An Altared Work

© 2009 by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

the usual suspects copyright Mr. Simon Barber

used with Permission

It was misting on Main Island at the time, a prelude to harder rain expected by morning. In the scent depressing, sound deadening mist three furred figures moved as silently as their limited training allowed through Main Islands brush. Their destination a certain, often laughed at piece of carved stone. To those who were supposed to have been watching, they would have seen a squirrel, a rabbit and, to many a dangerous shrew. Yet those same watchers had been lulled by the noises they had heard coming from the rented tourist hut. Certainly after all that, no one would have the energy to be awake until long after sunrise song. Yet those noises had been staged, were in fact were mostly false. Well, most of them at least. Now though all three were intent upon only one thing, a certain not quite finished altar and according to the shrew, an experience not to be missed in this lifetime. Certainly not their first real adventure after passing Songmarks rigorous first year of training.

Nancy Rote carried a backpack filled with second paw ropes, while Katrina Schmidt carried a heavier one with Alpha’s padded hammer and stone chisels. Katrina had chosen those tools with her own paws, having insured their readiness herself. Though her chosen material was wood, other than a few critical differences, there was no really important difference between stone cutting tools and wood cutting tools. Though in honesty she would never allow Alpha to place one of her chisels against something as unyielding as stone.

Alpha too carried a packet. This one though held photographs and her notes. Photographs of their target, with marks upon them showing exactly the changes she needed to make. Also in her packet were several strange sheets of paper-like material marked in waterproof ink. Ink and paper could, and had been held underwater for hours with no appreciable damage. What was written was a ritual from the shrews worn and water stained, paw made copy of her mothers book. One her mother had made for her many years ago. A ritual that would, as Alpha had translated, grant all three a wonderful and very erotic experience. One like no other they would experience in their lives.

Nancy had accepted this adventure only because it was her week to do whatever her wife wanted to do. There was a supposed criminal she would rather spend the time studying further, but Nancy was a woman of her word. Last week Alpha had trudged through Eastern Islands less habitable places, simply because Nancy had wanted a baseline of what things grew there. Seven long days alone with nothing but her camera and a travelers notebook, yet the shrew had done so without complaint. Besides, Alpha had promised to tie her up again and that was an experience the squirrel could almost never refuse her wife.

Since studying the place herself, under the watchful eyes of a paid native guide, Nancy was truly curious. Even she could tell that the stone altar was incomplete. More importantly, its carvings were nothing like what she had found elsewhere upon those Spontoon’s lands allowed her so far. Had she bothered to ask a certain first year from Texas she would have had many of her questions answered. She certainly would not be hurrying towards such darkness of her own accord. Not even with a Priestess at her side. Probably not even with a mechanized division backing her up. Certainly not just with two friends who’s entire knowledge of the object was less than adequate to understand what might soon happen. A mistake had been made in translation. By Alphas mother or Alpha herself wasn’t important, it had been made. A simple misunderstanding of a badly smudged symbol. It would be a mistake that they would all pay dearly for.

Very dearly.

Alpha’s dorm mate Katrina had joined the two for her own reasons. Of course Nancy and Alpha would be able to manage such an adventure by themselves, but it was an adventure. Something right out of the romance books she loved to read. More than that, Nancy had spoken with her alone two months before. She had finally admitted that she was beginning to have more than simple feelings for the shrew. But still, if their marriage failed Nancy would be more than happy to turn her pet over to the rabbit. Pet, Nancy had actually said pet when referring to the shrew. It was a word that had enraged Katrina, though her feelings had been hidden from the younger squirrel. After all, she was a bunny rabbit. Her tail was much too small to show emotions that most other species would understand. She would also be with Alpha when the strange altars great secret was exposed. A secret the Southern Georgia born and bred rabbit was just now beginning to suspect. What she did understand worried her, but to let Alpha step into possible danger with none but the self centered thrill seeking squirrel to protect her. No, that could not be allowed. As she hurried Katrina crossed herself, saying a quick prayer asking that all would be safe at suns rising. She couldn’t know that ‘pet’ was Nancy’s love name for the shrew.

Alpha herself was absolutely certain as to what they were about to do. Well, as certain as she could be where her mothers ancient religion and paw written notes were involved. There had been a few obscure symbols either in the original text, or damaged enough that their translation could have gone several ways. Though she had at first worried that something might go wrong, that her beloved Nancy might come to harm, something inside of her was absolutely certain that everything would go according to plan. It was a part of her though that had nothing to do with Science, thus she walked here on soft ground. Yet it was ground. All they needed was two hours, two and a half at the most.

It was just after midnight when they arrived at their destination. They had slipped their guide with the planned play just as many first years eventually managed. Alpha now was certain that she would give her wife pleasure beyond pleasure. It would make Nancy forget that zebra, forget all males, turning only to her for love. ‘If I have to cheat to win her heart, then certainly I shall cheat in every way I know how’ she had told herself three days before. Katrina’s presence would make the entire ritual that much easier, for she could bind Nancy to the stone while Alpha carved, preparing Nancy for the pleasure that was to come. Katrina’s help would save them at least half an hour and, as she had promised the rabbit, there would be a second ritual. Just for her.

Arriving at their destination Alpha was delighted when the rain began to come down harder. “It will help hide noise” she explained as she set up her tools. Meanwhile the squirrel and an even more dubious rabbit began cleaning away the odd plants that were upon the altar. Unlike other shrines they had seen, this one had no flowers, no ferns. Instead things like banana leaves and obviously dead nuts were strewn haphazardly across its surface. Had Katrina known the reason she would have laughed, for a crippled old native made his living ‘tending these sacred shrines’ to keep the tourists happy, and he had a rather unique sense of humor. Being that he was a devoted reader of a certain magazine made those choices even more bizarre.

