FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

How to Seer, Part 12

copyright comidacomida 2020

I returned from Eastern Oregon that weekend, a full day ahead of when the rental car was due back. My parents took me out to breakfast before I went and, despite a lengthy family talk over pancakes and sausage, I was still on the road before 11am. Although there were a number of concerns among my spirits, we had a +1 to the party. Sure, the car was really only able to seat five, but Link had absolutely no problem with perching on the roof.

All in all, we made good time. We passed through Tats before noon and 20 minutes later I was turning onto Hwy 22; from there it'd be a straight shot into Cherry City. Around one o'clock we were passing through Wayne, a small town of not quite 250 people perched right on the northern side of Wayne Lake. Considering we were well ahead of schedule, and I didn't have to return the car for another day, I decided it was a good time to stop and stretch my legs. That, and Mishupishu was a water spirit and we hadn't really had any chance for him to interact with a large body of water.

We stopped off at a day use area on the south side of town; considering it was the weekend, there were a lot of people around but it wasn't a very big deal considering my main interest was in letting the Water Panther get in some quality swim time. Taking an hour out of my day to let him have his relaxation would be a great infusion of Spirit Energy for him but, at the same time, I wanted to make sure that nobody else was left out.

Before exiting the vehicle, I turned to regard all of my companions. "Hey, guys-- I know Link is still new to the group, so I think it might be a good idea for all of you to walk around Wayne with him... you can all share knowledge you have with each other. Consider it a favor for me... please?"

The fact that I provided them a request meant that, despite not being with me directly, they'd still be able to get Spirit Energy by assisting me as a favor. True, they couldn't generate any benefit from each other, but my keeping one another company and helping Link everyone would get something. One by one they all agreed, whether by nodding, or offering up a verbal acknowledgement, their eyes gleamed with an Inner Light as I gave them my thanks. That left only one more to speak to, and that meant Link himself.

The Bat had already hopped off the roof of the car by the time I got out, and I made it a point to pop the trunk, rummaging around in it for nothing in particular so people would ignore me as I spoke to him. "Talapus, Kon, and Raven are going to walk around Wayne with you for a little while. It would really help me out a lot if the four of you could get along. Can I count on you to make things work?"

Link offered up a vibrant, happy-looking fangy grin. "For you, Billy? Sure!"

With that problem solved, I retrieved a towel from my backpack in the trunk and headed toward the water. Off of the parking lot, the pebbled-and-grassy shoreline sloped gently down to the water. The air was calm, but the numerous boats cruising out around the middle of the lake meant that tiny ripples made it to shore, causing the water to dance forward and backward at irregular intervals. They weren't waves, but they were noticeable, and so I chose a spot further back to sit down on a tree stump.

Glancing around to make sure that everyone else was out of earshot, I spoke to my companion. "I know it's not quiet and pristine... but will this work alright for you?"

Rather than dive right in, the large, black feline sat down beside me on the loose packed gravel. He spoke in English, pausing once as if searching for the right word. "Thank you, William. I am... grateful for this time."

It was good to hear. "I'm glad. I know you don't get enough time to do things you'd rather be doing back in Cherry City, so hopefully this will tide you over until I can plan something better."

His voice rumbled softly. "This... is nice."

Surprisingly, he just remained on the shoreline, sitting next to me. Our sizes were different enough that, even splayed out on the ground while I benefitted from a place to sit, our eyes were about the same height. Glancing to him at that moment, I couldn't help but notice a problem. "You're... not going in? I thought you'd want to swim."

Mishupishu offered what looked like a polite smile before he turned his gaze toward the lake. "It is too busy here for that. I will touch the water soon, but for now, I am glad to sit by you."

I felt a slight blush come to my face, but I knew there really wasn't any reason for it-- Mishupishu was a Spirit and I was a Human; of course he'd want to be close to me. Clearing my throat, I let out a long breath before taking in a new one to say. "It's been a long time since I've been out to just... I dunno... just... relax like this."

The black, Lynx-like Spirit nodded quietly in response. When he said nothing I looked to him again; his eyes were still on the water. The silence felt oppressive, so I asked him. "Do you miss the water? I-I mean... we're in the city all the time. Is that... good enough for you, Mishupishu?"

His response was simple. "Yes. I can survive."

I was honestly surprised that he'd use a word so complex. "Survive? I'm not sure that's the right word. I think 'live' would be a better choice."

The feline finally turned toward me, head cocked to the side slightly. "No. They are not the same."

His answer caught me off-guard. "They aren't?"

Mishupishu shook his head softly. "They are not. Survive is not the same as live-- you can live, but not survive. You can survive, but not live."

Perhaps something didn't come through correctly in the translations. "I don't understand."

The Spirit pulled his feet closer to him, folding his lower half until he sat cross-legged. "Some men do what they must. They do. They battle. They try. They fight. They..." he paused, muzzle bunched up as his eyes took to a point far on the horizon. I could tell he was trying to figure out the right word. Ultimately he came up with a good one. "Explore?"

I nodded. "Yeah. 'Explore' is a good word. Are you saying that they do important things?"

He locked eyes with me, nodding vigorously. "Yes. Things. They do things. Sometimes they do and survive, sometimes they do and they die. Those men live when they do, but not always survive."

Trying to digest what he was suggesting, I asked "So... you're saying only people who do important things with their lives really live?"

His muzzle scrunched up in frustration and he shook his head. "No. All people CAN live, but not all people DO live. You said before, William. This trip-- you here. You outside. You stop and breath. You smile more. Are you happy?"

It was a strange question, but easy enough. "Happy? Sure. I took some time off and this has been a good, if strange trip. Like... right now-- you said it: we're outside and I can relax a little."

He nodded succinctly, as if he'd just made his point, leaning a little closer to accentuate his statement. "Then, now. Right now. You living. You alive. Remember how you feel. You do more than survive. This good."

"It... it is?"

For some reason I found myself holding my breath as he leaned closer. "Yes. This very good."

My entire body felt warm when his muzzle closed another few inches toward my face. I wanted to say something; Mishupishu had always tried so hard to speak to me-- so hard in fact that he was learning English and, if I was being honest to myself, he was learning it far better and faster than I was learning Algonquin. Did he care so much because I was a Seer, or was there more to it than that? All I knew at that moment was that we had locked eyes and my lips were scarcely a hand's width from his muzzle. I found myself closing my eyes, leaning closer to meet him.

And, suddenly, he pulled back. The motion caused me to open my eyes, and I saw Mishupushu as he slowly stood, gazing elsewhere, the inner part of his ears blazing red in embarrassment. The Lynx shuffled his feet, turning toward the lake. "I... I go to water."

He bounded quickly away from me, the fur on his tail splayed out like a bottle brush. I wasn't exactly sure what had caused the reaction in him. Had I done something wrong? Had I offended him? Was there a breakdown in communication? Was our body language so different that I misinterpreted something? Did he?

My heart was still beating rapidly, and my face was flushed with a sensation somewhere between embarrassment, concern, and... disappointment? I rarely if ever knew what was going on in Mishupishu's mind, and I hated to think that I was so far off base as to presume he was interested in me. Though, that thought made me pause; was I interested in him? My fingers rose to brush across my lips as I considered what had transpired. How much DID I know about ANY of my spirits? Just what WERE the relationships I shared with each of them, and did I mean the same to them as they meant to me?

I sat there on the shore of Wayne Lake, wondering at the answers to those questions. Little did I know that I would get them that night-- in a way I hadn't realized I'd wanted for so many years. I was going to do more than survive; I was going to live; I was going to lose my virginity... to a Spirit.