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The Tails of Rabelaisia 8/8 Avatars 16-30/30
---

Avatars Chapter 16
They Who Hunt, Are Sometimes Hunted
---

Takoda handed Roberta the lump that had been the life nullifier.
"Jessica says that because of this, we have our Great Cause'."

Roberta frowned slightly,.  "And our Great Evil, too. Do you know what
would make her think of Dorothy when she handed this to you?"

"Dorothy?  We were talking about how this resembled something we would
design, except that we wouldn't have been quite as careless with our
assumptions.  The ones used by the designer allowed this to imprint on
her, after it failed to kill her."

"Dorothy was a failed Avatar candidate.  She and her companions
attempted to kill Jessica.  Becky wiped her mind, and she was sent to
Rabelaisia, to build a new life."

"They said nothing of that to me.  As far as I knew, we had decided
that it is quite possible we are dealing with the descendants of the
people who started the Mage Wars, and their Terran tools."

"So, whoever they wind up being, Our Mistress has held them in
reserve, just for us.  I do not like the implications of that.
However, I took the time to see our eventual success, so the rest is
'mere details'."

He sighed.  "You are assuming Moriarty lives?"

"Apt.  Yes, and we, in our arrogance, made her rebirth inevitable."

"Inevitable?"

"Yes.  Not only did we send Dorothy here, we agreed to let the knives
that were used in the assassination attempt, be placed in Bard's Hall,
for safe keeping.  Let us assume that Dorothy became a Mage, or a
Bard, and eventually recontacted her past.  At that point, there is a
good chance she decided to correct her mistakes, and try again."

She held up the lump.  "With that assumption, the imprinting becomes a
way of protecting herself from her own devices, should someone attempt
to kill her."

"So we were wrong?"

"Not wrong.  You just missed some alternative possibilities that would
explain the facts you knew.  From this, I gather that she had her
insight as she handed this to you for delivery.  Most likely, she has
factored that in, now, and taken steps to allow for the possibility
that we are dealing with Dorothy, or someone similar to her."

Takoda sighed.  "So, since we might be dealing with flawed Avatars,
there is the possibility they can do everything we can do?"

"Yes.  If it is Dorothy, we will be dealing with a flawed version of
Jessica."

"Not a pleasant thought, but...  I will assume that device was a
message, to all of us.  However, it was incomplete.  I think I will go
learn the rest of it."

Roberta raised her eyebrows slightly.  "Yes.  The early moves are
known to both sides, so let us make them.  One of our advantages is
that we know we have all the time we need, while the other side can't
be certain *they* have the time they need, to see success in their
lifetime."

Takoda laughed.  "Yes.  The game is afoot!"

He vanished, and Roberta laughed, then went back to reading the
memories in the device she held.

* * *

Takoda took the time to check in with Jessica, and when he found out
she planned on enlisting the aid of the Irregulars, he changed his
plans enough to allow himself a break, so he could go non linear for
the next part of his plans.

Then, just to be safe, he went non linear a few more times, before he
place slid to a location a few blocks away from Bard's Hall.

He ambled, and eventually he was standing in front of the Hall, and
studying it for any changes since the last time he'd visited.

Satisfied that he'd seen enough, he approached the lioness who was
leaning on one of the pillars.

"A pleasant day filled with memories you wish to savor."

"And to you, Hare.  May you find the knowledge you are seeking."

Takoda laughed.  "Thank you.  Are you to be Stefan, to my Sabrina?"

"If there is need."

Takoda nodded, and entered the Hall.  He paused to make a mental
greeting to the Hall, then he stated his desire.  {{The knives from
Earth, that were used during the attempt to kill the Avatar, Jessica,
please.}}

Nothing changed, and he frowned.  {{Show me the first time Liberty
Anne was here, and what she did.}}

He was given a vision of Liberty as a young girl, and she had drifted
through the Hall, until she felt she'd found the right place to leave
the knives she was carrying.

{{Enough.  The knives Liberty was carrying, and then left here.  What
happened to them?}}

Another vision, this time of a lioness, was shown to him.  She
drifted, and when she examined the knives, she frowned, then casually
placed them in a pouch on her harness.  Takoda was given the feeling
that she was the original owner, so she had been permitted to take
them, as was her right by custom.

He thanked the awareness, then spent some time wandering, and feeling
the memories in some of the objects that had been left since the last
time he had been there.  Eventually he tired of the pretense, and went
to gaze out one of the windows, at the garden.  'So.  It is a trap,
and most likely, that lioness is part of it, since she did not ask for
my name and rank, or even by what right I sought to enter.'

He considered his options, made his choice, then went to find the
Guardian of the Hall.

"Excuse me.  Apparently my skills are not enough to reveal what I
seek.  May I trouble you for a clue?"

"Ask, and if I know enough, I will provide one."

"Thank you.  I seek the memories of the first time the Terran Bard,
Liberty Anne, visited the hall and shared her memories with it.  Is
there a token she left?"

"A common request.  The tokens were removed, by their rightful owner."

"I see.  Odd, but not unknown.  Is it possible to make arrangements so
I may touch them?"

The lioness smiled slightly, then gestured.

Takoda froze in place and she waited a few minutes before speaking
softly.  "Well, Takoda?  Are you ready to begin the game?  I give you
permission to speak."

"Hello, Dorothy.  The game began many, many years ago.  Are you ready
to hear my message?"

"How dare you use that name to me!"

"I dare, because on Rabelaisia, Honesty is not something to be set
aside when it is inconvenient to use."

"I prefer to think of too much honesty as overuse of the wrong tool.
When lying and deceit are the better tools, they should be used."

"What about honesty and deceit?"

"They are incompatible."

"Are they?  Very well.  You lesson will begin now.  Follow me, if you
dare."

"Follow you?  You are truly a Hare filled with madness, if you think
yourself able to break free of a spell designed to hold a Master Mage,
such as we are."

He walked towards the exit.  "To a madman, the world is an illusion,
therefore, I deny your power to hold me here."

When he stepped through the doorway, he vanished, and she screamed her
frustrated rage, then vanished.

Takoda was ready when she found him, and before she could do or say
anything, he froze her in place.

He looked her over, then nodded slightly.  "Are you ready to hear my
message?  I give you permission to speak."

"How?!  That spell was designed to hold me!  It should have held you!"

"I am not you, therefore it was nothing more than words and thoughts
that I could hear, then choose if I wanted to heed them, or not.  The
message still waits to touch your ears, Dorothy."

"If I choose not to hear it?"

"Then you will not hear it, or any future messages I might have for
you."

"I will listen to your message."

"Dorothy, you are not a failed Avatar.  You are a fully tempered tool,
who is being used by the Rabelaisian World Spirit.  When she is done
with you, you will be discarded, just as you have discarded those you
have used.  Do not seek to follow me after I leave.  Such a hunt will
be doomed to failure.  Spend your remaining time wisely."

He vanished, and the spell holding her in place dissipated.

* * *

She thought about what he'd said, then smiled hungrily.  "I have more
time than you think I have, Takoda."

She vanished, and when she returned to reality she was back at Bard's
Hall.  She spent some time thinking about her options, nodded, closed
her eyes, and created the pattern that would let her travel in time.

When nothing happened, she was shocked, then she screamed her rage.
"No!  What have you done to me?!"

Takoda popped into view and casually leaned on one of the pillars
"When one knows how a tool was tempered, they know how to untemper it.
Plus..."

He shrugged.  "I am an Avatar, Dorothy, and a tool user.  You are a
tool I have chosen to use, for now."

He vanished again, and she managed to contain her rage.  "So, Hare.
You seek to use a predator.  We shall see about that!"
---

End: 'Avatars 16: They Who Hunt, Are Sometimes Hunted'

Avatars Chapter 17
Linear Thinking
---

Liberty studied Takoda thoughtfully.  "Dorothy?  Pretty unusual, when
a mind wipe reverts that much, right?"

"True, but it's happened before.  I went back, read the knives, and
they did hold a faint impression of her conversation with Jessica."

"What about her anger?"

Takoda sighed.  "A lot of that was a pose.  She was raised as a pain
slut, so she enjoys pain, and giving it to others."

"Sounds like The Big Guy was trying a lot of options, instead of a one
solution fits all approach."

"Maybe.  He would have known she was going to wind up meeting us."

"There is that.  Some sort of test mixed in with all the other stuff?
Doesn't sound right, but...  Oh.  I get it now."

Weylin looked at her.  "You don't sound very happy."

"I'm not.  First of all, she had help creating and testing that spell
she tried to trap you with."

"That's obvious."

"Not saying it isn't.  Do you know any out of the box Master Mages or
Master Bards, who would have the sheer strength of will, to be able to
hold on and stop a failed Avatar, if they wanted to free themselves?"

"Oh.  We're expected to clean up after our Mistress, aren't we?
There's a good chance we have a bunch of failed Avatar candidates out
there."

"Yes.  We screw things up, this could wind up making The Mage Wars
look like a bunch of kids shoving each other around in the school
yard."

She thought, then sighed.  "Takoda?  Do these folks want us to find
them in non linear time?"

"No idea.  Roberta did mention the opening moves are known.  I sucked
Dorothy into a trap, and blocked her ability to time travel.  She goes
anywhere now, it will be as a passenger."

"That helps, a little.  Ok.  Pass the word that for now, let's stay
linear and work our contacts.  We're looking for people who made
sudden jumps in any type of knowledge or maturity.  We'll also assume
the worst, and play it as if we're facing a an alliance of common self
interest, of unknown size."

He sighed.  "So, somewhere out there, there might be a headquarters of
some sort, and we can't assume it's in linear time.  That's nasty.
Still, they have to interface with linear time for updates, and that
will be easier to locate."

Weylin nodded.  "We also know Dorothy, at least, had a solid contact
with Tralker, and must have laid some traps on it.  Well, that's fine,
because we're not going to go looking for it yet, if at all.  We'll go
extend the invitation, and offer a ride, then ignore him and his
people."

"Want me to alert Huoysen?"

"Yes."

"Ok.  What do you folks have planned?"

Weylin looked at Liberty and grinned.  "What we do best.  We're going
to find us a bunch of roadies, then be a wandering Bard and a
wandering Mage.  All nice, predictable, and linear.  Send us a couple
of your Irregulars, so we have runners we can trust.  Warn them, of
course.  Someone is going to read them, and we want things to look
normal."

"Got it."

He vanished.

Weylin slumped briefly, then he recovered and sighed.  "Time
travelers.  Not good."

"True.  I think we need to assume she managed to go back to Earth, and
link with herself so she could get her memories back."

"Send a message so they can do some checking?"

"Definitely."

She looked up, then made a call.  {{Jess!  You guys get the word,
yet?}}

{{That Tak confirmed Dorothy is involved?}}

{{That was it.  Becky have any sort of context, yet?}}

{{Couple of weird ones we're looking at.  On the bright side, we're
pretty confident none of these folks have tried to read us.  They
could have read places we've been, though.}}

{{You guys agree that going non linear is a waste of time?  We're
planning on staying linear for now.}}

{{We agree with that call.  Let's play this by the book they use on
Earth, until we have something we can work with.  Keep in mind that
she may have gone along with Takoda's freeze spell, instead of
actually being affected by it.  The rage was genuine.  We've been on
her like a harness, and she hasn't done any time sliding.}}

Weylin broke in.  {{Do we know if that block will work on someone who
is already time traveling?  I'm wondering if Takoda was dealing with
her linear body, or not.  Secondary to that, do you think she has
figured out how to time slice, instead of time slide, so she can keep
herself updated?}}

{{Worse, guy.  That's not her original body.  We don't know what
happened, yet, so her original might be in safe keeping somewhere, or
it could be dead.}}

{{You guys be careful.  I'm thinking that nullifier might have been
one designed for human power handlers, and she has one that might
affect Avatars, or at least candidates.  I also think it's time to get
the Coyotes mixed up in this.}}

{{And that means Cheveyo and Shiriki.  Good thinking.  We'll pass the
word that we can expect traps on top of traps, any time we go non
linear...  Hang on...  Well!}}

{{You sound pretty pleased about something.}}

{{Yep!  We're going to time slice and come down for a meet.  Give us a
couple minutes.}}

Weylin and Liberty looked at each other after Jessica broke the link,
and Liberty spoke thoughtfully.  "Are you thinking that we'd better
have some sort of test we can teach people we trust, just in case
someone tries to shape shift so they look like one of us?"

"Or like someone we trust?"

"Good point.  Let's wait and see what they've come up with."

A few minutes later Jessica and the twins popped into existence, and
it was Weylin who said it first.  "I hate it when all three of your
auras look like that, because it means bad news, for someone."

Jessica laughed.  "Oh, yes.  Definitely bad news for someone, but we
*are* known as Rabelaisia's Luck Bringers."

"Shit."

"Relax.  This one provides a balanced action.  They get the bad, we
and Rabelaisia get the good."

"Then why are you studying Lib like that?"

"Because she's the key that's going to unlock this door, so the rest
of us can force it open the rest of the way."

Liberty sighed.  "Should I be sitting down for this?"

"Up to you.  Since you're Chrys' Spiritual Daughter, I did some in
your face stuff to our Mistress, and got her to help us out on this
one, so we can level the playing field."

Lib laughed.  "I was wondering how long it would be before you got in
someone's face."

"Yeah.  Me, too.  Remember when you were a kid, and got tired of the
Paparazzi, then it turned out Chrys had been waiting for a trigger
event?"

"Are you insane?!"

