Butterfly Apocalypse: Red learns a valuable lesson.

Red was running bare foot through the tall grass. The forest was thick with trees and miscellaneous plants but that didn't bother her. Ducking under an oversize mushroom head didn't slow her down either. Her white summer dress was beginning to get a tad dirty but she didn't care. The only thing she could do is run. Run away as far and fast as she could.
A large shadow quickly caught up to her. Red noticed it and quickly looked up. Panicking she dodged into a  large flower with glasses. Avoiding the giant boot that was now resting where she had been running. Recovering from her tumble she got up and hurried over to the heel of the foot. She quickly reached inside the front pocket of her dress and pulled out a knife. Pulling back she quickly struck at the hard leather. But hit something softer instead. Red was now standing next to a man. She withdrew her knife and a few drops of blood spilled on her white dress. The man grabbed his side and stumbled away from Red. He moved a few feet in a futile attempt to escape and eventually dropped to the ground.
Red approached him, wiping the blood from the knife onto the apron of her dress. The man didn't move. She stood over the man for a second. Her eyes blazing a wild neon blue. A long smile crawled across her face. Putting the knife back in her front pocket, she grabbed the side of the man to turn him over. With a little effort she pulled him around to see a man with glasses and neatly trimmed facial hair. Red's eyes faded to her normal blue. The horrifying realization of what she had done was there. Ion lay dead in front of her.

Throwing herself up from the bed, Red was in a cold sweat. Trying to catch her breath as if she had been running for miles.

"It's okay Red.", Anna reassured.

"What the fuck was that Anna?", Red yelled.

Red had begun to have nightmares about killing Caught. The last couple of days it had escalated into killing random butterflies. They had grown so intense that Mesay had suggested she talk to Anna about controlling them. Or at least figuring out their meaning. She reluctantly agreed. Red was actively trying to avoid most of the butterflies since the dreams started. She was terrified that they were some sort of premonition. That some day she may actually cause harm to her friends, her family. And the only way she could think to prevent it, was to avoid everyone.
Anna had only been in home for a month or so but made her presence well known in the first few days. It was no trade secret what her power was. Dream Manipulation. At first she dream hopped from butterfly to butterfly without any real rhyme or reason. But she had made an effort to make sure she was able to control her ability. It was fun but not easy. And in some ways, dangerous. The things you could find out about a person in their dreams were not necessarily things you would want to know. In the rather short amount of time in Home she had become quite adapt at it. With the nightly practice, it felt like a second nature. Now she was trying to get some real use out of it. Trying to help her butterfly family.

"You said to make it more realistic this time.", Anna defended.

"Well you didn't have to add fucking Ion. The guy is like a brother to me.", Red continued.

"Ion?", Anna pondered. "I didn't add him. That must of been you."

"I would never want to dream of killing Ion. Or anyone!", Red retorted.

"This isn't yell at Anna time Red. We need to help you get a hold of your dreams. Getting angry every time we do this isn't conductive.", Anna insisted.

Red pounded her fists on the mattress and chucked her pillows at a neighboring wall before getting up and storming out of her room.

"That's not going to help either!", Anna called after her.

***

Red roamed the hallways for a bit. Occasionally hitting a wall or two out of anger. She couldn't figure out what was going on. The dreams were starting to get to her and nothing seemed to be helping much. Suddenly a giant yellow and orange cat approached her. Opie meowed loudly. Red smiled and leaned down to pet him. Opie started purring, pleased by her choice. 

"I have no idea what to do anymore. What do you think Opie?", Red asked.

Opie looked up at her and purred some more. He broke the petting and moved away, showing his backside to Red. He turned his head and looked up at her, meowing again.

"What Opie?"

Opie walked off to where the hallway turned a sharp right. Then he skittered off in a hurry. Red called after him and followed. She had a hard time keeping up. Opie was the largest cat she had ever seen but the fluffball knew how to run when he wanted to. A large hole appeared in the opposite wall, just big enough for a cat to go through. Opie disappeared inside.

"Don't think you'll lose me that easy.", Red announced.

