Chapter 30

Spells, Charms, And Bar-B-Que

When Kel pulled into my place, the first thing she noticed was the wonderful smell of Mesquite wood smoke. Yup, Bar-B-Que. Gwen met her at the door, in the standard dress of the Coona household; her fur.

"Hello Amanda, welcome. Aren't you a little _overdressed_for this party?" Gwen teased with a wink. "Oh...I...uh...am I?" Kel stammered.

"Oh_relax_love. Can I get you anything?" Kel's stomach took that moment to _growl._It was definitely aroused from its slumber by thetantalizing aroma, wafting about.

"Okay, that settles it. You need a snack." Gwen chuckled, leading Kel into the kitchen.

"Yeah, I kinda missed lunch--a_nd_breakfast too, now that I think about it. Oh, where should I put these?" indicating the notebooks.

"Dream Journals?" Gwen asked, Kel nodded. "On my desk in the Den, leave your book there too." When she returned to the kitchen, Gwen handed her a glass of thick red liquid,

"What is it?" Kel asked. "V8 and wasabe, it'll help patch that gaping hole where your stomach used to be."

"Oh, I _like_V8." Kel said taking a tentative sip. "Oh nice."

"Drink-Drink-Drink! Quick, before the wasabe has a chance to hit your sinuses." Gwen urged. Kel bolted the glass of juice. "Aaah, That was- Woo Hot!" Kel panted as the wasabe fumes crept into her sinus cavities. But her stomach, on the other paw, pounced on this new visitor and promptly quit complaining. "Ooh, warm, Thanks." Kel purred, patted her belly and smiled at the skunk. "Shall we check on the twins?" Gwen asked as they headed for the patio.

"KELSO!" KC almost squealed, rushing over and giving the vixen a welcoming hug.

"Aren't you a _bit_overdressed, girl?" KC beamed.

"Oh,okay!" Kel relented.

"Ooh, let me-let me!" Kacy giggled as she helped quickly strip the vixen of her clothes. "Now _that's_better." KC said, openly admiring the shapely red and cream vixen.

"Hey Kel, good to see_you again." I said with an eyebrow twitch and Kel's muzzle 'poufed' in response. I then turned my attention to my sister. "So Sis, how went your visit with Bruno?" KC's eyes got dreamy and she hugged herself sighing, "_Wonderfully!" She answered in a slightly husky voice. "That bear can do things to me that _nobody_has_ever_been able to pull off." I smirked, shaking my head. _Knowing_her proclivities, _that_was saying a lot.

"Well, all I can tell you is, he was having a great night before that corpse walked in. Say, how's Cassy doing Kel? Didn't you tell Gwen you were just there?"

"Oh, right. Um, she seems to be doing okay; that was one of the things I wanted to discuss with Gwen...she--she is expected to make a full recovery, But..." The vixen visibly drooped. "But because the bullet is lodged in her spine, they are saying she c_an't_have kids..."

"Oh my God," KC gasped. Kel nodded solemnly. "Yeah...and that's why I want to talk to Gwen. Isn't there something that we can do for her?" Kel pleaded.

"Interesting that you bring that up, Amanda. Rick and I were just discussing the possible options...Well you all know what I say; there are no coincidences. Amanda's request is a clear sign that we must see what we can do to help Cassandra." Gwen pronounced. Kel turned to KC. "What do _you_think?"

"Oh I agree. It's just that my limited magical talent revolves around food: Flavor enhancing, Enjoyment and contentment charms. Things like that. I can_look_at a fur, and know _exactly_what they most desire; Food wise, that is." KC grinned, giving the vixen a rakish wink. "For example, looking at you, Kelso...Lobster Florentine."

"Oh-My-God! I only had that _once_and it was incredible!"

"But tonight..." KC _looked_at Kel."...Judging from your hunger levels, I'd say it's a fair bet you'd go for a nice, -rare- steak. Say...venison, about an inch-and-a-half thick." KC grinned, _ Bullseye! _

"Shtop It! You're making my mouse wha-ther!" Kel said, slurping as she tried not to drool.

"Well, I've got some Venison Steaks marinating... Oh, Top em off with sautéed wild Morell Mushrooms." KC grinned; she had the vixen dead to rights...

"RIIICK! " Kel cried. "Kacy's Torturing ME!!!" KC laughed good-naturedly.

"Okay-okay. It was _just_a demonstration." KC chuckled, paws raised in surrender.