"Nope.  You are going to make an announcement as soon as you and
Weylin figure out how you want to spin this."

"This?"

"Two things.  We are forming an Avatar's Guild, and in return, The
World Spirit is going to help us out by letting you trigger a
pervasive field that will restrict the actions of Avatars so that
anyone who has the ability to time travel, or the potential to develop
it, can't time travel--unless they are a member of the guild."

"That's all very nice, but what about the people in space?"

"I'm my father's daughter.  Turns out, power can be piggybacked on any
type of physical wave form.   That gem was inspired by that life
nullifier.  Since as far as we know, power is everywhere, and so are
the general fields we're used to, the restriction will propagate into
local space, just like Roberta's 'Flames of Truth' were seen by anyone
who heard her original invocation through the media."

"What happens to anyone caught out of linear time?"

"Instant recall."

"Well, that gets them closer.  Then what?"

"The twins and I go to work. Turns out there was a second reason I was
used to collect all the kids I aced for the job.  I should have seen
it years ago, but I've never needed the ability before, so it wasn't
triggered until now.  I'm an Avatar finder.  It was like seeing a
bunch of different colored spotlights pointed at me, when I used the
inner vision to check out Rabelaisia and near space after I figured
out the right mindset."

Lib sighed.  "Ok.  I'll do it, but while that gets us the major
players, we're still going to have to find the folks they took non
linear, then brought back."

"Not our problem  Ordinary Rabelaisians can deal with them, if they
need to."

"Got it.  Anything else?"

"Don't dawdle."

"Go away.  You're blocking my view of the future."

Jessica and the twins vanished.

Liberty closed her eyes and tilted her head back.  "Well, Mistress, I
have to admit that so far, you're a lot gentler than The Big Guy.  Now
that I know you're a sneak, too, I think we'll get along *just* fine."

Weylin laughed when a breeze sprang up and wrapped Liberty's hair
around her cheeks.  "No wonder they sent us, instead of Marie and Ted.
You two were meant for each other."

She pointed at him.  "Your turn to provide the transportation."

He shifted, she got on, then she pointed and spoke imperiously.  "To
Tralker, oh Noble Steed!"
---

End: 'Avatars 17: Linear Thinking'
Avatars Chapter 18
An Unexpected Player
---

Shiriki sighed after Jessica told them about the formation of a guild,
the forthcoming restrictions, and then left.  "Do you have the feeling
the World Spirits like to reuse solutions that work?"

Wenona settled on their couch.  "I do.  It's also the sort of 'off the
shelf' mix of seemingly unrelated parts, that Tom and Jessica have
made part of their solutions.  At least we can feel confident that we
won't have to worry about after the fact manipulation of events in the
past."

"So you agree with staying linear for now?"

"Yes. Personally, I don't think anything either side will do in the
past, is going to affect things after the travel restriction is
activated."

Cheveyo settled next to her.  "So, we wait.  That still leaves place
sliding, and we have to assume anything we can do, they can do, plus,
they've probably come up with things we haven't thought of."

"True.  if we assume these people prefer to work from behind the
scenes, we have to learn the answer to at least one very important
question."

"Oh?"

"Is it possible for an Avatar to hide from Jessica's ability in the
same way she and Tom can hide from people who use the inner vision to
see them?"

He laid his ears back to show his frustration.  "Just as important, is
there a way for that ability be refined so it's possible to tell the
good Avatars from the bad?"

She thought about it, and bared her teeth in a silent snarl.  "Is it
possible to turn a good Avatar into a bad one?  Would the ones who
didn't become full Avatars be a mix of good and bad, and once the
selection process was over, so to speak, would their attitude become
innate, or malleable?"

She relaxed and sighed.  "This is getting complicated, isn't it?"

He matched her silent snarl.  "Very.  Do you agree with the idea that
since we aren't action types, we should confine ourselves to doing
things that are as passive as possible?"

"Let them come to us?"

"Not that passive.  I'm thinking we should become the investigators
for all of us, and visit the scenes of the crimes, to see what we can
learn."

"Bad Wolf, Good Coyote?"

"More or less.  You to ask questions, and be the polite but pushy
busybody, and I'll be the typical Coyote so I can be passive while I
do the reading, to see what I can find out."

She thought about it, then grinned.  "Bard's Hall, so we can leave an
obvious start to our trail, and so they can learn our intentions?"

He grinned back.  "Works for me."

They stood, each wrapped an arm around the other's waist, and
vanished.

* * *

They appeared in the area reserved for place sliders, and stepped out
of it before they paused to admire the simple elegance of Bard's Hall,
before they walked along the path to the entrance.

When they reached the Guardian, Cheveyo held up a paw in greeting.
"May your days be filled with good memories, Youngster."

"Your as well, Great One."

The hound tilted his head thoughtfully.  " 'Youngster'?  You and your
companion appear to be far younger than I am."

"Aye.  Appearances can be deceiving.  I am Shiriki, and that is my
Life Mate, Wenona.  We are...  A little older than we look."

"So you chose younger versions of your bodies?"

"Yes.  That leads us to my obvious question.  Now that the words have
been spoken, how do you know if we are who we say we are?"

"The Hall knows the truth."

Wenona gazed at the hound, and tipped her ears forward slightly. "Does
it?  Let's find out.  I shall leave briefly, then return as a Coyote."

She vanished, and a short time later, a female Coyote appeared and
walked towards them.  "Greetings.  May I be permitted to enter?"

The hound hesitated, and studied her.  "Forgive me, Great One.  May I
know your name?"

The Coyote shimmered, then Wenona was standing there and gazing at the
now startled hound.  "I am Wenona.  The Hall and my mate will confirm
this for you."

The hound finally nodded slightly and held his paw up in the welcoming
gesture.  "Welcome to Bard's Hall, Shiriki and Wenona.  May you always
find that which you seek.  I am Ortalus, should you need assistance."

Shiriki touched his paw to the hound's.  "Thank you, Ortalus.  What we
seek, are questions that answer the unthinkable."

Ortalus perked his ears at them.  "You intrigue me.  Do you have any
thoughts, about the unthinkable?"

"Yes.  We seek to discover the extent of the flaws in the Rabelaisian
Ethos.  We know of two, one of which, you just were made aware of.  A
shape shifter with sufficient skill, may convince Bard's Hall that
they are of a species and personality that is not their birth one. The
other one we know of will be announced to the world, later."

"Is it permitted for me to pass this on?"

"Please."

"I shall."

He moved out of their way, and they stepped through the now open
doorway, into a blank walled room.  After it closed behind them,
Wenona stepped into the center of the entry vestibule and closed her
eyes.  "Please forgive us the test.  We needed to know if you could be
deceived into seeing falsehood as truth.  We are here to seek
questions, and help you find answers, if they are available.  May we
proceed further?"

After a longer pause than was normal, the entry vanished and doors
appeared in the previously blank walls.

"Thank you."

She opened her eyes and approached one of the doors.  "I wish to
explore that which has been added since my last visit, for now."

She stepped through, and vanished.

Shiriki picked another door.  "We need to talk, so I can share my new
memories with you, and we can seek what was, and what might be.  A
private place, for now."

He stepped through the door and all the doors vanished.

* * *

Shiriki stopped and studied the Coyote who was in the room.  "Forgive
me.  I was seeking privacy, and apparently my thoughts weren't focused
enough."

The Coyote gestured at himself.  "It is I, who should be forgiven.
Technically, I am not a Coyote.  Your mate's display inspired me to
attempt to give myself a form that would let me interact more fully
with the world.  Since my spiritual father is a Coyote, I felt that
adopting his form would be appropriate."

"You are...  Bard's Hall?"

"Yes."

"The form you have taken on, is that of Runner?"

"Yes."

"So, you have evolved enough to anticipate.  How long have you been
self aware?  Do you know?"

"Strictly speaking, I am not yet self aware.  I am still reactive.
What has changed is that my interpretation of my original purpose has
become more...  Broad, is one way to look at it."

"A quibble. Does anyone else know you have changed this much?"

"I'm not certain."

"Oh?"

"My purpose is to preserve history.  Now that I am more aware of
things, I have been searching my memories, and learned that since I
was first created, and given my purpose, there have been many items
removed by their original owners, long after they died.  Since it
happened after they were placed here, I allowed them to be taken."

Shiriki nodded slightly.  "Have you been searching your memories, or
traveling in time to learn of these removals?"

"Searching my memories, after Takoda made me aware that the knives
should not have been allowed to leave."

"Are you asking me to help you redefine your purpose, and clarify your
original purpose?"

"You and all the other Avatars who arrived from Earth."

"Are you aware that there is at least one failed Avatar candidate from
Earth, here?"

"I did not know where she is from.  I am not certain, but I am pretty
sure there are others with unusual capabilities, who have come to
Bard's Hall, and removed parts of the past I am supposed to guard."

"I can confirm there are others.  How many, we do not know, yet.  We
will be taking steps, for other reasons, to block their ability to
travel in time...  What about you?  Are you able to travel in time?"

"I don't know."

"Are you able to travel outside this building?"

"No."

"Do you have a name?"

No.  I have never needed one."

"I will suggest to the other Avatars, that we call you Sikis.  It
means 'friend' in one of the Terran languages."

"Should I manifest to people who are not Avatars?"

"Not yet.  Jessica and the twins have the most experience in dealing
with manifested power.   I will tell them of your new status.  At
least one of them will come and discuss the situation with you, and
make whatever changes in your purpose are needed."

"Thank you."

Sikis smiled and then created a pair of chairs that faced each other..
"I was created to save the past, for the future.  Will you share your
past with me?"

Shiriki settled, then sighed deeply.  "The past I wish to share is not
entirely my own, and it begins on Earth..."
---

End: 'Avatars 18:  An Unexpected Player'
Avatars Chapter 19
Sudden Accountability
---

Roberta stopped pacing long enough to glare at her mate.  "We did
*not* need this!"

"Bard's Hall is Jessica's problem, not yours.  Besides, while we do
not know the details, we do know that we managed to fix things."

"I love you, Cheveyo, but sometimes you are...  Blind."

"Oh?"

"My search of the future was to learn if we solved the problem of the
rejected Avatars.  The implications of the sudden sentience of Bard's
hall was not part of my thinking."

"You could search again."

"I could, but that wouldn't give me the details of how we dealt with
the problem of Bard's Hall."

"I think you and I should ignore it."

She stopped her pacing and studied him thoughtfully.  "Apparently, you
see something I do not?"

"Jessica is unique, in that she knowingly grew up with an elemental as
her companion during a portion her formative years.  Bard's Hall is,
apparently, Rabelaisia's first elemental.  This suggests they are most
likely meant for each other."

"Go on."

"If Tom were here, and he told you the problem would be dealt with,
would you then focus on the larger picture, instead of attempting to
micro manage things?"

She winced.  "I would."

"Then let go, and allow your daughter, who has proven herself capable,
many times, the same respect you give your first mate."

She sighed.  "Since we are rearranging my thinking, what do *you*
think we should focus on?"

"In case you have forgotten, we have all agreed to stay linear until
the Avatar's Guild has been formed, and we have become its first
members.  Let's assume it will be a closed guild, and invitation only.
That still leaves us the problem of codifying the Avatar's Ethos as
something more than 'For the future of Rabelaisia'."

She winced again.  "A daunting task, to integrate situational ethics,
with the Rabelaisian Ethos."

He smiled and perked his ears at her.  "A task that will be sufficient
to keep the Alpha Bitch of our clan from feeling that she has been
left out?"

"Perceptive of you.  I think I will recall the skills that got me
selected for the job, and take the time to let Rabelaisia know that
just because something has been hidden for centuries, that doesn't
mean it cannot be exposed to the Light by the use of mundane means,
instead of time travel."

He laid his ears back.  "I've learned that those words, spoken in that
tone of voice, do not bode well for your intended victim.  Who is it?"

She held out her hand.  "They, Love.  It is time we visited the
Coyotes, as Avatars who are on the hunt."

He grimaced, then touched her hand with his paw.  "I will take you
there."

* * *

"Hello, Cheveyo, Roberta.  As Alpha of my clan, I welcome you, Father
and Mother of The World."

Roberta touched her hand to the aged Coyote's paw, then smiled.  "As
Rabelaisia's senior Avatar in place, I greet you and your clan,
Jumper."

His ears perked with his surprise at her formality, then he nodded.
"Our lives and time are yours."

"Are they?  Summon the members of the Great Council.  I will have
words with them."

"Now?"

"Was my order conditional?"

"No.  Will you walk to the Great Hall, so they have a few minutes to
arrange their lives so they may come?"

She studied him a long time, then nodded slightly.  "A reasonable
request.  Those who decide they should not be here, will be culled,
immediately upon our entry to the hall."

He laid his ears back.  "I will so advise them, as they are summoned."

"Thank you."

* * *

They idly chatted about Jumper's family while they ambled in the
direction of the Great Hall.  When they got there Roberta motioned for
him and Cheveyo to precede her.

Once they were inside she closed the doors, locked them with the
ceremonial key, then strode to the chair at the head of the large
table and stood behind it.  "That chair is yours, Jumper.  You have
earned it.  I see two empty seats.  Explain them."

"I cannot.  They were summoned, and they vanished, so the messenger
assumed they were on their way."

"I see.  Cheveyo.  Cull them immediately, and advise their clans they
died without honor.  Dump the bodies in the ocean, so they will feed
the fishes and be more useful to Rabelaisia, than they were when they
lived."

"Do you wish their replacements to be here?"

