Chapter 74

  Spirit Walk

  “Now that there are no more distractions, we shall begin,” Prentip began.

  As he spoke, his old eyes began to glow with a faint bluish hue, a trick of the light. At least that is what most outsiders would think. Given the raging bonfire that still seemed to rage onward, albeit at a more subdued pace, there was a slight chance that the new color that Frank noticed was due to the lighting.

  But Frank knew better.

  Frank had seen the diverse powers of the shifter tribes in action. Even now his body ached with pain, but he felt more alive.

  Prentip began by grabbing a large dollop of the congealed blood mixture that radiated with the Serpentine Queen’s blood and the blood of her son both.

  As he applied the poultice, he also spoke out an odd ritualistic wording.

  “Back before the changing of the world, when there was not a shift or a division. The world existed in a much different state than we now know it.”

  Since he was the one responsible for slaying both targets, he would be the recipient of their powers and blessings combined.

  Wince.

  Apparently the first place the good shaman chose to apply such an application of condensed power was right to his wound, to his right shoulder where two giant puncture wounds still remained. Remnants of the bite that that serpentine Queen had delivered to him, while he instead went for his own killing blow.

  Frank noticed these things but soon found himself getting distracted by the words and the strange story that the old shaman continued to tell.

  “Originally, there was no power, for there were no beasts. Only animals that man lived with and tended to.”

  Glow.

  As the mixture was applied, Frank saw the faintest glow coming from out the corner of his right eye. Prentip also saw the glow and nodded to himself, before continuing with his practiced story. A story he likely told every time he resided over such an event.

  “Yet, the All Father communicated directly with the world, and said it was the job of man to protect and tend to the animals.”

  Despite the pain, Frank was quiet, only letting out a mild hiss, but soon found his attention being pulled towards the old man who seemed to be moving both quickly and exceptionally slowly at the same time. Even with Frank’s supernatural healing rate, there was a bit of a bite to the wound, almost as if even in death the serpent queen tried to make one last strike.

  “Then came the change, when the external gods came and sought dominion over our world. Bringing with them magics that threatened the very fabric of our reality. They brought power, privilege, and they ended up killing the All Father.”

  If Frank closed his eyes, he swore he could see her, a spirit writhing flowing from the odd mixture that was now being applied in vast swaths.

  “This is where the story of the Great One comes, he was a disciple of the All Father, having been on of the first to arrive to this world. He interacted with the All Father and learned from him, experiencing the joy and masterful balance that this world had to offer.”

  Yet, the old shaman wasn’t done, as he proceeded to trace a line down his right arm, stopping at the wrist. Before proceeding to do the same from the left shoulder and work his way down with one massive swipe.

  More glowing.

  “Yet, the Great One was left out of the initial meetings of the other beings of powers. He did not learn of the All Father’s fate until it was too late.”

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  A few markings on his chest, circles highlighting major organs, then finally the final dollop was placed on his forehead.

  “The Great One fought back and brought the teaching of the old All Father with his own knowledge and now serves as our last reminder of the teachings and values of the All Father. It is not a gift that is being bestowed upon you, but a promise.”

  To better spread out the dollop, Prentip even went so far as to seemingly make an odd symbol. Frank knew it was a symbol based on the focused movement of the hand, the way only one finger was extended as if to provide focus.

  “This is a promise that you will continue the teachings of the All Father, by taking on aspects of the animals that the All Father fostered, you will help maintain that balance of the old and new worlds that are so important. It is from this delicate balance that we now find ourselves, shepherding the old and the new.”

  Tingle.

  The moment Prentip was done, Frank’s forehead began to tingle. Then as if reading something in Frank’s look, an undeniable need to reach up and scratch at the marking that was now seeming to wiggle with power, Prentip continued his speech.

  “By opening up yourself now, you are forever binding yourself to the magics of the new, with the promises made to the old God. A God who has long since had their name removed from the annals of history. And is only remembered in these forgotten ceremonies.” Prentip continued.

  Then pausing, Prentip proceeded to empty out the remainder of the new mixture of blood and other sacrifices. For a moment Frank was shocked at this act, thinking it was a waste, but then Frank realized that this was entirely made from his own work and efforts, that the other mixture still remained from earlier, and those would be used on Pi, Blue, and the Major.

  Frank only glanced at the three others for a moment, before he had his attention pulled back to Prentip who was now glowing with power, as he seemed to be activating the blood that had been smeared over Frank’s upper torso.

  “You, Frank Fotos, are the first new human to be initiated by the great packs in nearly a century. You are about to be tested, pushed to your mental limits and beyond. This agent that we have applied to you,” Prentip stated while holding up the empty clay bowl that once housed the ritualized materials. “This is but a conduit to help your spirit more freely shed your mortal shell so you can see the realm of the Great One. You will see where he and the All Father met, and you will see the spirit of the great animals that our ancestors were entrusted to watch over and protect.”