Had Katrina known exactly from where these carvings had originated from she would have screamed in horror and run, dragging Alpha with her. For the carver had based his work on illustrations he had found in several WEIRD TALES magazines. What the carver didn’t know was that the original artist had based her work on several ancient books she had found in her aunts library, that those books had come from Europe. Europe, where they had been found in an ancient abandoned monastery. One known for driving dozens of monks mad over the centuries. Especially those who worked in the library, copying certain works. But the point was, she didn’t.

Alpha carefully laid her photographs out on the altars surface, weighing each one down at the corners with graven lead weights she had created from broken batteries just for this use. Picking up a section of paw carved coal the shrew began sketching on blank stone exactly what she needed to do.

“This is basalt” Katrina noted as she and Nancy discarded the last of the plant debris, then moved away to give the shrew plenty of room to work. “Is dear Alpha’s tool strong enough to cut such?”

Settling down under the altars palm leaf cover Nancy Rote smiled. “I have not found anything Alpha can’t do if I ask her” she answered. “Those chisels cutting ends were cut from discarded tool steel. She has reworked it all. They should work.”

“Nancy” Katrina asked as she joined the squirrel under the protection of a banana grove. “What brought the two of you together?”

Laughing the squirrel pulled her tail into her lap, using its fluffy mass to help warm her legs. “I don’t know” she admitted. “I. I uh... Well we did it once, and things just snowballed. I know she isn’t the prettiest girl around. Heck Katrina, your prettier by far. There’s just something about her I couldn’t stay away from. What drew you to her?”

“Her helplessness” the rabbit admitted. Unlike Nancy, Katrina’s tail could not keep her warm at all. “She is quite intelligent, there is that. Yet when it comes to social interaction she is as helpless as a fish out of water. At least any fish not born in Cranium Island waters.”

“You noticed that too” Nancy whispered. “Alpha warned me that she has been gone too long. If she returns, she’ll probably be dead within hours. And, well, she likes swimming. You can’t swim at Cranium Island. You can’t even take a bath.”

Katrina giggled. “Like swimming? You heard about her catfish?”

“Oh yes. Frightening that. Simply frightening.”

“No one knows, but that fish my friend was twenty feet down, at least five feet inside a cave. Dear sweet Alpha not only enticed it out by using her own tail as bait, but fought it within its own environment. In truth, had Elizabeth not leapt in to help her, she would eventually have become the fishes dinner. Once it learned how to remove that spear from its gills. I fear that within the water she has no fear. It is as though she were born to be a fish.”

“I wouldn’t have liked that at all” Nancy admitted. “No one told me how dangerous her fight was, only that she’d fought a fish and won. I wonder why.”

“No one trusts you” Katrina slipped. Her paw went to her lips, but it was much too late.

Nancy turned, staring into her companions eyes. “No one. After all I have been through. How.... No. Why?”

“I am sorry. I had not intended to be the one to tell you such. Still, as the cat has escaped its bag. There are many reasons. Your constant incompetent escape attempts from Songmark with your dorm, yet you continue to make attempts. In one way this is laudable, in another foolish. For none of you have learned how as yet. You are captured by non-Songmark people almost every time, or brazenly announce yourself to upper classwomen. You are leader of your dorm, yet you are constantly getting into troubles that cost you all privileges. Why, how many times have demerits abruptly vanished without explanation?”

“Four times” Nancy admitted. “We thought that we had done something right and been rewarded.”

“Alpha ‘done something right’” the rabbit corrected. “Your radio, that blower for the third years hot water heater, that strange metal plate that cools the medical rooms and standing up for Megan. Though the last wasn’t anything you could have done. Oh yes Mrs Rote, you have had a hard life. But your pain was of only a month. Alpha grew up knowing she was nothing but a lab animal at any time her mother needed one. That at a whim her mother might throw her to some monster, quietly taking notes as her daughter was slowly digested alive. Have you seen what the other girls have been through? Take Lucy for example. She gave up her future, her education to return home when her father passed on. Elizabeth had to become Sapphic to escape forced marriage and motherhood. Something she isn’t and has no desire to revisit, though she admits she probably will as need occurs. It was her only way out of poverty. There was that third year Molly, who’s father was a mobster then who abandoned her. She also had a ‘rough few months’ as your single month was. Who else? Patricia! Who’s mother has tried to pound into her head she is completely worthless, who swam from Casino Island to Main Island at ebb tide, alone, to save herself. Then failed because her heart was physically weak. Every girl here has a horror story Nancy. Some, such as my own are not so bad, some are bad like yours, some are hellish like Elizabeth’s, Alpha’s and Molly’s. You have been leaning on your past as though it would grant you free entrance anywhere. Nancy, I am personally aware on at least one time when your bags were already packed, only Alpha’s sacrifice saved the two of you from being expelled.”

Nancy sat in silence, watching for a time as Alpha marked and started carving more stone before she spoke again. “You hate me don’t you” she asked.

“Hate you? No dear girl, I do not hate you. My God Nancy. You survived something I am certain I could not. I am quite certain that I would have broken completely, that I would not have had the foresight. The planning to escape as you did. I am certain as anyone can be that, had it been myself, I would be right not mindlessly wearing a slave collar. Happily serving some animal without complaint. No Nancy Rote, I do not hate you. I dislike though what you are doing to Alpha. Using her, knowing full well that you will leave her behind when you graduate. She loves you so very much Nancy. Can you not see that?”

“I can see you love her as much as she loves me” the squirrel answered softly.

“She saved my life, should I not love her somewhat? Yes Nancy, I will catch her when you discard her, only then I will most likely hate you. I might even make it my lifes purpose to destroy you. Or I may not. It will depend upon what Alpha will desire.”

“I’m here, letting Alpha use me in her experiment” Nancy countered.