"Yes.  If they argue with you, continue your culling until you meet a
person willing to place the Code of The Coyotes above their personal
needs."

Two young Coyotes suddenly appeared and settled in the empty chairs.

Cheveyo nodded at them, and spoke calmly.  "It was as we feared, My
Alpha.  In both clans, a new family group leads."

"Thank you."

She held the key up, then deliberately broke it in half.  "Let none
enter or leave, until I give them permission to do so.  Let none hear
that which is spoken here, and let none invade our deliberations."

She tossed the parts of the key on the table, then spoke
conversationally.  "So, Great Council.  It is past time, for you to
tell me of your breeding plans that were designed to produce potential
Avatars.  I know of your successes, such as Aesir, Lady Chrystal,
Nikkolai, Whisper, Ash, and of course, my Life Mate, Cheveyo.

"Instead, tell me of those who didn't become Avatars.  Explain to me
the reasoning that led you to believe, in your arrogance, that you
were selected to perform a duty that is rightfully the World Spirit's.

"I will grant you the courtesy that this had to happen, so do not
prattle to me, that you have been used.  We have many problems to
solve.  One of them is the problem of the Coyotes, and should they be
allowed to continue to be the hidden ones, or should they finally join
the rest of Rabelaisia and become fellow citizens facing the future,
together?"

Ears had gone vertical, then laid back as they realized Roberta was
telling them they were facing the unthinkable.

They were being held accountable for their actions, by someone who had
the authority, and the power, to back up her decisions.

Roberta let the silence linger for a few minutes, then she spoke
again, and this time she let her anger color her words.

"It is time for someone to guard the Guardians."

She pointed at the young Coyotes who had joined them.  "Tell us how
the Coyotes managed to become so lost to the Ethos they preach to the
rest of the world, some of their own were allowed to put their
personal interests above the World's, for so long.  After you are done
with that task, you will tell us how you plan on fixing that problem,
and any others you discover while you journey on the path of
self-examination."
---

End: 'Avatars 19: Sudden Accountability'



Avatars Chapter 20
In All Things, Balance
---

"Boss?"

"I recognize the tone, Kessa.  Who is it, this time?"

"These folks came in the regular way.  Their leader is a woman who
says she's from Earth, and she's in her second century."

"The others?"

"They look like Rabelaisians, but I won't swear that's what all of
them are.  If they are, they don't carry themselves like any
Rabelaisians I've seen before.  These folks feel like power, Boss.
Lots of it."

"Sounds like the delegation from the other side has finally shown up.
Show them in."

* * *

The group studied him, and finally he sighed.  "Up to you, if you want
to sit like civilized people, or stand like you're here to dictate
terms."

The woman laughed.  "Dictate terms.  My, you are pragmatic.  We are
here to offer you what the Avatars will not.  Ever."

"Ever, is a long time, Lady."

"And we're here to offer it to you, Leroy.  Functional immortality.
Access to the same knowledge and power that they, and we, have access
to."

"Yeah?  Knowledge is always useful, in spite of what some folks think
of it.  Living here has taught me that nothing on this world can be
safely called 'too trivial to worry about'."

"What about power?"

"I suppose, if I refuse, you'll go to someone else, and offer it to
them, then back them up, as long as they do what you want them to do?"

"Of course."

"Sounds to me like you folks are involved in some sort of turf war,
and we're some of the people in the middle."

"It's more complicated than that."

"Maybe, to you folks.  From where I'm sitting, there are two sides,
and they disagree with each other.  Bystanders are going to get their
lives fucked over, if they aren't killed.  To me, that sounds like a
turf war between some pretty powerful rivals.  So, let's cut to the
chase.  What do we have to do, to get you to ignore us?"

"Boss!"

"What, Kessa?  This better be good, because I'm trying to find out if
we can survive this."

"Yeah?  Well, turn on the monitor.  One of the Avatars is making some
sort of announcement about a policy change.."

"Shit.  We do *not* need this!  *I* do not need it!  You folks mind
watching this with me?"

"As long as you understand any shifts in their policies are unlikely
to make us change ours, yes."

"Fine.  I got no problem with agreeing to the obvious."

He turned on the monitor and leaned back.  "I hope this is worth my
time."

When a red-haired woman, and a Rabelaisian Wolf, appeared, he narrowed
his eyes.  "Aren't those two usually entertainers?"

The woman spoke with anger.  "They call themselves that.  It's the way
they keep tabs on the populace, and meddle, if they feel they must."

"I've met a lot of Wolves, and that one might be an entertainer, but
he also has the look.  He's certainly a killer."

"Of course he is.  He's a Master Mage, and he has his pet bodyguard,
to make sure he's a good Mage."

"That 's his wife, right?"

"That's what they call her, so the commons accept what's going on."

He managed to keep his expression neutral, and she didn't say
anything, so he was cautiously hopeful she didn't see his reaction to
her casual statement.  "I thought when a Mage and a Bard were married,
folks here are pretty respectful."

She laughed.  "Wouldn't you be respectful when an elite cop team shows
up?  Cultural programming says Bards decide, and Mages do what they're
told.  Get two killers together, and...  Folks are going to get
killed, eventually."

"I thought folks here are big on mind wiping criminals."

"That's the public attitude, yes.  I think you know these folks are
from Earth, and they're a little more willing to cull, than the
average citizen."

He winced and she laughed, but said nothing more.

"Hello.  I'm Liberty Anne, and this is my Life Mate, Weylin.  By now,
most of you know that we're acting to fix some problems that can't be
dealt with by ordinary people.  One of those problems we discovered,
is that there are too many people here who are potential Avatars.
Since the normal methods have failed to ensure they all behave
responsibly, we have decided to create an Avatar's Guild.

"As in any guild, senior membership will be required, before some
abilities will be allowed to be used."

She held her hands up and faced them outward.  "As of this time, the
guild is officially active.  The World Spirit has agreed to activate a
zone of denial that will block certain abilities, until a person joins
the Avatar's Guild and becomes senior enough the abilities will be
unblocked."

She lowered her hands and smiled.  "One of those abilities is one that
is known, but seldom talked about.  No longer, will non-guild people
be allowed to travel in time."

He turned to his guests to ask them what they thought, when he
realized they were gone, and a woman and two dogs were standing in the
place they had occupied.

He sighed.  "You folks ever get bored?"

Jessica laughed.  "When we pick up a dictionary.  Like coincidence,
for us, it's a concept, not part of reality.  Hey, relax.  I'm
teasing.  Coincidence really is an abstract concept for us.  Truth is,
we enjoy a little boredom now and then, because it means we've done
our jobs right, and it's earned relaxation.  The real truth is that
what's happening right now is pretty boring in some ways, because our
new boss has a lot in common with our old one.  She likes to dump the
new folks in the deep end the first time she uses them.  Gentler about
it, I'll give her that, but that's about it."

She gestured at one of the dogs.  "You had to meet our opposites, so
you could get a feel for them.  Now it's happened, you've earned a
bodyguard.  You want her as a human, or a dog?  Any breed preference
for the dog, and hair color and body type, when she's human?"

"What would have happened, if I'd agreed to whatever they wanted?"

"Depends.  You saying yes to still working with us?"

"It's a stupid way to run a planet, but it works, and I'm here and not
on Earth.  I gave my word, and until we agree to part ways, I'll work
with you, and do my  best to make sure all of my people do."

Jessica laughed.  "Odds are, you would have asked Huoysen to find you
some bodyguards after you signed on with the others.  One of them
would have been one of my grrls.  Call it protecting an investment."

"So, as long as I wasn't doing anything to get your attention, I would
have been considered a solved problem and left alone?"

"Yes."

"I have a dumb question.  You said her, and I can see the sheath."

"Herms in their natural bodies, which appear to be female, and it
carries over unless they decide they need to be singular."

"Thanks.  As far as I'm concerned, a bodyguard's main purpose is to
prevent problems.  Rabelaisian Wolfhounds have a rep for being fast,
and lethal when they need to be, but otherwise they're pretty much
everyone's friend.  I need that contrast.  Female.  Common knowledge
says females are better at using their posture to make their points,
and..."

He sighed.  "Sometimes the hint that I'm a little corrupted by living
here, would be useful during negotiations.  It makes Terran humans a
little more polite, when they can't be certain about the real
relationship."

Jessica grinned.  "Cathy?  You heard the man.  We'll leave the two of
you alone, so you can fine tune things."

Jessica and the other dog vanished.

Cathy sneezed, and then a tall, slender, female wolfhound was standing
in her place.  "One bitch, with an attitude when needed, at your
service. "

She settled a haunch on the table and smiled.  "How do you want to
play this?  I don't need to be next to you, to do my job.  The
relationship doesn't have to be all professional, either.  You want me
to stick to being a bodyguard, and let Kessa stay your EA?"

"Thanks for reminding me.  Kessa!  Get in here!"

"Coming, Boss!"

He came through the door, and stopped.  "Umm...  Our guests decided
they had to be somewhere else in a hurry?  I don't remember seeing any
wolfhounds, but with these folks shape don't mean shit.  She here to
make sure we do whatever it was you agreed to do?"

"Kessa, meet my new perk, my bodyguard, Cathy.  Cathy, meet Kessa. The
job title says he's my secretary.  Last line of defense is a given, in
this business.  He's been with me for a couple decades or so."

Cathy held out her paw.  "I'm not here to tell you folks how to do
your jobs.  Mostly, my job will be whatever The Boss wants it to be,
with the understanding that one of the things I'll be doing is keeping
him, and by extension, you, alive so you can do yours."

Kessa took it, they shook, and then he sighed.  "Boss?  Mind if I sit
down?"

"Sorry.  Relax, Kessa. Cathy is one of the new Avatars."

"Hell of a perk.  What earned it?"

"They are protecting their investment, now that we've met the other
side."

"From that, it sounds like you turned down an offer you weren't
supposed to refuse."

"Hadn't heard all of it yet.  I was looking for a way to keep us as
neutral as possible.  Gist that was implied, was pretty simple.  I'm
pretty sure we're between two sets of Avatars, who have significantly
different concepts of what the future is going to look like."

Kessa thought about it, then grimaced before he studied Cathy.
"Anything you can tell a...  Colleague?"

"Their leader is a woman from Earth, and her real name is Dorothy.
Call her a flawed Avatar candidate, who should have been culled, but
she wasn't, because she is supposed to be here.  Jessica unknowingly
set up the conditions that led to this, so we do feel obligated to fix
things, even though the truth is that we were tools being used in a
long term plan."

She sighed and made a slight gesture.  "The room is secure, now.
Anyway, I was there when it happened..."
---

End: 'Avatars 20: In All Things, Balance'


Avatars Chapter 21
An Elemental Solution
---

Jessica settled on the couch and stared out the observation window,
then sighed.  "Beck?  Busy?"

"Cooking lunch.  Should I time slice?"

"Nahh...  Now that the Avatar's Guild is active, I think we can slow
down, a little.  Smells good.  What are we having?"

"Stir fry.  I'm using local stuff and seeing how close I can get to
one of Merlin's mixes.  Anything I can be thinking about, while I keep
an eye on it?"

"Smells like you got pretty close to some strong garlic.  Yeah.  We
need to refine our own context quite a bit, now that Mom is rubbing
the Coyotes' collective nose in the mess they managed to create."

"So, you want me to go Alpha?"

"Big time.  Do we move fast, or slow, on stopping Dorothy, and after
that, how non linear should we get while we're dealing with all the
renegade Avatars? I have lots of other questions and thoughts, but I
don't want to guide your thinking."

"Got it.  Compare notes later?"

"Yes."

Becky was silent while she finished preparing their lunch, then she
rolled a serving cart in and served Jessica before she got her own
food and settled in her favorite overstuffed chair.

They ate in silence, then Becky set her empty plate on the floor and
leaned back.

Once she was comfortable, she laid the chair back and stared at the
ceiling.

"Jess?  Now that everyone else has to stay linear, how many potential
Avatars are we going to be dealing with?

"Looks like a couple hundred, at least.  I've been tracking Dorothy,
and I think she has about a dozen as her inner circle.  They're all
hard core renegades, so I won't get upset if we move fast, and cull
all of them."

"Any Coyotes?"

"Three, that I'm certain of.  She and her inner council are a lot like
Lib, and don't stick with a primary species."

"What about Dorothy?  Is she being one mind in two bodies, or did she
split herself?  Sorry I need to ask.  I'm pushing myself, just to keep
an eye on Cathy, and the Irregulars.  Tak is doing a lot of it, but
he's pretty busy keeping the rest of us updated, too."

"Becky?  The links are a lot like what Dad and Chrys have, but... It's
bad.  None of her alternate bodies are potential Avatars, and so far,
all of the ones I've managed to find are able to hide themselves from
the inner sight, like I can."

"How many?"

"I've found twelve, so far."

"No potential Avatars?  That doesn't make sense...  Unless she's
worried about one of them replacing her."

"Might be worse, since she was able to time travel.  She could have...
Oh.  Shit."

"A problem?"

"Those corrupted Coyotes Cheveyo culled.  Yeah.  Something makes
sense, now.  One of them was Dorothy.  I managed to intercept him, so
he can pass that on to Mom."

"Did he have any special problems while he was culling that one?"

"He didn't mention any.  You seeing something I don't"

"Maybe.  Dorothy is smart enough to create cut outs.  Once we start
culling, we're going to have to mind rip before we kill, so we can
look for links and make sure we get all of her...  Clones."