"That's am amazing ability, KC. I didn't know you studied magic?" Kel asked.

"It's just to augment my natural talent as a chef. To me honest, it's become second nature. But Rick and Gwen are the ones you want to go to for something like this. Rick has a talent similar to mine. He can tell you the best drink, etc. He's also an empath. So he can tell what's bugging you, and how best to solve it. He's also one _hell_of a Blackjack player!" Kacy chuckled, taking Kel's paw.

Kel took the buxom Raccoon in a hug then drifted back into the house. I was in the kitchen preparing something grill-able. "Have you seen Gwen?" she asked. "Den" I replied while tying up a stuffed butterflied buffalo roast; It smelled heavenly! Just as she was about to knock, Gwen bade her to enter. "Come in, Amanda." She opened the door to see Gwen intently poring over her dream journals. Kel pulled up a chair and waited for her to finish. A few minutes later Gwen looked over at her.

"Very thoroughly documented. So, what did you learn?" Gwen asked Kel blinked.

"Well... off the cuff, I'd have to say I went through the wringer." Kel paused. "...And through it all, the guardian was there, watching. And even in the depths of despair, I knew I was never alone, for they were with me, a source of strength, and compassion..." Kel closed her eyes--there in the darkness were the Dragon and Salamander. Watching, smiling.

"...Ask." it spoke to her soul. A picture of her desire for Cassy formed unbidden.

"Possible..." the dragon intoned.

"Dangerous" the salamander put in.

"Achievable." The Dragon's eyes flashed, causing Kel to blink.

"Did you hear that? The--"

Gwen nodded solemnly. "Yes...But know this Amanda...if she accepts the offer, it could prove fatal." Kel gasped involuntarily. "For the lines of probability that I can see forming, Cassandra intends on giving Mike a child. _Regardless_of the danger to herself."

"...But..." Kel whispered.

"Why?"_Gwen answered for her, and the vixen nodded mutely. "_Love. It is more powerful than self-preservation. And Cassandra LOVES_Mike, and he her. She is willing to take _a_ny_risk to give him a child." Kel nodded, knowing Cassy's desire to have children.

"I know...Given a eighty percent chance of failure, she always looks at the Twenty percent chance of success..." Kel said.

"...And in that lies her salvation. But before we proceed--it has been three days, Amanda. Do you wish to walk the paths of magic?" Gwen gave Kel a penetrating stare.

"Oh...right._Yes,_more so now than ever. For if I can help Cassy...I feel this is the direction my life is leading me, it is my... What was that word?_Orlog?_Yes. It is my Orlog to become a worker on the pathways of magic."

"...So be it. For in the Guardians' eyes you have come through your ordeal unscathed. Tonight you shall stand before the Ancients and take your oath. Then--and _only_then--will you come under the Guardians' full protection. And I will be able to teach you my craft." This sent a tingle of exhilaration racing down Kel's spine to the tip of her tail. Nodding, Kel noticed something _different_about Gwen. Knotting her brow, she tilted her head slightly.

"What?" Gwen asked at seeing Kel's expression.

"I--I don't know. I'm...seeing_something. You look 'glowy.' You're not _pregnant, are you?"

Kel blinked and her vision returned to 'normal'. Gwen paused, closing her eyes and looking inward. "...Nooo, at least, not yet. Why?"

"Wellll." Kel shook her head. "I don't know, but the feeling I got when I saw you all glowy like that was, 'she's pregnant.'" Kel shrugged.

"Aah..." Gwen nodded, "It sounds like you are starting to see what are called 'Lines of Probability.' They can indicate to you possible future events or outcomes. That's a _good_sign." Gwen smiled warmly at Kel. "For from my own readings, that may become a reality fairly soon."

"Really?" Kel eeped.

"Looks that way." Gwen beamed, chuckling at Kel's reaction.

"Oh wow! Congratulations, Gwen!" A huge open muzzled grin crowned her face.

"Thanks. But it has not come to pass...yet." They both chuckled.

"Oh, right, yet. Gods Gwen, you're going to be such a great Mom! I just can't shake the image, I see you sitting there with a babe on each breast. Like you're gonna have twins,_I don't know _Why, but that's what I See_when I _Look_at you. So what do you think it means?"Kel asked._

"Well..." Gwen mused. "Twins run down both sides of our family line, Rick and his twin, and so does my mother. So it's quite possibly that I will as well. We shall see." Gwen smiled at the pleasant thought. Kel had seen that slightly dreamy look before, on Cassy's face.

