Karma wanders through the forest alone until a winged being finds him. Karma enjoyed the nicer place to stay

——

Human DreamSwap

Karma looked up at the clear blue sky, feeling the urge to curse at all known gods for what was happening to him. He supposed he could start with himself, since he technically was one now. He did accept Reaper's offer after all.

Speaking of, were Reaper variants cursed or something? Or was it just when it pertained to him? Serves him right for being too friendly, this definitely felt like a punishment.

Out of all the reasons he was currently displeased, the main one was being in a human body again. It had been too long since he had reincarnated as one and he definitely preferred his skeleton body....Well, he wasn't quite as human as before, so that was a small plus. For some reason his wings were still here, making him happy his best feature had stayed with him.

His body wasn't the only issue he had with his situations. While he could get used to it, as he did before, the wings counted as a major problem as well. While monsters could be cruel he had observed how much harsher humans could be to their own kind. Especially if they were different. Hopefully when he further checked out the new place he was in others would look similar.... or his stay was going to get rather uncomfortable.

Out of all the species he had been in his life, he was certain that humans were the most savage he had met. It hardly took much to push them over the edge and mob mentality was horrifying to witness. Perhaps he was being pessimistic, but he knew too much to push that thought away.

Leaning against a tree he tried to get used to how he could feel the air travel into his lungs....it was a tad gross. Looking at his hands again he frowned at how squishy they felt. There was too much give for his liking and he was kind of terrified he was going to break his new limbs.

While skeleton monsters were not solid and did have some give to their bones, it was nothing like this. He shivered when he swore he felt his new organs, in a space he was used to being empty. It was a good thing he had been human before, otherwise he would be nowhere near as calm about this. He doubted even Ink would enjoy this experience.

Feeling he had spent enough time wallowing, he decided to try and open his inventory space. That turned out to be a big mistake when a burning sensation took over his body....Just how weak was this body? While most would have stopped at the pain Karma persevered and grabbed a mirror, so he could at least see his new form. Holding the object in his hand he took a deep breath then put it near his face.

Huh....not as bad as he was expecting. He was very pale and even his hair was pure white. It made him feel much more comfortable in his body, as it reminded him of his bone colour. Now his new eyes were going to be another issue. His left eye had a dark red iris, that was darker then he had seen in albinos but he could still work with it. It was his usual unlit socket that worried him.

He could still see out of it, even with the bizarrely white iris. He was sure at first glance he would look blind, making him bemoan at another thing others would judge him for. He had barely been here ten minutes and the problems just kept mounting.

He put the mirror back and cursed at his lack of food. That last world had been rather devoid of the specific food he ate and he refused to test his tolerances to new food again. At least the Sin Ink didn't try and force feed him. His wings fell when he realised his magic feedings would be stopped again.

He started fiddling with his scarf, trying to think what to do, when his fingers brushed over the cookie pin. He brought it closer to his face and eyed it suspiciously. It looked like a shiny jewel in the light but he was sure it had lit up while he was in the Void. He was getting more suspicious of it and was almost tempted to throw it, but he hesitated.

He didn't know why but he received so much comfort from the tiny item, even if he got it under strange circumstances. His instincts didn't warn him it was dangerous and they had never failed him before.....also it was very shiny and his inner bird did not like the idea of getting rid of it but he pretended that didn't play a part at all.

Now he had to drag himself to the nearest settlement, to at least gather some basic info. He was glad his clothes still fit, even if they felt baggier than before. Ignoring that he sensed where the nearest SOUL was and hissed when he felt the multitude of others surrounding it. Taking a deep breath he walked closer, using the trees as support . He was pleased his luck wasn't absolutely terrible as it didn't take long to hear voices.

Making sure to hide behind the tree, he stuck his head out and looked over at the other beings. Looking between them he saw no one monsters but he also didn't see any others with wings either. Their clothes were thankfully similar enough to his but he doubted that would be the main focus, if he suddenly appeared. Their SOULS, while human, felt weirdly charged. Just where had he ended up?