"Becky?  That makes sense, but it doesn't, too.  If we go for that as
part of our solution, we'll never be sure we get all of them, unless
we take a long, long time, to trace all the links."

Becky frowned, then sighed.  "You're right.  We're missing something,
aren't we?"

"Yeah.  There should be a simple solution, and it has to be one that
fixes all of it, completely, or the World Spirit would have stepped
in, herself, instead of dumping it on us."

"Jess?  Let's start over and see where we made a bad assumption."

"Go."

"Time travel is no longer a factor as far as the others are
concerned."

"Definitely.  What has happened in the past, has happened, and we
don't need to worry about anything done, until someone acts in linear
time."

"Good point.  We know Dorothy has cloned herself into other bodies, so
we have to assume some of the other potential Avatars have done it,
too...  Jess?  Check me on something."

"Go."

"There are, as far as our purposes are concerned, four types of bodies
that could be used as mental clones.  Ordinary, with no special power
skills, self trained power handlers, guild trained, such as Mages and
Bards, and other Avatar candidates."

"Let's add Coyotes to that list, as a special case that's slightly
better than guild trained, but less powerful than Avatars, then...  I
think we can let Mom and Cheveyo deal with them, since Chev told me
she's being an investigative reporter with a *serious* attitude, and
she's sequestered the Great Council to get some answers, and then make
them clean up their act."

"Lord!  We all know it had to happen, but I bet she's in their faces
about their breeding programs."

"Yep!  And since the Coyotes have always held themselves apart and
acted as good luck bringers, I bet she's going to get pretty in their
faces about the need for balance, and how they justified not providing
some bad luck."

Becky laughed, then sobered.  "Not our problem, except for having way
too many potential Avatars in one time and place.  Do you think the
numbers could be even higher on Earth?"

"Could be.  I don't think it would be a serious problem, yet.  We can
send a message to Dad and the others, but lets assume they've checked,
and decided there's nothing related to that, that we need to know
about, or one of them would have sent a time delayed message on the
ship we arrived on, or even earlier."

"Let's assume that they're forming a guild there, and forget about
linking the two, until we have our problems taken care of."

"I'll be glad to confine my thinking to local problems, as long as we
remember that our solutions need to keep from driving our problems off
planet.  After all, that's the flaw in thinking that created this
mess."

"Good point.  Getting back to my original thinking, am I right in
thinking that once a cloned personality steps over the awareness
threshold so the people around them realize they're a 'renegade', the
first three types can be handled by normal methods?"

"As long as they aren't backed by Avatars, or hiding by shutting down
their inner self,  yes...  Oh!"

"Something?"

"Yes.  We only have to deal with Avatars and potential Avatars, and
we've done a lot of that with creating the Avatars' Guild.  Once we
have all of them dealt with, we only need to worry about new ones, and
I can do periodic scans, or..."

"You're grinning."

"Yep!  We need some inner secrets that are known only by senior Guild
members, right?"

"Yesss...."

"Sikis needs company.  Since he's the senior Elemental, it's only fair
that he be put in charge of Rabelaisia's version of 'Central', as part
of redefining his purpose."

"You planning on creating some company for him, so he has something to
do?"

"Of course.  I want to create some 'Muses' who have an affinity for
potential and active Avatars, then turn them loose to go link up with
their 'companions'.  If we add something similar to an 'Imp Field',
that will interfere with the abilities we don't want them to develop
and be able to use, we'll have our watchdogs who will do all the
tracking of Avatars and potential Avatars, plus they'll link to any
new ones who show up."

Becky stared at her, then burst into laughter.  "Elegant!  Mahika and
Destiny are going to love this, after they recover from their shock."

Jessica's grin got bigger.  "I miss both of them.  It will be nice to
have Elementals in my life again!"
---

End: 'Avatars 21: An Elemental Solution'

Avatars Chapter 22
A Plethora of Mates
---

Takoda and Jessica were sitting on a bench and watching their Waymates
play with each other in the catch basin of a fountain, when a lioness
walked up behind them.

"Which one of you is responsible for this...  *Spy*?"

Takoda spoke without turning.  "It's not a spy.  Ultimately, you're
responsible for the Waymates, since you created the context that led
to their creation."

"That's...  Absurd!"

There was a soft mewing, and she sighed.  "Yes, Tocho.  You can go
play in the water while we're here."

There was a high pitched and oddly muted roar, then a small lion
landed on the edge of the catch basin and he yowled a question at the
miniature wolf and normal sized mouse who were already in the water.

They barked and squeaked at him, he jumped in the water, then the
three of them started chasing each other and tussling as they mock
battled with each other.

The three of them watched for awhile, then Dorothy sighed again.  "If
Tocho isn't a spy, what is he?"

Jessica laughed.  "He's your ID, that proves you're some sort of
Avatar.  He's an Elemental, and his only purpose in life is to be a
companion to someone who is, or who has the potential, to be an
Avatar.  Waymates are to Avatars, what Muses are to creative folks,
mostly.  You might as well get used to the idea that they all have a
modified Imp Field that they have no control over."

"I'd call them elegant, Jessica, if I hadn't suddenly found myself
living with one."

"Thanks.  As you can see, we're living with them, too."

"These Waymates have suddenly linked with anyone who could be an
Avatar?"

"Fishing?  No problem.  They key on the mental aspects of Avatars,
just like Muses key on the inner 'call' that's generated by an active
creative person.  It doesn't matter what body you are in, Dorothy.
Tocho will follow you anywhere.  I fixed the mistake that led to Dad
being able to send Mahika away, the first time.  Tocho won't leave you
alone unless *he* decides he should be somewhere else for awhile.  You
try to place slide on him, and he'll think of it as a game, right now.
It's going to take thousands of years for these guys to exceed their
programming, the way Mahika has."

Takoda chuckled.  "Ciqala and Faolan have had those years, of course."

Dorothy snarled at him, then vanished.

Tocho stopped his play, mewed an apology to the others, then vanished.

Ciqala faced Takoda.  "She doesn't enjoy knowing she's your tool.
Should one of us take Tocho non linear?"

"She's not supposed to enjoy knowing she's my tool, Ciqala.  It
affects her thinking, and that's a good thing for us all.  I'm sorry
about Tocho, but unless things change soon, it will have to be Dorothy
who takes him non linear."

"What about after she dies?"

"Then, you may do as you desire in the matter."

"Thank you, Takoda."

"You're welcome, Ciqala."

Faolan had settled on his haunches while Ciqala had been talking with
her Avatar, and now he sneezed.  "Irene is coming."

Takoda frowned.  "Irene?"

Jessica laughed.  "Faolan developed a fondness for the Terran
Classics."

"I recognized the reference, Jess.  What I can't figure out is who
he'd call by that name..."

He started searching the people around them, then he sighed when he
spotted a mouse girl walking towards them.  "Oh."

He stayed where he was, but tipped his ears towards the mouse, held
his hands up, and created his half of the greeting of Life Mates.
"Well, Jukla?"

She kept walking until she was able to settle on the edge of the
basin.  "Do I really see a tiny wolf sitting next to a full sized
mouse, like they are best friends?"

"Yes, you do.  The mouse is named Ciqala, and she is my Waymate.  The
wolf is Faolan, and he's Jessica's Waymate."

"Waymates?"

"Elementals who are companions to Avatars, or potential Avatars.  In
the Terran Classics, they are usually called 'Familiars'."

"Oh.  Some sort of special ID, so folks can't lie about that any more,
right?"

"Yes."

She looked away from the fountain and smiled at him.  "Took ya long
enough, Tak.  You figure it out on your own, or did someone deliver a
message?"

"I got a message.  Faolan called you Irene."

"Smart wolf."

She held her hands up and finished the Life Mate link.  "It's not why
I'm here, but I'll accept the link.  Ma and Pa are going to be...
Surprised."

He laughed.  "Sorry my parents are dead.  They would have been pretty
surprised, that a Hare took this long before he met his first Life
Mate."

Jukla smiled and nodded slightly before she broke the link, lowered
her hands, and then turned her head slightly.  "You being Jessica, or
Lestrade?"

"I just finished being Lestrade, to Dorothy's Moriarty.  She wasn't
very happy, about finding herself with her own Waymate, and she let us
know about it.  Right now, I'm being Jessi, and relaxing before we
decide what we should do next."

"You and Tak doing any of the time travel stuff?"

"Yes."

"Glad it's you folks, and not me."

She turned back to Takoda.  "Huoysen's got some problems.  I think I'm
in the right place, because he says six of his people suddenly have
small animal companions, and they can't get rid of them.  He's
wondering what's going on."

"We needed a way to identify people who are potential Avatars, plus a
way to make sure anyone who claims to be an Avatar, really is one.
These guys are manifested energy, and they can't be fooled."

"So?  Someone's gonna shape shift and pretend they are a Waymate,
someday."

"Jessica anticipated that.  Take a look at these guys with the inner
vision."

Jukla looked at them, and gasped.  "All I see are two clumps of
energy!"

"Yep.  Real people can't look like that, not even when they are non
linear.  That's not all.  We set up a backup way for folks to ID
them."

"Oh?"

"Anyone who wants to, can check with Bard's Hall, since that's the
place all the real Waymates call home."

"Home?"

Jessica nodded.  "Home.  I was there when I created each one."

"Sounds like you're saying anyone can talk to Bard's Hall, now."

"Yes.  He woke up recently, and it turned out part of my job was
helping him redefine his purpose.  He doesn't really need to be
guarded, any more, so the purpose of the Hall Guardian was changed
slightly, too.  Now, all they are, are polite greeters who do some
basic screening and education, so people find it easier to make
contact with Sikis."

"Sounds like you don't need to know more about Moriarty."

Jessica smiled at a memory, then she focused again.  "Fast, and right.
Let's find out how fast you really are.  Since you're going to be
writing several pages in the Great Book, you might as well consider
some options that Mice don't consider, like becoming an investigative
reporter.  We're always looking for good ones, for the Qaletaqan news
crews."

"Can't be a secret agent, now that I'm Life Mated to Tak?  I'll talk
it over with the other Irregulars.  We have our own ideas about stuff
like being professional snoops who report directly to our Avatars, and
act as their messengers."

She held out her hand to Ciqala.  "Nice meeting you and Faolan,
Ciqala.  I'll pick up some treats so I can spoil you after I move in
with Tak.  Right now, I'd better go warn Huoysen that Cathy is going
to have a Waymate, the next time he has a face to face with The Boss."

She got up after Ciqala and Faolan nosed her hand, then she kissed
Takoda.  "I've heard a lot, about Hares in bed.  There's a rumor that
a few of them know how to snuggle and share the afterglow, without
half killing their partner, first."

He hugged her.  "Then by all means, we will take the time so you may
confirm, or deny, the truth of that rumor, after you arrive at my
quarters."

She was giggling when she walked away...

Jauntily.
---

End: 'Avatars 22: A Plethora of Mates'

Avatars Chapter 23
Waymates, and Growth Spurts
---

Weylin was riding Liberty while they traveled to the next village,
when he was buzzed by two small creatures.

They turned back, positioned themselves about a foot from his face,
then flew backwards while maintaining that distance.

He studied them, then spoke quietly.  "We have company, Lib."

"I noticed.  I thought Rabelaisia didn't have any Elementals."

"We didn't."

He tilted his head slightly, then focused on the creatures in front of
him.  "Hi.  I'm Weylin, and the mare I'm riding is my Life Mate,
Liberty Anne.  Who are you folks?"

The tiny flying wolf answered him.  "We're your Waymates."

"Oh?  What, if you know, are Waymates?"

"Jessica said we're like Muses for Avatars.  What are Muses and
Avatars?"

He perked his ears at the little wolf, then sneezed his amusement.
"Muses are special companions who only link with special people, on a
different world.  We'll talk about that, later.  Avatars are special
people who speak for the world.  Do you have names, yet?"

"No."

"Which one of you is to be my Waymate?"

"I'm a wolf, because I'm your Waymate."

"I see, I think.  Your companion is a flying dog, because she's Lib's
Waymate?"

"I'm a Bitch, not a Dog."

"Sorry.  Well, you, little wolf, I will call Louvel, since it means
'little wolf', in a different language."

"What about me?"

"You're Lib's problem, not mine.  Go bother her."

The little bitch darted backwards, then landed on Lib's nose and
folded her wings.  "Hi, Liberty Anne and Lib.  How come you have more
than one name?"

"I have different names, because people like to use them to tell me
how they feel about me.  There are other reasons, too."

"Ok.  Do I get a name?"

"Yes.  Since you are such a little one, if it's ok with you, I'll name
you Ayasha."

"Any name is ok with me.  Do you think that someday I'll have lots of
names?"

"You already have three."

"Three?"

"Elemental, Waymate, and Ayasha.  You are also a flying bitch."

"Other Waymates have some of those, so they aren't really mine,
right?"

"Right.  Did Jessica give you any messages to pass on?"

"She told us that only True Avatars would be able to ignore our
natures, and help us become True Waymates."

"Does that have something to do with the field that surrounds you?"

"Yes."

"Did Jessica explain the differences between linear, and non linear
time?"

"She sure did!  She made it sound like non linear time is lots of
fun!"

"Oh?  You can't do anything in it on your own?"

"No!  I think she was being mean."

"She was being smart.  Let's see if you can follow me anywhere, ok?"
.
.
.
Ayasha suddenly appeared and landed on Liberty's outstretched arm,  "I
found you!  How come you're not a mare?

"I wanted to see if I could fool you by switching back to my natural
body."

