Dreamt I was chilling with a mighty and terrible spirit. It was letting me snooze on it. I remarked that it was so still, I looked like a vulnerable adventurer lying exposed on a rock face.
Perfect bait, yes?
It chuckled in agreement.
A young spirit, new and naive, saw a warm place to cuddle up to and approached me with intent of taking advantage of my apparent exposure.
The youngun touched my foot and the “rock dome and outcropping” I was lying on split into a field of vicious grins and protruding teeth.
I did not move as the greater spirit made its threat display. Even as a crown of teeth gapped over my head, I kept calm and still.
The youngun squealed in fright and clung to my foot in fear as its path of retreat had become a series of open maws.
“Leave the kid alone. It only wants cuddles.”
The mouths mostly closed.
I beckoned the youngun to my arms and examined it closely as it tried to hide in the crook of my elbow. “I think you two would get along, actually.” The greater spirit grunted in reluctant agreement.
“Settle down, kid. It’s nap time.”
The mouths closed completely and the surface resumed it’s silent guard. The youngun moved from the “safety” of my arm towards my face.
A football sized mouth opened under it and hissed a sound like broken glass shifting. Jagged teeth surrounded my face and it was hard to keep still in my humor as the youngun buried itself between my arm and torso in fright.
“First lesson, kid. This guy calls the shots here. And it’s territorial and possessive. You’re gonna have to settle for what you’ve been allowed to have for now.”
The youngun whined in acceptance and the greater snapped its mouth shut in the grumpiest way possible.
“Don’t you talk shit, I’ve seen you in your nascent era. You literally looked like a fuzzy plop of shit with manners to match.”
The youngun vibrated with laughter as the greater growled its rebuttal. With a warning grunt the greater spirit tolerated the youngun remaining in my arms.
We slept well.