This dream happened last night, but because it heavily involved/featured achangingaltar, I wanted his permission before sharing it publicly. He has granted that permission.
I wandered in the depths of a labyrinth so over grown by trees and vines I might as well been underground. Maenads and satyrs ran about everywhere, chasing animals, the unlucky that wandered into the grove, and each other. I wandered around (as a woman), naked but for a jaguar pelt draped over me. (Yes, jaguar. Not leopard.)
I was searching for Anthos and trying not to show my near panic about not finding him. Dionysus Zagreus came up to me.
”What’s wrong? You’re not having fun!”
”Forgive me, Zagreus, but I’m worried about [Anthos].”
”Whatever is placed in my care is cared for. You know that.”
”I do, Zagreus. But he is supposed to be at [the other grove still open to the sky]. And I’ve followed him here.”
Dionysus Zagreus took my hand and said he would lead me to Anthos. As we went deeper into the heart of the labyrinth, the ‘play’ around us became rougher. The skin of Dionysus Zagreus started falling off in chunks and slabs revealing worms underneath. But this did not frighten me as Dionysus Zagreus has always been an Underworld figure to me.
In the heart of the underworld labyrinth, where the dismembered pieces of men are brought by crazed maenads, was a large blood stained marble block. Lying on that block was Anthos, sleeping peacefully amid the still warm viscera. (Gawd, what a beautiful man is Anthos!) It took me a moment to realize the maenads were keeping the naked sleeper warm by the fading warmth of their gathered sacrifices.
”Here he is. Safe and sound. Now that you are here, you can lead him back to the surface.”
The blood slicked hand left my grip easy as I protested. ”Now wait a damn minute! I’m no Orpheus! And I know how that myth ends!”
”No. You’re not, [Weaver]. Which means you should have more sense, yes? You are correct, [Anthos] does not belong here. Not yet. Lead him back, but do not turn around or let go of his hand once you start. Have trust in me that your path back will not be occulted.” The voice of Dionysus Zagreus changed into the roaring of lions, the chittering of roaches, the crunching of hyenas, and the slick wet sound of pus covered flesh in movement. ”Oh. And don’t run. He can’t move as fast as you can.”
(I hate escort quests.)
I gently shook Anthos to partial wakefulness. He mumbled something asking me not to eat him right away. I wondered what he saw of me as I had partially transformed as Dionysus Zagreus led me. I gripped the barely aware man’s hand and started leading him out via the direction I came in.
I was prepared for all sorts of phantasms and hallucinations meant to separate me from my charge, but for me, the way back to the surface groves was dull as fuck. Nothing happened to me.
Anthos, however, was horrified by visions and pulled against me constantly. I wanted to stop and comfort him but I understood this was his part of the ordeal. I kept my grip as commanded and soon we were at the entrance.
A woman dressed in linen made from spider silk greeted us as we emerged into filtered daylight. I had transformed back into naked-woman-with-jaguar-pelt. Anthos was sobbing but starting to recover. The woman had wine mixed with water brought to us.
I started to drink but thought of a thing and stopped Anthos from drinking. ”What river has this water been drawn from?”
The woman said nothing as she smiled her answer but had our mixed wine taken and replaced with unmixed wine. Not wanting to be rude, I toasted her and Dionysus Zagreus and took a polite sip.
It knocked my ass out at once.
Don’t know how Anthos handled the divine vintage.