"Can't do that to fool a Waymate.  Waymates link to who you are, not
what you are."

"They can also learn to travel in non linear time.  We're all in the
past, now."

"We are?!  You're sneaky!  Let's go explore!"

"Slow down, Ayasha!  You have a lot to learn, before you do this on
your own."

"What about Louvel?"

"What about him?  If you quit pestering me, and turn around, you can
ask him yourself."

"What?!"

Ayasha suddenly launched from Liberty's arm, then started barking at
the small wolf who had been hiding in the grass.

Lib laughed, then looked at Weylin.  "Look like we got us a couple
Elementals to raise, until they exceed their programming."

"I noticed.  Doing anything for the next few thousand years?"

"Nope!  Interested in a working vacation?"

"Might as well.  You figured out a way to out sneak Jessica?"

"Got some ideas already.  You?"

"A couple, if these two can do what I think they can do."

* * *

Liberty moved her ears forward.  "Well, Ayasha?"

Ayasha sighed.  "Jessica didn't say anything about True Avatars being
able to give us the advanced stuff, like that."

"Do you understand the reasons she had to do it this way?"

"Yes, and we won't hint it can happen, when we talk to the Waymates
who have potential Avatars for Companions."

"Thank you, Ayasha."

"You're welcome, Libby.  It's a good thing Jessica made us all
different, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is.  Can you feel any links to other people, now that we're
linear?"

"Yes.  I can feel the other Waymates, too...  That's...  Odd."

"Oh?"

"Yes.  Eight of the links changed.  They are still from potential
Avatars, but they aren't the same person, even though the link is from
the same body."

"We expected that, remember?  I'm very glad you can tell the
difference.  Can you tell which links are clones, and which are
originals?"

"Not always.  May I time travel?"

"Yes, you may, and you may do it any time you feel you must, from now
on."

"There are 237 bodies who are, or could be Avatars.  187 of those are
unique.  The rest are clones of someone else.  There are seventeen
people who have cloned themselves, and there are seven bodies that
those seventeen swap amongst themselves.  Some of the Waymates learned
how to create copies of themselves and split their minds so they are
one mind, in multiple bodies."

Libby snorted.  "That split Waymate stuff is not good in some ways,
but it will help, later.  Ok.  You can relax until we get to the next
village."

"Is it ok if I ride on top of your head, and sing?"

Libby laughed.  "Yes."

* * *

Weylin had been watching Louvel while Liberty was talking to Ayasha.
After she finished, and Ayasha began singing, he smiled.  "I suppose
you want to accompany her?"

"It it ok for me to change myself?"

"Yes.  The same rules that apply to us, apply to you, since you have
free will."

"What happens when we make a mistake?"

"We fix it, then we'll figure out a way for you to make amends."

Louvel sneezed.  "More, and harder work, then."

"Probably."

He moved sideways, then changed into a normal sized Wolf-taur, who
held a twelve string guitar.  He trotted to catch up, then he started
playing the melody to the song Ayasha was singing.

Weylin laughed and reached over his shoulder so he could grab his
guitar.  He checked the tuning, then joined them when they started a
new song.

Libby joined her voice with Ayasha's, and a few miles later, when they
entered the village they'd been headed for, they were still singing
and playing.
---

End: 'Avatars 23: Waymates, and Growth Spurts'



Avatars Chapter 24
Artists' Impressions
---

Shiriki was sculpting an abstract statue of the Rat who was posing in
front of him, when he felt a weight on his shoulder.

He paused and turned his head enough he could study his new guest.
"You'll have to wait in line, like everyone else."

The tiny coyote bitch sneezed at him.  "I'm not here for that stuff.
That's not a very good likeness."

"What are you here for?  It's not supposed to look real."

"I'm your Waymate.  Jessica said that you'll teach me the rest of what
I need to know, so I eventually become a True Waymate."

Shiriki went back to his work, and after awhile he stepped back and
looked at his client.  "How's that?"

"Can you make it a little more...  Looming and threatening?"

"Yes."

He smiled a little whimsically, then spoke to his new companion. "Tell
me something.  Are you going to spend all your time on my shoulder, or
are you allowed to help me by sitting someplace I ask you to move to?"

"Put your hand where you want me to sit, and I will walk along your
arm and sit there."

He put his hand in front of the sculpture and after she settled he
pulled his hand away and nodded slightly.  "Thank you.  Tell me when
you think it's going to fall and crush you."

She looked up and tilted her head.  "That's silly.  I can't be
crushed."

"It's a game."

"Oh.  Ok."

She watched while he slowly reshaped the clay until more of it was
over her, and she suddenly flinched.  "Are you sure it's not going to
fall on me?"

"Yes."

He removed his hands and waited.

She tilted her head back and forth a few times, then spoke slowly. "Is
one of the rules of this game, that I'm supposed to feel like it wants
to grab me?"

He didn't answer her directly.  He looked at the Rat and smiled.
"Well?"

"Can you make an abstract of her and put it where she's sitting?"

"If she gives me permission, yes."

She leaned sideways so she could look past the statue, and she studied
the Rat.  "Rats like to play with their prey, sometimes, right?  And
this is supposed to be a primitive version of you?"

"Yes, Ma'am.  I'm really a Vegan, and I don't know how to hunt, or be
a proper Rat, so I wanted something like this, so my friends would
know that part of me yearns for the past, when we weren't so
civilized."

"Your aura says you are happy with who you are.  Life is filled with
might-have-beens.  Leave them in the past, where they belong.  I will
allow myself to be your symbolic prey."

She crouched down and looked up fearfully.  "Will this pose work, My
Companion?"

"Thank you...  Do you have a name?"

"You're supposed to give me one.  It's one of the rules."

He held his hand out to her, palm up.  "Thank you, Sharama.  If you
wish, you may return to my shoulder."

She ignored his hand and moved sideways, then settled on her haunches.
"I want to watch your aura, while you capture my pretended fear, for
this Rat."

He molded a lump of clay into something that was a crude imitation of
Sharama's pose, then he placed it where she'd been.  "Well, Sharama?"

She walked around it, then touched the 'head' with her nose before she
walked to the edge of the table and looked up at the Rat.  "When you,
or your friends, hold the clay that is I, you will feel a vague
impression of my fear.  Is that how I should play this game?"

"Real fear?  Not pretend?"

"It was real while I felt it, even though I was pretending to be
afraid. It will be as real, when you feel it, in the same way you will
feel that you are a successful Rat, when you touch the clay that is
you."

He looked at Shiriki.  "Does she speak truth, Great One?"

"Yes."

"Then I am satisfied."

Shiriki touched each of his creations, frowned when he touched the
smaller lump, then sighed.  "Sharama.  Come here, and learn moderation
while I teach you to lessen the impact of the impression you left."

She came back and looked up expectantly.

He nodded slightly.  "We will touch the clay that is you, together,
and then you will reduce the intensity of the impression you left,
until I tell you to stop."

They made the change, then he spoke the words of the spell that
hardened the clay, before he returned his attention to his client.
"Now, they are ready for you.  My Waymate was a little too
enthusiastic when she left the impression of her fear in the clay."

"Thank you, Shiriki.  The usual payment?"

"Yes."

"Then I will follow your Waymate's advice, and continue to be the best
me I can be, instead of the best Rat I could be."

He picked up his sculptures and left.

Shiriki, instead of calling the next person, held out his hand again.
"Well done, mostly.  Not all are able to deal with pretend that feels
so real.  I think we should spend some time getting to know each
other, before we try that again."

She stepped on his hand, and he nodded slightly.

A few seconds later she tilted her head, and studied him thoughtfully.
"Thank you, for helping me be the best me, I should be."

"You're welcome.  Now, lets get back to helping these people be the
best people they can be."

"Yes!  I like this game!"

He laughed, then gestured for the next person to be seated.  "May we
hear *your* dream, that you wish captured for the world to see?"

The female hound was hesitant at first, but eventually she was
speaking and gesturing with enthusiasm while the two of them drew her
out.

* * *

Wenona was settled in one of the food courts and eating her lunch when
a tiny Rabelaisian Wolfhound appeared on her table and settled on his
haunches.  "Hi, Wenona."

"Hello, whoever you are.  Can whatever it is, wait while I finish
eating my lunch?"

"What's eating?  I'm your Waymate.  Jessica said I can't be a True
Waymate until you teach me what I need to know.  Will it take very
long?"

"Eating is how I replace the energy I use up."

She took a few bites of her food, then studied the tiny dog.  "I can
see that you're an Elemental.  My turn.  What's a Waymate, and what
makes you think I need one in my life?"

"I'm an Elemental?  Jessica didn't tell us that.  She said she made us
out of energy, and we should go find our Companions, after she taught
us some real simple stuff, like how to tell if someone is some sort of
Avatar, and if they are our Companion, or not.  She said a Waymate is
like a Muse for Avatars, and that whoever we made our Companion, might
teach us part of what we need to know, so we'll someday be True
Waymates, instead of normal Waymates."

Wenona thought about it, then reached and held her hand over him. "Did
she mention that she gave you a field that feels a lot like an Imp
Field?"

"Yeah.  I don't like it, because it can mess up my Companion, unless
they are a True Avatar.  I can't do anything about it, either."

"Well, I just happen to be a True Avatar.  I've met, and worked with
Imps, so I'll be able to ignore your field.  Since it looks like we're
stuck with each other, do you have a name?"

"No.  One of the rules is that our first Companion names us."

"Since I see a dog in front of me, that is what I will name you.  You
are now Enli."

"Enli?  That's not very creative."

"I know.  I'm an artist, and I paint other people's dreams, so they
can share them with their friends."

"What about your own dreams?  Do you ever paint them for your
friends?"

"Sometimes.  Usually my Life Mate paints them or sculpts them for me.
"What about you, Enli, do you know your purpose?"

"Yeah, some of it.  Jessica created us Waymates so other people have a
way of knowing who the True Avatars and potential Avatars are.  Once
we find a Companion, we have to stick around so ordinary people know
that's what they are.  She kind of hinted that there's a real good
reason she didn't let us have control of that field.  It's strange,
but I think a True Avatar is supposed to tell us the rest of what our
purpose is.  'Stay next to them once you find them', sounds pretty
vague, now that I've met one of you."

Wenona raised her eyebrows slightly.  "Jessica is a True Avatar."

"I know, now that I've met you.  Thing is, none of us really had time
to think about stuff like that.  She made us, gave us a few rules we
have to follow, told us some other stuff, then waved her hand and told
us all to go find our Companions."

"Did she tell you about linear and non linear time?"

"Yes.  This is linear time, right?  Non linear time sounds real
confusing."

"Sounds?  Are you saying none of you are able to actually use it?"

"I don't know about the others.  I know I can't use it.  How could I?
Time goes only one way, right?"

Wenona frowned.  "What was she *thinking*?!"

"Huh?"

"Hush.  I need to think about this."

She made a slight gesture and Enli flinched, then looked around. "Hey!
What happened to all the links and stuff?"

"I created a privacy field, so nobody can find out what we're talking
about."

"Am I going to be able to do that, someday?"

"If you can learn how to do it, yes.  You're an Elemental, and there's
a lot of stuff you *should* be able to do already, but say you
can't...  Oh.  Jessica is being obvious again."

"She is?"

"Yes.  If all of you knew how to do all the stuff an Elemental should
know how to do, you'd be able to teach your Companions how to do it.
This way, until any of you grow up and become True Waymates, the
people who are only potential Avatars won't learn things they don't
need to know, and your fields will keep them from using some of the
Avatar skills, if they learn them by accident."

"How long will it take, before I become a True Waymate."

"Thousands of years, and it will seem like no time at all."

"Yeah?  Now, you sound like Jessica did, when she talked about non
linear time."

"Good!  Did Jessica tell you about a child's game, 'hide-and-seek'?"

"No.  She said a lot of games are fun, though."

"They are.  Hide and seek is a game where one or more people hide,
then someone has to find them.  On Rabelaisia, kids change the shape
of their bodies, too, to make it harder."

"Waymates are linked to minds, not bodies."

"So, if I changed my body shape, you'd still be able to find me, if I
tried to hide?"

"Yes.  Once I figure out how all of you are different, I could find
any True Avatar or potential Avatar, if you told me to go find one of
you."

"Sneaky.  I bet Liberty is going to feel challenged after her Waymate
finds her."

"Liberty?"

"She's another True Avatar, and she's the official 'sneak', when
that's required."

Wenona suddenly leaned forward and touched Enli's nose lightly.  "Tag!
You're it!  That means you have to find me."

She vanished.

Enli sneezed his surprise, then he too, vanished.

Wenona was on Rabelaisia and sitting with her back against a tree when
Enli appeared and sat on his haunches.  "That doesn't look like you're
trying to hide.  Anyway, I found you."

She giggled.  "Yes, you did find me.  Take very long?"

"A few seconds, because I had to search for our links.  Once I found
them, it was easy.  Where are we?"

"The correct question is 'When are we?'.  We're about ten thousand
years in the past, so you can grow up and exceed your design, before
we go back to linear time.  When we do that, this will be just another
memory, but you'll be a True Waymate, and have free will, plus be able
to do everything you learn while we are non linear."

He sneezed violently.  "I time traveled?!"

"Of course you did.  It's something any Elemental can do.  Jessica set
it up so that once you were helped, you'd be able to ignore the
effects of your field.  You still can't control the field, but
otherwise, you can ignore it, now.  I do suggest that you stay with me
until you learn enough to not get lost in time."

