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How to Seer, Part 22

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The sky was dark when I came to; I was laying on my back in the same place on the shoreline in which I had encountered the Feral Spirit. Suddenly recalling what had transpired before I passed out I sat up quickly with a start. Several Spirits were beside me in an instant; Mishupishu's firm-but-gentle paw supported me from behind as Kon appeared at my side, instantly placing a paw on my forearm as his gleaming Gold eyes looked to me with concern. "Billy-kun... that was foolish. Courageous, but foolish... Kawaii bakayarou."

Reaching my free hand to rest it on his paw, I offered a smile. "Thanks... I know it was... but I couldn't do nothing."

Talapus knelt down beside me. "Maybe warn us in the future, Billy? I couldn't stand to lose you. If I don't know what your plan is I can't help in whatever craziness you're up to."

Mishupushu gently hefted me up and the spirits surrounding me helped dust me off. The water panther rumbled. "We are your guardians, William. Even if you do not have faith in what we say, have faith that we will help you. Where my Shaman goes, I will follow."

It was a touching sentiment, especially since I don't think Mishupishu had ever called me 'his shaman' in public before; it made me blush. Realizing that Mitch and Link weren't near me I finally looked around the shoreline. Although there wasn't much light nearby and the sky was clouded over, I could still clearly see all of the Spirits around me, each surrounded by an aura the same color as their eyes. A short distance down the coast I saw Mitch's Golden glow and Link's Amethyst one, which very nearly overpowered the much fainter purplish one of the Elk stag.

Despite his weak aura, the Spirit appeared to be anything but. While he had originally been imposing and threatening, the sense I got from him was much less fear-invoking, yet no less intimidating. He reminded me in a lot of ways of the high school football players in my gym class back in school; they didn't have to say anything or do anything specific-- it was about the way they carried themselves and how they interacted with others. There was more to the Elk though; at the time I had the impression that those football players had it all together but, staring at the Spirit talking calmly with Mitch, I came to realize just how immature they were-- their confidence was a shield to hide their insecurities. Compared to him, they were wailing little infants.

My thoughts stopped when his eyes turned toward me as if he could tell I was observing him. The Stag offered one more statement to Mitch and then slowly began approaching, his long, sure strides eating up the ground between us with swift intent. Mitch and Link walked after him and the rest of my companions moved to stand in front of me. He came to stop a respectful distance away, as if knowing just how close he could get before he started to worry me or my Spirits. After that he said nothing, simply looking down at me (who knew a humanoid Stag could be so tall?).

We stayed like that for several seconds-- I couldn't say how long, since I was transfixed by the Spirit before me. He had been a horrible sight to behold as a Feral Spirit; free of that burden, he was... something else entirely. I remembered seeing those eyes, so full of surprise, confusion and wonder as they gave way from baleful Ruby to astounded Amethyst. He was much more in control as we looked at one another-- no longer surprised or taken aback; I got the impression that he rarely was.

Despite how weak I could tell he was, the Stag somehow didn't give off that impression, and I probably wouldn't have realized it except I had become so much more familiar with Spirit Energy in the years I'd had with my companions. I resolved to help fix that, and fed him a little more with an introduction. "My name is William. I am glad to see you're doing better... Herne."

The voice I had heard from the Feral Spirit was dark, foreboding, and as cold as death itself. What came from the Stag was something completely different-- full of vitality and warmth, with a hint of confident curiosity, and perhaps just a little bemused mirth; his eyes grew brighter in response to my attention. His entire demeanor made me immediately like him, despite not understanding a thing he said, which was strange since he spoke English when we first connected. What he spoke in that moment, however, was not. "Cen fath a chonaic me thu, a mhic na huaire, ag cur do chroi i mbaol le spirt caillte?"

Mitch stepped up beside the Stag. "He speaks English, Herne... the new version."

The Elk reached up and rubbed at one of his antlers, hand coming away with a tiny shred of velvet, which he tossed to the side; it hadn't been there before I gave him some Spirit Energy by greeting him, introducing myself, and acknowledging his name. Eventually he spoke again, eyes never leaving mine. "I have not had a mortal gift me Spirit Energy in over two hundred years. How is it you could pull me back from the abyss of becoming Feral?"

I felt no need to lie. "I... don't know. I just-- I knew you needed help, and I couldn't just leave you like that."

The Stag lowered himself to one knee and, as his large bulk descended to the ground and he bowed his head. I took an inadvertent step back, only to realize a moment later that he was kneeling. His deep, rich voice spoke calmly and collectedly. "My savior, I have met no other Seer in this modern world. I have not seen your kind in centuries. Although I have lost my connection to the world that was, I am not so blind as to miss the signs of a Druid when I see one."

I was passingly familiar with the term, mostly from my friends in high school that played D&D. I didn't see the similarity. "A Druid? I... I just... I have The Gift."

Herne slowly raised his head. "The Gift is a curtain that raises and lowers, A Thiarna Uilliam... what you have brings life to the stage and words to the actors."

Mishupushu turned around and rested a gentle-but-firm paw on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. "I have told you this as well, William."

Something about the tone and the way the water panther held me made it very clear that he was in a possessive mood. He wasn't alone. Kon stepped back to stand beside me, entwining his fingers in mine as he spoke clearly to the Stag. "He IS amazing, yes... and he's OUR Seer, stranger. As you can see, his dance cart is full."

The Elk flicked an ear, stating slowly and enunciating clearly "I do not understand this metaphor."

Link flapped his wings mirthfully, offering a fangy smile. "His processor is red lining-- no more RAM available."

Talapus spoke up next. "He has a full plate. His cart is at a full load."

Herne snorted. "He is no meek Seer, Madra Fiain... can you not tell? He is Adhruil."

I did not understand the word, but it somehow echoed in my mind with its significance. I could also tell that my Spirit Companions were also given pause... all except for Mishupishu, who smiled down at me, repeating his earlier statement with the exact same words in the exact same tone. "I told you this as well, William."

Looking to the Stag, who simultaneously looked old and wizened but still somehow in is perfect prime, I asked. "So... what does that mean?"

He offered a knowing smile and I was surprised when my heart skipped a beat at such attention from him. "It means that Spirits do not drain you in the way they fear. Your companions are worried that you have too much on your plate... but they look at the wrong serving vessel in the wrong way."

Link double-blinked. "We what now?"

Herne glanced patiently to the Bat. "You are yet young, Ialtog... you will learn this in time. It means A Thiarna Uilliam, Solas agus Scairt na le spirt will never have to worry about his plate, because his cup runneth over."

I'd understood to that point that 'Uilliam' was his version of my name, but all of the rest of the words threw me for a loop. Realizing that I needed some help, I glanced at Mitch. "You know him, right? What does all that mean?"

The Raven looked somewhere between utterly helpless and enjoying a good joke. "It means I think he's coming with."