We then get another long storyline in Brief Lives, which follows Delirium and Dream as they look for their brother, Destruction (the Prodigal, the one who left his realm to run on its own). This storyline is pivotal in the story grand. It is about change and it’s where we see the beginning of Dream’s ultimate change. Throughout their search, we get glimpses of Destruction and his talking dog, Barnabas, as they come to realize someone is searching for them.
Dream and Delirium visit Destiny, who advises them to forget the search, but if they are to continue they need an oracle, one of the family, in other words, the oracle Orpheus. Together they go and visit Orpheus. Orpheus reveals where Destruction is and asks in return that Dream end Orpheus’ life.
First, Dream and Delirium go and visit Destruction. They meet him and Barnabas for a meal and conversation. We learn that Destruction left his realm when he realized that humans were beginning to learn science and that would inevitably lead to the means of their own destruction (the bomb) and he realized that change happened without him, so he left changes to themselves. In the end, Destruction declines to return and leaves Barnabas with Delirium to help her through her next change. He then walks off to the other side of the sky. All that’s left is for Dream to grant Orpheus his wish, which he does, killing a family member and ending this storyline.