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The Gift

Richard's (FA) Storyline, Chapter 3.4

copyright comidacomida 2018

The Raven spoke up for the first time since my arrival. "What are you doing here?"

Sabrina answered for me, pointing at Anapa. "Our Warlock asked us to help him find the Jackal."

Forestalling any implications or insinuations, I started much more simply, holding out my hand. "My name's Richard. Richard Ford."

She took my hand in hers and gave it a shake. "Stephanie Brenner."

Looking around at the large group of spirits at the table I looked down at my pad of paper and I looked at Anapa, writing down what I wanted Jack to say for me. The Gryphon accepted the paper and served as my voice. "Anapa, Richard was remiss to see that thou had not been present upon his waking. We have come looking for thee because of this."

Sure, I knew that he wouldn't be able to understand me but I felt that it needed to be said regardless. Imagine my surprise when the Raven turned to the Anapa and immediately began speaking to him in the Jackal's own language. After a moment, Anapa nodded in response and said his own piece. I thought I recognized a word but when the Raven spoke for him the word I was expecting wasn't part of it. "He said that he is spending time here with our Seer."

I asked for clarification, writing it on the paper before letting Jack see it. The Gryphon provided a voice to my thought. "Our seer thought one of those words means 'priest'."

The Raven offered it. "Actually, it meant priestess. It's what he calls our Seer. How do you know what hem'netjer means anyway?"

The Bear cuffed the Bird lightly, no more roughly than an older brother might do to a younger one to keep him quiet. "He's obviously spent time with him. It would only make sense if he is a Seer as well."

Anapa had more to say and the Raven nodded and looked to me. "Anapa says he has wanted to apologize for trying to take your spirit essence. He thought you were dead."

The statement got a response from Stephanie who, until that point, seemed to be courteously minding her own business. She glanced at the Raven and her fingers flew across the keyboard. And she continued our verbal exchange with what I took to be a loaded question. "So... is this a regular hang out for you? It's the first time I've seen you here."

The Raven glanced to the screen and addressed me to speak her written one. "Stef wants to know how you tracked Anapa here... and what happens now that you found him."

The Rhino stood suddenly, pointing off to my right at Sabrina and Phillip. "Your familiars are doing something, Seer Richard. Tell them to cease, or it their magic-working could be taken as a threat."

I glanced to the two Cats who, indeed, were seated together with their paws framing what looked like a small pile of spilled salt. In the time it took me to analyze what I was seeing the salt shifted and swirled, creating a series of what looked like symbols. I gave Jack a subtle nudge and motioned with my head to them. He picked up on my meaning. "Thou had best cease thy actions-- tis an affront to the Sentinel and it is my believe that we wish to make a positive impression on behalf of Richard."

Without waiting for a response from the Cats I responded to Stephanie's spoken question. "Oh yeah... I'm not on this side of town usually... I was expecting to meet a friend here."

With any luck she'd catch the meaning of what I was saying; it was a casual and innocent statement for anyone overhearing without seeing the spirits with us but for Stephanie I'd hoped that I'd explained myself well enough. Judging from the way she chewed on her lower lip I assumed that she did get my point.

She looked back to the computer screen and had just started typing something out when Phillip spoke up. "You know-- Warlock, you can just pretend you're making a call on your cell and reply to whatever the Raven types for her. It'll save everyone a lot of trouble and a lot of spare paper won't have to be wasted if you just talk directly by speaking into the phone... no sense in making this so complicated."

Stephanie glanced toward the Raven and, without looking at her screen, typed something out on her laptop. The Bird spoke for her. "That sounds like a good idea to me.

The Raven nodded and motioned to my pocket. "Well okay then."

Much to my surprise my cell buzzed; I remember wondering how he managed to do that without even knowing my number. I pressed the call button and held it up to my ear. "Hello?"

Although the line was still dead, I used it as an opportunity to make good use of it as a prop, especially when the Bird announced. "Tricksters have their uses, you know."

It made me glad that Phillip and Sabrina had such great insight on things. Realizing that I was the one on the spot I spoke up. "I'm glad you were able to call. There was a question about what was going to happen to you-know-who."

To reinforce the meaning behind my words I motioned with my eyes to Anapa. Stephanie began typing away at her computer again and the Raven continued to speak for her. "She says Anapa is a very respectful spirit and she wants to give him the same courtesy. If he is just here to humor her and would rather be with you then she doesn't want to keep him from you."

I nodded as I responded, my gaze slowly migrating so I looked at Anapa as I spoke. "I was thinking the same thing. I mean, I don't know him as well as I'd like to, but he seems like an amazing person and things wouldn't be the same without him around."

Stephanie continued typing away on her computer and the Bird turned over his shoulder to speak with the Jackal. He was kind enough to explain what was going on.. "She asked me to ask Anapa what he thinks about the situation."

I responded into my phone. "I think that's fair."

Although I had no idea what to expect from the Jackal the answer I got, as translated by the Raven was not in the running. Puffing up his feathers, the Bird looked right at me, speaking plainly. "Richard, Anapa is glad that you continue to live even though it meant he was not able to take your spirit energy. He wanted to be there for you to teach you about Spirits and work together with you but he does not believe you need him."

I was so surprised that I almost spoke right at the Jackal rather than into the phone, but I recovered quickly. "Who else is going to teach me? I mean, Jack, definitely, but you each have your own areas of expertise."

The Raven translated what I had to say and an emotionless smile touched on Anapa's lips for just a second before he responded. The translation came back in a very matter-of-fact way. "He said that you have two Cat familiars who can-- wait... you have TWO familiars? Seers can have TWO familiars?"

His rather blasé service as translator came to an abrupt end as his feathers puffed up and he asked his questions to those assembled. Phillip scooted closer and rubbed his head almost against my shoulder, pantomiming the familiar gesture without actually being able to touch me and he started purring audibly. "Richard can, because he is special. He is going to be a powerful Warlock. OUR powerful Warlock."

Jack's scowl was immediate. "That is still up for debate-- Raven, tell the Jackal that without him around I will not be able to limit the plans of these two."

The Raven smirked, at least, I THINK that's what he did. "I'd think that would be a matter of what your Seer wants, Gryphon."

All eyes suddenly turned on me, including Stephanie's. I looked at her spirits and at Anapa, then to Jack, then the Cats. I hadn't really expected to be put on the spot, but the Raven had made a valid point. Taking a deep breath, I--