A muted sound of paw striking furred cheek was drowned by the building storm. “Letting!” Katrina repeated as Nancy grabbed her stinging cheek. “She spends a full week cataloging Eastern Island geology and Biology for you, then comes here to carve basalt with her own paws, and you are ‘Letting her use you.’” She swung again, easily evading Nancy’s attempt to stop her paw. Another muted pop came to life. “Go home. I will play your part. Go sleep in your warm hotel room, enjoying your dreams of that zebra who really holds your heart. Alpha doesn’t deserve you. You are too cheap with her emotions.”

Rubbing her twice struck cheek Nancy held up her free paw in surrender. “You really do love her” she accepted as the realization struck her. “The zebra, he is the one who sold me. But you went with her last week, didn’t you.”

“I most certainly did” Katrina admitted. “Seven very hot, very dusty days where she stayed up all Saturday night cataloging the nightlife as well. Where were you? On Casino Island with your team searching for a criminal to capture. Nancy Rote, you are not ready for such works as yet. This is not Creekside. Should your entire dorm vanish, I assure you that the search will not last more than a day, two at most. People who vanish here are dead or in another country by then. Not held under some church as a plaything. Oh Alpha will search. She will quit Songmark to search. She will find you, then share your fate simply to be with you. She does not deserve such.“

“And you’d be with her, wouldn’t you” Nancy asked.

“What of the matter? I have my carpentry skills. In these islands carpenters are always in demand. I will support her along with her search.” Katrina paused, as though holding her breath for a moment. “Yes Nancy. I will be with her. And I truly am sorry to hear that your beloved zebra was the one to cause your fall.”

“Then we are a threesome” the squirrel said with a sigh. “Katrina. I didn’t love Alpha when I married her. That is the truth. I thought it a wild experiment. Perhaps fun. And I do need a scientist. But Katrina, this is not a lie. I have grown to love that plain looking shrew. I find myself looking forward to being with her. I think it is the letters we sent each other. I learned so much about her, she I.” She looked over to where Alpha was busy brushing stone chips from her carving. “I think now that I won’t be discarding her after Songmark, or any other time.”

“Then I shall either live to be an old maid, or must find another” the rabbit decided. “I will not be known as a home breaker. As long as Alpha is happy then I have no complaint.”

Nancy pointed to Alpha’s work, abruptly changing the subject. “I’m starting to get worried Katrina. Those things she’s carving, that doesn’t look like ‘greatest pleasure’ to me. What do you think?”

“I do believe that I share your fears Nancy. Still I trust Alpha. I have watched her study her mothers book for weeks now, correcting and recorrecting her own plans. Speaking with her mother over that device of hers, changing her translations with information she gains from such conversations. She is certain what she is doing is for your pleasure. Nothing more. Still I am more than somewhat uneasy. There is something about this effort that I find most unsettling. I do not trust a mother who would consider her own daughter an experimental animal. Still I fear that the point comes down to this dear Nancy. Do we trust Alpha, whom we now both admit we love. Or do we not.”

Nancy stood, brushing a few leaves off her backside before making her decision. “Dad always said mom made mistakes now and then. A couple of real doozies I remember him speaking about. But he always stood by her. Well moms gone now, but I’ve never heard him speak ill of her. He always said that love was trusting someone with your heart. I guess that means I’ll trust her. And Katrina? There is room for two in my heart. If you are willing. Now we best rejoin our mad scientist.”

Joining Nancy Katrina reached for the buttons of the squirrels clothing. “Then I fear we must prepare you for whatever plans dear Alpha has for you” she decided. “However, Nancy. Should this turn out to be as Alpha expects, may I have the next adventure? I promise you it will be my last with the two of you, for you have chosen her. I am a good Catholic as I may be. I am not a home breaker.”

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's” Nancy quoted.

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wife” Katrina corrected. “I am Catholic, not Protestant my new friend. Of course that answer is guilty as charged. Do not think that I have not spoken to God about this failing of mine. He has yet, I am afraid, not granted me the favor of an answer. Perhaps tonight is his answer. I shall take it as such unless proven mistaken.” She folded Nancy’s clothing as it came away, placing it in the driest place she could find. “Do not think that this Pagan ritual does not bother me, yet mother always told me that if you must disregard one thing about a person to be their friend, choose religion first. Species second. I will think upon your offer. Over the Summer break.”

Nancy stepped out of her last clothing, running fingers through her long fur to quiet the worst for her case of clothing fur. All had forgotten a brush. “Your mother is a very open woman” she observed.

“I most certainly agree. For mother is Roman Catholic, as I am. My father is Lutheran. I fear that is the only reason their families refused permission for them to wed.”

“Their loss” Nancy decided. “They lost a beautiful, intelligent and very poised daughter. I wonder what would have happened should we have met first. You and I. Before I tripped over Alpha.”

“Nothing” Katrina admitted. “You are, or were at that time at least, too self absorbed. Too driven to have woken my interest. I prefer a warm soul, not one cold as your was then, and in too many ways still is. Now come lay upon this dead stone that I may bind you for Alpha’s enjoyment. She has finished this side. There is this too, we must finish this then return to our rooms before sunup. Else be discovered. Nancy. Please. Care for Alpha, she deserves your heart. Not simply your mind.”

“And you” the squirrel asked as she settled upon the cold stone, again thankful for the thickness of her fur. For it helped keep her warm even against the stone. “She needs you as well.”

Looking over to where Alpha was studying her drawings several feet away, Katrina answered in a whisper. “After tonight I will find another. I love Alpha, but I will not share her again and I will not fight you for her. She would not like that. Still yes I will always love her somewhat.”

“Then be with her when you can” Nancy replied, also whispering. “Please. We have an agreement. I trust you now I think. Rather you than some native girl who would steal her heart from me.”

