The Gift
Richard's (SF) Storyline, Chapter 4.4
copyright comidacomida 2018
Jack raised another digit. "Thou mayest attempt a ritual of summoning. Thou knowest the Spirits in question and their names, so nothing would stop thee from calling to them in a spiritual sense rather than physical."
I nodded. "Now we're talking... so I can summon them both? You know how to do the ritual, right?"
He fidgeted. "To be honest, I have seen it done, and I believe I may help thee recreate it... though thou mayest only summon one spirit at a time, so thou woudst be required to figure out which to bring forth."
There were a lot of variables in that plan so I figured any final options for the brainstorming session could still be worthwhile. "Anything else?"
The Gryphon nodded. "I can attempt to find them for thee-- thou needs but ask and I shall be off to search."
Considering all of the options he provided, I figured I'd keep it simple and try calling for them. If someone gave me a weird look I could just say I lost my dogs or something. "No... it's okay. I think I'm just going to look around and call for them."
Jack rubbed the underside of his beak in thought. "And if they do not wish to show themselves to thee?"
I shrugged. "Well... I guess I'll have to respect that and give them their space... but I still have to try."
He bowed his head as I turned to close the door behind us. "Very well, Richard. I shall join thee until we find them or thou art ready to conclude the search."
The two of us headed out onto the sidewalk and began walking down the street. Although we both called out, I think that his voice was a little louder and a little less reserved. On paper it sounded like a reasonable idea to pretend I was searching for lost dogs but two main issues got me. First, if I were calling a dog I'd probably do so with a little more light hearted tone and probably some whistles. Second, but just as important, I can't remember the last time anyone had a dog named Sabhana, and definitely not Treboada. We searched for maybe an hour before I began to feel too self-conscious to continue.
As we turned back toward home, Jack offered consolation. "Thou didst an earnest night's work, Richard. If they had wished to be found then we would have encountered them by now. They cannot fault thee for not having tried."
Sighing, I nodded, taking the final corner that led toward my house. "Yeah, I know... but I still wish they wouldn't have left angry. It's not I was trying to make them angry or anything, but I--"
Sabhana's voice interrupted me "You don't have enough time in the day to handle four spirits and keep up with your own life?"
Since I was standing in front of my house perhaps a half dozen steps from the door I was able to look up and there they were; Sabhana and Treboada were camped out on the roof. As I took in the sight I felt immediately stupid-- I had traveled throughout the neighborhood looking for the Wolves and they hadn't even left my property. To make matters worse, I realized in hind sight that it was the most obvious place for them to be.
Treboada didn't make it much easier with his statement. "Yeh realleh donnae got what it takes, do yeh, Lad?"
Although I felt my indignation rise at the comment I couldn't really argue with it. "I don't know if I do... but I'd like to."
Sabhana didn't make things much easier. "Why?"
The question made me pause, and the only way I could answer it was with another question. "What do you mean, 'why'?"
She slid down the roof, cascading off of it and landing with adroit grace. She stepped closer, reaching a paw out to rest it almost against my forearm; seeing as she couldn't touch me it was obviously more a non-verbal cue than direct contact. "You are wearing yourself thin trying to be so many things for so many people. Why continue?"
I'd always been raised with an expectation of personal excellence. My parents had told me from a young age that I could accomplish anything. Her question was the first time that ever brought up the thought about limitations, and I tried to break through. "Because you all deserve someone who can do for you and be with you."
Treboada dropped down from the roof beside her; although his movement was far more hulking and imposing, it was, nevertheless, still possessed of a certain acrobatic excellence. He stepped up to the two of us and shook his head. "An' yeh cannae do fer us an' be with us... not th' way four o' us need. If yeh keep tryin' then ye'll nae even help one, let alone four."
Jack nodded sagely, standing directly beside me. "So thou art saying goodbye and stepping away to make things easier for him? Tis commendable, to be certain."
