Dream: Sly & Sweetness

Date: 5/6/2021

I was someone who trained special animals that had abilities. Like a ferret that could stealth in somewhere and steal things with ease, no matter the size. Or a skunk that could spray a sweet perfume that would charm anyone to do what it wanted. Among others. As I worked with these animals I had met a young woman named Molly. She had bouncy blond hair and big indigo eyes. With freckles just under her eyes. She was maybe 5'6" with a toned, athletic build. She ended up being the owner of the establishment I worked at. She would chat with me now and again. Not even about the work, just to talk. I had a feeling she didn't get out much. As the weeks went by the ferret and skunk I worked with both began occasionally slipping out of their little spaces so they could follow me out of the lab. The skunk eventually was named 'Sweetness' and the ferret eventually named 'Sly' both names given by Molly. She ended up buying me a backpack I could wear that was sturdy enough for them to both sit in so they could watch me work. I was very grateful that on top of their abilities they also had minimal odor. As the time went on, the facility eventually had to relocate and many of the animals were rehabilitated back into the wild so they could be with their own kind. Sweetness and Sly ended up just staying with me. One day I had gotten a call on my day off. Molly was frantic on the other end of the call. Saying stuff about a break-in and some missing animals. "I can't find them Seren. Among the lost animals, I can't find Sweetness or Sly." She told me. I felt my heart twinge with worry, "I'm sure they'll be fine. Those two will protect each other. They'll turn up." She continued explaining and I told her I'd be there to help as soon as I could. Once the call ended I felt a familiar bit of fluff cozy up against my leg. I looked down to see Sweetness and Sly both staring up at me. Innocent eyes and all as they patted my backpack they'd dragged to me. "You two must be careful about doing that. Poor Molly was worried sick." I told them. I pet their heads and headed to the kitchen so I could get them some water. "You know she's not as innocent as she seems right?" "Molly is very kind. How could you--" I froze and slowly turned to face the voice. Where once sat Sweetness and Sly now sat a young woman and a young man. The young woman had amber eyes with long black hair and white bangs. She had an average build but something told me she could hold her own in a fight. Her clothing was like the typical skater punk you'd see in the old 80s films. The man had a toned, athletic build with an even tan and bright eyes. He had messy brown hair that was maybe just about 2 or 3 inches long. He wore similar clothing to his companion. Both seemed completely relaxed. "Who...are you?" "I'm Lara, better known by you as Sweetness." The woman said as she tied back her hair with a hair tie that had been on her wrist. "And I'm Ruiz. But you're quite welcome to keep calling me Sly." He said with a wink. "Save the flirtations for later Ruiz." Lara told him. "This...how..." My head was spinning. The two helped me to a chair as I tried to wrap my head around this. "We're part of an old clan of shifters. People able to take on animal forms and gain special abilities tied to the forms they take. We don't usually know right away the form we'll be capable of but after the Dream-Walk we learn it." Lara explained and knelt before me, looking in my eyes, "You're a truly good person Seren. We need your help." "How could I be of any help?" I asked, still trying to understand. "Help us free our brethren from Molly's clutches. Her people have been tracking our kind for over a decade. You cracked the code to finding us. She needs you to be able to do that. We need you to help us get our kin from their confined spaces." Ruiz told me firmly. I gulped quietly. That water I had almost gotten them was starting to sound real good now. I took in a steadying breath and counted down from ten in my mind. "So... you two are what... siblings?" I asked and they shook their heads, "So just clan members?" They both nodded, "And you've been pretending to just be animals all this time to... find a way to save your fellow clan members?" "That about sums it up." Ruiz said with a smirk. He shot me another wink which caused Lara to flick his forehead. "So, will you help us?" Lara asked me. I awoke before I could answer.