Katrina paused in her binding of Nancy’s right wrist. “You are certain” she asked. “I am no less danger that another.”

“No, you are not. You have just promised to find another. But Alpha has spoken of you. She has dreamed of you. Please, let her dream become reality. For a while at least. And yes, find your other. But please remain Alpha’s friend.”

“Always” Katrina agreed. “Now please stretch your arm, this inset ring is rather low. I need a bit of slack.”

The Cipangu born, Spontoon Island Priestess Oharu Wei woke from troubled dreams. Though she could not place her worries there was something wrong feeling in the night. Rising from her thin pallet she reached for the length of muted cloth that could be lavalava or sarong, or a window curtain. Wrapping herself carefully she stood at her open door, watching the rain fall. There was darkness in the air, yet she could not discern from what direction it was coming. That a certain Cranium Island shrew was involved she could taste. For the shrews style was unique, completely different from anything she had ever sensed. Picking up the water resistant bag that held her special papers the mouse paused, picking up her bow and quiver before brushing her homes shimenawa with one paw as she exited. Why she took her bow into the rain she did not understand, yet the feeling was within her that it would be needed.

As she stepped out the rain seemed to slacken, allowing her to see a bit further. Her students home was dark, silent. Though there had been voices earlier as the three had studied their lessons. Oharu smiled towards that dark structure. A typical native longhouse, so much different than her raised above the ground home and three times as large. Last night she had been forced yet again to warn them about keeping late nights. Soon though Tehepoa would be leaving. Tehepoa, her mind brought up the young mans image. How would Ote’he react to this. Wild Priests and Priestess’s could not even touch each other, except in extremely rare occurrences. So if Tehepoa became such he would have to give up Ote’he. Yet in her deepest fire dreams regarding these three, Oharu had never found a path were they were not together. So what would happen she wondered. What future did await her young male student.

Katrina snugged the last rope, deftly stepping out of Alpha’s way as the shrew chipped at another section of stone. Then Alpha shifted her position, moving away so quickly that the rabbit wondered if her dorm mate was truly flesh and blood, or some creature from another world. For nothing should move that fast.

“You are comfortable my little sacrifice” Katrina asked Nancy.

“Quite” the squirrel admitted. “Your idea of using my blouse as a pillow was a stroke of genius. Will Alpha be much longer?”

Katrina leaned over the squirrels delicious looking body, studying Alpha at work. “Not but a few minutes I think” she decided. Returning to her original position she checked each rope. “None are too tight?”

“Actually” Nancy answered with a blush. “A bit too lose for my taste.” She moved her arms and legs, proving she was not stretched tightly. “Still I think it will do.”

Katrina shook her head in disbelief, taking a moment to move Nancy’s larger tail into a more comfortable position. “I do not understand why you like this” she admitted. “I would not like to be so bound. It is degrading.”

“Had you Alpha before I, you would understand” Nancy explained. “She takes you so far you want to curl into a tiny ball, but being unable she simply takes you even further. Katrina. Promise me you’ll let her show you, at least once before you give her up?”

“Once then. But only the once” Katrina decided. “Nancy. I must admit that as Alpha continues I feel she changes. I do not trust this. It feels so wrong. As cold oil upon ones fur, it makes me want to scrub myself. I believe that I shall pass my request to experience this.”

Nancy closed her eyes, breathing deeply as she calmed herself. “If it was not Alpha, I would be screaming for you to release me” she admitted. “It does feel icky now.”

“Then I will...”

What Katrina was about to say ended as Alpha stood, brushing her paws of stone dust. “Donedonedone” she announced excitedly. Seeing Nancy ready the shrew giggled, leaning over her prone wife to kiss her deeply. As she did Katrina turned her back, for Alpha was doing more than simply kissing.

‘I have lost’ she told herself. ‘She has chosen, as open as I have made my heart, they have found each other. Father in Heaven forgive me, for I lusted after the wife of another.’ Walking to the place Alpha had indicated Katrina felt hot tears fall from her eyes. She had loved Alpha, but Alpha loved another. One who had decided to keep her heart. To break up that pairing would be an evil she could not let herself approach. Still, Nancy had drawn from her the promise to give Alpha one night with her. At least she would taste that flower that was not hers to pick. Then Katrina had already understood her chance with Alpha was past, had already begun preparing herself for this moment. ‘Nancy. Be good for her’ she prayed.

Nuimba joined Oharu at the tall splinter of stone that gave the glen its name. Settling down on a stone below her teacher she waited until Oharu decided to notice her. “You should be asleep” the mouse observed.

“As you Shishou. My dreams. They are strange. I feel a darkness, yet within it I feel a light so strange it draws me.”

“Tehepoa and Ote’he?” the mouse asked.

“Their dreams as well I believe. They have joined in their sleep. This is not usual for them.”

“I see. Wake them. Carefully. Whatever is coming we must be ready for it. I will call up a fog arrow to guide us.” She watched as her student moved away silently. Not as silently as Oharu herself could manage, but she was learning. Setting her bow aside she withdrew a single arrow from her case, relaxing as she repeated words taught to her in her youth. Polynesian rituals had a similar guide, Oharu though was still more comfortable with Shinto in most situations.

By the time her three students arrived a finger of fog hovered before their teacher, an arrowhead at one end. Looking at it all three realized in what direction it pointed.

“The tourist altar” Ote’he gasped as her mind followed that line.

“It is the shrew again” Oharu agreed. “Her ways are easy to taste. I fear she may have stepped too far. Tehepoa. Go to Saimmi’s home. Inform her that we may need a judgement. Nuimba, Ote’he. You will come with me.” Picking up her bow the mouse began trotting up stone stairs to the Glen’s single gateway, her students following.

