Dr. Tsuchinoko's Arc

Chapter 2 of 3

Dr. Tsuchinoko opened their leather journal and studied the first lesson of dream-walking. The instructions were clear: they must learn to enter a calm mind before attempting to guide another. They closed their eyes and breathed slowly, counting each breath. Their paw rested on their round belly. The sounds of the swamp faded—the dripping water, the croaking frogs, the rustling leaves. For three heartbeats, they felt weightless. Then a splash outside broke their focus. They blinked and looked down at the journal again. This would take practice, but they had made a start. The next morning, Dr. Tsuchinoko stepped outside their office. They needed to prepare calming remedies before attempting dream-walking again. Behind the building, a patch of firm ground held an array of herbs and flowers. Lavender grew in thick bunches. Chamomile dotted the earth with white blooms. They set their basket on a wooden bench and began picking stems. The scent cleared their head. They crushed mint leaves between their paws and dropped them into a clay bowl. Each plant had a purpose—to calm the mind, to ease fear, to help creatures sleep deeply. They worked until the sun climbed higher, filling their basket with what they would need. When they finished, they carried it all inside and lined the jars on their shelves. Tomorrow, they would try entering the calm state again. This time, they would hold it longer.