The sun above was blocked from sight by thick, dark clouds, and the entire city was cast in a bleak gray light. I slowly stood, and took in the towering buildings that sprawled out for miles and miles. The sidewalk was crammed with all kinds of people and spirits, short and tall, young and old, humans and... not. There were people with antennae, people who looked made of bark, or water, or flowers.

 Creatures large and small roaming about, some completely covered in fur, some without a single hair on their body. There were see-through people, though they felt quite solid (I would know, I bumped into a few of them); Things with many arms or legs or eyes. Some with no limbs at all. There were fairies and elves and even a group of merfolk lounging in a fountain as I passed.

 I didn't realize it, but I was about to learn much more about Somnium and it's so-called realms.

 The city at first seemed modern with its sky-high buildings glowing with neon lights and electric billboard screens but after looking around, it seemed to belong to no specific time; a plane that looked like a model from the 1940's flew overhead, alongside silver drone craft. There were steam-engines and electric trains to be heard speeding along rails throughout the city. Cars of all sorts of models and ages roamed about; their owners seeming to choose whether to drive on the left or on the right, some drove straight in the middle of the street! They were everywhere and I really didn't understand why there was truly any need for the white line that usually separated traffic.

 Pedestrians weaved in and out of the streets and sidewalks. Everything was full of people and colors, smells and noise, that I found myself completely lost within seconds.

 The entire city was its own special kind of organized chaos.

 I just had to figure out how to navigate it...

 A flash of white to my right had me glancing over and- There!

 It was the horned rabbit, scampering through the crowd. I was confident it had led me here, and for a reason no-doubt. My eyes strained as I tried to keep it in sight, and began wriggling my way through the crowd.

 "Excuse me... sorry.... coming through..."

 The rabbit was running away, and I was being swept away in the tide of people. I grunted and pushed to work my way out, ducking under arms and purses and scarfs, apologizing to the occasional stranger whose foot I had just stepped on. It seemed futile to apologize though; the people would shout something (usually angrily), like "watch it", or "ow" and always just kept walking, not even pausing to look back.

 I made my way through the blinding, ever growing mass of strangers, and burst out into the middle of the road, causing many cars and bikes to swerve.

 There was too much of... everything. I turned on the spot, trying to seek out the bunny creature that had caused me such curiosity. It took a few moments, but eventually I spotted it across the street, hopping away.

 "Hey!" I shouted, and it turned its head, whiskers twitching. Then it took off again, towards into another tidal wave of people heading in the opposite direction. I swore I could hear that tinkling laughter again, even from all the way over there.

 "Wait!" I said, and took chase. "Stop!"

 Something grabbed the end of my tank top though, and yanked me backwards before I could take more than a few steps.

 I was pulled against a warm body, and a low voice spoke in my ear. I didn't have to turn to know who it was; the stone talisman felt like it was burning a hole through my pocket.

 "What are you doing here?" He asked, sounding frighteningly calm.

 A lump formed in my throat as I turned to look at the boy from the woods. The boy from the stone. What was I doing here? Hadn't I told Solace I would go home?

"Who are you?" I said instead, feeling like telling this guy I was chasing a magical bunny through worlds wasn't the best idea.

 He ignored my question, his scowl deepening (I didn't even think that was possible), and began yanking me along down the street.

 Well if that didn't feel familiar...

 Seriously though, who is this guy?!

 "Torin?! Is that you?" came a pleasant female voice from a large crowd of people. A beautiful girl suddenly broke through, wearing a colorful dress-like cloth draped all around her body, like a modern, rainbow toga. She had skin the color of milk chocolate and deep brown hair.

 Her eyes, of deepest blue, passed right over me before they set on my strange acquaintance... She ran towards him and laughed, and it was such a bright sound I found myself wanting to smile.

 The strangest thing was that Mr. Grumpy actually cracked a smile of his own. Now that was a sight to see.

 "Torin!" she squealed, and I raised a brow.

 So that's his name. Torin...

 I smirked, feeling a bit too smug about the fact I now knew something about the strange boy.

 "It's been too long!" She exclaimed as she practically jumped into his arms. "How have you been?"

 For the first time since I'd met... Torin... (which hadn't been long ago, but that wasn't the point) I'd never seen him look dumbfounded. Until now.

 I cracked a grin, not sure why it gave me such pleasure to see him squirm.

 "I- uh..." He started, then glanced at me, frustration and a bit of embarrassment shining in his dark eyes. I snorted, and covered my mouth before the girl could notice. I just raised an eyebrow at Torin who rolled his eyes, a silent conversation seeming to pass between us in the span of a few seconds.

 I nodded towards the girl. Who's this?
He lowered his brows in answer, which I interpreted as an "I can't tell you anything because bla bla bla".

 The girl followed Torin's gaze, and I didn't even blush when she turned and found me shamelessly staring and listening in on their would-be conversation. I mean, could it even be considered eavesdropping if the conversation never started?

 "Hello...?" I murmured, a bit unsure of what to do. It wasn't like I could just be like, oh hi, I'm just some girl who apparently isn't supposed to even be in this world but, you know, somehow I do everything I'm told not to, and now your broody friend has found me again, and probably intends on shoving me into a pond that's actually a portal or something to kick me out and send me home for good.

 The girl giggled. "Oh, you're too funny."

 "Uh... thank you... I think?" I replied, extremely confused now. I'd only said hello.

 She glanced at Torin and pursed her lips. "Who's your friend?"

 "We aren't friends," we both said at the same time, before glancing at each other in surprise. My mouth twitched upwards. The girl nodded slowly, glancing towards me with a different kind of curiosity. It was cautious, almost afraid, but also... hopeful? I opened my mouth but quickly snapped it shut— something told me it would be best to stay quiet.

 Torin tapped his foot impatiently. "Listen, Koral, it's amazing to see you, I just—"

 "Have to go," she sighed, waving him off. "As always."

 She glanced at me, her dark pupils dilating to twice their normal size.

 My lips tilted downwards; I found myself feeling strangely sorry for this girl. Then I got a sudden idea that I couldn't seem to shake off. Maybe she could come too...

 "Oh, that's an excellent idea!" Koral exclaimed. "I'm coming with you," she announced, to which Torin was already shaking his head (as predicted).

 "Absolutely not."

 Koral ignored him completely, grabbing my hand and skipping along in the direction we had been headed. "So, where are we going?"

 I laughed, overwhelmed by her sudden appearance and (mostly) how she now acted like we had known each other for years. "Probably to someplace where I can get home. Your friend back there already isn't the happiest right now with me knowing this much about Somnium and I think he wants me back in my world as fast as possible."

 Koral smiled widely. "So you really are human!" A pause. "You shouldn't take it personally," she explained as we slowed to a walk. "There are certain problems right now in Somnium, and having you here would put everyone in danger, not to mention yourself. Or at least, according to the council." Her gaze darkened for a moment, but she was happy as ever again before I could really focus on it.

 "Anyways, don't worry about my broody friend," she winked.

 My jaw went a bit slack. Her broody friend. Didn't that sound familiar.

 "Come on Wren!" Koral shouted from up ahead. That was strange... I hadn't even noticed her leave my side.

 I shook my head, my smile returning as I jogged over to her, not even pausing to wonder about how she knew my name.