Alpha had taken her place at Nancy’s head, a long blade bought from a main island vender just the day before in one paw as she read from her notes. Katrina stood behind and to one side of the shrew, holding an electric torch to light the page. About them the rain had slackened, as if nature herself was waiting to see what would occur.

Nancy lay quietly, listening to the ancient words carefully. Alpha had given her a code word to use at any time. Should she use it everything would stop instantly and Katrina would release her. It was when a coldness touched her fingertips that the squirrel decided she had gone far enough. Opening her mouth she tried to say the code word. Tried, but her throat would not work. Stunned for a moment she tried to understand what was happening, then fear struck her as she discovered that none of her muscles would work. She could not move, she could not escape.

Katrina also listened as Alpha spoke, making out some of the words as her shrew companion spoke them. Holding the light she couldn’t see that Nancy was in distress, for she expected the squirrel to use that code word. It was why she held her school blade ready. For should Nancy pull out of this experiment Alpha’s orders were clear. Release her, get her away.

Alpha slid her third page into place. She was reaching the end of her little ritual and in her eyes nothing had happened. As she spoke the last words though something did happen, and it was nothing that the shrew had been led to expect.

Green-grey fog lifted from the many mouths of those carved images. Nancy’s body lifted from the stone, her limbs unmoving. Stepping away from the Altar a nasty laugh came from the shrews mouth. “It is done” she cried, throwing aside her notes. “My Master is free!”

Katrina turned to face Alpha, her electric torch highlighting the smaller woman. What she saw sent icy waves of fear through her. For Alpha was not Alpha anymore. Instead a full bodied female form stood before her, growing taller as she watched. Alpha’s uniform split, tearing away from this new body. “Alpha?”

“Alpha?” The form laughed. “Alpha is no more. I have lived within her body since her birth. Waiting my time. Waiting my chance. Now Alpha is gone, thrown down to the darkness. As you both shall be.”

Stepping back Katrina’s tail brushed the altar, instantly she felt an icy grip capture her. Cold rose up her spine from her tail, her legs ceasing to obey her brains commands. Fearful, the rabbit grabbed the silver cross that had hung abut her neck longer than she could remember. Lifting it up between her and the creature that had just moment before been the woman she loved Katrina demanded the creature release her.

“Foolish child” that thing laughed, for thing it was. No longer did it hold Alpha’s comely form. Long blood red claws now hung from misshapen paws, those inviting eyes now burned yellow-green and the fur had burned off. Leaving nothing but mottled red and black skin. “It is never the symbol that holds power.” An instant later Katrina’s paw burned as silver shattered like glass, fragments embedding themselves deeply within her paw. “To late now you understand. Alpha’s mother wished to protect her child. She was fooled into using the wrong ritual, calling me forth instead of the guardian desired. Thus she gave away her own unknowing child. As seed for my Master!”

A sound of pain came from behind Katrina, but try as she might her body now refused to answer any of her brains commands. She watched helpless as that creature loped past her. Listened as ropes snapped, followed by a sound made only of a body striking the earth far behind her. Nancy was dead. She was as certain of that as she was that Alpha could never have suspected this outcome.

“That one is useless” that creature hissed in her ear. The sound would have caused her to lose her water, if she had any control over her body. “Used, wasted. You though...” A hot wet tongue caressed Katrina’s left ear. “Untouched. For all your dreams, all your talk. Alpha’s kiss was your first. Allowing me to enter you, to discover your strength, your weakness. You are perfect for my Master. Eating your pure soul will give him power to open the door forever.”

Katrina sobbed as she felt her body lifted, her clothing being torn away as if nothing but cheap paper, felt herself lowered onto that now icy stone where greenish-yellow mist soon enveloped her. Her body then relaxed on its own and the rabbit shivered in base fear as she felt her limbs spread by that unholy mist.

“Now to finish what that pawn began” the creature laughed. As Katrina lay helpless she head that dark voice begin to chant.

Above them the mouse Priestess Oharu and her two students broke free of the jungles grasp, stepping into the open. Below them they could see what was happening, could see the squirrels body tumbled like a wet rag against a fallen tree. Without a word Oharu reached into her bag, withdrawing a single slip of paper. Attaching it to an arrow she nocked, drew and released in such a fluid movement both her students would later swear there was never an instants pause. Then motioning to her followers the mouse began running down the path. It was still a long distance to their goal, and now time was very much their enemy.

Katrina’s first indication that anything had changed was the thump of impact. For two words the creature continued, then coughed. In an instant the form changed, again becoming the shrew Alpha Rote. A shrew who collapsed unconscious to smoking ground.

Unable to move more than her lips and eyelids the rabbit could not see what had happened, but she could see the form that had begun growing above her hesitate. It looked aside for barely a breath of time before returning its attention to the helpless doe. Though Katrina had no real idea what was happening, her fate she was certain of. Already ice built about her heart as fingers of something entered her body. Yet instead of surrendering her mind abruptly felt clear, as though some block had abruptly been removed. Symbol, yes, not symbol, faith her mind screamed.

“My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament...” she chanted in her mind. It was not the correct prayer, but it was the first that came to her. Icy cold hesitated, then backed away for a moment. Yet the creature continued to advance. She felt its jaws open even as her lips began to move, following the words in her mind. There was a tearing sensation within her, though not where she had expected. Surprised she hesitated. Hesitated with a cost that she would later learn was most expensive to her. Yet her first prayer completed she moved to the next she could remember. There was a correct one, yet her mind was too confused as yet to recall it.

Oharu stumbled out into the open, her heart falling at what she saw. “Nuimba, the squirrel. Ote’he the shrew” she ordered as her bow came up again. Another black arrow, its paper payload already attached flew between mouse and mist form. Behind it all three could see a tear in reality, a gate to the demon world was opening. Already the thing had fed. How much of the rabbits soul was gone forever Oharu wondered as she sent a third arrow on its way.

