The Gift
Stephanie's Storyline, Chapter 10.5
copyright comidacomida 2019

Even as they talked, my Spirits slowly circled their opponent, moving to surround the Wendigo as it gnashed its teeth, spittle trailing down its grossly oversized paw and falling to the ground as little droplets of ice.  It was hard to tell, but I thought it might have looked as though it was tiring... just a little.  Sadly, not as fast as my companions.

In that moment, I knew something had to be done, and I could no longer sit on the sidelines looking for a way to help.  Stepping forward, heart beating rapidly in my chest, I joined my Spirits in circling the Wendigo.  Flanked on all sides by my companions the Wendigo turned to face me as I stepped forward. "William... I KNOW you're in there somewhere..."

Tom stepped between us at the last moment when the Wendigo launched itself forward, icy claws leading the way as it howled like the hollow wind at a cave's entrance "IT IS MINE!"

In that moment, despite how little I really knew about the situation, I realized that the essence the Wendigo wanted so badly wasn't limited to the small piece that Kyle had taken, or what Mishupishu had claimed, or even what Anapa had; there was something else, and, despite still not knowing what it was, I was able to see the balance of power.  Anapa was still imbued with what he had taken when I first met him but in that moment when we had both touched my brother I had ended up with... something.  There were four pieces of Billy, and I held half of the total.

Tom managed to push the Wendigo back using his shield, but I could tell from my position that a fine layer of frost was forming over his horn and along his armor.  Kyle was there in an instant, using the butt of his spear to catch the Wendigo's gaping maw and keeping it from biting down on Tom.  Medved was wading into the battle as well, curved blade leading the way, slashing at what almost looked like living stalagmites of ice as they rose from the earth... and then there was Anapa.

The Jackal had fallen back, raising his arm that held the staff at irregular intervals, calling bolts of fire out of midair and sending them to strike the frozen monster, forcing it back each time it was struck, but it was beyond obvious that Anapa was exhausted.  It was his magic that was allowing the rest of my Spirits to push the creature back, but after every blast of fire I couldn't help but wonder how long he could keep it up.  Unwilling to stand by passively, I ran to him, taking hold of the Jackal's arm even as I called to the Wendigo "William!  You're a paramedic!  You're supposed to HELP people!  DON'T!  Don't let this happen!"

The moment I took hold of Anapa's arm he practically collapsed against me, leaning heavily into my hold even as he tried to maintain his footing.  Panting, he raised his staff again, but only a small lick of flame emerged, scarcely doing more than making the Wenigo wince.  Anapa lowered his head and his staff, using it for support as much as me; his fur was slick with sweat and his immaculate golden face paint was running as he spoke softy. "I... fight... Hemet'netjer... for you."

Not knowing what else to say, I spoke honestly.  "Thank you, Anapa... I know."

A dull Amethyst light shone in his pupils for one moment and his breathing came less labored, but it was obvious that he had little left to give.  Holding his paw out, he lowered his head in supplication. "Please... light."

"I.... I don't understand."

He kept his paw out, head down. "Light.  Brother light... please."

He wanted me to give him the spark that Kyle had given me.  It was obvious that he drew his strength from it, and was asking for my help so that he could keep fighting, but it didn't take a scholar in Spirit ways to realize that he was going to tear himself apart in an attempt to help.  Glancing up, I saw that Tom and Kyle were still managing to fight the Wendigo and, with Medved's help they were holding their ground, but they couldn't force him back and, if the waning glow of light in their eyes were any indication, they wouldn't be able to keep it up for long.

Kyle's caw forced my hand on the matter.  "Stef!  Take the light from Anapa!  Bring it all to me, and I can take what Mishupishu has and weaken him!"

Being pulled in two different directions wasn't something unfamiliar to me at that point, but, surprisingly, the next voice to speak wasn't one of my Spirits; I could just barely make out William's voice amidst the roaring storm that was the Wendigo's howl.  "Spirits... can't take it... not what you have!"

I didn't fully understand, not at first... but, as Anapa grasped my wrist with his paw and I met his gaze his eyes told me everything.  A Spirit could take only so much of a Human's essence; there were parts of it that would always be alien and foreign to anything but another Human.  By the time Anapa had gotten to Billy there was nothing more that he could take and so that small portion, that part unattainable by a Spirit went to me instead.  The Jackal wanted me to give all of the spark to him.  If I did it, though, what would that do to Anapa?

