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The Gift

Daniel's Storyline, Chapter 7.5

copyright comidacomida 2018

Stretching as far as I could without getting up, I reached for the guitar case I kept in the corner and pulled it closer. Letting out a sigh, I promised myself I'd just strum a few chords without any obligation; I wasn't going to create a masterpiece or pound out the next billboards #1... I just wanted to get lost in the process for a little while. The photo slipped between the strings made that difficult.

I vaguely remembered taking the pic myself and I knew I must have taken it at the cafe because that was the only place I knew they had those ancient instant develop polaroid cameras. Looking down at it, I pulled the photo free from the frets and looked down at the off-centered selfie; it had definitely been taken at the cafe with me sitting, surrounded by emptiness... only, as I looked closer, the picture wasn't so empty.

It was a gradual thing but, as I stared, the picture changed before my eyes and four figures slowly took shape around me. At the same time, my mind began to fill in the blanks of my memory and, before long, I could name the four animal-men who had posed with me. Before I could say anything though, I heard my name spoken again but this time it wasn't spoken from the TV. "Danny?"

Turning, I was relieved to find that I wasn't alone; I hadn't been alone even when I thought I was. My three Spirits were there, all waiting, and they'd waited long enough. Smiling, I raised a hand in greeting. "Hi."

The trio knelt down, surrounding me in a 360 degree hug. It was Aiden who spoke up first. "Herne did it... I didn't know if he could, but he did it!"

The Elk extended his arm a little further and ruffled the head-fluff on the Bat. "I couldn't have done it by myself. Fortunately you weren't in Slumber for as long as we thought you might be."

Talapus just chuckled. "I already told you I'm a good medicine man."

I'd already been stunned by the sudden turn of events and the wild wash of memories that came flooding back so their exchange had caught me off balance to begin with. As I pushed them away so I could take a moment, I demanded some clarification. "What are you all talking about? What even happened?"

Herne was kind enough to put things into perspective. "The Hound from the Park helped us home. We could feel it when you lost The Gift and we had worried that we'd lost you forever, but neither Talapus nor I could leave your apartment or risk not being able to return."

I turned to face Aiden, who was seated right next to me with a hand still resting on my forearm. "When Kon disappeared I lost The Gift... but he... I think part of him stayed around long enough to give me some special power, like a single wish or something and I--"

The Bat smiled, his needly teeth glinting. "You gave that power to me to help me awaken... I could tell. I mean... I know."

Talapus scoffed. "Bah... sure, he woke you, but you recovered so quickly thanks to me and my talents of--"

Herne's statement was simple and to the point. "Do not ruin the moment, Coyote."

Aiden rested his head against my shoulder. "Thank you, Danny... I know what you gave up to help me."

I felt a warm wave flow through me; I'd made a difference. When I'd sacrificed the power Kon had given me I hadn't figured I'd ever have a chance to hear what became of it, but I did. Still, I had plenty to be thankful for too. "No, Aiden... thank YOU. Without you, I would have been Fox food... you sacrificed yourself for me, so of course I had to do something to help you too."

Talpaus smirked, reaching out to ruffle my head of hair, and Aiden's furry fluff atop his head. "Ah... well that's what family does, after all."

Aiden and I spoke in unison. "Family?"

The Coyote's smile split his muzzle wide. "Well sure! Danny, you're the middle brother that keeps the peace and makes sure everyone gets along, Aiden's the baby brother who needs guidance and I'm the knowledgeable older brother that makes sure you two don't remain ignorant little babies."

Herne nodded thoughtfully, his antlers rising and falling slowly as he agreed. "Hmm... that is true enough... although I would assume that the eldest brother will get his siblings into trouble just as often as he saves them from it."

Aiden didn't miss a beat. "So... if we're brothers, what does that make Herne?"

Talapus didn't even pause to think about it. "Herne? He's the dad, of course... someone's gotta keep you two in line."

The Elk's stoic expression was obvious enough that it was a good indicator that he didn't think it was the younger two brothers that needed the guidance; the Coyote's grin suggested that he wasn't going to argue the point either. There were still more questions I had though. "So how can I see everyone again? I thought I lost The Gift when Kon disappeared."

Herne nodded again. "Yes... you did. He was a powerful Spirit and neither Talapus nor I had enough strength to restore it to you."

Talpaus added "Even together we couldn't... but after Aiden had enough time to recover--"

Aiden interrupted him. "Herne brought you back... all three of us did."

The Elk nodded with a gratified smile. "I have given The Gift before, but it was a time long past and have long since lost the strength to do so on my own... but where one failed, three succeeded."

Talapus rubbed his head vigorously against my shoulder like a cat. "Good thing you kept all of us around, eh, Danny?"

It was a good thing indeed.

* * * * * *

Settling into the groove of living with Spirits was easier the second time around, and not just because there were only three of them. No longer having a job meant that I had a lot more time to invest in them, and in myself. At Herne's insistence and with encouragement from Talapus and Aiden I focused on what had really inspired me for my life: music. I'd like to say that having them with me was a magic pill and everything after that came easily, but that'd be a lie... it's like Herne told me early on: nothing worth doing is easy.

It took a few months and, just when I was really starting to worry about being out on the street or moving back in with my folks I got a nibble: a night club wanted me to perform a few sets. It wasn't much, but it was a start and, as with all journeys, you can't get anywhere until you start. I played some covers but I got to close with my song-- our song, really. It was a hit, and from there, I was asked back again and again.

I split my time between spending time at the jam cafe and home but my Spirits were always with me. Like a family, we continued to have disagreements and occasional arguments, but what we had was solid enough to survive those. Also, like a family, we lived together and prospered. Herne and Talapus fit their new roles incredibly well, except for what would probably be called incest if we'd really been family-- they were respectful and held true to their agreement to share me, even joining in together for occasional threesomes, but that was just icing on the cake.

As for my relationship with Aiden, I suppose you could call it 'the friend zone', but that'd be way off mark. He and I settled into the perfect brotherly relationship; the Bat was the quirky younger brother with a movie nerd's knowledge of film, a music theorist's ear for radio, and a clothing mogul's eye for fashion. I taught him a lot of practical knowledge and he amazed me with his knowledge of trivia. He even helped me perfect my look for when the stage gigs turned into something bigger and I started playing real venues.

My music ended up growing slowly but consistently and, before long, I had to come up with a name. Kon may not have been with us any longer, but, considering the music consisted of me and three other instruments, I named the band in his honor: "Three Tailed Fox". The venue music always consisted of me and three other musicians hired for the specific gig; in the studio it was me and my Spirits-- I enjoyed the studio sessions the most.

No, I never became an international hit or anything... at least, not yet, but what I have is all I really need. It's definitely more than I would have had without the intervention of the Spirits, and for that I am thankful every day. It's possible I might do a summer tour next year and if it happens that'd be awesome, but if not I'll still be a happy man-- as long as I have my Spirits by my side how couldn't I be?