Red concentrated and started shrinking. By the time she got to the hole she was the size of a large rat and she ran though the hole unobstructed. Inside it was dark. She could hardly make out the walls save for a few bounces of light that came from an undetermined source. A meow came from down the tunnel. She ran toward it. Eventually coming to an opening to what looked like a larger cave. As she walked further she saw that it wasn't a cave but the underside of a bed. Opie was at the edge, crouched down. His tail was swishing back and forth in a curious manner. Red slowly walked up beside him.

Across the room was Ion. He was at his desk working hard on something. A knock rapped at his door.

"Come on in Blue.", He said.

Blue entered and walked up to Ion.

"Hey, are you almost done?", Blue asked.

"Yeah, just one or two more tweaks.", Ion responded.

Red wanted to see what Ion was working on. She started to walk forward to announce herself but a giant paw pulled her back. Opie held her in place while keeping his focus on Blue and Ion. 

Ion finally pushed his chair back and revealed a small laptop computer.

"There. Finally done.", said Ion.

"I can't believe you got it done.", Blue said.

"Well even without internet I can still mess with the programming and make it do some cool stuff."

"Is it going to work?", Blue asked.

"Not really sure until we try it. Assuming Red will let us.", Ion responded.

"I'm sure she will. If it helps.", Blue assured.

Opie moved Red to his mouth and grabbed her by the back of her shirt.

"Hey!", Red yelled.

Blue and Ion looked toward his bed. They had heard a tiny noise coming from underneath. Opie quickly picked up Red and turned, running into the hole. It disappeared as soon as he entered it. 

Ion dropped down and looked under his bed. Confused, he finally just dismissed the odd noise they had heard. He got back up and turned to Blue

"Let's see if Red and Anna are through.", Ion offered.

Ion closed the laptop and grabbed the computer. Then left with Blue following.

***

Red tucked her feet behind her as much as possible so they didn't drag on the floor. As odd at this seemed, it was kind of fun being carried along. Opie hurried through the tunnel until they finally got to the hallway again. Opie stopped and dropped her. He pushed her out of the hole and meowed loudly.

"What was that all about?", Red asked.

Opie almost seemed to smile as he backed down the hole until he couldn't be seen. Then before Red's eyes, the hole evaporated back into a solid wall.

"How weird.", Red said to herself.

"Red? Are you nearby?", Ion asked. Red could hear Ion through the Hivemind. 

"Yeah. Uh....meet you in my room?"

"Sure.", Ion agreed.

Red started running through the hallways as she made herself grow back to her normal size. She banked into the doorway that she knew led to her room. As she entered she crashed into Anna who was trying to leave. They both landed on the floor. Anna propped herself up while Red rubbed the back of her head. 

"Owwwww!", Red complained. "What are you doing Anna?"

"I was trying to leave so you and Ion could meet here.", Anna explained.

Just then Ion and Blue came through the door.

"What happened here?", Ion chuckled.

"Nothing. Just nothing.", Red responded. "So what do you have for me?"

Ion and Blue looked at each other. 

"How did you know we.... never mind. I'll figure out this hivemind thing later.", Ion said. "Look Red, Blue and I came up with this idea for your nightmare problem. I know you didn't ask for it but we would like to help you."

Anna, now standing, offered Red a hand. Red looked at her for a second then accepted it. Suddenly a thought crossed Red's mind. 

You will find great warmth and power in learning to lean on the family.

Roivas' comment seemed to echo in her mind. She shook it off. 

"Sure, what is it?", Red asked.

"Well it's a program that should help you become a better lucid dreamer. What it does is monitor your dream state and when you get all antsy it issues tone to remind you your dreaming. That way you can use that as a trigger.We figure it might be a good way for you to get a hold of your dreams. You know, turn them around."

"Wow....that's...."

Red had stopped mid sentence. Roivas' words had finally hit her. Now it seemed so simple and she even felt a little silly for not getting it right away. A loud meow interrupted the silence. Opie was at the door purring intensely. Blue reached down and scratched behind his ears.

"Opie, what are you doing here you big fur ball.", Blue chided.

She picked him up straining a bit as she did. The eighteen pound cat was more than happy to be held up while being pet. All the easier for everyone to get involved. Anna and Ion crowded around Blue to have their turn. Opie had created the best distraction for Red to have her moment. The moment where she learned exactly what Roivas had meant all along.