As Linwood and the Grimalkin began trekking up the slope, Ethan fell into step behind them and anxiously patted his pockets checking for his usual supplies. It wasn't as rare as he would have wished, to enter the Dreaming unprepared, but over the years he'd managed to collect at least a few small tokens and items of power. Or the idea of them at least, anyway, since things in the Dreaming didn't actually exist.<br/><br/>That didn't make them any less real, of course. Or less dangerous. He felt the little bulges in his pockets and began to breathe a little easier, somewhat reassured by their presence. Ethan wished he could have called Galleck to accompany them, but it had been a while since he'd summoned the demon and it would have taken more than a simple calling to attract its attention. Besides, he seriously doubted it would have joined him in the bonelands for any reason.<br/><br/>The trio continued trudging upward and Ethan found himself wondering about the Grimalkin's 'patron'. He'd have to ask Linwood what sort of deal he'd struck that earned him the creature's assistance, and with who; his research had told him there were many in the Dreaming that could command the obeisance of a Grimalkin, but very few that could claim loyalty from the proud beasts. His own presence had at least been answered for; a simple case of mistaken identity, easy enough to experience in the Waking, let alone the Dreaming where even such things as identity could be as fluid as one's will or imagination.<br/><br/>He stood slightly back from the other two as they reached the slope's peak, and simultaneously struggled to keep his eyes from the pedestal's markings and to concentrate to bring them into clearer focus. '<em>Some manner of sanity barrier, perhaps, or a memnosieve?</em>' Ethan wondered about the stone as the Grimalkin spoke.