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The Gift

Edward's Storyline, Chapter 9.5

copyright comidacomida 2019

I fumbled with my cell phone, pulling it out of my pocket as I went back through my contacts and quickly hit the call button for home; it was late... really late, but I had to know that they were safe. I wasn't sure what to think when the answering machine picked up but I waited for the message to finish and as soon as it beeped I spoke up. "Hey. It's me. I know it's late but I REALLY need you guys to pick up. Please pick up if you're there. I'll keep talking in case you have to get out of bed and get to the kitchen but it's really REALLY important and I need you to pick up. Please pick up. If you--"

The answering machine clicked and I stopped taking. Medved's tone was not very comforting. "Sophie bought that machine for them. It records one minute messages... that was not one minute."

There were several times when I stopped a recording-- it could be done by picking up the line or by pressing a button on the machine. My heart beat twice while I waited for someone to speak on the other side, but nobody did; the line had gone dead. Although I didn't want to jump to conclusions I was rapidly losing the fight with a sense of dread. I hit the number for my grandfather's cell.

I waited for six rings before it went to voicemail so I hung up and called my grandmother's cell... to the same effect. Throwing my cell onto the couch I grabbed a chair from the kitchen table and hurled it across the room. Green chuckled, eyes gleaming. "Very good, Seeker... NOW I think you're ready to learn about killing a Spirit of War."

Before I could even comment, Medved interrupted that thought. "No. Absolutely not. Edward would only strengthen her if he were to fight."

Green snorted. "Bah. Humans have been destroying Spirits for millennia; I have seen it myself many times."

The Bear did not relent. "Niet. This is not the way... not against the likes of her. She will take advantage of any conflict. It is her strength."

Tre stood up, stepping through the remains of the chair than had splintered on impact in the middle of the living room. He stopped in front of me, completely ignoring Medved. "Ignore the Bear, Eddie... it's his job to keep you outta trouble... even the stuff you can handle."

Medved let out a faint growl, though he didn't make any other move to menace Tre. "He CAN'T handle her, Wolf... and if we fight her he will only empower her."

I turned to address that statement. "Why do you say that, Medved? The Ancient One seems to think--"

He interrupted me. "Synochik... the Green one is foolish and does not understand that any conflict you have with her will strengthen her... not weaken her."

Although I expected Green to object, I was surprised when it was actually Red who took control of the body. "Correction. Green is many things including impulsive and feral, but he is not foolish. If Edward can learn how to fight a spirit his involvement will be invaluable to us in the conflict."

Medved wasn't convinced. "No. I have seen a Seer fight beside Spirits against Spirits in the past and it never turned out well."

Green's talons came to rest on either of my shoulders as he loomed behind me. I heard a savage kind of humor in his tone. "He will not be beside us."

Tre looked shocked, apparently figuring out what the Dragon implied a few seconds before Medved. The Bear seemed to get it right about the time the Wolf spoke up, staring at the Ancient One in surprise. "You plan on having him Join with one of us, don't you?"

Green spoke proudly with conviction, his talons giving me a squeeze. "Yes. He is going to Join with me."

Red clarified directly out of the Dragon's maw. "Us, actually... Edward belongs as a part of The Ancient One and, with his assistance, we will destroy the Spirit of War."

Medved objected immediately. "No! I will not allow it! He is not yours to Possess in such a way."

I didn't know what to expect from Tre but he surprised me anyway. "Joining is not the same as Possession, Guardian... don't deny Eddie the chance to realize his potential."

More surprised than me, Medved didn't respond at first, but Green was happy enough to fill in the silence. "You see? It is settled... Edward will join with us and, together, we will destroy her."

My focus as on Tre as I asked "Do you really think I should do this 'Join' thing with The Ancient One?"

The tip of the Wolf's tail flicked back and forth and his ears twitched back before rising again; I saw a faint lilt to his whiskers as he said "No... you should Join with me."

The Ancient One's reaction was distinct the moment Red took over the body as the furry Dragon almost tied himself in a knot. "Out of the question... have you ever Joined with a Human before, Wolf? Now is not the time to play with powers beyond your knowledge and for which you have no experience."

Medved cut into the conversation. "Like you're trying to have him do? Edward has no experience in such things!"

Tre pushed back too. "Why? Are you saying YOU'VE done it before?"

Although the body remained Red's, Ch'upikaq's voice noted simply and directly "I have."

The room went completely quiet for longer than I bothered counting. Both Tre and Medved were silent and I would have said something but absolutely nothing came to mind. Eventually Red clarified "It is the reason why he became the third part of Us... The Ancient One includes Ch'upikaq because he was able to fight us to a stalemate."

The feathery Serpent's voice added "With the aid of a Seer."

A soft growl emerged from Medved along with the words "And what happened to the Seer?"

The Ancient One fell said nothing and that silence seemed to serve as an answer for the Bear. "It is not worth it. I will not have you sacrifice Edward."

I vetoed his statement. "I still want to know how."

All Spirits turned to stare at me. It was the truth; I was tired of being powerless and I was tired of being the Spirit of War's plaything. Maybe I would have to Join with a Spirit or maybe I wouldn't but if I didn't learn what I would need to then the choice would be made for me, and I hated not having a say. Turning to The Ancient One I gave the direction. "What do I have to learn?"

What I had to learn, as it turned out, was a hell of a lot. The night passed in the background completely out of my mind as Ch'upikaq instructed me on all sorts of meditation stuff and things that made no sense. I wanted to shrug it off as silly crap but I stuck it out, especially when, just before dawn, as part of the practice he had me reach out and touch Tre. Unlike the strange sense of solidness when he and I had been alone in my room, I actually realized I had a lot more control over being able to touch Spirits when I focused.

It was a start, according to The Ancient One, but we had a way to go. Medved, who spent the training time in the corner grinding his teeth interjected as the sun rose that I still needed sleep. Only after he pointed that out did I realize just how tired I was, and, despite finally feeling like I was getting somewhere, I realized he had a point. "Right... okay... we'll stop for now... but I'm not done learning."

Medved was up in an instant, a large paw reaching out to steady me as I almost stumbled; apparently the mental exercises were tiring beyond just keeping me up all night. "Come, Synochik... you need your rest. If you plan on continuing this foolishness, at least do so with your wits about you after some sleep."

Tre stood up from his place on the sofa. "Hey, Eddie... you want me to--?"

The Bear's single word interruption was as loud a growl as I'd ever heard from him. "No."

I was too tired to make them play nice and so I let Medved bring me to my room. He tucked me into bed in much the same way my mom and grandparents had when I was a kid and, despite hating being coddled, I had to admit it felt kinda nice... and so did the kiss from the broad, furry muzzle on my forehead. "Ya budu zashchischchat' tebya."

It was a nice sentiment, whatever it was, and that was how I fell asleep. It was much more pleasant than how I awoke: a call from the sheriff's office back home. Over the course of maybe two dozen words I learned that a home invasion left me an orphan.