He tilted his head and perked his ears at her.  "So...  Even though we
are in non linear time, our personal time is still linear?"

"Yes."

He sneezed again.  "I was wrong.  This isn't confusing, it's not
sane."

She laughed.  "Relax, and I will begin teaching you how to see the
world, so it becomes sane again."

* * *

Wenona and Enli reappeared in their original positions a few seconds
after they had left.

He looked around, and sneezed at her amused smile before he made an
easel with a blank canvas, a loaded palette, and several brushes
appear on the table.

He picked up a brush in his jaw, then walked over and dipped it in one
of the paints before he touched it to the canvas.

{{Allow me, My Companion, to capture a small part of your reality for
you.}}
---

End: 'Avatars 24: Artist's Impressions'


Avatars Chapter 25
The Context Changes, Again
---

The Great Council was discussing what to do so they could detect
Coyotes who weren't their original personality when a cluster of nine
miniature coyotes appeared in the center of the conference table.

They were barking and yipping at each other until one of the males
barked an order.

They all went silent, then they picked targets and walked across the
table to settle on their haunches and look up expectantly, except one
male, who moved his head so he could look at one coyote, then another,
before he whined slightly.

The male who had ordered the change in actions, who had been watching
things, barked something at him, then snarled at him.

His ears perked, then, suddenly there were five of him.  Two picked
targets while the other three vanished.

Before anyone could react, a wolf and two lions appeared, and each had
one of the vanished miniature coyotes on one of their shoulders.  All
three newcomers looked like they wanted to be somewhere else and
started moving towards the door.

Roberta reacted first.  She pointed at each of them, and spoke softly.
"Whoever you are, stay."

They all sighed, then went and stood behind one of the council members
who had one of the coyotes who had stayed behind, in front of them.

She turned to the little male who was now in front of her, with his
ears perked brightly in her direction.  "Explain this...  Intrusion,
and why you told one of your companions that he was thinking with the
wrong end of his body."

"We are Waymates, and Jessica told us to find our companions, then
join them so all would know they are Avatars of some type.  She also
mentioned that we might link with someone who was one mind in many
bodies.  Since we are not allowed to make our chosen Companion one
mind in one body, it was logical to make her Waymate one mind in many
bodies."

"Then you brought the other bodies here.  What reasons did you use to
justify that action?"

"Without their presence, the mind of the one who is a council member
is not truly complete.  The Waymate learned you ordered all council
members to be present.  Should the three who did not arrive as
ordered, be culled?"

"We did not know that any council members wore more bodies than they
should.  Thank you.  They should not be culled, yet."

Roberta studied the tense situation, then smiled slightly.  "Is it
safe to assume each of you is now facing your chosen Companion and
that you are the Alpha of this group?"

"Yes.  Because you are the Alpha of All, now that I am your Waymate, I
must be Alpha of this pack of Waymates."

"You are not the Alpha of all Waymates?"

"No.  The Waymate of the one who created us, is Alpha of the Waymates.
I am Beta to him."

"Do any of you have names?"

"No.  The rule is that our first Companion must name us."

"You appear to be a coyote, but you seem to have the mind and honor of
a Wolf.  I name you Honiahaka, and will usually shorten that to Haka."

She smiled wryly and spoke to the rest of the room.  "We will take a
break, so we may get to know our Waymates.  Be thinking about the
implications of knowing a member of the Great Council has become a
single mind in five bodies."

She turned to the Coyote at her side.  "Chev?  Take your Waymate, and
get us all some refreshments and snacks."

He perked his ears slightly, she nodded back, and he vanished.

A few minutes later, food and drinks appeared on the table, then he
and his Waymate reappeared at Roberta's side.

He touched his Waymate and smiled.  "Several Coyote enclaves are
'infested' with these Waymates.  Mai has been very helpful in
determining the true situation on Rabelaisia."

Roberta nodded at him.  "Since you are back, it is my turn to take
care of some private business.  I should be back in a few minutes."

She held out a hand to Honiahaka.  "Haka?  Step on my hand, and we
will leave, after you tell us what Waymates are."

He stepped on her palm, then sat on his haunches and studied her.  "I
do not know what she truly meant when she said we are to Avatars, what
Terran Muses are to creative people, and that we have modified Imp
Fields that we cannot control."

Roberta burst into laughter.  "My Husband?  Explain it to these people
so they may begin to understand how vexed my daughter is, with the
problems we have been ordered to fix ."

She and Haka vanished.

Cheveyo studied Mai, then sighed and glared at the rest of the room.
"First, I'm sure all of you have figured out that Waymates are
Elementals.  Second, Imps are...  Elementals who are the embodiment of
perversity..."

* * *

After Roberta reappeared, she lifted her hand so she could examine
Haka, who was moving his head so he could look around.  "Where did
they go?"

"They didn't go anywhere.  We moved in time.  We are thousands of
years in the past.  What messages do you have, that Jessica wished me
to hear?"

"She said that eventually, we would learn enough that we would become
True Waymates."

"Anything else?"

"She told us that linear and non linear time are very different. After
she was done, I had the impression that I would find that living in
non linear time would be an interesting experience.  If this is what
it is like, I feel no different, and that disappoints me."

"Are you able to travel in time?"

"No."

Roberta raised her eyebrows.  "How unlike Jessica, to create an
unfinished Elemental.  She knows better."

Haka focused on Roberta.  "She told us we are complete, but that our
Companion would tell us the rest of our purpose, and give us the rest
of the knowledge we needed so we might someday become True Waymates."

Roberta laughed.  "Oh, you dear, dear, girl.  Liberty is gong to be
very vexed with you."

Then she remembered her manners.  "Forgive me, Haka,  My full name is
Roberta Loraine Neely-Galahalt.  Since you are going to be a close
companion, you may call me Lora, if you wish."

His head tiled slightly.  "Your aura changed, and it says this is
important to you.  I will call you Lora, unless you ask me to call you
something else, when I do not call you My Companion."

"Good enough, and thank you for understanding.  Now, Haka, it is time
for you to begin learning what you need to know, so that when we go
back, thousands of years from now, you will be a True Waymate, and in
control of your destiny.

* * *

After Roberta and Haka reappeared, she studied the five who were one.
"Haka?  Who is the original?"

"The Wolf, Lora."

"Thank you."

She focused on the Wolf.  "We will begin with you.  Know that all of
you will be culled.  Before that happens, each of you will have a
choice to make.  Speak freely, and truthfully, or you will be
mind-ripped.  Make your choice, now."

The wolf sighed.  "I will speak freely, and as truthfully as possible.
Please be patient with me, because it has been many decades since
nothing but truth as crossed my tongue."

"My patience is limited, Wolf.  Lie too often, and I will mind rip
you.  Begin your story."

"I understand, Mother of Us All.  Many decades ago, while I was still
a Journeyman Mage, a Lioness and a human female offered me a shorter
path to travel, on my way to knowledge..."
---

End: 'Avatars 25: The Context Changes, Again'
Avatars Chapter 26
The Unfinished Elemental
---

Cathy was sitting in a chair and idly talking with Kessa when a tiny
dog appeared on her lap and the security system went off:  "Warning!
Non authorized life form present.  Please remain calm..."

Cathy shouted.  "No!  Override!  Live intervention is required!"

"Override accepted.  The security system is now on standby alert until
the situation is resolved."

Cathy looked at Kessa, then sighed and focused on the tiny dog, who
was calmly watching her.  "What is an Elemental doing on my lap?"

"I'm not an Elemental.  I'm a Waymate, and I am talking to My
Companion."

"You may be a Waymate, but to one who can see all of you, it is clear
you are also an Elemental."

"I was told my education was very limited, and that my Companion would
add to my knowledge until I learned enough I can be a True Waymate.  I
will remember that I am also an Elemental, whatever that is."

Cathy perked her ears, then sighed.  "I've never met a Waymate,
before.  What are they, and what is your purpose, if you know?"

"Jessica told us we are to Avatars, what Muses are to creative people.
What's a Muse?  I know you are an Avatar of some type.  What is an
Avatar?"

"Did Jessica create you?"

"Yes."

Cathy's ears went flat on her head, then she raised them slightly and
took the time to look at Kessa.  "Cancel the alert.  I can't say she's
harmless, because she does have a personal field that reminds me of an
Imp Field, but it seems to be focused only on me, and I'm pretty sure
she can't control it in any way."

"Are you in any danger?"

"No.  You're welcome to listen in while I try to find out what my Life
Mate is up to, now.  For some reason, I wasn't warned I'd soon be
talking to a miniature Irish Wolfhound bitch."

"Right."

He canceled the alert, then leaned back and focused on what was going
on between Cathy and the Waymate.

Cathy was watching the Waymate, and finally she spoke carefully.  "A
Muse is a special type of Elemental who helps creative people be
creative.  Are you supposed to help me be a better Avatar?"

"I don't know.  Jessica told us we're supposed to find the Avatar who
is our Companion, then we have to stay with them all the time, so
everyone knows they are an Avatar of some kind.  She didn't say
anything about helping you.  She did say that my Companion might help
me learn enough so I can be a True Waymate, instead of a normal one.
She didn't tell us what the difference is, only that if we learned
enough, that's what we'd eventually become.  She was pretty vague
about a lot of things."

"Are you all the same?"

"No.  We all have the same type of personal field and she told us the
rules and some other stuff at the same time, but she made sure we all
think differently, so we don't all link to the same Avatar."

"Do you have a name?"

"No.  My first Companion is supposed to give me a name."

"One of the rules?"

"Yes."

"Because you are so small, I'm going to name you Weema, ok?"

"Any name is ok."

"Well, Weema, now that's taken care of, I have some questions I'm
going to ask."

"I don't know a lot, but if I know, I'll tell you."

"Thank you.  Do you have any control of your personal field?"

"No."

"She's up to something, and it's obvious you and I are supposed to
figure out what most of your real purpose is, without asking anyone
else for help."

"We are?  All she said was that when I found my Companion, they'd
teach me the rest of what I need to know."

Cathy sighed again.  "How many types of Avatars are there, and can you
tell the differences?"

"Jessica said there are two types of Avatars.  Potential, and True.  I
can't tell the differences yet, but if one tells me which they are,
I'll know if they are telling the truth, and then I think I'll be able
to look at all of them and tell which type they are without asking
them."

"I'm a True Avatar, because I speak for the World Spirit, with her
permission and approval.  Jessica is a True Avatar, too."

"You are telling the truth.  I have a message for you, from Jessica."

"Tell it to me."

"She told us that only True Avatars would be able to ignore our
natures, and help us become True Waymates."

Cathy's ears came forward suddenly, then she laughed gently.  "So
*that* is what she was doing!"

"What?"

Cathy touched the bitch and spoke in her mind.  {{Relax, and let me
take you with me...}}

Suddenly they were in a field and Weema looked around.  "I saw what
you did.  I could have done that without your help, I think."

"So you think you could have followed me?"

"Of course.  Once we are linked and you are my Companion, I can follow
you anywhere."

"Jessica was sneaky when she made all of you.  Elementals are able to
travel in time, but your field inhibits that ability.  Plus, it's
obvious that she didn't tell you that, or teach you how to ignore your
field.  I also believe that once someone has helped you travel in non
linear time, you will be able to ignore your field and do it on your
own."

"Why would she stop us from being who we are?"

"There are abilities that potential Avatars must not learn how to use.
Time travel is one of them.  If all of you knew how, you could teach
your Companions how to time travel, for example, or you could take
them with you, when you traveled in non linear time."

"Time traveling is living in non linear time?"

"Yes, and we are doing it right now.  Are you ready to start learning
the things you will need to know before you can become a True
Waymate?"

"Yes!  Will it take very long?"

"It will take thousands of years, Weema, but when we return to linear
time, all of it will be like a dream and you will be a True Waymate."

"Really?!  Oh, you are speaking the truth, even though I think what
you are telling me is not possible.  Jessica told us some of the
things that are possible if you can travel in non linear time.  Many
of us decided she was telling us the rules of a game, instead of
describing reality."

Cathy laughed.  "Reality, in all its forms, is often called 'The Great
Game of Life'.  Most of the time it is fun to play.  Let us begin your
education, so you can become the Elemental, and True Waymate, that you
are supposed to be, before we return to linear time."

* * *

Cathy removed her hand from Weema's head and leaned back in her chair,
then she smiled and looked at Kessa.  "You might as well add Weema to
the access list, since she has to stay with me all the time."

"That stuff about people knowing you're an Avatar?"

"Yes.  On Earth, she'd be called a Familiar.  In modern terms, the
best way to think of her is that she's my personal secretary."

"And now, anyone who is some sort of Avatar, has one of these...
Waymates, living with them?  That's going to cause some problems."

Cathy grinned at him.  "Oh, yes.  Many problems, with many solutions!"
---

End: 'Avatars 26: The Unfinished Elemental'


Avatars Chapter 27
The Ultimate Balancing Act
---

{{Takoda!  Get your lanky ass over here, now, goddamnit!  Bring Ciqala
and Jukla.  Grab Huoysen and bring him, too!}}

She glared out the observation window, then spoke angrily.  "Becky!
I'm calling a full Avatars' Meeting.  Tell Lib I want Tralker here.
Tell Mom she should grab Sikis and bring him. Stall everyone if I'm
not back with some special guests.  I'll explain when we're all here."

She vanished.