"So, speaking of Twins, shall we see what the twins are up to?" Gwen asked, rising from her desk and heading for the door.

"Rick and KC were in the kitchen, an arm around each other, discussing their creations. Rick had made a buffalo roulade, stuffed with sixteen herbs and spices in a garlic paste, and wrapped with bacon. This was on the rotisserie over the Mesquite charcoal. Kacy had marinated venison steaks with sautéed wild Morel mushrooms; shredded cucumber salad, Japanese style; and of course, her signature "Death-By-Chocolate" drops.

"Looks like we are a go for tonight, Amanda's on board." Gwen announced as she and Kel entered the kitchen.

"Excellent." Rick turned "I'll help you set up the arena." As he and Gwen headed to the back yard. Kel was left in the kitchen with KC, who threw her arm around her shoulder.

"Hey Kelso, how are you doing?" she returned the one armed hug.

"I'm good. This feels right, KC." Kel said thoughtfully.

"Kelso, we've known each other, what? Three years, now?" Kacy ventured.

"Yeah, something like that. Kacy, I had no idea you worked _so_hard." "Kel looked at the raccoon standing before her, seeing her for the first time with her new senses.

KC shrugged. "Eh, Wouldn't be where I am now if I didn't. You get used to the eighty to hundred hour weeks after a while. I've got a great crew, and that really helps a lot. "

KC thought of Kirk Otterman, her number two guy and head sous chef, thinking that she should give him a call and see how it's going with the 'Deep- fried Cajun King'. She sighed.

"What is it, Kacy?" Kel asked.

"Oh it's nothing. I was just wondering how Kirk was holding up with that crazy possum in my kitchen."

"Who's Kirk?" Kel smiled.

"Huh? Oh, Kirk! Kirk Otterman, my head Sous chef, and my second in command. I wanted to turn my kitchen over to h_im_. But Eric wanted a 'name' so he got the "Cajun King" to sub for me."

"Isn't he that possum with the cooking show?" Kel asked, recognizing who she was describing.

"YUP!" KC growled with disgust. "Last time he showed up, he damn near burned my kitchen to the ground! I ask you, Kelso. Who in their right mind flambées with a quart of Moonshine?" KC exclaimed.

"WHAT?" Kel took an involuntary step backwards.

"Oh yeah, not to mention "Warming" a SEALED_Mason jar of Moonshine in the _DEEP FRYER!" she continued, throwing up her paws in frustration.

"My God!" Kel blanched. Having spent time slinging hash in truckstops she knew the dangers in the kitchen. "Was anyone hurt?"

"Fortunately not. Like I said, I've got a good crew, They Beat-Feet outta there before the Deep-Fryer exploded. Eric covered it up by saying we needed new equipment. Thank God Kirk was there; he popped the Halon Fire suppression system and made sure everyone got out. You'd be amazed how much damage five gallons of flaming fryer grease can do. Took us three weeks to get my kitchen back on-line" KC Growled.

"A-And _THAT'S_who's covering for you?" Kel couldn't believe it.

"Yup. Crazy, huh." KC shook her head, slumping her shoulders. Kel drew the frustrated raccoon into a comforting embrace.

"Mmmm, this is Nice." KC purred. "Thanks, Kelso. I _needed_this." she rumbled, resting her head against the Vixen's chest...noting her pleasantly spicy-cinnamony musk.

Gwen and I found KC and Kel sharing an embrace. We took each other's paws, smiling to ourselves, and with a gentle touch brought the girls into the present moment.

"Oh...um...uh, kinda got lost in that." Kacy blushed a bit.

"S'okay, KC, It _was...n_ice. Besides, you looked like you could use a hug." Kel said reassuringly.

"Can't get too many of t_hose_Kelso, thanks. It was nice." A sweet smile dusted KC's muzzle. "Time to get ready, Amanda." Gwen led her off to the den, leaving the twins in the Kitchen. "Kace, you okay? I asked, placing a paw on her shoulder.

"Yeah..." KC sighed "I'm realizing I don't get a lot of intimate contact in my daily life..

She just...hugged_me. No holding back, no ulterior motives, just drew me into a loving embrace. It was..._nice."

"Agape?" I offered.

"Yeah, she sensed my need and poured herself into it, unconditionally...a true example of unconditional love on a higher plane. I just drifted off in her embrace." Kacy shook her head. "You know some _good_furs, Rick."

"Takes one to know one, Sis..."

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