Sabhana's laughter was like light crystal wind chimes on the summer breeze. She reached up and brushed strands of her wild, hair like mane from her face. "Nay, silly Gryphon... we are merely giving poor Richard some space so he can make his decisions unencumbered."
Treboada nodded in agreement, but he was nowhere near as eloquent as the cream-colored Wolf. "Aye. An' when 'e makes 'is decision we'll honah it. If 'e says 'e'd ratheh keep the ket, then we 'ope yeh'll do th' same."
Feathers puffing up, Jack stepped closer to me, resting a talon just above my far shoulder so that he had an arm around me even if he couldn't touch me. "Nobody says Richard is going to send me away. I am his Guardian Spirit, and I can be his kindred Spirit... I know it."
There was a hint of frustration, or perhaps fear in his voice; the Gryphon obviously didn't appreciate the black Wolf's assessment of the situation. Then again, neither did I. "Exactly. I'm not sending anyone away. Even if I can't give everyone all the Spirit Energy or whatever it is you need that doesn't mean I'm going to exile anyone or anything."
Treboada shook his head with a sigh. "An' that's why yeh cannae unnerstand, boy-o. Yeh don' getta choose in this case. Spirts need what we need, lad... an' if yeh cannae be th' source fer us then we gotta find somewhere else fer it-- just like no matteh how much a berd loves a fish, a berd's gotta breathe an' a fish cannae make air."
I understood what he was saying, but I didn't have to like it. "Well that's just a crappy comparison. I can learn how to be a better Seer, right? There's no reason why I can't find a way to help."
Sabhana shook her head; an expression of sorrow claiming my gaze as I stared her in the eye. The words she spoke sounded almost like divine edict. "I'm sorry, Richard... but you don't have what it takes to be able to support four spirits. Your aura is not strong enough."
I pulled away from her; I didn't like people telling me what I could or couldn't accomplish. "You don't know that."
She nodded softly. "I do. Your soul burns brightly, but it burns for reasons aside from the Spirit. You will be a very successful student and you will do well in life, but you could scarcely handle being bound with two spirits, let alone four."
Jack stepped back as if slapped, but he recovered quickly. "But, that doesn't mean he can't try!"
Sabhana shook her head again. "No... I have seen it, and Balam has seen it. This is why he is giving Richard his space-- in the hopes that Richard will come to the same conclusion about you as he has about us."
Treboada shook his head. "Yeh 'eard what she said, Berd... all-in-all, yeh may not 'ave a place by 'is side... not if th' Ket 'as th' lad's fondness."
Still reeling from what it was I was hearing, I--
b) -- realized that Sabhana probably knew a lot more about it than I could and what good was having an expert if you wouldn't listen to them. "Then... what can I do? How can I fix this? How can I be a good Seer for Spirits?"
c) -- came to the understanding that there was more to living with Spirits than just being a good roommate. "So what do you suggest? You're not saying I should give up, are you?"
d) -- set aside my pride and took a moment to rationalize my plan of action. At that point, I could only really come up with one solution. "If you two have written me off and you're also telling me I should cut my losses, are you saying I should just say goodbye and have you two leave?"
Voting is now open and will close as of midnight (pst) on Thursday, August 2nd.
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To understand that Sabhana is older and understands the needs of spirits is a hard thing to swallow. Nevertheless, honestly looking over the last few weeks shows the truth. Their actions and words show that they understand what must happen and they are willing to make a clean break.
Balam needs me, Jack needs me, Treboada and Sabhana don't. It hurts to grow up, but such happens whether we wish it or not. Time to make a graceful release, not to clutch on like a child.
I choose D
Asking Sabhana for help o advice doesn't sound like he get anything more than he's already been told, so (B) is STRIKE 1.
I don't believe Richard will accept any answer from (C) as it would likely be to castaway excess spirits, so (C) is STRIKE 2.
And (D) definitely doesn't sound like Richard, so it's STRIKE 3, you're out! :)
Going with B
Actually, I'm feeling generous-- I'll record your D vote for free! :)