Chapter 34

A Shift In Alignment

Kel awoke on the first morning of her new life with an overwhelming feeling of contentment. Not since her near death experience of "That Night" had she known this amount of satisfaction with the direction of her life. Then she looked over at KC, seeing a look of blissful Joy on her sleeping countenance. Even in her _sleep_she was at peace, her loneliness assuaged. Kel felt very grateful to the sleeping raccoon for allowing her to work her healing magic. She slowly eased herself out of bed, as not to disturb Kacy. After a trip to the bathroom she padded into the kitchen. Gazing out the window, she looked at the place where her life had changed forever. Outwardly, there was no trace of what had transpired last night. But to her newly awakened inner sight, she was able to make out the faint ghostly image of the circle. Blinking, she focused on the clock on the microwave--it was reading 10:19 a.m. She set about making some coffee.

Kel stepped out onto the patio, where the cement was pleasantly cool under the pads of her feet. It was a bright, late summer day--the air was fresh and felt very good on her fur. Even stepping into the dew-damp grass made her toes tingle. She had to admit, walking around in just her fur felt so...natural. She crossed to the benches built into the flower boxes along the wall and sat soaking up the morning sun, being at one with her surroundings.

The sound of the sliding glass door drew her attention, and she saw KC approaching, a steaming cup of coffee in each paw--and a radiant smile of contentment on her muzzle.

"Good Morning." Kacy's voice almost musical with joy. Kel took the proffered cup, returning the raccoon's smile. "Sleep well?" she asked, sipping her coffee.

"Better than I have in years." KC beamed, taking a seat next to the Vixen, her red and cream fur blazing in the morning sun.

"Thank you for last night." they said in unison. Exchanging surprised looks they both laughed easily with each other. KC placed a paw on Kel's arm. "That was the most healing, sacred night--you are a natural healer! Thank you...I hadn't realized how much I was h_urting_, until it was no longer there. Now there is just a wonderful...contentment. Thank you." Kel smiled demurely, "Thank_you_, for letting me help."

"Well, it meant a lot to me, Kelso, You have a beautiful soul." the raccoon smiled.

They sat in silence, just enjoying what the morning could give. Upon hearing someone in the kitchen, the girls made their way back for more coffee, where they found me puttering about. I gave them both a slightly goofy grin as I noticed them standing there. "Morning Sorceress, Sis."

"Well, looks like _somebody_got laid last night." KC Winked at me. Seeing the look on both their faces, I teased them good-naturedly. "Looks like I'm not the _only_one, eh Sis?"

"Well..." An impish grin formed on her muzzle. "Not _really;_it was one of the most healing encounters I've ever had. My God Rick, I had no idea how badly I was hurting, until Kel here, _healed_me. It was..." She was silent a moment trying to find the words, marked by the look of awe filled wonder "It was a truly transcendent moment." KC finished. "This gal is a natural healer." Kel poured a cup for both of them and we reconvened at the table.

"Have you ever had one of those incredibly profound experiences, and afterwards you were left with just one question?" Kel asked. "...Where are my Clothes?"

KC and I narrowly avoided shooting coffee out of our noses when Kel delivered that zinger. We were both coughing and laughing simultaneously. Kel sat back, paws wrapped around her coffee cup. _"I love my new life,"_she thought contentedly.

Gwen had asked Kel to try her 'sphere-in-the-jar' idea, but for some reason Kel was unable to form the ball of energy this morning.

"S'okay, it was as I thought, you were a bit over-amped last night. Try drawing energy up from the earth." Kel closed her eyes, centering herself in the world, then mentally reached down. She found a pool of energy, tapping it, drawing it up into herself. When she opened her eyes, everything seemed brighter. Once more she brought her paws together and this time the sphere formed effortlessly--it was about the size of a grapefruit. Kel inhaled, feeling the power she was drawing upon surge into her as she blew forth a stream of energy filling the empty vessel with brilliant emerald green swirling light. Gwen blinked in surprise.

Kel then compressed it down to the size of a billiard ball. It was throwing shadows on the walls of the den as she slowly lowered her paws over the sides of the Mason jar. The sphere slid within as Kel's paws crept down the sides. Gwen snapped on the lid as Kel removed her paws and the emerald sphere hovered in the center of the jar emitting a radiant green glow.

"Amazing." Gwen grinned at her apprentice.

"This is so COOL!" Kel agreed. "But why is it green?"

"Green energy is _healing_energy. Tell me Amanda, What exactly did you_do_last night?"

Kel's muzzle fluffed a bit as she remembered her encounter with KC last night.

"As you know, Kacy and I stayed up talking..." Gwen nodded. "...And, well--maybe it was a side effect of the Oath, 'Nurture Life and Ease Pain.' But I could _see_how much she was _hurting_from the loneliness...and I just _had_to help her...so I..._healed_her."

Gwen nodded. "Well, it looks like you are a healer, and the green energy would indicate that--how's Kacy this morning?"

"Better." Kel said matter-of-factly. "She's content. It was _instinct_really. I could see what she needed and knew that I was able to provide that...it was incredible."

"You did very well, Amanda, now pick up your book." Gwen paused, waiting for confirmation of her suspicion. As soon as Kel's paw made contact with the cover, it flashed brightly and transformed from light blue to emerald green. Kel yelped and jumped back.

"S'okay, Amanda, it was just confirming my suspicion that you are Indeed_a healer." Gwen soothed the shocked Vixen. "Gwen, why do you call me _Amanda?"

"Well, for one thing, it's your name. Not one you commonly use--I could call you Kelso--but I suspect that you have some negative memories associated with it, Yes?"

Kel nodded. "Uh-huh. But you know, Ever since I helped Kacy it doesn't bother me, I guess healing goes both ways."

"True," Gwen nodded. "Does it _bother_you that I use Amanda?"

"No. It's just that no one has ever addressed me by Amanda so it sounds a little weird, that's all." Kel admitted.

"Understandable--it is just my instinct to use that name for you, it is..._unsullied._A new name for your new life path."

"So, should I use it for my everyday life?" Kel asked.

"No, let's keep it magical, for right now." Gwen advised with a slight nod of her head.

She and Kel emerged from the den where Kel held up the brightly glowing jar--beaming almost as brightly as it glowed.

"It Worked!" I said seeing Kel hold up her prize. "But why is it_green_?" I slapped my forehead a moment later as the realization struck me. "D'oh! Of course it's green! She's a _healer,_duh!" I castigated myself. "I shoulda remembered t_hat_it was just such a lovely shade of blue last night."

"Like your eyes, my love." Gwen purred, smiling sweetly at me.

"S'okay." I winked. "Now it's the color of _your_eyes, beloved." Gwen turned to Kel. "Oh, by the way, your clothes are folded on the washer in the utility room. I washed them for you last night."

"Oh Gwen _thank you,_I was just wondering where they had gotten to!" Kel chortled.

# #?