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The Gift

Richard's (FA) Storyline, Chapter 2.2

copyright comidacomida 2018

The sound of a loud whistle followed by a double, almost rhythmic pounding of drums from ahead put the argument on immediate hold and all of us looked forward toward a cross street and a strange parade that was emerging from it. Although I was used to small parades back home, I'd always expected anything in Cherry City to be far larger than anything we'd have put on, but this parade was entirely different; at most there were perhaps twenty performers involved, and they all wore masks and large, flowing outfits.

If the masks and costumes were the first thing that caught my attention the second thing, almost just as quickly, was the fact that nobody else out on the street, motorist or pedestrian, paid the parade any mind. It all became clearer the moment I saw a car come out of a parking lot and drive right through the two figures at the head of the celebration. I was looking at a procession of sprits and they were marching down the street in my direction!

Suddenly faced with a menagerie of unknown spirits my four companions were immediately on guard. With few options open to me I stood off to the side of the street and played the part of a parade attendee, cheering them on. Despite the surprise and alarm of Jack and Anapa, I settled in for a show-- after all, if what they had all been drilling into me the entire time I'd known them, spirits appreciated Human attention, and the parade of spirits wouldn't hurt me if I was playing along, right? Apparently Phillip and Sabrina didn't object since they joined in right along with me.

It didn't take long for the two dozen-or-so spirits to notice me but, rather than break ranks into some kind of chaotic mass, the entire parade continued onward. It approached at the same speed with the same air of celebration and the same sense of levity as it had before I was spotted and I took that as a good sign; Jack, on the other hand, remained to my side and a step in front of me, talon on this hilt of his sword with wings not-quite against his back, as if an eagle poised to strike.

As the procession drew nearer I saw that it was led by an Owl. Directly behind it were two Moths; if it was odd seeing an animal-like person then a humanoid insect was mind-blowing. I didn't have much time to consider it as those three were followed along by a Rat, a Mouse, a Ferret, a Skunk, a variety of Great Cats, a Hyena, a Frog, and a few others that were too difficult to identify thanks to their flowing clothes and masks. Although none of them carried instruments that were particularly obvious there was still the obvious sound of celebratory parade music following them.

They marched in time like expert performers, coming to a stop on the street right in front of me, but, even though their forward motion ceased they continued marching in time with the disembodied music's beat. Eventually the Owl at the front raised the baton he carried and they all came to a stop in time with the end of the music. He then spoke. "Company... present: right!"

In unison the block of almost two dozen spirits turned to face me. Unlike a military march, they didn't stand at attention or even really look organized in any way other than the fact that they were in rank and file; some of them waved, others were smiling, and a few hopped in place eagerly. Throughout the entire group, every last spirit still had that air of celebration and looked happy to see me more than they looked eager to 'have at me'. It was a very nice change from the bickering of my four companions or, worse, the Rabbit spirit's 'attack.' Regardless, I still felt better thanks to Jack being between me and the group, standing at the ready in my defense.

The Owl walked toward me down the parade line, then turned to his right so he could continue down the line before stopping in front of me and turning to the left so he could face me. Despite the fact that he had a beak I could still tell that he was smiling. "Well, if this isn't an auspicious sign then I honestly would have no idea what is!"

Phillip and Sabrina looked immediately pleased, each coming immediately to life as they shouted in unison "Pliny!"

With the grace of an accomplished performer, the Owl bowed low, spreading his wings wide for their full length and tipping them forward as he did the same with his head; it looked both courtly and theatrical all at once. I was surprised that he was paying more attention to the Cats than to me. "Ah-- Phil and Abby. I see you've finally found yourselves a Warlock... and a powerful one too, by the looks of him!"

Rather than inject myself into the conversation I remained next to the light pole and waited to see how the Cats would handle things. Sabrina approached him first, stopping just off the sidewalk, outside of arm's reach, and, surprisingly, she was adorned in a lengthy victorian gown. The Cat woman lowered herself into a curtsey in the seemingly ethereal manner that women did when they wore wearing long dresses. When she spoke, I heard a distinct old-time New England-ish accent. "It warms my heart to see you again, Master Pliny. You are looking well, and as active as ever."

The Owl chuckled, feathers around his beak puffing out a little; it reminded me of my high school principal when he was being acknowledged for his good work by the super intendant. Phillip was a step behind his sister; his clothing hadn't changed, making the two of them look like a matching pair of 18th century colonials. "We are overjoyed to see that you have finally made the trip west."