Kyle squawked again. "Stef!  There's no time!  I need everything we have to end this!  Trust me!  PLEASE!"

Anapa's pleading eyes were beginning to water, the golden pigment ringing them creating small rivulets of shimmering tears down either side of his muzzle.  His voice came out at barely a whisper, but I could hear it nevertheless.  "I help."

I heard more in those to words than I would have thought possible, and I shouted to Kyle "It will KILL you!"

The Raven's response, punctuated as he pushed the Wendigo's formidable teeth back with his spear was almost as chilly as the Hunger Spirit itself.  "...I know."

Tom shoved forward with his shield again, keeping the Wendigo at bay for the moment despite its frantic scampering in an attempt to get closer to me.  Grunting, he gave a snort before growling "It will take more than that to redeem you, trickster... she is MY ward... it is MY place to do this!"

Realizing that everything was at an impasse and that William had done all he could to help, the information he provided me was my only weapon... but could I figure out how to get it to work?  Billy's full spark was too much for a Spirit, but what would it mean if I gave up what it was that had been given to me?  If it was going to be used as a weapon then whichever Spirit used it would likely die.  Could I use it?  How WOULD I use it?  I didn't have a chance to answer that question.

Letting out a mighty roar, the Wendigo threw its long, twisted arms out wide and, in a massive roar, knocked back both Spirits contesting him.  Medved raised his blade in time to deflect large chunks of ice but was sent reeling as well, his feet sliding back along the permafrost created by the freezing cold as if skating downhill on ice.  With all three Spirits between me and the Wendigo out of the way, it bellowed out a fresh roar, and fell to all fours, racing right at me like a savage predator.

Rather than raise his staff to do battle with the Wendigo, Anapa dropped it, holding his paw above my hand, and that's when I felt it: the third part of Billy's essence.  Even as the Jackal fell to his knees his fur was graying before my eyes and when he spoke his voice cracked in weakness.  "No can wait... give all to me, Hemet'netjer... do now."

The Wendigo was a spirit of unending hunger... that's what they'd said, and I saw that hunger bearing down on me.  My other Spirits rose up around me, each reaching in my direction just like Anapa as if asking for the spark.  Only one of them really understood what was going through my mind, and Medved's reaching paw grabbed hold of my wrist. "No-- Stefanika... do not do it."

The other Spirits recoiled; in that moment they must have realized what the Bear meant; none of them could handle the Spark in the way I could... so what if I didn't give it to them and decided to use it myself?  I didn't know HOW to use it, but if I could, wouldn't that save everyone?  That, or probably end my life.  Rather than pull my arm out of his grasp, I simply pulled it through his paw as I whispered "I have to."

And the the time for decisions was done.  The Wendigo was upon me, and I knew that my path was decided.  I knew William was still in there somewhere and, no matter which Spirit I gave the spark, if they used it to fight the Wendigo then they would kill not just our attacker, but William as well.  Although I had no idea how to use the spark to fight it off, there was one thing they had explained: what I held wasn't something a Spirit could handle... but apparently I could... for the right purpose.

Right as the Wendigo pounced for me I held up my hand, summoning the light into my palm before thrusting it forward. "HERE!  TAKE IT!"

There was a powerful blast of energy, knocking me to the ground and almost launching the Wendigo up off the ground.  The flash of light blinded me for a second but, as I blinked away the haze I saw a flare of illumination hovering in midair, a tidal flow of light surging into the Wendigo's open maw.  The near endless stream of energy was devoured as quickly as it was made manifest and, for a moment, I wondered just how much a being of pure hunger could consume before it was satiated.  I found out.

Just as the ball of light was about to disappear, the Wendigo began to choke.  Its arms and legs flailed and its distended belly grew even heavier.  Steam began to rise up from its frozen extremities and, for the first time since I had laid eyes on it, the Wendigo's features lost their savage edge and showed fear.  A moment later, it exploded, and the world around me disappeared.

