The Gift
Stephanie's Storyline, Chapter 10.1
copyright comidacomida 2019
My grandmother was a Beatle's fan so I learned to appreciate their music. More than that, however, I once heard a quote by the late John Lennon which states "There is nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be." You can call it fate, I suppose, or perhaps cosmic design, but no matter its name, the end result is the same: no matter how much you want to be somewhere, or no matter how much you don't want to be somewhere else, you'll always be wherever it is you are. That day, weeks after my brother's death, I was where I was... and so was the man who would be able to answer my questions.
Medved realized what I was doing before I'd taken more than one step to the door. "Lapushka... it is not safe..."
My mom, who had spoken to me without getting a response, reached for my arm. "Stephanie, if something--"
Her sudden silence made me pause long enough that I snapped out of my intent to rush the door. Glancing back I saw that she had literally frozen mid-sentence. I took a step closer, failing to see her moving in the least-- not even a breath. "Mom? Mom... MOM!"
Anapa said something to the side, reaching out comfortingly to me with his ears back. Kyle, by his side, translated. "He says that she'll be fine... but you will be in danger if you go outside."
Tom went to draw the blinds, gazing outside at the dark gray afternoon beyond; I didn't miss the fact that the rain had stopped falling, hovering in the air as if time had stopped. The Rhino let out a snort, his scowl even deeper than usual. "He is out there... and the Spirit is with him."
Kyle stepped closer to Tom, joining him in looking out. "I... I know Mishupishu wasn't with him when he came to get Billy. He didn't show any signs of seeing the real me. I didn't know he was a Seer, Stef... I really didn't."
Medved seemed to be the most focused of all of the Spirits and he shushed Kyle as if the apology was barely an afterthought. "There'll be time for that later, bird... right now we need to make sure Stefanika is safe... ask the dog if his wards will hold."
Although Kyle was never one to take orders, something about the situation must have had him uneasy enough that he did so without an objection. He and Anapa exchanged several words in Coptic before the Raven looked back to us. "He says that his magic is strong, and as long as the Human can't get in then the Spirit won't be able to cause any harm."
Tom let out another snort. "Besides... that thing wasn't invited inside-- 'The Sanctity of the Hearth' will not be denied."
I remembered that none of my Spirits had been allowed into the house until they were invited; if that held true for the Underwater Panther then everything would be okay... wouldn't it? Medved rested a gentle paw on my shoulder. "If he is a Spirit of lakes and rivers then he will be weaker this far from the water."
Kyle fluffed his feathers, looking out the window. "Except it's raining."
I didn't quite get the correlation. "Does that make a big difference?"
The Raven looked back to me, slowly crow-walking his way closer until he stopped in front of me. "Stef... Mishupishu has always been a territorial Spirit. He's petty, and quick to anger, and considers water his domain... any time water falls from the sky he can be even nastier than normal because it reminds him that the Thunderbird won't be denied... he'll DEFINTELY not be happy to see me."
I nodded, thinking back to what little research I got done on the spirit in recent days; for what was probably the fifth or sixth time I regretted sleeping so much. "Doesn't-- I mean... didn't the natives say that he has a connection to copper or something like that?
Kyle nodded. "Yes... he has an affinity for copper. Why?"
It was a longshot, but I considered a possibility. "Maybe we can play nice? I mean... my mom and dad have a bunch of pennies saved up in a jar in the pantry. Wouldn't that put us in his good graces?"
Even as I spoke I glanced to my mom, frozen in place, mid-sentence. Further back in the kitchen my dad was stuck between sitting and getting up from his chair, body half-turned as he was rising up from his spot at the table. Kyle's answer brought my attention back to the Spirits. "It's risky, Stef... that's a lot of Spirit Energy you're handing over, and if he wants to make trouble you'll only make him stronger."
Tom let out a deep breath. "I will go out to meet with the Seer and the Spirit. The rest of you stay here and keep my Nekedeh safe."
I didn't even need to think about it. "Tom, no... that's not a good idea. What if they mean us harm?"
The Rhino flicked an ear. "True... but what if they do not?"
Medved 'hrumph'ed. "It would be better if we both go. It would be a show of force that will keep them from trying to cause a problem."
An attention-getting squawk from Kyle cut the developing argument short. "Mishupishu knows of me... and I think that Seer probably does too. I think it's pretty clear I stand the best chance of reasoning with them."
Tom let out a humorless 'ha'. "You? And if you can't reason with them you'll get destroyed. You're no warrior, Raven."
Kyle's feathers puffed and it looked as though he were resting his hands on his hips, assuming he had hands... or arms. "Exactly-- I'm no warrior. I'm not a Guardian Spirit-- I'm a Trickster. If there's a problem I'll scram, and get back here safely."
The three Spirits continued their argument even as I tried to figure out the best way to handle the situation. Kyle was right, of course-- we didn't know for sure that Mishupishu was a threat and, even if it was safer to assume he might be, hiding in the house wouldn't help me get the answers I needed to get. Moreover, if he had wronged Billy then cowering behind Anapa's wards wouldn't help in making things right.
Even as I thought about the Jackal he moved to my side, the back of his paw brushing lightly against the back of my hand. I turned to regard him and he lowered himself down to his knees, looking up at me with soft Purple eyes. "Hemet'netjer. I help. I go."
It was too much input from too many directions. "Stop! All of you."
Four sets of eyes came to focus on me and I stalled, not really having had anything prepared to say behind fervently wishing I had a few seconds to think. Thankfully, they gave me that time, all of them waiting patiently for me to speak. When I finally did, it was a simple statement of truth. "I don't want to lose ANY of you."
Kyle nodded. "Right, Stef-- all the more reason we should try to find out what they want without instigating anything... I'm the best choice for--"
I held up a hand and he fell silent. Glancing around at my companions I raised the obvious question. "There's one man out there and one Spirit... if we're going to stand the best chance then shouldn't we ALL go out there to see what he wants?"
All of my spirits immediately objected to the idea of me going out there, speaking over one another in various ways. Strangely, despite being the most soft-spoken of all of the Spirits, Anapa was the one I heard most clearly. "Hemet'netjer. Please. No."
It was a heartfelt objection, that much I knew, but I also couldn't stand the thought of one of my Spirits getting hurt because I wasn't willing to help. It was not an easy choice to make, but I knew it was mine. I--
Got you down for E, Cetacea!
Also, I hope you're following Cohen Loop... got another post due soon for that one. ;)
And the story you're thinking about was a fanfic done by Dusty779... it'd be "Accidental Night", which you can find on his page here:
https://www.sofurry.com/view/1340340
I think he plans on continuing it too, which is quite flattering.
Either way, I have your vote down for E.