"The Gift", Daniel's Chapter 6, Part 2
Story by comidacomida on SoFurry
It is important to take note of this "The Gift" moment: post 2 of Chapter 6 for Daniel, as it is the first major life-or-death decision with direct and story-defining consequences.
I will let the post speak for itself, and leave the decision to the readers. Will someone die? Will more than one die? What will happen after the choice is made? What choice will it be? That, as always, is for readers to decide. Considering how important this decision is, I have also included some primers in parenthesis to prepare Readers for how the end result of the decisions will be tallied. Here is what readers decided:
6) -- cried out to my Spirits for aid, hoping Herne and Talapus would hear and respond. (Result will be based on half of Daniel's Spirit + the average of Herne's and Talapus' Compatibility).
The Gift
Daniel's Storyline, Chapter 6.2
copyright comidacomida 2018
A soft, broken-sounding whisper called my name. "Daniel?"
I turned to the right and gazed into a poorly lit alley; staring out of it, just barely silhouetted by the half-light was an emaciated, soaked Fox spirit. His tail hung limply and the fur of his body clung to his skeletal body thanks to the recent rain but the fur on his cheeks was even wetter and his purple eyes were filled with tears. "...Kon?"
The Yokai's shoulders gave a faint shudder and I wasn't sure whether he coughed or cried, but his voice was hoarse and meek as he whimpered. "I... made a mistake. I.. I shouldn't have left."
Standing there on the sidewalk, Aiden beside me and Kon in front of me, I sighed, shaking my head as I spoke to Kon. "Listen... I know all about making stupid decisions. I'm out on a date with Aiden, but you can go back to my apartment and wait there if you want."
He looked like I'd just smacked him. Putting a paw to his chest he took a half-step back, muzzle opening with an expression of pain overtaking all of his features. "But... but I NEED you, Danny. I just--"
Although I felt for him, part of me was also a little angry because of his intrusion. "YOU are the one who walked off in the first place, Kon."
He whimpered, falling to his knees as his ears wilted and his faze lowered to my feet. "I know... and it was stupid... I was full of myself and I was tired of having to have to shout to get you to hear me and I--"
Aiden stepped up beside me, saying "And you still haven't apologized."
The Yokai's attention snapped up right away and I saw a gleam of anger spread across his muzzle but it disappeared just as quickly as it had surfaced. Kon let out a huff, lowering his head back down before speaking again. "Daniel... they all hate me. You've seen it yourself-- even the Bat here. Can-- can we at least talk?"
The continued insistence wasn't as bad as realizing that Aiden was right; Kon still hadn't apologized. I realized that it was far past the time I should have put my foot down. "Sure. But, like I already said, we can talk back at the apartment after Aiden and I finish our date night."
His sopping wet tail lashed across the sidewalk behind him like a mop. "But... but we need to talk now. You'll just ignore me when you get back home."
Aiden folded his arms over his chest. "That's still not an apology."
Kon slowly got back up, staring daggers at the Bat. "I wasn't talking to you, and you're only making my case about how much the rest of you hate me. I'm talking to Danny-- he's the only one who matters."
I couldn't remember ever seeing Aiden quite so angry. The even-keeled Bat actually showed his fangs as he stepped between me and the Fox. "That's ALMOST funny, Yokai... I would have expected you to say that about yourself."
Bristling, Kon opened his paws, clenching them with his little black claws visible as he let out a low-toned growl; it sounded more like an angry small Dog more than any really imposing animal snarl. "More proof that you're just prejudice! Not all Yokai are bad Spirits, you know."
Aiden took another step so that he was directly between us. "Probably not, but it's pretty clear that YOU are... and you STILL haven't apologized to Daniel."
Kon began pacing, two steps left, then turned, and went four steps right, about-faced, and took four steps, then turned again and took two more steps until he returned to where he had started. Rather than turning to face us, though, he continued looking to the side before he lowered his head and took a deep breath. "So what should I apologize for then? Should I apologize that I want Daniel to like me?"
Realizing I should get involved, I went to step by Aiden. "Kon, why don't you just--"
The Bat stepped again so that he was between the Fox and I. Kon didn't even seem to register it, continuing with his statement as if I hadn't even spoken. Maybe I should apologize for not being more meek? Oh-- I know! I should apologize for having an opinion, a sense of self-worth and some self respect! How about I apologize for not being more eager to get thrown off to the side like a peasant?"
The Bat wasn't even the least bit moved by the Yokai's rant. "How about you start with apologizing for being a prick?"
The next growl to escape the Fox was a LOT more intimidating than the first. Turning again to regard us, Kon bristled even more, his tail fluffing out almost like a raccoon's. "You're still young, Bat... you don't realize just how horribly disgusting you are... how much the Humans have rubbed off on you."
I was caught completely off guard by how much anger and disgust went into the word 'Humans' when it oozed out of Kon's muzzle. Aiden was even more surprised, but it only got worse when Kon turned away, but swung his body with such speed that it was impossible to see his foot as it swung in an arc, its pad catching the Bat upside the head in some kind of martial arts spin-kick. Aiden was picked up off his feet by the force of the blow and flung back into a building through its wall.
I was mind-blown to see a spiritual representation of bricks exploding when the Bat passed through them. My attention snapped back to Kon when I saw him step closer out of the corner of my eye; I took an involuntary step back and put my hands up defensively. "Hey-- that's enough, Kon!"
His voice held the tone of a rabid dog at the end of its leash. "No, Daniel... it is nowhere NEAR enough."
The Fox's eyes glimmered a deep red and I felt a chill take hold of my heart; for a moment I almost thought it had stopped. My body couldn't move, and it felt like I was standing outside naked in the middle of winter. I started shaking, as much from fear as from the icy sensation, and it was all I could manage to whimper out a "...no..."
Kon stepped forward, saliva dribbling out of his open muzzle. "Yes..."
The paralysis broke the moment a furry brown, bloodied streak slammed into the Yokai from the side. Aiden and Kon went down onto the concrete in a pile of biting, clawing, snapping fury. Somewhere amidst the chaos I heard the Bat cry out "Get out of here, Dan! I can't hold him for long!"
Despite the physicality of their grappling, Kon's voice was strangely serene and nowhere near labored. "It's not too late for forgiveness, Danny... stay right there, and when I'm done with this one you can apologize. I'm not unreasonable, and, like you said, you make stupid decisions... I get that."
By that time he had Aiden securely with an arm wrapped around the Bat's neck and I had no doubt that Kon was going to win the fight. The Yokai's gleaming Red eyes weren't even focused on his opponent, choosing instead to stare right at me. I--