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The Gift

Stephanie's Storyline, Chapter 6.4

copyright comidacomida 2018

We returned to my room as Kyle translated what Anapa had to say. "The type of magic involved is called Aptropaic Magic. It is used to ward off evil and protect people, and usually involves wands and amulets. He says the easiest way to start is with a Sa."

I closed the door after all my Spirits joined me. "Okay... and what's that?"

Once again, Kyle translated for Anapa. "It's a symbol that actually MEANS protection, and it will be a good start for the ritual. After that is the Wadjet... which--"

He stopped talking as Anapa reached up and touched the fur around his eye, right near the golden pigment. The Raven continued as the Jackal spoke. "Oh... I guess that symbolizes protection and it can be worn on an amulet to protect people."

Anapa continued speaking, standing as he began gesturing to the floor while walking in a circle. Kyle, once again translated. "He said the most important thing though is called a Shen, and that it's a big circle that is supposed to protect anything it encircles. He says that's the one we need to start at midnight and---" he stopped at that, questioning Anapa in a tone that sounded surprised. Sighing, the Raven looked back. "...and apparently it runs through dawn, so... another sleepless night."

Balking at that idea, I took a second to digest everything I was hearing. Would it really take all night to protect the house? Sighing, I asked Kyle "Is the Shen something Anapa can do alone, or are the rest of you able to help him?"

The Raven offered up my question to the Jackal but, unfortunately, the shaking of Anapa's head told me everything I needed to know, even before his brief explanation on Coptic. Kyle looked back at me and shrugged. "He said that a Human is needed because there are physical components to it... it would take a lot of Spirit Energy for a Spirit to Pull everything that needs to be done."

Although my Spirits spent some time helping me familiarize myself with the terms they used I still wasn't fully proficient. "Pull... you mean there's things that need to be moved, carried, and manipulated?"

Anapa contineud talking and Kyle split his attention between the two of us until the Jackal was done speaking. The Raven looked back to me. "He can handle the ritual and the magic involved but he needs you to fill a brass pot with water and draw a circle around the house with a reed. Something like that would exhaust a Spirit unless they were Skin Riding someone."

Tom's deep voice spoke with restrained rage. "You will do no such thing. I will end you if you try to inhabit a Brenner."

The Raven held up his wings defensively. "No-- I wasn't saying that I WOULD... it was just a-- oh, never mind!"

Medved, who had been seated on my bed gently stroking the bed carving with a single finger looked up and faced us. "I will help with what must be done. I will Push so Stefanika may rest."

The Rhino scowled. "That will drain you greatly. I may need your help if Stephanie is put in spiritual danger."

The Bear shrugged. "You will have the Raven and Jackal."

Tom shook his head. "They are not Guardians."

Kyle's feathers puffed up and he let out an indignant squawk before countering "I wouldn't let anyone hurt Stephanie but besides that there's tons of reasons why Medved shouldn't spend all his energy on the ritual."

Medved turned his attention to the Raven. "Such as what?"

Rolling his eyes, Kyle held out a feather and began counting out the reasons on his primary feathers. "First, something like that really SHOULD be done by a Human-- they're made for the physical world and we aren't. Second, you are DEFINITELY going to be exhausted when you're done and there's no guarantee that we have anything to fear from a spirit attack. I mean, it's been weeks and nobody in the family has been hurt yet, right? Third, we have lots of other ways we can help protect Stephanie and the rest of the Brenners. Fourth, there's a good chance Billy's friends'll be by and that means we can find a way to get THEM to help."

Tom snorted. "Like Skin Riding?"

Kyle shot him a dirty look. "You already made your point, so I just assumed that wasn't an option."

I interrupted them before the argument could start in earnest. "Okay-- relax. Everyone. We have options, right? I mean, even if we don't do the Shen tonight we can do it tomorrow, right?"

The Raven glanced at Anapa and spoke with him, most likely translating what I said. The Jackal looked to me and nodded. "Yes. Tomorrow."

Tom rubbed his chin in thought. "I do not like the idea of being unprotected any longer than we must."

Medved folded his paws in his lap. "Then I will help with the ritual tonight."

Kyle sighed. "Listen, Bear... that'll drain you for days. We don't know if the ritual will help, or even if we'll need the help, but what we DO know for SURE is that if you help then you'll be down for the count."

I felt a large paw ever-so-gently wrap around my wrist. "My Stefanika will be there for me when I am done... she is all I will need to recover."

Despite it being presented out of logic there was something genuinely emotional in the statement, and I could feel the love in his caring grasp. I was exhausted, but he still made me smile. "Of course I will. You're all here for me and I'll be here for all of you."

Medved pulled me a little closer and folded his arms around me, touching the end of his muzzle to the top of my head. "You should rest tonight, Lapushka. We will all do what must be done to protect you and I will handle the parts of the ritual that require a physical presence. It will be tiring, but you are worth all of the effort."

Kyle crossed his wings in indignation. "I'd offer to Push, but I'm better at getting Humans to do it." He paused when Tom cleared his throat pointedly, at which point the Raven fluffed up again, "WHICH, I KNOW, the Sentinel doesn't approve of."

Tom spoke up next. "Medved... you do not have to do the Ritual alone. We can both contribute to it."

The Bear shook his head, slowly releasing me. He continued looking at me and only me even when he addressed the suggestion. "No, Tom... one of us must be at full strength in case Stefanika needs our aid. Besides, I have a Totem, so I will recover faster."

The Rhino snorted and looked like he was about to object but I held up a hand and he thankfully didn't. I looked around at the four sets of eyes on me and I weighed my options. Everyone wanted to help, which was a good thing, but I honestly didn't know how worthwhile such an expenditure of resources would turn out to be. Considering what was best for me meant that I had to balance cost versus potential reward, opportunities as opposed to expense, and, most likely, a little bit of luck.

There were a lot of variables at work and, not for the first time, I regretted not paying more attention in statistics class; businesses used math all the time to resolve questions of logistics and I definitely could have benefitted from some insight. In the end, after considering all of the options, I looked to my Spirits and I--