This jungle doesn't end. I'm finding it hard to remember anything but stumbling around these tall green stalks and getting hit in the face by long, broad leaves. This can't be right.
Firstly, I ought to teach that stupid guide a lesson. I should be treated with more respect than that. Doesn't it know who I am by now? Why is it hitting me in the face like this?
Secondly, it can't literally be endless because we must have come into it somewhere, although I have no memory of where. The last thing I remember is the wizard's living room or whatever it was. As much as dreams jump around and all, it makes no sense that I'm suddenly here in--
"There," says the abomination, pointing. "We need to go that way."
It's pointing at brightness. There's no other way to describe the view. White brightness through green leaves. That's it.
"Where?" I ask.
"There," it says, thrusting its finger in the same direction in a big dramatic movement, like I was some kind of idiot that missed it the first time.
I step past my guide and look at this light as best I can. It's effectively a wall of brightness shining at me through the-- it's got to be bamboo, right, if there were pandas?
"OK, then," I say. "Let's go."
"That one first," says my guide.
I find my eyes have narrowed to suspicious slits and I carefully make my expression blank. It doesn't seem to respond well to doubt or implied criticism and I'm not ready to prove I'm the one with all the power. Yet.
I just have to be sure I can get out of this dream with something vaguely resembling sanity.
Well, wake up and not ruin my morning tomorrow.
"Not a problem," I say.
I take more strides and step into the brightness. It's a clearing, of sorts. A clearing that stretches to my right and left and is far too bright for me to see anything in front of me.
Maybe I'm just blinded because we've spent all that time in the jungle. I squint again and try to see more. I don't. All I'm getting is wrinkles.
"Go on," says my guide.
It sounds like it's right next to me. I'm tempted to push it forward and make it go first so that whatever is in the blinding light gets that abomination and not me.
This is a dream. Nothing can hurt me here.
It's bright, white light. Bright, white light is a good thing in stories and dreams. Heaven is always bright and white and shining.
I step forward.