of those muscle headed bastards was one of the most painful day in me and Flyt’s lives. Nearly as bad as-.” She stopped, the thoughts of her st day in her home clear on her face. “If I got my friend back, I wouldn’t care how different they were. As long as he’s happy and doesn’t treat us like crap anymore.”

  I could feel the depth of her words, she really cared deeply for Ephy. “What if he’s not really a he at all?”

  “We went skinny dipping as children, I know what-”

  “No, not like that.” I cut her off. “Inside, what if Ephy’s heart is a woman’s?”

  She stared at me for a long time, fusion on her face. But eventually a look passed over her features. “Oh. Oh. His-, her father would have… Fear over those feelings could make her rebel against them and act like, well, a stereotypical hyper mase asshole. Gods that makes so much sense! But, how does that happen?”

  I shrugged. “People are born all kinds of different ways. People who deny this are ohat are afraid and small minded. Some people are born with hearts that don’t fit their bodies. Gods only know why. What matters for us mortals is being there for those who need our support and accepting them for who they are.”

  She nodded eagerly. “Okay, Ephy’s a girl then. That’s fine. Just means y princess again as far as I’m ed.” She then looked into my eyes. “How do I get her to talk to me though? She keeps running away.”

  I focused for a moment and found the thread. Luck was with us both as it was alight with activity. “Give me just a moment.” I reached out and pulled.

  There was suddenly a familiar flowery meadow with a bunch of friendly animals and a pretty elf girl singing to them all. She looked up at us and smiled wide. “Hello fellow princesses! Would you like to have tea with me?”

  Re walked over and sat dowo her. “I would love to have tea with you again, Princess Ephy.” and reached out to take her friend’s hands. “I’ve missed you, we both have. Please e back to us?”

  Ephy’s face twitched and fear crept into her features. “Re? Uh, this is, I’m just-”

  Re pulled Ephy into a hug. “I know, Ephy. I’m here for you. I accept you. Please stop running away from me?”

  I smiled and stood. “I think you two have some talking to do. I’d stay for tea, but I have someone I o find before I wake up.”

  But as I started to walk off, Ephy called out, “Thank you! Not, not just for this.” She sniffled and hugged Re “I did what you said, I went to Dekarru. She’s been helping me, um, beyself.”

  I smiled back at her. “Hey, I like helping people.” I spoke and then walked out of their shared dream. Daisy patted me softly. “I do like helping people. If nothing else it makes me not think about how little I do for myself.” Then I got a baku trunk to the face, the equivalent of a light sp. “What? I’m doier. I’m… I’m trying harder to ask for help when I need I, okay?”

  Daisy huffed and nuzzled against me. I squeezed her into a hug. She was my best buddy and I was eternally grateful to have her with me.

  Not long after that, I found the wall that was the outer barrier of my Goddess’s dream pocket. Daisy hugged me with her trunk and waved goodbye before waddling off. I got the idea that she didn’t feel fortable entering a dream god’s bubble without being invited. I guess it was fine for me as her Saint though.

  Stepping through the wall and feeling the thick, soft carpet under me, I was once again assaulted by pink. But also, this time, green? Which I quickly realized wasn’t part of the decoration of Vei’Ryn’s pocket, but instead anod.

  I fell to my knees and stared at nature itself smiling at me. Trees, grassy hills, vibrant meadows, dense jungles, rugged scrub brush, all of it and more all tained in a woman sitting on my Goddess’s pink couch. It was like the first time I’d seen Vei’Ryn, overwhelming. I felt tears falling down my face.

  The feeling slowly settled and I could finally make her out in a way that my mind could prehend. Her skin was a warm green with patches of deep brown bark, her hair was vines with every flower I could imagine and several I couldn’t, her eyes were pools of water that I could see kelp swaying in. She was beautiful.

  “Feelier, little Saint?” The goddess spoke.

  “Mm, such lovely timing my Saint.” My eyes were pulled down and I saw my Goddess’s head resting in this oddess’s p.

  I swalloulled myself together. “My Goddess, and, are you the Green Mother?”