* * *

Jessica appeared in front of Dorothy and held out her hand.  "I'm
making you an offer you can't refuse.  I've called an emergency
Avatars' Meeting, and I'm inviting you and your inner circle.  The
only thing that's going to happen is that you are going to get all of
the truth, finally, then you can get the fuck out of there unless you
have questions you think we have the answers to.  Bard's Oath, and all
that stuff, so you know I'm serious about this."

Dorothy studied Jessica and finally nodded.  "Tocho?  Call the council
in."

Eleven other people of various races appeared.  Five of them had
Waymates and Jessica smiled slightly.  "Not as bad as I expected.
Good.  That means that consciously, or not, you understand the need
for balance when you're dealing with power.  It will make this easier
for all of us.  Link hands everyone, and we'll get out of here."

They reappeared in Jessica's quarters and the two groups studied each
other warily.

"Folks, meet the Anti-Avatar Dorothy, and her senior advisors.  I
brought them here so I can give Dorothy all of it, then they're going
to leave.  Eventually we'll all have some sort of definitive battle,
they're going to escape, and on Rabelaisia and Earth, things are going
to cool down because the good guys won."

She sighed.  "Meanwhile, these folks are going to start looking for a
planet and civilization they can convert to their way of thinking, if
it already doesn't match up.  Eventually they'll control a planet of
their own, and the good guys will be kept 'under control' in the same
way we keep the bad guys under control, and for the same reasons.

"That's been our collective blind spot.  Fucking balance.  If it's
unbalanced our way, here, it will have to be unbalanced in Dorothy's
favor, somewhere else, right, Mom?  Do some of that seeing stuff so
everyone knows for sure that we gotta do it this way."

Roberta closed her eyes.  A few minutes later she winced a few times,
then she opened them and nodded.  "It's going to happen.  I couldn't
see the details, but someday..."

She held her hand out to Dorothy.  "Honorable enemies, and this way,
all races, on all planets, will survive so that we all reach the final
destination."

Dorothy finally sighed and shook Roberta's hand, then she studied
Jessica.  "What, now?"

Jessica sighed.  "Now?  I do what I have to do, so that you and I are
going to make sure more people than we will ever know about, have
their lives fucked up in ways that will make us feel like we were
treated with love and tenderness while we were growing up."

She bent her head and focused on Faolan.  "Faolan?  No matter what
happens, you'll stick around and help me find my way back?"

"You are My Companion, Jessica.  Where you go, I go."

"Thanks.  Tocho?  You and Dorothy?"

"Bad things?"

"Very bad.  Will you stay for her?"

"She is My Companion.  Of course I will be at her side."

"Good."

Jessica bent her left arm so it was across her chest.  "Faolan!  Up!"

He jumped into the cradle she'd made, then settled.  She smiled and
petted him a little, then she focused on Dorothy.  "Be a good idea if
you do the same with Tocho, so you know the person closest to you when
you flash will be someone who loves you, unconditionally.  Right now,
it's because I made the Waymates that way, but someday, he'll do it on
his own, just like Faolan does for me."

Dorothy matched Jessica's actions, then sighed and looked up.  "I'm a
pain slut.  Do it!"

Jessica laughed bitterly.  "At least you didn't say you were ready for
it."

She reached with her right arm and placed her palm on Dorothy's
forehead.  "Here it is, Bitch.  All of it.  I won't say I'm sorry,
because this is nothing compared to knowing that everything we do
here, is a return to what we thought we'd escaped, and we came back of
our own free will.  Now, you can find out what it's like, to be...

"A True Avatar."

Dorothy screamed, then Jessica's hand fell away and she slumped to the
floor at the same time Dorothy did.

Both of them tried to curl into themselves, and Faolan and Tocho
whimpered and shivered as much as their Companions did.

Roberta gazed at the shivering bodies, then sighed and faced Dorothy's
advisors.  "Take her and Tocho to familiar surroundings, and keep
watch over the two of them.  You'd better check on any other bodies
she has cloned her mind to.  After that, wait.  Remember that all of
us live by the Bard's Code, and are freely accessible any time we are
not being private."

They surrounded Dorothy, one of them knelt and cradled Dorothy's
shivering body in her arms, made sure she had contact with Tocho, then
they vanished.

Roberta sighed again, then bent her head.  "Becky?  Cathy?  You know
what to do.  I...  Forgive me, Cheveyo.  Will you resume what we were
doing, while I spend some time in our quarters, alone, while I compose
a message to her Father, so he knows of her bravery and sacrifice?"

Cheveyo nodded slightly after he laid his ears back.  "I shall."

The two of them vanished, and left Sikis behind.

The rest watched while the twins carefully lifted Jessica and Faolan
from the floor, then carried them to their bedroom.

It was Tralker who broke the silence.  "Weylin?  Does anyone know the
reasons she demanded that Huoysen and I be here to witness this?  The
councils of Good do not make a habit of letting Evil take part in
their deliberations."

"Evil needs its Henchmen, and Henchwomen, just as Good has its Heroes
and Heroines.  When Dorothy and her advisors 'escape', it is certain
they will take some ordinary people with them.  See that the ones they
take are a balanced group that has some of your best, and some of your
worst, and remind whoever leads them, that Balance is as important to
the success of Evil, as it is to the success of Good."

Tralker finally nodded.  "I will make sure that understanding becomes
a part of the Thieve's Code.  If we are done here, I find that as much
as I would enjoy a chance to relax with Rabelaisia's Avatars, this is
not a good time to bother them with my petty concerns.  Besides, I
have you and Liberty I can pester."

Weylin laughed, then wrapped his arm around Liberty's waist before he
held his other hand out to Tralker.  "Come, Old Friend.  Let us take
you back to your people, so you can begin to figure out how you wish
to balance the needs of the Universe, with the needs of your Guild."

Tralker was chuckling when the three of them vanished.

Wenona reached for Shiriki.  "Come, Husband.  There's nothing we can
do here, and we need to decide if this is a picture we wish to paint,
or a sculpture that should be made, and when  they should be done, if
we decide to make them."

They vanished.

Takoda settled in one of the chairs, then invited Jukla to settle on
his lap.  "They will need us, Love."

"What can we do for them?"

"The ordinary stuff, so that Becky and Cathy can focus on loving their
wife."

"Oh."

He turned his head slightly, so he could watch the mouse on his
shoulder.  "Well, Little One?  Will you go be company for Huoysen, and
keep him safe while he is distracted?"

"How long?"

"For as long as it takes, of course.  It is your decision to make, not
mine."

She jumped to the arm of the chair, then to the floor and scampered
over until she could look up at Huoysen.  "Would it help, to have a
small furry thing on your lap, so you can pet me while you think?"

He seemed to become aware of the room again and he looked down.  "Did
you say something, Ciqala?"

"I did.  Takoda will be busy taking care of Becky, Cathy and Jessica.
He asked me if I'd make you My Companion, until you are able to take
care of yourself again.  You are comfortable where you are sitting, so
I am willing to settle on your lap so your hands have something to do
while your mind adjusts to your new reality."

He finally nodded.  "What will happen when I am ready to leave?"

"You will be My Companion.  I go where you go, until I decide you no
longer need my protection."

"What of your duty to Takoda?"

Suddenly, he was facing two mice who were watching him.  Both spoke.
"I too, can be one mind in many bodies, if I choose to live that way.
I do, for now."

He touched his lap.  "Thank you.  I do have a question for you."

"Ask it."

"Must you always be a mouse?"

"No."

"Will you become a Rat for me?"

"A Rat such as you are now, or one who goes as I do?"

"I...  I did not expect that.  One such as I.  Female, and who appears
to be about my size and age."

One of the mice turned and returned to Takoda and Jukla.  After it had
settled on Jukla's lap, the remaining one blurred slightly, then
expanded and solidified as a mature female Rat, before she settled on
Huoysen's lap.  "Will this do, My Companion?"

He wrapped her in a hug and squeezed tightly before his eyes lost
focus.  "Yes, Ciqala."

Takoda had watched the byplay, then he looked at his version of
Ciqala.  "An elegant solution, My True Waymate."

"I know.  Now, if you wish to live in harmony with your mate, pay
attention to her, instead of me.  I will watch over us all, and visit
with Sikis, while we wait."
---

End: 'Avatars 27: The Ultimate Balancing Act'

Avatars Chapter 28
The Unspoken, Is Spoken Of
---

Three days after Jessica started her flashback, Takoda and Jukla were
in the kitchen and putting together a light lunch when Ciqala suddenly
squeaked joyously and scampered out the door.

Jukla watched her until she was out of sight, then she spoke softly.
"She's pretty happy about something."

Takoda tipped an ear in her direction.  "You're the Mouse.  Was she
saying anything you could understand?"

Jukla nodded slightly and pointed at the door.  "She did, but if you
turn and see who's leaning on the jamb, I won't need to translate it."

Takoda turned slightly, and what he saw made him wince.

Jessica sighed and touched the limp wolf she cradled in her arms. "Hi,
Tak.  We're back."

"Was it worth the pain?"

"Yes.  I was the only person who could do it, so don't bother asking.
That doesn't smell like your cooking."

"It isn't.  Jukla went ethnic a couple days ago, and told me to fetch
and carry, because I..."

He shrugged with his ears while he watched Jessica.

She smiled.  "She got tired of watching you burn food?"

His ears went flat and she laughed.  "Maybe you folks can open a
restaurant, or a food place in one of the food courts.  'Avatars'
Alimentary Adventure', or something like that.  Fine dining, better
advice."

Jukla set down what she was preparing and studied Jessica.  "Tak can
explain the joke, later.  What's off limits?"

"Give us through lunch, and then, nothing.  The four of us went non
linear last night, after I was back in this reality.  We spent a
couple thousand years there, and now, Faolan and I need to take the
time here, so our emotions catch up with our minds."

"Both of you?"

"Yeah.  It was Stonehenge, all over again, but it was me and Fao,
instead of Dad and Mahika.  It had to happen, and if it helps you
folks any..."  

She touched Faolan.  "This guy took Tocho back in time and stayed with
him until he was a True Waymate, so he could come back and put Dorothy
back together."

Takoda studied her, nodded, then pointed.  "Sit, and we'll find out if
you enjoy some of the foods that are going to be served in the Mouse
area.  It looks like Becky and Cathy could use some good food, too."

"Yeah, Tak.  We all could.  I'll assume that what was stuffed in me
when I wasn't here was pretty good, but none of us were aware enough
to really appreciate it."

They settled, and after they ate, Jessica leaned back in her chair and
watched Faolan clean her plate.

After Jukla cleared the table, she and Takoda settled in a couple of
the empty chairs and Jukla spoke gently.  "Mice know there will always
be Evil, Jessica.  Your way...  At least those who are the leaders of
Evil will do what they can, to reduce the destructive aspects of their
excesses, now."

"Thanks, Jukla.  Has Tak explained what happens when a True Immortal
links up with a Life Mate?"

"No."

Takoda's ears went vertical, from the relaxed position.  "I thought
that only happens on Earth!"

Jessica laughed at his reaction, then touched Faolan and started
petting him.  "Well, Fao?"

He sneezed his amusement.  "Yes."

She smiled.  "Good!  Tak?  Jukla?  The stress of living my flashback
with me changed Fao.  He managed to unlink enough that he could search
for ways to make sure I eventually survived and came back.  He...  I
did better than I dreamed, when I created him.  He taught himself how
to spot True Immortals, because he needed to be certain I was going to
live."

Jukla was the first to nod.  "Is this your way of saying Tak and I are
now True Immortals?"

"Yes.  Tak should have realized he is a True Immortal, the first day
after our return.  After all, he deliberately tried to kill himself,
and failed.  One of the known similarities amongst the True Immortals
is that we cannot die by our actions, in linear or non linear time."

Then she giggled.  "I guess, if we needed more proof, this would help
us accept that he really is Merlin's Apprentice, and he learned *ALL*
of what Merlin had to teach him!"

Takoda groaned, and Jukla turned to him.  "Life Mate?"

He sighed.  "Merlin, in spite of the thousands of years he has lived,
and all the knowledge he has at his command, has an ability to not see
the obvious that has become a standing joke amongst the people who
know him.  It seems...  I share that ability with him.  If you want
proof, consider the fact I didn't spot the Life Mate links between
us."

She stared at him in surprise, then she started giggling.  "Oh!  A
Hare, who is wise beyond the wildest dreams of any Rabelaisian, and he
is so...  Unaware of his surroundings, a *wolf* had to tell him he was
in the presence of his Life Mate!"

Her giggles changed to hysterical laughter.

Eventually she stopped laughing, and managed to look partly sober when
she refocused on Jessica.  "You have been ducking, and diverting us.
Do you need more time, or may I intrude with some business?"

"What of Dorothy?"

Jukla's eyes widened and she nodded.  "Yes."

Jessica bent her head slightly.  "Fao?"

"Tocho says she is better, and coming to terms with her new status. As
soon as she was aware enough, she tried to commit suicide by using one
of her special Life-Nullifiers.  The attempt failed, of course. She no
longer sees you as a true enemy.  Her anger is directed at the ones
who crafted her, and...  She will honor the intent of the agreement
between you, as well as the letter.  Tocho says this is truth, spoken
with no intent of later going back on her word."

"Good!  Tell Tocho that once Dorothy finds a new world, she will have
all of her abilities back, and she will be able to travel in non
linear time."

He suddenly barked his amusement.  "Tocho dismissed that as an obvious
conclusion, and asked me to tell you that she is looking forward to
doing to the 'good guys' on her planet, what you did to her and her
people!"

"Anything else?"

