Ah, I'm starting to get a picture now.

Time for a famous Guess a la Lenny. She waks up and the story begins? The scene in her dream is vital for the rest of the story as it is a prophecy of sorts? She ends up waking up in that place as her dream details?

And may I ask, is she a tribe member? Just a little thought...thinking maybe she's part of a Nomadic/tribe.