Closing his eyes he focused on his magic, tapping into his role. He had thankfully braced for it, so wasn't surprised when his SOUL shreaked at him at how wrong this place was. He would need to put up some more barriers in order to survive this place it seems. With one last glance at the bustling town he moved away, delving deeper into the forest, making sure to change direction whenever he felt a SOUL.

This pattern continued over the following days and he had never been so pleased for his role. The selection of food to eat on the other hand, was non-existent and he didn't want to harm any animals just to feed his odd body. He would just have to get used to surviving on ambient magic again and thanks to Pale, he could even grab a little extra.

The further it got for him needing to avoid other SOULS, the more he could focus on himself. He grew more annoyed with this new body and how weak it was. It seemed everything irritated it and he accumulated a large collection of scrapes and bruises over time. Were human bodies really this weak?

Another strange fact was the odd marking on his skin. They became more obvious with all the dirt that got on him but he seemed to be covered in a multitude of light scars. He didn't remember his bones having any issue but to be fair he did not really look at them that much. His wings were much more interesting to him.

Talking about them he looked them over and saw how many twigs and leaves had gotten tangled in them. He had noticed he had lost even more feathers lately and doubted he would be able to fly any time soon. It seems the process to make him human took a lot of energy.

He did have some accomplishments though. He was proud of getting better at gauging his grip and strength. He had to put a lot less strength when picking up things, as his skin was helpful in grabbing items.

He was sure this odd little life would continue, till he was found or he somehow managed to leave, but it seems the universe loved throwing surprises at him. He had thought it was a mistake when he first felt a burning SOUL, near the edge of his senses. He had mistaken it for a few powerful humans or even a powerful magical user. He was sure there had to be some users in the world, with how receptive others SOULS felt for wielding magic.

When the burning SOUL started to get closer he grew worried. Even when he changed direction it automatically went straight towards him. Just what had he attracted towards him now? He knew he couldn't out run it, as even his walking had gotten much slower lately. He should have probably slept more but he didn't feel safe in this strange place. He cursed when it appeared right behind him and hastily turned, ending up falling onto his back.

Looking up his eyes narrowed on the glowing sword, before spotting the golden wings. He pushed himself further away from it until he was blocked by a tree, nervous at what the other was going to do. For now it seemed the other was happy to stay where they were, so he tried to look over them discreetly. As soon as his eyes landed on their circlet he wanted to cry in relief. Sensing their SOUL deeper his idea was finalised and he knew this was a variant of Dream. At least he had some familiarity, in this weird world.

His eyes flickered over their form and observed how golden their hair and eyes looked. That didn't seem quite natural as he was sure humans had to dye their hair for that. He looked at where their chest was and thought it could have to do with how bright their SOUL was. It was similar to Oneiros but their expression was too neutral to be his variant.

He flinched when he saw them move towards him and thought he spotted something flicker in their eyes. A sinking sensation grew as he realised it was going to be even harder to tell what others were feeling now. He had spent over 500 years with monsters and now he was going to have to get used to this... this would only end badly.

When he heard them chirp he was puzzled. Could humans even make that sound naturally?....was he even in a human body or something new? Either way the familiar sound calmed his growing nerves and he timidly chirped back in response, while not taking his eyes off the sword. It was in the perfect position to hurt him and he made sure to tuck his wings, to prevent any damage occurring to them.

He supposed he could use his magic to defend himself but after the inventory incident he was a bit wary to try again. He would rather not combust his new body with too much magic. He had witnessed too many human mages grow too cocky with their powers and ignore their bodies warnings. He doubted it would kill him but he didn't want to be in pain either.

When the sword disappeared, some of his tension left and his curiosity grew. It seems magic was known at least but he doubted everyone was like this being. They reached his spot rather quickly and looked down into his eyes. Just as he was about to start fidgeting they dropped down onto their knees and grabbed his face, with both hands. The touch was surpsingly gentle and made his skin feel tingly.

He was unsure what they were doing but it didn't hurt, so he let them be. Growing bored with this position his eyes wandered to their wings. He moved his right wing to gently tap the others and cooed at how they contrasted. Pushing against it again he giggled at the buzzing feeling that travelled through his feathers.

