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The Gift

Daniel's Storyline, Chapter 3.1

copyright comidacomida 2018

Life can take some crazy twists and turns sometimes but never more often than when you're living with four spirits. The trip to the park became a regular thing for us once a week and, to be honest, I surprised myself at how much I enjoyed getting out and about. The spirits also seemed easiest to manage when we did our picnic thing. Oddly enough, part of the ritual also ended up including the old man and his Hound spirit.

It was strange when they ended up on the bus with us for the second time but by the third is was downright eerie-- especially since we'd taken a later bus specifically to avoid them. Each time we encountered them the old man acted as though I didn't exist but the Hound was always laser focused on me, as if he were trying to find out what I was hiding. I figured after the first meeting he was already sure I was a Seer but he made no real move to interact or anything. At least, not until my spirits and I were heading out after our picnic.

I was so caught up in getting ready to leave and throwing away my trash that I hadn't even realized the Hound had approached us until I saw Herne tense up. I followed the Elk's gaze, turning around to see that the Hound was barely beyond arm's length from me but, by then, the spirit had come to a stop. "So, are you ready to stop pretending that you can't see me, young man or would you care to continue this charade?"

The move was a ballsy one on his part, and caught me by surprise enough that I actually responded. "Uh... huh?"

He tipped the front of his wide brimmed hat to me with a finger. "Bartholomew Ward. At your service, sir."

Talapus stepped in between the two of us immediately. "You don't have any services he needs, Dog."

Kon, surprisingly, seemed much less concerned with the Hound's presence. "Ah, just give Bart a break. He's not here to cause any trouble."

The statement surprised more than just me; Talapus and Herne were both caught off guard by the statement. The Elk recovered faster, stepping forward to stand beside the Coyote and place a hand on his shoulder. "The Fox is right. He will not be a problem."

Aiden, who was still sitting on the bench beside me slowly took off his shades then paused, squinting with a wince against the sunlight, then put them back on before addressing the Hound. "Hey... why are your eyes blue?"

Bart offered a friendly smile to the Bat. "I'm glad to see that you're still hanging on against such stiff competition, young man."

Aiden glanced around at Kon and Talapus and Herne. "These guys? Nah... they're alright. We get along okay."

Herne interjected, speaking to the Hound while motioning to the Bat. "He is still naive."

Rather than continuing to address the other spirits, Bart looked right at me. "You have far more spirits than any one Human has the right or capacity to handle. Have you really not separated yourself from any yet?"

Something about the superior tone (or maybe it was the haughty southern accent) rubbed me the wrong way. I stood up and motioned to everyone. "We're doing just fine, thanks. I don't know why that's any of YOUR business."

Inclining his head to me, the Hound straightened back up and tilted his hat again. "I meant no insult, young man, I am simply surprised that you are as capable at juggling as you appear to be."

His apology felt genuine but he didn't help matters by continuing to pass judgment. "And what's that supposed to mean?"

Herne answered for him. "It is as I said, Seer: you have far too many spirits to care for and no matter how hard you try one or more of us will end up by the wayside. The longer it takes for you to decide the more everyone will hurt in the end."

The Hound nodded to Herne before addressing me again. "The best thing you can do for yourself is to cut some of your group loose. It will give them a chance to move on and find something else... in the end that is the best for everyone."

Talapus struck an indignant pose. "And I suppose you're speaking from experience?"

Kon slapped the Coyote on the back of his head. "Yes. Yes he is. His eyes are blue, Dobe."

Although I didn't understand the word the Fox slung at Talapus I could tell it was an insult. Herne followed up the statement by asking the Hound what sounded like a very personal question. "How long have you been with the man?"

The Hound's ears rose and he glance back to the old man sitting on a bench near the water. "Emmett? I've known him since he was born. Been with his family since his grandpappy owned three plantations in the Carolinas."

Kon took a step back, surprise on his muzzle. "You're a Familiar! How come you stayed with the same family all that time?"

Bart seemed disinterested in answering the question and, surprisingly, it was Aiden that volunteered the information. "Isn't it obvious? He introduced himself like a Human would-- he has a last name."

Herne's ears raised as he eyed the Hound. "You are a Tribal Spirit? Or a Guardian?"

The Dog didn't get a chance to answer the question. The old man broke the silence in a coughing fit and, when he finally quieted, he looked up and glanced around. "Bart? Bart? Where are you?"

The Hound tipped his hat again and returned obediently to his Human's side. "I'm here, Emmett. I am always here."

Something about the exchange seemed personal and I found it hard to eavesdrop. Thankfully Talapus seemed to have a similar thought. "Let's go before he comes back over. I don't care if he has Blue eyes; I don't want him around Daniel. It's... rude."

Aiden hopped up and pulled a comb out of his jacket, using it to brush back the lengthy fur atop his head. "Yeah... Bart has his paws full with his Human and we should be getting back home... maybe get settled in and catch the next episode of that zombie show. It's getting close to the season finale, and I can't wait to see what happens with the one guy's son."

We all headed back toward the bus stop and, surprisingly, Kon was much quieter than usual. The two times I glanced toward him I saw the Fox was still focused on the old man and the Hound spirit. I waited to ask my question until we were at the bus stop and I was sure there weren't any people around. "Hey-- Kon?"

Still distracted, he only responded by rotating an ear my direction and offering up a non-committal "Hmm?"

I spoke plainly. "What's up?"

The question must have finally snapped him out of whatever was distracting him and he looked back my way. I could almost identify the moment his far-off gaze turned into his mask of self-assured confidence. "Oh... nothing... just wondering how long til that Hound gets tired of taking care of some decrepit invalid."

Herne had no trouble objecting to that line of thinking. "He had gone Sapphire, Yokai. He exists entirely for his human."

The statement didn't make a lot of sense to me. "Sapphire? Huh?"

Aiden's short fur puffed up, making him appear to be a little more filled-out than his usual thin physique displayed; I thought it was a good look. "Wow... I mean, I've heard about Spirits who get attuned like that, but I never met one."

The Elk turned to look at me, elaborating for my benefit. "Spirits with blue eyes-- they have a special connection to Humans. If that Hound has blue eyes then he is attuned to his Human."

Kon nodded, crossing his arms over his chest as he leaned back against the bus stop shelter. "Exactly, and it's how I knew he wouldn't cause a problem. He's so obsessed with the old guy he wouldn't try anything to take you from us."

I sighed, turning to address the spirits around me. "I--