From a different world than those demons that Cipangu knew well, the creature could not understand its pain. At first it looked to its slave for help, only to find a female badger carrying away the shrews body. Its slave had somehow been forced back to the demon world forever. It roared in anger, trying to strike out at this new creature, only to find a wall between it and its target.

Defending Ote’he had taken less than a moment for the mouse, as it was an action she had done several times in her past. Well rehearsed, her spell stopped that finger of mist before it could come near her student. Releasing that wall was again but a moments effort as she continued to send loaded arrows into the mist. It was with interest though that she noted the rising shield pressing mist away from the rabbit. ‘So’ she thought as yet another arrow sped away. ‘She is a true sister in need.’ As her last arrow vanished into the mist Oharu dropped her bow, walking calmly but with determination towards the thing that confused, continued to attempt its feeding. A feeding that it must complete to open that doorway fully. Passing the mouse her young students dragged away their prizes, each signaling that what they carried still lived, though in the shrews situation barely so. “Glen” she ordered as she passed the badger twins. Her duty now was to dispel the demon before her, and save whatever was left of her unsuspected sister.

“...pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of death. Amen” Katrina finished, her voice now fully returned. She could again feel her body, though her limbs response to her brains orders were sluggish. Above her the filthy mist seemed to stop, as though held back by a glass wall. Struggling she sat up, taking a deep breath. “Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy; our life, our sweetness, and our hope...” she chanted. It was no longer a prayer to her, but a weapon. As she slowly stood the creature seemed to shrink, to back away from her. ‘I need no symbol’ a part of her mind realized. ‘No building. No relic. No priest. No Pope. I need only my faith, as long as my faith is true.’

Behind her the mouse stopped, studying what was before her. Katrina had pushed the creature as far back as her untrained abilities would allow. Still that crack between worlds remained, for the demon was drawing power from that finished altar. From the belief that was within it. She would have to destroy that stone, and in the present situation she knew only one way. Opening her own mouth she began a chant thought useless. Thought nothing more than something to amuse others with.

An abrupt tolling, as though the worlds largest bell ever cast had been struck rolled over Katrina. Still she did not pause, for at that sound the mist demon fell, drawing itself back through that horrid rent, closing it behind itself as it passed through. With no target for her words the rabbit staggered forward, falling to her knees. Deep sobs escaped her lips as she realized it was over, that somehow this battle had been won. Won yes, but with who’s aid? Who’s black arrows lay on the ground about her she wondered. Catching her breath she managed to stand, to turn around.

Before her was that altar of evil, now split cleanly in half as though by some impossibly sharp knife. ‘Without it, it could not stand’ she realized. ‘But who?” Staggering past the altar Katrina discovered who. Laying on the earth was a mouse, one wearing a native lavalava. A polished black bow lay near her. Kneeling next to the mouse Katrina touched her. A groan of pain answered her touch. Alive, but who? Helping the mouse sit up her answer was soon forthcoming.

“Welcome Sister” the mouse said in oddly accented English. “Your cost this battle?”

“My cost” she asked. “What do you mean?”

Gently the mouse pressed a paw against Katrina’s chest, just over her heart. “To open gate even so small, some part of soul it must eat. How badly are damaged?”

“My... My soul? It ate my soul” Katrina gasped. Fear washed over her. He soul, she had always thought such things child’s tales until she met Alpha. Even that though could not prepare her for this disaster. “I... No, it could not.”

Very gently Oharu touched the rabbits skin under her naked fur. “It has. Small bite yes, yet has taken something. I cannot heal” she admitted as she slowly gathered her bow up. “I am priestess only. Not Goddess. Now we must leave this place.” Fighting to stand the mouse accepted Katrina’s aid, turning back to make her slow way up the path she had so recently run down. Her black arrows she left behind. They could be recovered later. “And tell what happened to call such please.”

It would be a slow trip, as both were exhausted. Several times the two sat to regain their strength, occasionally seeing in the distance the other four as they too made there way to the place that Oharu called home. As they traveled Katrina tried to feel within herself, to discover if this strange woman’s words were true. Untrained, all she could discover was that there did appear to be an empty place within her. Try as she might, the rabbit could not discover what that empty place might be. If she had not been so preoccupied Katrina would have known what she had lost, for even as they climbed the ridge above that shattered altar, no thought of either of the Rotes came to her. It would be past sunrise song before they arrived at their destination. As they walked Katrina told the mouse everything she knew about what had happened.

Great Stone Glen itself was a shock to the young Songmark student. She had been raised to believe that all pagan holy places were dark, damp, filled with filth and evil. Here she found instead an open area that had obviously once had a river in it, for the bed was still quite evident as overgrowth had been trimmed back. Great care had been taken to clean the Glens bowl, a bowl more elongated than rounded. It was, Katrina decided, a rather welcoming place. Alpha and Nancy were below her, both leaning against large stones as the two badgers worked to calm them fully. As she studied her two friends the rabbit abruptly realized what she had lost. “I no longer love her” she more whimpered than whispered. “We kissed, I remember it well. There was passion. Now I cannot feel any memory of the pleasure.”

Oharu turned to the rabbit, carefully taking a paw into her own. “You kissed her?”

“Once. Only once” Katrina admitted.

A sucking sound of sharply inhaled breath caused the rabbit to turn to her shorter mouse companion. “It chose then your weakness. Your love for the shrew. Love is a most powerful emotion. Am sorry you have lost such.”

“I. I will never love again?”

“One way know. Think of mother. You still love her?” the mouse asked.

Katrina thought of her mother, thought of their times together. Though weaker than she remembered, her love for her mother was still there. “Yes. Yes I do still love my mother” she announced.