He was about to do it again when spots filled his vision and dizziness overtook him. When it calmed down he took note that he was now being held in the others arms. Karma wondered if he had gotten smaller or if this Dream was just big. He could feel how high up he was lifted, just to be near the Dreams neck.

He whined at how bizarre this body was and was startled when a hand combed through his hair. His head was pushed into the others shoulders, giving him a chance to rest. He chirped when he felt the fluffy parts of their jacket and rubbed his whole face against it. He didn't care if it was getting dirty, they picked him up with no warning so they would have to deal with it.

All light suddenly vanished and his eyes could not see anything. Was this body malfunctioning already? He felt a tad embarrassed when he realised it was just something covering him. He was ready to push off the fabric on top of him when a hand pushed his head back to their neck and a voice rang out.

"Be quiet, little one. It will only be for a moment, then you can look"

He settled down, calming after realising the other had done this. His senses thankfully still worked, so he wasn't too worried at being surprised. He wound his arms around the others neck and purred at their warmth. He probably should have taken out some warmer clothes from his inventory but he didn't realise how cold it had gotten. He needed to find a book about this new body fast, as now that he paid attention he could feel he was shivering.

This beings magic started to build up and suddenly they were surrounded by other SOULS. Thankfully they were not next to them, otherwise he would have used his magic. He didn't care if it fried him, he did not want to be near even more strangers after being in the forest for so long. Light entered his vision and he smelt how damp the air was. Turning in the hold he saw a large pool with steam coming off it.

Looking away from the enticing sight, he noticed how he was in a rather large room that was tiled. Was this a bathroom? It was the largest he had ever seen. When they walked towards a shelf that held towels and strong smells, it confirmed his theory. He was a bit confused about why they were just standing next to it and looked up at the other.

"Pick a smell you like. Surely you would like to get clean?"

He was given a choice? What a weird Dream this was. Moving his arm he frowned at how shaky it was and begrudgingly appreciated when the others arm helped stabilise it. All the strong floral scents he ignored and instead gravitated towards the more neutral scents. It reminded him of simpler times and offended his new nose less. The Dream grabbed two large towels and set them on a table in the centre of the room that looked to be made of marble. Just how rich was this guy?

When he was placed down on the floor his legs almost collapsed under him, if it wasn't for the others' hold. He huffed in annoyance and was instead placed on the table. He watched as the other took off his coat and rolled up his sleeves. They then looked him over and started to remove their shoes and socks. Just what was this guy doing?

"I'm not letting you wash alone. You are far too young for that, let alone.... clumsy"

He wasn't that bad! He could probably wash with no issue. He was graced with a look and his hands were lifted, to show how unsteady they were. Glancing at the pool erased his objections. While the water looked great to dunk his wings in, he thought he might accidentally drown, as it looked rather deep at points. He hissed when something damp was placed on his face and saw it was the other holding a wet cloth. How were they getting things so quickly?

When he was instructed to take off his scarf, he knew he would need help. His fingers were far too shaky to grip properly and he glanced at the other for help.

He enjoyed the continued wipe down and didn't realise how much dirt he had gotten on himself till he saw the water used. The bucket of water had gotten very dark and it was quite impressive, as this was the second time it was replaced.

While the cloth had helped his skin, he doubted his wings would get clean like that. It was pleasing the other acknowledged this too, as their face darkened when seeing the state of his feathers. He would be impressed if he had any feathers left after a wash, to be honest. The Dream reached under his arms and gently placed him on his feet. He gripped the table leg, unsure what was happening now.

"Try and stay standing for a bit, ok? I just need to get they worst bits out"

They had come back with the bucket and it was used to drench his wings. His grip on the table increased, as his wings became rather heavy from the water. Thankfully this ordeal was over and he was lifted up and gently placed in the pool. He was surprised that there was a seat underwater and even more when the other joined him.

"Let's drop those wings in the water, that's it. This will feel much better after"

The other clothes were getting soaked and they didn't look cheap either. He disliked how his clothes were sticking to his skin and had no idea how this Dream could ignore this feeling. Fingers carding through his feathers caused him to try and fold his wings behind him, far away from the other.