  The vibrant nature deity smiled, “I am pleased to be reized, especially by oh such holes in her mind as you. I imagine you see that our talk went rather well.”

  Vei’Ryn snorted and sat up, bringing her lips to the Green Mother’s and kissing her deeply. “Rather well my foot, you kept me so busy making you scream my hat I had to wait a full day to let my pantheon know things were good.”

  I cleared my throat, I could feel my cheeks heating up. “Ah. So… does this mean I tell my lovers about you?”

  My Goddess smiled brightly. “You tell them, yes. I’m trying to be a little quiet outside of this lovely MILF and her mate, but your tribe certainly qualifies as trustworthy.”

  “Oh stop it, you.” The Green Mri my Goddess before turning to me. “The Elders as well, they are allowed to know, and to know that she and hers are all under my care for now. I’ll get Taraval to agree soon enough, he always listens to me on matters like this.”

  “Taraval?”

  “ht, our names are not known of outside of those dedicated to us. I am Muwyn Saion, the Green Mother. My Mate is Taraval Roliir, the Blue Father. Dekarru will know the names but few others will. I would ask a favor of you to give her a message, I dare not demand such from the Saint of anod, but I will ask. Tell her that I am happy with her, that what she thinks of as her failings are just growing pains of a child. She has learned and bee both stronger and wiser and I am proud to call her my Oracle. Also, gratutions for you two.” She winked and I was suddenly very aware of what Dekarru had said on that stage. Oh. I supposed a nature goddess would know such things.

  “Oe of messages, I have one for you, My Goddess.”

  She raised a brow. “Who could that be from. You, Jaina, and Carmil are the only ones who know about me.”

  “Um, I died, just a little bit, earlier today. Charon wao talk to me.”

  At that both goddesses’ eyes went wide and something akin to fear crossed their faces. I had gotten the impression that the Ferryman is something even the gods have reason to be wary of. That look ted that notion for me. “Charon, has a-” Vei’Ryn swallowed. “He has a message for me?”

  “He said to tell you that you should introduce your parto me already. That just because it would be difficult doesn’t mean you get to keep me in the dark.” My Goddess rexed a bit, it seemed that this retty tame as messages go. But… I had to say more. “He found piey soul he river and was worried about me. He implied that he set with what you had done,” Abject terror was in my Goddess’s eyes at this, so I tinued quickly. “But he uood the o survive, your desperation, and that you were trying to fix… whatever it was that you did.”

  She nodded. “I will, ime you rest I’ll bring them all to meet you, I promise.” She was still afraid, but seemed calmed by Charon’s uanding. “As for what we did, I promise you we didn’t mean to. I told you that we made mistakes, big ones. We just-”

  I shook my head. “I don’t think I’m ready to know, not yet. But I trust you, my Goddess. He told me that I would want to be angry when I learned what, what you did. But I should stay with you, trust you, because you really are trying to help me and you will keep me strong.”

  The relief that passed over Vei’Ryn was s that the entire bubble shifted color to a rexing blue. All that pink washed away by her emotional release. “Yes, I swear that is true. We’re going to do everything we for you.” Theook a deep breath. “That being said, I think I promised you a boon. You told me you had something in mind for it?”

  I smiled, “Yes, and perhaps it’s a good thing you’re here as well, Green Mother. This might be stepping on your toes a bit otherwise.”

  “Oh?” Muwyn smirked. I told them both what I wanted and they smiled.

  Vei’Ryn floated over to me and took my fa my hands. “You know, you were actually a few choices down the list for who were were going to make my Saint. I got final call though and I just had a feeling about you. They’ve had some doubts, but moments like this vince me I made the right choice. You’re a gift, Esme.”

  “Agreed, she is something special, isn’t she?” The Green Mother smiled brightly at me. “We shall see it done before the sunrise. Now go, we will be busy fulfilling your wish and you have a Dream to explore, do you not?”

  I bowed deeply ahe two alone, with two gods w on it, the task should be quid easy, right? I would worry about that when I woke up. For the moment though, I just wao explore with Daisy some more.

  FaultyHyperdrive