Notes on a Dream or a Vision, 12-2-09

As I closed my eyes to sleep, but was not asleep, a vision came to me. I was following death through the woods. Old growth. Lots of space between the trees. Trunks grey-green like decay. Dead leaves covered the ground in pale shades of yellow and orange. No shadows as if the dim light was everywhere. Death wore a long cloak that dragged on the ground but did not disturb the leaves, yet his path was visible. I felt like others were lost in the woods as well. One close, to the left, unseen but watching. Fearful of death or envious of my following him. I followed death to a bog. Few islands. I stood at the edge and watched as death walked across the water, never disturbing it. I watched death fade into the distance, though I dont know if he crossed to the other side. A creature with skin stretched tight over its skull and three claw like fingers walked the islands towards me, its path curving off to my left as it got closer. I could not see what was below the water or even how deep it was because leaves covered its surface like the forest floor. A head rose partway out of the water. Stringy sparse hair, mottled skin as if it had drowned in the bog. Eyes full of hate and promising pain. It rose until the things cheekbones broke the surface. As it  came towards me, I thought death may cross the bog untouched but what of me? There are things in the bog worse than death. And I realized I must decide either to chase after death into the bog or turn and flee back through the forest towards life. And I must decide soon for even to stand on the edge of the bog draws the attention of its creatures.

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