"I'm sorry, but you need help doing this. Is there any way i can show you I mean no harm?"

He glared at the other and was about to spit out a harsh no, when the golden wings caught his attention. A wing for a wing seemed fair to him. If the other did not have clearly pristine wings, he would have instantly refused. He didn't even have to say anything before a wing was pushed into his hands. He wondered why not all wings buzzed with energy like these did?

The process of sorting his wings was quick and he was soon wrapped in a towel that was very warm. He purred at the warmth and was again carried by Dream, who also radiated unusual warmth. Was this their magic?

He hoped the other introduced himself at some point, as he didn't want to accidentally slip up. Who knew what they were called here. He shivered when they left the bathroom and inspected his new surroundings.

The hallway looked rather long and the main colours were gold with accents of black. It would have been too much, if it wasn't for the white marble. Glancing around he kept expecting someone to pop out, even if his senses would alert him beforehand. The parts he had seen were very large and he doubted Dream cleaned it by himself. Was this a private area?

A door was pushed open and his confusion grew. This did not look like it belonged to Dream, if anything he would say it was a child's room. The large number of stuffed toys and cartoon animals drawn on the walls, supported his thoughts. When the other walked to the draws they took out a pair of pjs, that looked like his size. He easily accepted help with the new clothes and was suspicious when he noticed how they even had openings for his wings to go.

They did feel nice on his skin though and the white stars, on the golden fabric did entrance him. Karma's panic momentarily spiked when he didn't spot his scarf but he calmed down, realising Dream had taken it with them. It was safe at the end of the bed, if oddly clean. Just what was it made from? He wanted all his clothes to be made from it from now on.

Karma started to feel his eyelids getting harder to open and he let himself flop on the bed. He must have been more tired than he thought. He would have been fine to sleep like this but it seemed Dream did not approve. He was hoisted up, so his head was now laying on a pillow and the covers were placed over him.

"Go to sleep, little apple. You are safe here"

The other may have sounded stern and cold but the gentle touches were a stark contrast.

He easily drifted off to sleep, so was confused when he awoke standing up. His clothes were the ones he usually wore and he wasn't feeling weak, from just standing here. Walking forward did not change how he felt and he even spotted his bones again!

Focusing on where he was, he only spotted darkness, so assumed this must be a dream..unless he was still in the Void.

He shook that thought off as being paranoid and decided to keep moving. A bright yellow light caught his attention, so he headed towards it. The closer he got the calmer he felt. He abruptly stopped, standing in front of the monster that looked just like Oneiro.

He tried to speak but no words came out his mouth. He reached towards them instead and found himself in their arms, with the other rubbing their skulls together. He held on tight to the other and felt tears fall down his skull. His skull was suddenly moved to be facing the other and he watched their mouth slowly shape some words.

I'm coming for you, little raven

This was an odd dream but he enjoyed how real it felt, so let himself be fully immersed in the sensations. He sighed into the other's chest marvelling how warm they were, as if they were really here.

Soon their positions changed and he was lying on top of them, like he was used to. Their wings curling around them both added the much needed safety he had missed. Karma heard no noise but felt vibrations from their chest, travelling through his body. He could easily sleep in this dream and almost wished it didn't end.

He soon found himself awakening in bed, feeling oddly heavy. His face felt wet and he used his sleeve to wipe away his tears. He did briefly startle at not seeing his magic colour his clothes but remembered humans shed weird water from their eyes. Trying to sit up was a failure and he didn't think he had gotten that weak, just yet.

Opening his eyes, he only saw gold in his view. Trying to push it away was a failure but at least he knew what it was. It seemed Dream had stayed to keep him company and shielded him with their wings. It was nice and warm but he hoped they woke up soon, he didn't particularly want to stay like this.

~~~~~~

Karma: Why is my human body so weak?

Also Karma: *hardly eats or sleeps*

Karma: I guess its a mystery
-
*Karma spotting a Dream variant*

Karma: Thank god someone familiar and they look relatively sane!