Folding his wings back into position at his sides, the Owl remained jovial and welcoming. He was joined by the Moths, who caught my attention and didn't let it go; I was mezmerized by their intricate bodies and numerous, spindly arms. They were the perfect combination of insect and human: resembling both but something else entirely. They each spoke at a whisper to the Owl, whose feathers puffed up a little and he shook his head. "Oh... I would dare say that it is entirely out of the question, my friends. As you can see, the Warlock is accompanied by two Familiars and two Spirit Companions. He is far too busy to join in our celebration."

Although I realized I was out of my depth, the events taking place before me were intriguing enough that I couldn't help but get drawn in. "What are you celebrating?"

Pliny, if that was indeed the Owl's name puffed up again, looking overjoyed that I had addressed him directly. He rotated his head so he could look right at me despite his body still facing the Cats. A purplish gleam in his Amethyst eyes preceded another one of those eerily recognizable beaky-smiles. "Why... the upcoming eclipse, Warlock! Is that not why you are here with your retinue?"

I'd completely forgotten that there was a full eclipse coming up. "No. I moved here to Cherry City to learn. I'm going to college."

His feathers puffed up again and he shook his body out. "Well, all the more fortuitous for you then! You will get to enjoy it merely by the grace of living within its path."

Anapa stepped up beside me; I noticed that he held his staff in one paw. He stared directly at the Owl and spoke in his strange language; I recognized only one word-- that "Hem'netjer" he used to describe me. Much to my surprise (and Anap's as well), Pliny responded in kind, speaking the Jackal's language right back to him. I gaped. "You... you can speak ancient Egyptian?"

The Owl offered a faint shrug. "Not quite, Warlock. Technically your Sorcerer speaks Sahidic Coptic."

I remembered something on a religion documentary my mom had watched once on Coptic Christianity, but other than that I knew nothing. "Sahidic Coptic?"

Pliny nodded, which was a little unsettling considering his head was turned so far. "Yes-- also known as Thebaic. It was a widely used dialect in Egypt starting around 300 CE. While most of my understanding of Coptic comes from study of the Nag Hammadi... before they were buried, of course."

The chuckle that accompanied his words left me with the impression that there was some kind of in-joke about the statement. "Oh... of course."

Sabrina spoke aside to me. "Pliny is a spirit of vast knowledge. He has spent centuries searching out all sorts of written information."

Phillip quickly interjected "And experiences and understanding and-- and he's not just a scholar, you know; he's an explorer... an adventurer!"

The Owl spread his wings and gestured like a human would do with their arms to young children to settle down. "Now, now... none of that, if you please. For this week I am merely a conductor for the celebration of the solar eclipse."

Jack spoke up for the first time since I decided to engage the parade. "And why woulds't thou celebrate something of that sort?"

The Owl motioned to himself, then the Moths, and then the rest of the gathered spirits. "As you can see, we are comprised of Naturae Spirits and Glamour Spirits... and we are all nocturnal."

Phillip interjected again. "Not you, Pliny! Aren't you a Spirit Guide?"

Pliny gave off the impression of smiling again. "Why yes, Phil, yes I am... although it has been ages since I have seen a Seer or a Weaver who has not already attracted a spirit companion, so I have spent much time reviewing my place in this world, and so I came to a singular conclusion..."

Anapa spoke up; despite not having a very good grasp of English he apparently caught just enough to make some kind of statement in Coptic. The Owl nodded. "Precisely. If I could not guide a Human I would instead attempt to guide my fellow Spirits."

The Jackal nodded sagely and then glanced to me and then pointed to Pliny. "Hem'netjer... you help."

Jack, understandably, did not take that well. "What?! He already has all of thee following him around, and that is far too many as is. How dost thou expect him to minister to two score when he is hard-pressed to handle four?!"

Pliny offered the calming gesture again and spoke a few words to Anapa in Coptic before addressing Jack. "Be at peace, Camden. I know of your task as a Herald and I would not presume to make a Weaver out of your ward."

The Gryphon's feathers puffed up and, despite the fact that he'd removed his talon from the hilt of his sword, he still seemed defensive. "It is Jack. I am Jack. I have not gone by that name in... centuries."

The Owl inclined his head in deference. "Very well, Jack... and, I assume if the Warlock is your ward then--"

Jack was very quick in correcting the owl. "He is not a Warlock."

Phillip and Sabrina spoke in unison. "He is a Warlock."

Anapa added "He Hem'netjer."

Pliny looked to me again, a twinkle of humor in his eye. "So many things to so many spirits, aren't you, Mr. Pratt?"

I paused at that. "Pratt? No, my name is--"

Jack squawked an interruption. "No names! He doesn't need to know your name, Seer."

The fact that the Gryphon referred to me by the title I'd heard other spirits used rather than my name gave me pause. Once I'd recovered, I remembered something about him being displeased that I'd introduced myself to Phillip and Sabrina and I changed the direction of the conversation. Looking to Pliny, I--