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The Gift

Daniel's Storyline, Chapter 3.5

copyright comidacomida 2018

The Coyote grinned at me and I watched his eyes drop for a second; I looked to where he'd glanced and saw that there was a Arabian Nights style oil lamp resting in my palm. Even as I moved my hand the 'genie lamp' disappeared in a wisp of smoke, but the reference wasn't lost to me. It was just witty enough that I realized he was trying to redirect the conversation again. "Okay-- but what exactly happened there and what did Aiden mean about Humans not being able to hear you?"

Talapus flicked an ear. "Trickster Spirits and Glamour Spirits can use some of our energy to Manifest in a way Humans can see us or in a way that allows us to create sounds they can hear, but we can't do both at once."

It was a half-answer but, thankfully, Aiden stepped in again with more information. "When a Human uses a ritual to contact spirits then a Spirit that qualifies to accept that contact gains spirit energy. They can get even more if they find a way to respond. I've heard stories about Spirits who will do little things that confuse Humans as to whether they really are or aren't hearing from Spirits so the Humans will continue to try and contact them. It creates little bits of spirit Energy for those Spirits but it's consistent. Talapus sounds like he spent a lot more energy to get a lot more... but it only worked once."

The Coyote cracked a wry grin. "Well.. twice now... and I think Mike will probably try again. He seemed to like contacting me."

There was something lewd suggested in Talapus' expression but I pushed it aside for the sake of trying to get more information out of him. "So, you knew Mike and Dave because you lived with them for awhile?"

Talapus' tail swished behind him in a slow wag. "Technically they moved into the apartment were I was already living. It's like what I--"

I wasn't interested in hearing it again. "Right-- like you did here before I moved in. What I mean was that the three of you lived together for a little while before they tried to contact you with the-- board."

Although I'd meant to try pronouncing 'Ouija' again the way Aiden was watching me helped me realize I didn't want to have to deal with the language lesson again. The Coyote nodded at my statement. "Yep. They had a really important question that needed answering and they consulted the wise spirit of Coyote."

Aiden's following statement was so far out of left field that I thought he was joking, but nobody could have kept a straight face unless the statement was serious. "They were betting whether the coyote from that one cartoon wanted to eat the road runner or wanted to get-it-on with him."

Kon was the first to respond to the statement, immediately breaking out into a full-on belly laugh, falling onto the floor and beating at it with his paw. Herne's response was second, and much more subdued; his paw made it to his face once again as he sighed and shook his head. Talapus seemed surprised, going so far as to demanding of the Bat "How'd you know?"

In response, Aiden took off his shades and turned them around; it was hard to see specifically but I could see what looked like computer text scrolling across the inside of the lens. He clarified "I was looking up a mental assessment done on Dave after he was let go from his job and he said that he was terrorized at work by that coyote from the coyote and roadrunner cartoon, and that you..."

The way the Bat let the statement trail off into nothing definitely caught my interest. "What? What did he do?"

The insides of the Bats' ears reddened and his eyes widened before he slid his shades back on. "He was exaggerating, I'm sure. The length of his arm?"

I was REALLY intrigued. "What was the length of his arm?"

Talapus just kicked back, his feet going back up onto the coffee table. "Well, like I said-- I left an impression on Dave and Mike. Do we REALLY have to go into detail?"

Kon and Herne both agreed for once as they each stated in unison "No."

The Coyote's fur fluffed out and he reached up to smooth out the fur on his head. "Well... anyway, there's your answer, Daniel. Dave and I have a history, and if he's causing you problems I have no issue with running him off."

The Fox sat up, wrapping his two tails so that they lay in his lap. His voice was full of sarcasm. "Sure you will. Completely selfless too I bet. You'll have Topaz eyes before you know it."

Tapalus' good natured response was full of honey. "I know, right?"

Herne finally stood up and brushed the fur along his thighs to make sure it lay straight. "Well, this afternoon has been full of enough inane prattle to fill the two yards of a pair of ladies chatting over their garden walls. It bores me, and I will take my leave."

I turned to the Elk and was about to say something when, suddenly, he simply ceased to be. Kon's ears rose at that and, a moment later he cracked a wide grin. "Wow... if only I'd known before how easy it was to get rid of him!"

Talapus let out a 'ha', and the two gave one another a 'high-five'. Aiden stood up and moved over to joined the three of us, taking a seat closer. "Well... he-- he kinda has a point, guys. I always figured that being around a Seer meant important stuff was gonna happen. So far it all seems kinda... you know... basic."

Kon glanced at the Bat. "Sometimes basic is good."

Talapus shrugged. "Basic is fine and all. I'm just waiting for some personal time with Danny. I do lots better one-on-one than I do in groups."

The Fox's smile was the largest yet. "Oh, I can do just fine with one-on-one, small groups, large groups-- it's all about opportunity and intent."

Aiden let out a long sigh. "You know, the two of you aren't really all that different. You may not be the same channel but you have the same programming. You know what happens when two channels compete for the same market share, right?"

Talapus didn't even bat an eye. "More singing competitions and everyone gets their 15 seconds of fame?"

Kon was just a step behind. "Another counter-culture high school drama by Ryan Murphy?"

The Bat sighed and stood up. "I was going to say that both channels get lower returns for their investments. Shareholders don't like that, you know."

The Coyote uncrossed his legs and rested a paw on his loincloth. "Oh, that's fine... anyone holding me will get more than a 'share'."

Not to be outdone, Kon reclined back against the couch, the tails in his lap censoring his nakedness since his clothing had suddenly disappeared. "Yeah... no worries there. When it comes to cable broadcasting the winner is always 'Fox'."

Honestly, after Aiden disappeared part of me got excited that I was alone with the two most 'interested' Spirits but, after a few more moments of hearing them and their one-upsmanship I had to admit that it WAS getting a little old. Standing, I looked down at the two Spirits who were suddenly focused on me. "I'm going to my room. Alone. Have fun."

Kon smiled. "It'd be MORE fun if I could join you in--"

I almost caved and let him invite himself but, instead, I held onto my resolve and repeated myself. "Alone."

It was a first step. A first step on a very long road.