Beqanna has changed in so many ways throughout Anubias’ lifetime, but he is grateful that he can still visit the places he remembers in his dreams. He can wander the darkness of the eclipse and fear none of the monsters, knowing that the sun will shine again. He can craft what he believes Taiga and Tephra and the other missing lands were like, the trees sparkling in his dreams and always towering so so so high.

But he has learned how dangerous it is to favour his dreams. Rather suddenly, he wakes up and realizes how lonely he is. How long it has been since he has made a friend. He thinks of the quiet angel that wanted to escape reality and the starlight girl who he thought had been a dream.

Although he hopes they are still around and wishes to run into them again, thinking they could tether each other in the new world, he doesn’t let himself slip back into a dream. There, any friends would be ghosts — he could craft whoever he wished, have them think and say whatever he wanted, and Anubias doesn’t want friends like that.

Far, far better to have their own minds.

The Ruins have long been a source of fascination for him because it feels very dreamlike here. Not his type of dream but as if he is walking in someone else’s dreams and seeing what marvellous things they create. There are no ghosts here for him. Just possibility.

His companion is sprawled in her usual spot - head between his ears, body draped on his neck. Sometimes her long tail moves and tickles his frost-marked skin, causing him to laugh. They are both chuckling when he sees someone nearby and his heart just thrills at the possibility of it. Even if she doesn’t turn out to be a friend, it is so wonderful to be standing on the beginning of something that he has no idea how it will play out.

And he is mostly certain she is not a dream.

“Hello!” He calls out as he approaches, grinning brightly when she turns to look. “It’s nice to see someone else out here, for a moment I thought only stones lived here.”

The idea of ghosts living here didn't bother Anubias — they had to live somewhere, and it seemed like an appropriate place for them to gather. And maybe they find peace here together. It's easy for him to conjure sweet stories, ones with kindness and love for all those involved. Even when telling stories about ghosts.

Anubias' pale green eyes light up with a smile as the stranger returns his questions and he laughs too at the comment about being a transportation service. "Not a ghost but you're definitely right about being transportation for small creatures." The red panda in question stands, stretches her back, and clamours up a little so she is sitting at attention, tilting her head curiously at Razaranje with her vibrant green body and nice laugh.

It's been a while since they've met someone new, and they're both enjoying this stroke of luck.

"This is my companion, Fisher, and I'm Anubias. We don't live here either but I like to visit." He glances around at the unique stones, remembering when he had first discovered them - how amazing it had been to find something new.

But he can admire the scenery any time. His easy smile and sparking curiosity return back to the bright green Razaranje as he circles back to one of her comments. "How come you're not sure you're a ghost?"