Out of the Briar Patch

22.02.2011

The Girl and the Lynx (Non-lucid)

NON-DREAM DREAM LUCID

It's daylight, and I'm walking along a footpath on the University of Missouri campus. This sidewalk passes through some trees in a cove surrounded by three buildings; off to my right is the Chemistry building that I know well from childhood.

There's a girl with me; I have no idea who she is, and indeed I don't even recall what she looks like or what name she goes by. But we are walking together, side by side, and she is important for some reason.

As we near the trees, the girl spots a White Hawk resting on some low-lying branches overhead. I tell her that the Hawk has lived here for years (a dream memory), and the girl seems to agree that this must be the case. I walk carefully as we pass under the branches.

The path now passes between two buildings; up ahead is an open grassy area where, perhaps 30 meters away, stands the girl's father. At his feat lies a Lynx or young Lion, I cannot determine which, exactly. The girl steps forward towards her dad, and I follow closely behind. Her dad seems quite nice, and we all chat for a few minutes.

My attention, however, is fixated on that big, wild cat at our feet. It bares its long canines to show me that it can tear me to pieces if I make a wrong move. I'd like to think I could fend it off somehow if necessary, but it's probably best to avoid angering it in the first place. I grow wary, but the girl's dad says not to worry, just tread lightly and the cat won't harm me.

I take his advice, and all three of us walk further along the sidewalk to a parking lot where the girl's dad has parked his car. And as we do, I can practically feel the cat's eyes on my back--watching attentively--as I walk away.

When we arrive at the car there is a momentary question of who should take the passenger seat. I offer it up to the girl, but her dad insists I ride up front with him. The dream ends here, but I am left with the weird feeling that I had just been speaking with my dad, though the girl was most certainly not my sister. How strange.

(Wake.)