  “While you are there, examine the animals. Knowing that many can become the most ferocious of beasts when pressed. Find one that you resonate with, one that holds the values, attributes, and abilities that you wish to exemplify not only for yourself, but for your family as well. Know that this change will be permanent.”

  “Once you make your selection, you and your children will forever bear the traits and attributes of your chosen spirit. By making this choice, you will keep the last promise of the Great One to his master and mentor, the slain All Father. By taking on this role you will also keep a shred of the All Father alive, his memory, keeping him from permanent death and thereby giving face to the Great One.”

  The more Prentip spoke, the more his eyes glowed, as strange magics seemed to come to life. He spoke hypnotically, that or there was an odd hallucinogenic effect in the mixture, as Frank felt his body simultaneously go tense, and limp at the same time.

  His body was tense in that he could not move, he could not even think to speak out to question some of the parts of the story. Who were the gods? Where did they come from? Why did they come here?

  All of these questions and more came to Frank’s mind, but he was unable to ask any of them. Instead, all he could do was focus on standing still, which was a process becoming harder and harder to achieve as Frank felt his body trembling slightly as parts of his muscles began to relax completely.

  Seeing the change within Frank’s posture Prentip nodded to himself. Then reaching forward he tapped Frank on the chest.

  Swoosh.

  At least, Prentip should have tapped Frank on the chest.

  Looking down, Frank was momentarily frightened by the sight he saw. For there sticking through his chest was the arm of the old shaman.

  “What the…” Frank began, only now realizing that he once again could move his mouth. A mouth that had been almost sealed shut due to his slow loss of control.

  Thump.

  There was a crash from behind that caused Frank to turn about. There to his shock he saw himself. Well his body. To his surprise, Drava and Ravena both were right there, grabbing his body that had apparently fallen over and been caught by the two assistants. Assistants who gently lowered his body the remaining distance to the ground.

  “Confused?” Prentip asked, his voice seeming to be the only sound that seemed to cross over.

  Then turning to see Prentip, Frank noticed an odd blue glow in the Shaman’s lips. His mind deduced that this was likely how the sounds were transferring over.

  “I know you are likely frightened, but look around you. This is the realm of the spirits, those that we are supposed to watch over and protect. Those that glow the brightest are the ones that are represented by the great clans. You can meld with one of them, or find one that is lost or otherwise forgotten to time. The choice is yours, so long as you can meld with the animal then you will be able to take on characteristics of that creature. Gaining strength from their spirit.”

  As he spoke, Frank looked around and saw the various animals that Prentip spoke about. Frank saw giant birds of prey, cunning wolves, powerful and calculating serpents and many more.

  “You must move quickly, for this state will only last until dusk tomorrow, after which time, if you do not return, your spirit will be lost, and forced to roam wildly. As the tether to your body will forever be separated, once the moonlight shines once more upon your mortal coil,” Prentip spoke, then as he went on, the words became harder to hear. As the energy used to infuse his lips with that odd blue hue seemed to dwindle.

  There was more, Prentip used this time to continue speaking wisdom. These were of course words that Frank had heard before, but were harder to remember now that he was just a spirit. Now that he was intangible, or at least part of him was intangible, he felt oddly forgetful. Yet, he could still think, see, and experience everything around him.

  He looked back at his body, a body that still glowed a deep dark blue that seemed almost impossible to lose in the darkness around him.

  By contrast, the bodies of the spirits around him seemed pale compared to his body, though it was clear that this would likely change as time went on.

  Even now, with but a few seconds, Frank could see his window into the mortal realm slowly dimming. As he could only make out slight forms of Ravena and Drava as they soothed him.

  Seeing that even those two were now dimmer, gave more credence to the fact that this was a limited time.

  Looking around, logically, it made the most sense to find one of the brightly shining animals, and choose one. He knew that by choosing the wolf, he would forever strengthen his bond with Ravena. While the great and powerful majestic bird to his left would help tie him to Drava.

  Yet, he was curious about what was left. He wanted to know about the animals that the world had long since forgotten.

  “Now go!” Prentip’s final words echoed and bounced around the openness of the spirit realm.

  Hearing those words, Frank nodded to himself and took one step forward.

  While Frank knew that there would be challenges, and rituals to overcome, he did not quite expect what would happen next.

  “Sssttoop right there humansss,” an angry and towering serpent began to speak as it slithered forward, all but challenging Frank.

  Seeing the serpent, Frank could only nod to himself, knowing that this new challenge had just begun.