"The Gift": Daniel's Storyline, Chapter 7.1
Story by comidacomida on SoFurry
We are once again looking in on Daniel. Presented here is the first post of Chapter 7 in his story line of "The Gift".
Although we have navigated many trying events for the poor teen, we are not done yet, and we once again face a very important step in determining which ending Daniel and his Spirits will get. With only four more posts in this, his final chapter, we are going to be fine-tuning just how this tale will conclude.
If the beginning of this post doesn't make it apparent, we are hitting a double past-progressive narrative tense as Daniel in the present tells us his view of things in the past from his own eyes in the past. Yes... it's quite a mystical moment, but it is best to set that aside and focus on the task at hand: What does Daniel do next that he ponders might having been worth doing differently? That's for readers to decide and this is what they chose:
1) -- reached out to take hold of his paw again, unwilling to take the Spirit Energy just yet. "I'm going to make sure you get to the park... come on."
The Gift
Daniel's Storyline, Chapter 7.1
copyright comidacomida 2018
I dreamed every night that week-- sometimes they were pleasant ones and sometimes they weren't, but I always dreamed. Every night. All night. I couldn't say for sure what happened during the days but I'm sure it involved me going to work and coming home... probably picking up ready made dinners from the grocery store or whatever, but my life during my waking hours came to a halt and everything of any importance didn't happen until I laid down to sleep and closed my eyes. I'm pretty sure it was all because of that paper.
Kon had told me that I had to use the paper-thing he gave me, but he didn't say how. He pretty much suggested that I'd know how to use it, and when I asked him if I had to he said I didn't have to do anything, but I needed to if I wanted to stay safe from... well... from him. I had a feeling it was a pretty brutal way to say goodbye.
Letting out a deep breath, I nodded, and slowly reached up to press the paper to Kon's forehead. It's hard to explain what happened next, or the sensations that came with it, but the symbols on the parchment glowed brightly and little crackles of energy shot down my arms and into my finger tips. From there, it arced like lighting into the Fox. Rather than looking like he was in any kind of pain, the Yokai smiled, though each side of his muzzle showed it in a different way. Three versions of his voice spoke in unison when his lips moved and he said only "Saraba da."
Then, like that, he was gone. There wasn't any big explosion, or Hollywood style smoke and laser special effects... he was just there one minute and then, in the span of a single heartbeat, he wasn't. I didn't cry at that point... nah... that came later. There, on the street, I had more urgent things to worry about, like Aiden. The Bat was right where he'd been left and, though I had no idea how to judge it, I had the feeling that he wasn't really doing all that great.
Looking around for help, I was just about to call for Herne when I realized that the Elk was gone. Even worse, Talapus wasn't where I'd last seen him laying on the street. For a split second I wondered if I'd lost the ability to see Spirits until I practically slapped myself for real when I reasoned that, if that were the case, I wouldn't be able to see Aiden... or Bart, who was still standing off to the side.
He was the only one there, so obviously he had to be the one. "Bart! Can-- can you help? Please? I... I need help!"
The Coon Hound approached with an expression that was hard to read due to his drooping jowls but, after a moment he nodded and in that single gesture I could tell what it was: sadness. He knelt down beside me next to Aiden and he responded quietly. "Yes."
He blinked and, when he did so, I saw soft streams of bluish light flowing out of the corners of his eyes like tears and, when he opened them again they were Purple. He was focused on Aiden so I didn't bother asking him what had happened, but, judging from the way his tail drooped I could tell it was nothing good. He continued to inspect the Bat, occasionally moving a paw across one of Aiden's many wounds. Any time his touch lingered on one spot Bart's fingers would glow softly and, when he moved on, the injury would be gone. He was almost done by the time I realized that, whatever he was doing, it was taking a toll.
It took a few seconds before I could put words to it. "You're... you're disappearing!"
The statement was kinda true, I guess, seeing as he was turning see-through. Rather than say anything back to me, Bart continued focusing on Aiden and, each time he healed the Bat, the Dog became just a little less distinct and a little more see through. He started turning grey, like an old movie-- his color was disappearing, all except for his eyes, which stayed glowing Purple. Although I hadn't really had a chance to get to know him, something about his eyes being anything other than Blue felt wrong... but, again, I didn't say anything, and just waited patiently for him to do what he was gonna do.
Eventually, Bart finished and, with a weary sigh, stood. A second later, Aiden disappeared completely in a flash of light. That made me jump. "What the hell?!?"
The Dog reached up and brushed the back of his arm across his forehead. "He'll be alright, kid... don'cha worry. He took quite'a beatin' fer ya, that much's true, an' he'll need his rest... but you'll find 'im safe an' sound back at'cher place."
That statement, for whatever reason override my concern for the Bat. "My place? You mean... you sent him back to my apartment? How do you even know where I--?"
He interrupted me with a chuckle and a raised finger. "Ain't about what I know, kid... if he's with you then that'll be 'is home... Spirits go back home when they're in Slumber."
Something about the way Bart said the final word made me pause. It felt important. "What do you mean 'Slumber'? He's... sleeping? I thought Spirits don't sleep."
The Coon Hound knelt down and picked up a straw hat from where it was laying on the street and he put it on; it, like him, was see-through. "Nah... not sleepin' like humans, kid... Spirits with little Spirit Energy have a different kinda Slumber... but he'll snap outta it... just gotta give him some time... an' maybe a bit a Spirit Energy."
It sounded like good news, but it was still too early for me to be relieved. "So... he'll be alright?"
He shrugged. "That's upta you, kid... You're a Seer, an' that means ya got a lot more control over what happens t'us Spirits than yah might think."
Although it felt like we were in the middle of a conversation he about-faced and headed off toward the alley. I wasn't sure whether to be insulted at the unspoken dismissal or thankful for his help... or maybe both. "Hey! Uh-- Bart! Wait!"
One of his ears raised as he turned his head just a little more in my direction. I saw a pained expression on his muzzle as he regarded me. "Emmett was a little younger'n you when we first met. Ah was with 'is family since the war-- ah... the Civil War, ah guess ya'd say... but it took 'im awhile t'pick up The Gift, y'see."
I stepped closer to the Hound, realizing something just then. "When you were talking to everyone on the bus when we first saw you--"
He turned to regard me more fully, both of his ears up. "Mmm?"
It took a second for me to figure out how to say what I wanted to say without coming across as insulting. "I... uh... I mean... you-- you sounded different... you didn't have that much of a.. uh... a drawl."
Nodding appreciatively, Bart's only reply was "Well... that's th' kinda thing that ya gotta learn t'notice as a Seer, kid... gives me hope that yer gonna make it."
Since I was apparently to the point that noticing things was a bonus, I continued. "Your eyes are Purple... they were Blue before."
Rather than responding, the Dog held out a paw. I realized right away that I was supposed to put my hand in it and I did so without hesitation-- not sure whether Herne would have been proud or insulted. I felt a shock the moment my fingers touched his paw pad, and a rush of energy flowed into me. Gazing down at me, almost completely see-through except for the glowing Blue light of his eyes, Bart asked "Better?"
Only then did I realize what I was witnessing: Bart-- a Spirit, was fading away. "You're dying!"
He didn't sound as concerned as I was. "Ah should be able t'get back t' Emmett... where he goes, I follow..." Gazing off down the alley and toward the park, he let out a tired, and emotion-filled sigh. "an' I wouldn't want it any other way."
Maybe if I knew then what I know now I would have chosen a different path but, at that moment I--