* * * * * *

When I next opened my eyes it felt like my body was twice as heavy as it should have been.  Once my vision cleared, I saw a white ceiling, and inset lighting.  Trying in vain to lift my arm, my muscles rebelled against me, and the most I could manage was a twitch from my fingers.  That movement though was enough to catch the attention of other inhabitants of the room.  Both talking over one another, my parents came to my bed side, each trying to say whatever they were saying as they fawned over me.

Eventually they managed to organize who was going to say what and they explained that I had collapsed outside the house and that William Smith, who had been coming over after his employer told him I'd wanted to talk to him found me.  After that, it was off to the hospital where I'd apparently been for almost 30 hours.  I had a hard time coming to grips with what I'd just heard, but things weren't about to get any easier.  Looking around the room I realized that, for the first time in weeks, my Spirits weren't with me.

My mom didn't miss the glance. "What's wrong, Honey?"

I didn't even begin to know how to express what I was wondering.  My voice cracked from disuse and exhaustion as I asked "Is... anyone else here?"

The inquiry wasn't meant for my parents, but they didn't know that.  My dad gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "Just us, honey.  You've been running yourself ragged these past few days.  The doctors ran a dozen tests and said they think you'll be fine-- it's just exhaustion and dehydration."

I glanced down at my right hand; it was wrapped in bandages and it felt numb.  My mom noticed. "Strangest thing... the doctors said that the tips of your fingers had some kind of condition that mimicked frostbite... they were worried at first that it was scleroderma, but they tested for it and it came back negative.  They think it may have something to do with the dehydration and they're watching you closely... but they promised that it's on the mend and shouldn't be a problem."

My mind was still going a mile a minute so the best I could do was parrot her last words. "...shouldn't be a problem..."

My mom and dad both smiled and continued to offer numerous other words of comfort and encouragement, but the floor nurse came in at that time and interrupted things with doing a basic check, asking me questions, and letting me know that the doctor would be by shortly to answer any questions I had.  She then encouraged my parents to go get something to eat in the cafeteria since apparently they had barely left my side since I arrived.  They agreed after only minimal objection, leaving me alone with the nurse.

She was a fairly large woman, the kind that looked 'matronly' rather than 'frumpy' and, despite just having met her, I decided that I liked her already.  Her smile made it even easier, and I found myself not minding the scolding tone she gave when she addressed me "So... it sounds like you've been overdoing it lately... hmm?"

Not really knowing how else to address the situation I kept it simple. "I guess so."

So began her entire berating about me needing to know my limits so something like that wouldn't happen again, but she only got a few sentences in when a knock at my door caused her to pause.  I recognized the voice that called "So... I guess she's awake, Bev?"

The nurse smiled at me and gave me a wink.  "To be continued."

She turned around just in time to face William Smith, who stepped up beside my bed.  He spoke directly to me. "How are you doing, Ms. Brenner?"

At that point I had no reason not to be honest.  "Confused."

The nurse finished up and showed herself out, leaving me alone with William.  He stood there in silence for a few seconds before lowering his head slightly. "Thank you... for helping me-- saving me."

Still not entirely caught up, I chose to ask questions rather than acknowledge his thanks. "What... happened?"

He grabbed a chair and pulled it over before taking a seat.  "That's... a little complicated.  Short version is that a dark force fused Mishupishu to me, and we became The Wendigo."

The statement was confusing so I asked for clarification in as simple a manner as I could manage. "...Mishupishu WASN'T the Wendigo?"

William looked up and to the side, and spoke in a language I didn't know, but it was familiar since I'd heard it when I'd encountered them.  He paused as if listening to an answer before replying to my question. "No, Miss Brenner... like I said, it's complicated, but he was just as much a victim as I was, and he also said thank you."

I craned my neck, glancing in the direction he looked, but I saw nothing. "He... wait-- where is he?  I can't see him."

The paramedic looked uncomfortable by that statement, and swallowed as he glanced around the rest of the room.  "Mishupishu is here... as are the rest of your friends."

I was confused, but that gave way quickly to shock, followed by disbelief. "I... I can't see any of them!

His voice was soft and compassionate. "They are all here, Miss Bre-- Stephanie."

I don't remember everything that happened once I learned that I'd lost The Sight, but, ultimately, the nurse had to come back to sedate me.  I might not have truly died fighting the Wendigo, but a part of me had.