Visions (T, Summoning)

A peaceful day of meditation was in the works for Kalix. He was at the altar doing his morning rituals as he did every day. However soon he would find out that today was unlike other days. A few minutes after the ninja sat down and began his meditation he found himself unable to clear his mind. Yes his mind was clear of all of his thoughts but it was as though a mist was clouding his mind. It was empty, it was a peaceful feeling yet a feeling of uncertainty. Kalix did not know what to think of this meditation. He did not see himself ever feeling like this before. So in a moment he would open his eyes. But when he tried to get himself out of his meditation he couldn’t. His eyes wouldn’t stop from looking into the abyss into his mind. Something wasn’t right about this meditation. It was almost as though it was a dream that Kalix could not get out of. He would be in this state for a few more minutes. HE would panic at first. He would panic and his breaths would get faster. Once he calmed down he then could open his eyes.

[WC: 205, 205/2000 words for Crow Summoning contract, 1 stat for my work]

The next when Kalix was training some new techniques he would head done the shrine again to do some meditation. When he sat down and he feel into his trance. He would notice that this time it was almost immediate. He hand no time to react to it or even try to resist the pull of it. He was trapped. Kalix was not as panicked as he was the first time but he was sent into this shadowy plane from last time. Kalix would realize that there was no getting out of this. So he decided to open his mind  for the time being. Maybe there was something that this place could teach the genin. Maybe there was something he could learn. As Kalix would begin to open his mind to these things he would start to feel even more sensations that he did earlier. The biggest was the weight on his shoulder, it was unbearable, but it was there. Kalix didn’t know if it was in his dream or in reality but in either case he would just try to let it happen. After a few more moments he would feel a breath. Startled by the presence he would awake to his trance, nothing was there.

(WC: 207; 412 to Crow summoning contract, 1 stat for my work)

Every day of meditation became more like this. With each passing day he would go down to the shrine to meditate and without warning the visions of the shadow would emerge. There was nothing stopping him actually sitting down to meditate, but he was interested now more than ever about this. Whether it was his own psyche or some other entity causing these visions Kalix wanted to know more about what was happening to the himself. He would continue to meditate through the morning hours. The shadows in his vision would become larger, so large that he would he would envision himself moving around. Anywhere he went in this dream world was utterly the same. Just cloudy darkness would engulf him even more until something would take him out of his trance. It was a shocking sound coming from his ears. HE couldn’t quite figure it out what it was supposed to be. But he wouldn’t be able to stop himself from waking up after he would hear it. Any attempts to reenter this world the same day would end horribly. HE wouldn’t be able to meditate at all anymore so he would have to wait for the next day to try again.
One day he was feeling ever more focused to find out the mystery. This time he would do his best to stay in the vision through the sound. This day was cloudily as though it was going to rain later. Today was his chance to finish this riddle.
When he finally began to meditate that day he noticed something was off. He could feel as though his whole body was within the vision. He couldn’t see any of his body. But it was as though he could feel every sensation as if they were there.
Kalix had an idea. While he didn’t know what that might do he decided that he would try to complete leave the world that his body was in and engulf himself completely in this abyss. He knew that he could feel his body, so he decided that he would sit down and meditate within his dream. He would make his body sit on the ground. The ground was wet, like mud, but Kalix didn’t think that far ahead. After a few moments, he would imagine his eyes shutting and him begin to meditate. At the very moment that he began his meditation he saw it….

[WC: 403; 815/2000 for Crow Summoning contract, 2 stats for my work.

“Welcome” said the figure.
Kalix was shocked to see a crow appearing to him on a branch. When he opened his eyes during his meditation he saw a small crow appearing. The crow did not look surprised or try to fly away, it was as calm as it could be. Perhaps this was just another layer of the dream Kalix had thought of during his meditation.
At first it was all that he could see but as he waited moment after moment he would see more trees dotting this area. It was like he was in a forest. He could see it in full color. It was no blurred like normal dreams would be. It was like he was viewing it and experiencing the full intensity of the dream. He could feel his body now and could hear the trees blowing in the wind. He could feel the wet earth under him and smell the earthy area around him. It was completely immersive. Kalix would stand up from his meditation pose he entered this world in and look around. It appeared as though he was in a clearly of sorts. The crow that welcomed him was like a footmen guarding the entrance back into the forest. This trance had become very real. He could feel himself breathing faster and his heart beating  because of what was happening. He half expected that he would wake up from this trance back to the hidden mist.

