Trying to find someone’s real location based on their location in the dreamworld was not too hard for a dreamwalker. What made it difficult in this instance was the proximity of the dreamweaver. Cat did not wish to draw it’s attention. Dreamwalkers could blend themselves into the fabric of the dream, hide themselves, from other dream creatures, dreamwalkers, and dreamers alike, however it required a bit more skill than Cat had, especially in the presence of a dreamweaver. Cat did not wish to engage it in battle, not directly.

The safest thing to do was get Sirius as close to his body as possible and then wake him up. It would both give her a better estimate of his exact location and minimise the attention of the dreamweaver.

They walked side by side in silence for awhile.

Eventually Sirius spoke. “Hey, if by chance we don’t get out of here...”

“Save it,” Cat butted in.

He opened his mouth to continue, but Cat beat him to it.

“I said I don’t want to hear it.”

He sighed, was quiet for several seconds, and then suddenly blurted out, “I’m sorry,”

Cat turned to look at him with her teeth gritted and jaw clenched. A furious look on her face.

When she didn’t say anything Sirius continued. “I’m sorry for leaving you with dad.”

Her posture relaxed a little. “That was years ago.”

But he could see the pain in her eyes. He knew by the way she still occasionally brought it up, that no matter what she might say, she hadn’t forgotten what it had felt like to have him just up and leave.

After a moment of staring at each other Cat turned and said softy, “Come on.”

They walked in silence once more.

When they reached what felt like the right destination to Cat, she turned and looked at him once more.

“I’m going to send you back, but only partially, just for a moment. I need you to look around and tell me what you see. I can’t maintain that sort of connection for long so you need to be quick okay. Plus it might draw the attention of it so I won’t be able to hang around long after.”

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Sirius nodded.

“Okay, here we go.”

Sirius’s image faded from her view but she could still feel him there, half asleep in the other world. She called to him.

“Where are you? What do you see?”

He was already fading. She could feel it.

“I don’t know,” he replied “There’s a web.” He shook his head, corrected himself. “Like a web. We’re caught. I can see light through a window, and the ground but it’s up higher. I think we’re in a basement.”

It was then that he cut off and Cat found herself pulled back. She flew past another mind, one in trouble.

The next thing she knew she was kneeling back in the hallway. A quick glance around confirmed everyone else was there and all were awake. But that mind she had flown past, that had been Kass.

“Give me a few more seconds,” Cat spoke to the hallway, before she closed her eyes and entered the dreamworld once more.

She looked for Kass this time. The one person she hadn’t yet made sure was okay. If she had woken Sirius, which she hoped she had, then she might have a chance to wake Kass too.

She returned to the point where she thought she’d felt Kass but there was nothing. It was a good place to start though. She reached out cautiously, not wanting to draw the attention of the dreamweaver. Had it kicked her out? Or she done that on her own? She wasn’t sure. Kass and Coal were right, she needed to practice her own powers more.

Finally she found her.

Kass was on the floor curled in the fetal position. Her clothing was torn with tiny bloody rips. Her white blouse now looked like it had been designed with small read spots. Her stockings were ruined, shredded by something with tiny teeth. Her face was hidden in her arms.

Cat knelt next to her. “Kass?”

At Cat’s touch Kass jerked away in terror, breathing heavily. After a few metres of movement Kass looked up and paused. She stared at Cat hesitantly. Then her gaze darted to the left and the right. She sat up straighter and hugged her arms across her body.

“Are you alright?” Cat asked cautiously.

Kass didn’t answer. She still looked at Cat warily as if trying to decide if the woman was real or not.

Cat decided she didn’t have time to comfort her. Kass was resilient, she’d deal. Cat spoke firmly and directly to her. “I’m going to wake you up okay? Wherever you are we’re coming for you okay? I got a location when I sent Sirius back so just stay put, but keep out of trouble.”

Kass nodded to show she understood.

Kass hadn’t wandered too far so Cat took a risk and woke her from there. As she did she felt a chill run down her spine, like there were eyes on her back. Kass was gone but there was something else here now instead. Cat could feel it.

For some time she did not move, doing her best to stay invisible. Around her the world shifted.

Vast plains spread out in all directions. Strange crooked trees grew sparsely amongst waist high yellow grass. It was scenery Cat had only ever seen in books. This was not her world anymore. Someone else was in control.