“Then only lose love for shrew. Was most powerful love. She being first. Cannot learn to love her again. I sorry for you.” Oharu explained. “Took only enough to open door. Wanted to play. Wanted to enjoy what did. Your power surprise it. It not expect find priestess in grasp. Mistake it not make again, if ever cross again.”

Katrina found a stone to lean on, turning her attention to the pagan priestess before her. “I am not a priestess” she explained. “My religion does not have such. We have Nuns, but no woman may rise to the Priesthood.”

“Then why your God give you such gift” the mouse asked as she lead the rabbit to her meeting place. “If not desire you use such?” There three forms waited. Saimmi and two other priestess. Settling Katrina into a slightly secluded place where she could rest, Oharu made her way towards her waiting water gourd.

“That has been attended too by Ote’he” Saimmi announced in Spontoonie, her words stopping Oharu’s paw in mid-air. “You will tell us what this darkness was that you have so obviously defeated?”

Carefully pouring two wooden mugs of water Oharu first offered one to the High Priestess, then drank herself. This time she truly needed the water, for she had not had any since sunset song and her throat was dry. “This demon was called by rituals I do not understand” she answered finally. “That shrew called it forth, but it was not by her own desire that she did so.”

“She was possessed?”

“Since childbirth” the mouse answered. “Her own mothers misguided action. From what the demons servant told Katrina, Alpha’s mother thought that she was granting her daughter a protective guardian. She was unaware that she had been deceived, or of the price that would be exacted.”

“A misunderstanding. A single misunderstanding led to all this?” Saimmi sipped her water. “Such was the Great Fall. A single simple misunderstanding. Or so we believe. I have examined those other two. The shrew is in deep shock, Latakia has aided her in recovering. Oddly the squirrel, though having a broken wrist is otherwise unharmed. How can this be?”

“Katrina explained that “ Oharu paused to order her thoughts. “Nancy was enslaved before. Used fully. As such her soul had no value to this demon, for it would need a pure soul freely given to open the doorway. My experience with demons is that they give great pleasure, using such to open their victims soul to examination before they exact the price for their service. It is my opinion that Nancy was rejected while still in bliss. She will remember I think nothing of the evil, as she was unconscious during our battle. She will remember all else.”

“And this rabbit. Her injury will heal of course. Your thoughts upon all this?”

“Yes. Katrina has had her greatest love ripped from her soul. She will never love her shrew again of course. Still love is not denied her, she will simply have to wait until her soul heals. First though she must come to an understanding as to why her loss. Had the demon taken but a few moments it would have realized that Katrina was not freely given, but fooled. As such its desires were crippled, for even had it eaten her entire soul that doorway would never have fully opened. It would have needed a thousand such stolen souls to do so. Had Katrina not joined the battle I would not have been able to shatter the altar. Other means would have had to be employed.”

“More dangerous to you” Saimmi noted. “Your self sacrifice is well known to me. Sometimes I feel you have a suicidal streak within you. Yet I have been unable to sense such.”

“I am not suicidal” the mouse countered. “Given a choice between my life and Spontoon’s safety, that choice is simple. I do not wish to die Great Mother. Not at least yet. But I will not turn away to save myself if giving my life is the only way to save Spontoon.”

Saimmi sipped her water again, nodding in agreement. “Besides. You would be back as quickly as you could find a soulless body to inhabit. You will never leave Spontoon, will you.”

“No Great Mother. I live to serve. I will be here when the last stone slips forever under the sea.” Oharu looked away from the feline, down towards where the Glens small waterfall bounced among the rocks. “This nation is not like my birth nation. Yet in the short time I have been here, I have fallen greatly in love with Spontoon and her people.”

“And already have for your birth country given more lifetimes than the Gods will allow me to know.” Saimmi stood, looking towards the waiting rabbit. “You are nothing more than a romantic Oharu, I envy you your ability to so love a nation you have been in not much more than a year now. That said, I must examine your rabbit while you must sleep. More come to aid us in this. While you sleep we shall deal with the site of your battle. I will use your students as messengers, it will be good for them. When you awaken those others will need to hear your words, and ours.” She glanced towards where Alpha and Nancy sat huddled together. “She was possessed. It was not her own free choice to do this. Of this you are absolutely certain?”

“From what Katrina has told me, I am” Oharu answered. “I ask that she be examined carefully. Such a long possession will leave her confused. She will need some guidance to find again her path in life.”

“Yet she still holds her gift. She must be trained, at least a foundation. So she will not be so tricked again. I will find someone.” Saimmi lifted her paw to hush the mouse. “I have placed limits upon what you may do for good reason daughter. This battle was one of those reasons. You will not train that shrew, nor the rabbit who so obviously needs training. It is my responsibility to see to such. I ask you remember that. Now go sleep.”

“As you desire Great Mother” Oharu agreed.

“Do not be smart with me daughter” Saimmi ordered, her tired voice a bit stricter than she desired. Oharu’s reaction worried the feline.

“Never Great Mother” the mouse responded, falling to her knees before her superior. “I would never do such.”

“Then sleep. We will speak of this later.” Saimmi watched as her Shield struggled to her feet, barely managing a bow before she staggered off to her hut with the help of her student Nuimba.

“You frightened her Great Mother” the Hyena on Saimmi’s left whispered. “Has she so insulted you?”

Saimmi shook her head no. “She has not Ghayda. I am yet tired for I have slept little. I shall apologize when she awakes, and will accept my words. Now I want you and Chinya to investigate that site. Purify it. Should you need assistance call for it. Do not take any chances.”

“As you desire Great Mother” the hyena agreed. Waiting for her vixen companion the two then vanished into the jungle.

“Tehepoa” Saimmi called. In moments the young man was with her, bowing as Oharu had trained him. “Tehepoa. Soon you will be taken for training by a Priest. Oharu has instructed you well. I will tell you this young one, there are many paths before you. Choose wisely. Now I need you to find a certain woman. She will most likely be on Meeting Island. Then find something to do for several days. Visit your family, wander the beaches. It matters not. What occurs here now is for priestess eyes only.”