“Relax” he heard coming from the direction of the Crow. He would look towards that direction and see no humans around him. It must have come from somewhere close. So he looked around to see if he could find this person.
“I am right here” said the voice. He would turn towards the direction of the sound back to the crow. Kalix would assume that the person was coming from behind the tree that the crow was perched on and try to move that direction. But he realized that he couldn’t move. When he tried to put his foot forward it was as though it was attached to the ground now and he couldn’t move. Then Kalix finally had the realization.
“You, you are the one talking” said Kalix to the crow.
“Very good, yes.” Replied the crow who would expand his wings upward and fly to a higher branch. Kalix would flinch a bit but his body wouldn’t move. IT was as though his body was frozen in this exact spot.
“Relax” said the crow again as he landed on the branch. The crow was about at the height Kalix was. Now the crow was looking straight towards him and eye level. Kalix would grunt and try to move his body but every attempt to move would end in failure.
“You cannot move until you Relax” said the crow. Kalix could now see how he talked. As the crow would open his beak the words would come out of his mouth. Kalix would begin to breathe ever more calmly as the crow told him to relax. IT was harder than it looked for Kalix. His mind was thinking a million thoughts in a moment as he was trying to relax.
“We have all the time we need for you to Relax” said the crow again. It was as though the bird could read his mind. Kalix thought that maybe this was an illusion or some sort of genjutsu that he was trapped under. At that moment Kalix would feel a sharp pain his mind as his body began to feel heavy. His heart and his breath would become more rapid as this happened. The crow began to speak again.
“You must Relax Kalix” The crow said to him. “There is no other way around it; you must Relax”. The crow knew of Kalix. This was by far the most surprising thing that Kalix had heard this far. The crow had completely immobilized him and knew his name. What other secrets were hiding within this dream.
“You must accept what is happening to you. I will wait” said the crow again. Kalix began to understand what was happening. IT was just like before in the first meditation. He must accept what is happening for him to move forward. Otherwise there was nothing he could do. As minute by minute passed Kalix began to accept what was happening here. HE would end his thoughts and begin to calm down his body.
“Better” said the crow. “You are beginning to relax. Now try and move again.” Kalix would try to raise his hand up to his face. At first he would think about how he was going to do it  but mid thought he was interrupted.
“The more you think the less you can relax.” The crow would say. It was as though the crow was able to read his mind. He would try to relax even further. AS he would the pain in mind we grow number and number with each passing moment. He was beginning to regain control of his body and his composure was beginning to come back to him.
“Almost” said the crow. And with that there was nothing that changed. Kalix would accept what was happening to him and let everything just be. At that very moment his body was freed. He could move his arms again and he was able to speak back to the crow. “It was genjutsu?!” he asked the crow.
“Yes” replied the bird. “Now come with me Kalix, there is much to discuss.” The crow would spread his wings and fly to next nearest branch and look back at Kalix urging him to follow. Kalix would move forward passing under the branch that the crow was sitting on. Once he passed through he could lights shining through the other branches and many other crows all perched on several other branches throughout this forest.
When Kalix finally reached the branch the crow was standing on the crow would fly further down the path further into the forest. The crows around him would begin to look at Kalix as he passed them. They would not speak but they would just look at him. There were so many of them. Some were small and some were larger.
After a few minutes of this continuing they would arrive at a nest like structure. The crow would enter and Kalix would follow. HE would see several perches with many large crows in the semi circle surrounding a large scroll with various names written in blood on it.
The crow that was guiding Kalix would land on the empty perch and begin to speak. “My name is Bryne and welcome to the forest of dreams.” Kalix would begin to understand what this was now.
“We have taken note of your thought patterns and your meditations and invite you to make a deal.” Said the crow to Kalix and then looked down at the scroll.
“You will meditate here so that we may grow stronger, in exchange you may use our flock. Our many abilities will be at your disposal should you require our aid. As you spend your time here the flock will come to respect you. Some will be easier to convince than others but our power is well worth the effort. Will you accept our bargain?” Said Bryne.
Kalix would think about this for a few minutes. He had many questions for the crows surrounding him. But then he realized something. The crows had acknowledged his hard and dedication, was this a sign of what was to come?
Kalix would take it as an honor and accepted their offer with a nod.
“Very good Kalix, now hold out your thumb on the branch next to you.”
Kalix would extend his arm out towards a small piece of wood extended just far enough that Kalix would rest his hand on. Bryne would fly towards his hand and land on his forearm. A moment later the crow would peck down at his thumb opening a cut. The bird would then fly back to his perch. “Now sign the scroll in your name so that the ritual may be complete.”
Nodding Kalix would sign the scroll in his name, writing “Kalix Terumi” on the scroll. Once he was finish the scroll would vanish in a small puff of smoke.
“When you meditate you will return back here, it will not be as difficult as it was this time.” The crow would say as the other crows would begin to fly out of the next. “When you arrive find a place to meditate and a crow will arrive. Once you accept them the crow will perch itself on your shoulder. You will give the crow some of your chakra so that they may grow.” The crow would say to Kalix.
“Another thing, while you may feel like you are here it is only your mind. Only meditate when you can be sure your physical body won’t be disturbed.”
Kalix would nod again, understanding what the crow was saying to him.
“This session is over. The next time you come here I will be your guide. I expect your return shortly.” The crow would  fly out of the house and as he did he would feel a release. He was back in the hidden mist village. He would look down at his hand and see a large cut bleeding  from his thumb. The whole experience was real. He would stand and make his way home. His body was wet and his bad appeared to be musty. How long was he gone?

(WC: 1603; REquesting 2418/2000 words for Crow Summoning Contract and 8 stats for my work. )