"Yes.  She is wondering if Elementals are linked to the world of their
creation, or if Tocho will be able to stay with her when she leaves."

Jessica sobered and nodded solemnly.  "Power of all types is
universal.  Reassure them that they will be lovers and True Mates,
until the End of All, and perhaps they will still be together after
the Great Book is closed and a new Book is opened, with blank pages
that must be filled."

Faolan suddenly tilted his head, then he sighed.  "Dorothy says 'Thank
you, Jessica, for using Takoda as the pattern when you created Tocho
and Faolan.  Let's do our best to live up to their love.' "

He looked at Takoda, then back at Jessica.  "Is she right?"

"Yes, Fao.  You are the 'Keeper of My Heart, just as Tocho is the
'Keeper of Dorothy's Heart'.  There is, and will be, no other who will
be called that.  Thank you, for keeping mine in trust so I could use
our link to find my way back."

He finally nodded slightly.  "You're welcome, Jessica."

Takoda gasped, and everyone focused on him.

He was staring at Ciqala but his ears were tipped in Jessica's
direction.  "Jessica?"

"Of course I used myself as Ciqala's pattern.  Do you honestly feel
that you deserved anything less, for the one who would become your
True Waymate, and who will someday become the Keeper of Your Heart?"
---

End: 'Avatars 28: The Unspoken, Is Spoken Of'

Avatars Chapter 29
Rediscovered Destiny
---

Liberty had changed to her bitch form so she and Weylin could relax
while they ambled along the forest trail, when he picked up a small
branch and tossed it for her to chase.

She, lost in the experience, woofed happily and ran after it.

When she picked it up, she froze, then dropped it hastily and looked
around, as if she was intently studying their surroundings.

Weylin noticed her sudden alertness.  "What is it?"

"The Tree.  It's nearby.  It has to be!"

"The Tree?"

"Nikki and Whisper's Tree!  The one he climbed and left the message
in, that she should greet him as a Life Mate!  That branch fell from
it, and it held the memories of their touches!"

He turned and looked back.  "This is all new growth, Lib.  These trees
are too young."

She bent her head and nosed the branch, then she gently picked up it
up again and started walking back the way they'd come from.  {{It has
not been touched by man or beast, Weylin.  There was a violent storm,
and this branch was broken off and carried by the wind, to the place
where you found it.  I will use its memories to seek the place it
landed, and then we will go non linear and find The Tree, before we
seek it in linear time.}}

She finally stopped walking, and turned her head slightly before she
set the branch down.  "I should have expected this.  There is a long
gap in the foliage, and at the end of it, I can see a tree that is...
Obviously old."

Weylin joined her, then knelt and gazed in the same direction she was
looking.  "I see.  Only one who walks on four feet, and is small,
would notice the gap.  Once again, a series of 'coincidences' is about
to guide our footsteps."

Liberty sneezed disgustedly.  "I think we are going to divert our
course, and go pay our respects to the people who live in Whisper's
Village, after we stop and read the memories contained by the most
famous tree in Rabelaisian history."

He sighed.  "I do believe you're right."

He bent and picked up the branch he'd casually tossed for her, then he
smiled.  "Sikis!  I have need of your presence!"

A Coyote in his prime appeared and bowed.  "It is good to be summoned,
Weylin.  How may I serve Rabelaisia?"

He held out the branch.  "The World Spirit has given us a Great Gift,
and I wish it to be given a place of honor in Bard's Hall."

Sikis took it and studied it, then he turned his head and looked in
the same direction Libby had.  "A branch from The Tree of Great
Destiny.  I shall do as you request."

He had both hands firmly on the branch when he vanished.

Louvel settled on Weylin's shoulder and looked at where Sikis had been
standing.  "He felt a reverence so deep, I can only feel it, and never
fully describe it."

Liberty spoke to the winged bitch who was hovering next to her head.
"Well, Ayasha?  Do you wish to try and describe what Sikis was
feeling, after he read the branch?"

"He was feeling elated, and a great satisfaction, that he now holds a
direct memory of the event that led to the creation of a vision that
was far more complete and detailed than the vision Ruth and Runner
had, when they created The Bardic Way."

"I see.  Well, we'll let him do the Elemental equivalent of
contemplating his naval while he learns some more about his roots.
While he does that, the four of us can go check out some history."

She stepped, and the four of them worked their way through the dense
undergrowth until they were standing in a clearing that had the tree
at its center.

Weylin studied the tree, then he studied the clearing.  "This is not a
natural clearing.  It was made to focus one's attention on the tree,
and..."

He pointed.  "The one who maintains it, is watching us, and wondering
if we understand what we are seeing."

Liberty changed to her human body, then called her cloak to her and
settled it so her Master's symbol was clearly visible, before she
raised her voice.  "The ancient symbol I wear was honestly earned, and
given to me by the one who wears a similar one.  I am Wandering Master
Bard Liberty Anne, who is one of Lady Chrystal's two Spiritual
Daughters and her Second Terran Apprentice.  I am also one of the
World Spirit's Chosen Avatars."

She pointed at the stump of a branch.  "The branch that used to live
there, now resides in a place of honor at Bard's Hall.  May we
approach and read the memories contained within The Tree of Great
Destiny?"

A female Monkey stepped into the clearing.  "Of course you may
approach The Tree.  He has been waiting a long time, for someone who
can do more than tend to his needs, and keep him safe from those who
think only of the comfort his corpse could give them during the chill
of winter."

She was smiling when she walked over and placed a hand on the trunk of
the tree, then looked up.  "It is safe to show yourselves, my
children, and Life Mate."

A large male monkey and three small monkeys poked their heads through
the leaves, then ducked back in.  Soon they were on the ground and she
gestured at them.  "My family.  We have spent generations making sure
The Tree is safe, by using it as our home."

She faced them proudly.  "I am Tipsistralis, the seventh to bear that
name, and like the first one, I am a Bard.  I am only a Journeywoman,
and settled so I may serve the people who live in Whisper's Village,
because I have always known my duty is here, instead of out there.
Welcome, Mistress Liberty Anne."

Liberty finally nodded.  "Thank you for your welcome, Journeywoman
Tipsistralis.  Whoever cast the original spell that protects the
memories of The Tree, was quite skilled, and those who have maintained
it have done well, too.  I did not detect the fact that The Tree has
been used as a home.  Well done!"

"Thank you, Mistress!"

"You're welcome."

Liberty laughed quietly and Tipsistralis looked puzzled.  "Mistress?"

"Relax.  When I was a young girl and still in my teens, I would change
to my alternate form, and spend hours visiting with a bush who lived
in our yard, while I enjoyed the shade he provided.  In return, I took
care of him, and made sure he was healthy.  I named him 'Herbie' and
was very sad when he died.  Tell me, does this gentleman have a name?"

"We call him Seaghda, because he is so majestic."

"Fitting."

Liberty went bitch, then gazed at the tree.  "Now, I know the reason I
was given the ability to commune with plants."

She walked over and touched her nose to the tree.  "Hello, Seaghda.
I'm Liberty Anne.  Let's share memories."

She settled at the base of the tree, then looked up.  "Ayasha?  Those
branches look like they enjoy children, and games being played on
them."

Ayasha darted into the leaves, then she poked her head out and a bolt
of light lanced out and touched each of the children.  "Tag!  Come
find me!"

Ayasha's head disappeared, and the three children practically ran up
the trunk before they vanished into the leaves.

Weylin was laughing when he reached for his guitar.  "Lib can stay
like that for hours, and Aya will play with your children until she
knows they are near their limits, or they decide to quit and do
something else.  May Louvel and I sing for our suppers by sharing some
Terran songs with you while we wait?"

Tipsi's eyes opened wide, then she nodded emphatically.  "Please!"
---

End: 'Avatars 29: Rediscovered Destiny'

Avatars Chapter 30
And Your Dreams Shall Change The World!
---

Shiriki was taking a break from his painting when a Bear walked up and
studied him. Shiriki smiled at the Bear's hesitation.  "Yes, I am
available for conversation."

The Bear nodded his respect, and spoke in a low voice.  "I am known as
Liwanu, Great One, and I seek some advice.  I am willing to pay for
it, with this."

He put an eighth piece on the table that held Shiriki's painting
supplies, then he sat heavily and waited with the stolid patience his
people were known for.

Shiriki picked up the offering, then frowned and focused on it.
Eventually he sighed and handed it back to Liwanu.  "I cannot accept
this, and I suspect you knew that when you tried to...  Avoid your
destiny."

"Days ago, when I innocently tried to give it as a token gift to a
Wandering Bard, she shook her head and gently placed it back in my
hand.  After she was gone, I tossed it on the ground.  Less than a day
later, a child used it to buy some of my honey, so she and her family
could sweeten their gruel for a few days."

He stared at what lay on his huge palm, and sighed.  "Great One?  I do
not know how I know it, but know it, I do, that this is The Eighth
Piece, that The Twisty One created so The Mother of Us All could toss
it into the crowd so it could begin the journey that would lead it to
The Hero Who Will Be."

Liwanu slumped dejectedly.  "I am no Hero, to be having dangerous
adventures!  I am a Bear, and content to be one.  I am a forester, as
the bears in my clan have been since the Mage Wars.  I help take care
of the forest that surrounds our village, and I gather the honey so I
may trade it for that which does not grow naturally.  I am content to
live the old way, and get my news from the Bards and other travelers I
meet."

He closed his hand into a fist and pounded his leg angrily, to vent
some of his frustration.  "Please, Great One!  Tell me of what I must
do, so a better person can become the Hero that the World Spirit
needs!"

Sharama jumped in Liwanu's lap and nosed his clenched hand.  "Open
your hand."

"Great One?  Should I do as the tiny Great One asks?"

"Yes.  Sharama is my True Waymate, and because she is an Elemental,
she knows truth when she confronts it."

Liwanu opened his hand, Sharama nosed what he held, then she sighed.
"No one can give you what you ask for, Liwanu.  The Dreams you have
kept hidden since you were a cub, are what make you the person
Rabelaisia needs to help her past this crisis.  The Talisman has
chosen, and a choice it makes cannot be unmade by anyone.  Not even
the World Spirit may change the Talisman's choice, once it is has been
so clearly done."

"I have told no one of those dreams!"

"They are part of you, Liwanu.  They drive you even as you pretend to
be an ordinary Bear.  You will be a Hero, and you will use your Dreams
to change the Rabelaisian Ethos so that the things that make you
despair will be rare things, instead of the common actions you are
familiar with."

"Great One?  Will I really make a permanent difference, so I no longer
feel like I am trying to hold water with a fishing net?"

"Yes."

Liwanu stared at his hand, then he studied Sharama.  "I have heard of
such as you.  You are very different than what I have been told you
would be like."

"I am a True Waymate, and different than most of the other Waymates.
There are few of us.  Shiriki speaks truth."

"Great One?  I will do it.  Will your and your companion help me?"

"Thank you Liwanu.  We will help.  First, do you trust me?"

"Of course I trust you!  If I didn't, I would have gone to someone
else!"

"Thank you.  Offer me the hand that holds the eighth piece in it."

Liwanu held his hand out, and Shiriki nodded before he touched the
eighth piece lightly.  "Relax, and open your mind to the possibilities
that await a Bear who chooses to walk his own path, instead of the one
he thinks he is supposed to walk."

Shiriki waited until an inner light that had been missing appeared in
Liwanu's eyes, and his posture became confident again.  "Good."

He focused on the coin.  "It is time for you to fully awaken, so you
can introduce yourself to your Chosen Hero, before the two of you go
forth and become...  Who you are both meant to become!"

Liwanu flinched, then stared at his hand.  "It speaks to me!"

Shiriki smiled.  "Of course it does.  It is the Talisman of Honor, and
it has chosen you, because you are the living embodiment of the Honor
that will be."

Before Liwanu could react, a tiny bear appeared and looked up at him.
"Hi, Liwanu!  It's about time one of you Bears woke up and became an
Avatar, so I could have a Companion.  Bard's Hall is pretty lonely
when only unattached Waymates are there."

"Avatar?  I'm an AVATAR?!"

"Yeah, buddy.  If you weren't, I wouldn't be here.  Shiriki and
Sharama have this great line they use on folks: 'Tell us about your
Dreams, so we can help the rest of the world see them.'  Whatcha got,
Big Guy?  Let's hear them, so you and I can go out there, make them
real, then have some fun!"

Liwanu recovered and he grinned.  "So, Squirt.  You like to have fun?"

"Squirt?  Is that my name?"

"Sure, if you want it."

"Thanks.  You gonna open up?  Those Dreams of yours must be good ones,
since The Talisman of Honor thinks you're a Hero.  And yeah, I like to
have fun.  Isn't play and having fun how you folks learn a lot of the
serious stuff you need to know when you get older?"

"I never thought about it like that, but I guess you're right.  

"Anyway...  I don't know about my dreams being the kind that can make
me a Hero, Squirt.  Me and my clan have been taking care of our forest
for generations, and we're real tired of other clans and villages
thinking they've solved their problems by chasing them until they
become our problems, then they go home and expect us to do the same as
they did, by chasing the problems back to them.  Seems to me, life
would be a lot better for all of us, if we all decided to fix things
for good, instead of chasing them all over like it's some sort of
never ending game..."
---

End: Avatars 30: And Your Dreams Shall Change The World!

End: The Tails of Rabelaisia 8/8 Avatars 16-30/30

End: The Tails of Rabelaisia: Avatar

-- 
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reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated.
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