“I understand Great Mother” the young man agreed.

“You will need this” Saimmi continued, offering a bracelet. “Simply show it to any citizen, what you need will be given you. This is also a test, do not fail by taking more than you truly need.”

Accepting the carved wooden bracelet Tehepoa placed it upon his own wrist. “Be certain Great Mother, I would not wish to anger Mother Oharu by doing so. Her name?”

“Catherine Devinski. A euro yellow furred hound. A small E Euro Tehepoa. Very, very small E.”

“I shall find her Great Mother.” Backing away the three proscribed steps, Tehepoa turned and jogged off.

“Will he treat you so when he is a wild priest” an aged voice asked.

Saimmi turned to find one of her oldest daughters standing near her. “He will not. I shall enjoy it though, as long as I may. Nor do I believe that his path is such. Thank you for coming.”

“It has been long since we have been called to a judgement” the ancient fur observed. “Not since my childhood.”

“When the world was young and all seas still fresh” Saimmi asked.

“There was some hint of the bitterness to come” her priestess admitted. “Yet not enough tears had fallen to truly make it undrinkable.”

“The shrew. Go deep. Be aware she was possessed since birth. There will be many traps.”

Reaching over the grey furred woman touched Saimmi’s staff, letting her fingers trace its curves. “Once I could see this, now it is but a memory. Traps? Dear Great Mother. I was setting traps long before that demon was born.”

Saimmi watched in silence as the blind priestess made her way down to the waiting shrew. So old was she that no one remembered her true species, for she was a shapewalker. Had been a shapewalker before Huakava was born. ‘I will have to send Oharu to her, as soon as this is over’ the feline decided. For there were no more shapewalkers on Spontoon. The learning of such had been lost long ago to all but the last. Saimmi knew that to let it be lost forever would be a disaster.

“What is your name child” the blind fur asked Alpha.

“Alpha Curie Rote” the shrew answered, still holding tightly to her wifes good paw. “You are called?”

“I do not remember” the aged fur admitted. “It has been so long since I have needed a name that I have forgotten.” She turned her sightless eyes onto Nancy. “Young squirrel. I can feel your love. I must though be alone with your wife. It truly is a matter of life or death. For her.”

“Alpha is my wife. I protect her” Nancy countered. She did not know how much those words warmed the shrews heart.

“If you stay, she dies” the grey furred priestess explained. “Badly. Very, very badly.”

“Go” Alpha ordered Nancy. “I am strong. I face what comes. Knowing you wait.”

Nancy felt Alpha’s paws leave her own. “I promised Katrina” she whispered. “I do not ever fail my promise.”

“Go. Price too high if stay. Please?”

Leaning over Nancy kissed Alpha. “I love you, now and forever” she whispered. Standing she faced the sightless priestess. “Any harm comes to her...”

“You will be present” came the answer. “Go sleep. Nothing will happen until you awake. My word upon this.”

Still unsure, Nancy moved away. Looked at Alpha, then with a sense of hopelessness, turned and walked toward the waiting longhouse. She was just knowledgeable enough to know that pretty hut to its left was out of bounds, though not why.

“Now we shall explore little Cranium Island Sorceress” Settling down in front of Alpha the blind priestess held out her paws. It took all Alpha could manage to place her own within those wrinkled paws. When she did reality changed.

“I am not a priestess” Katrina explained yet again. “I am a good Catholic woman. There are no priestess’s within my religion. It is not permitted.”

Sitting across from the rabbit was a mare, from which village Katrina did not know. Only that she knew Oharu well enough to joke about her. “If you not a priestess. Why then your god give such power?”

“That’s what Oharu said” Katrina laughed, giddy with fear. “All I did was pray. That’s all I did.”

“Did your god answer? Were you protected?”

“Somehow. Yes I guess so” the rabbit admitted. “Well, something pushed that devil away from me. Not though before it did such a wounding that I will remember all my life. I have lost my love for Alpha. Completely. But I am not a priestess.”

Turning her head to look down to where the shrew was being tested herself the priestess blinked. “Katrina. Understand this.” She turned to look back into the rabbits eyes. “That demon break any normal person. No matter how strong belief. Break anything they bring against it. You instead stop such, push back. Your actions give little Oharu time to destroy such. Without you, we be short one rabbit. Maybe one priestess badly injured. Do not deny what you are. You called to your god. He answer with power. That only happen for priest or priestess. No other.”

“I am just a simple little Georgia girl” Katrina countered. “A bastard.”

“Catholic. They have Saints yes?”

“Yes” the rabbit admitted.

“Saint is one who was granted some great power by your god?”

“Well, yes. They are able to intercede with God, if you pray to them. In their lives they were most virtuous, or holy, or in some way determined to speak directly with god. Some even preformed miracles.”

Smiling the priestess touched Katrina’s paws. “Explain steps prove to be saint, if can remember.”

“If?” Katrina blinked as if shocked. “I had to memorize those steps as a child.” She closed her eyes to aid her memory, ignoring those paws upon her own. “There are three steps to sainthood. Venerable, Blessed and Saint. Venerable is a title given to any deceased person having lived heroic virtues. To be recognized as a blessed, or beatified, personal attributes of charity or heroic virtue are taken into account. One miracle acquired directly through the individual's intercession is required. Canonization requires two. The Pope, his Holy Father, may waive these requirements.” She opened her eyes. “Of course Martyrdom takes the place of miracles.”

“Tell me little rabbit. Could you have held back that creature with only your own strength?”

“Certainly not. I was frozen in place. I could not move other than my lips and eyelids.”

“Thus you were completely at mercy of this creature. It fed upon your soul?”

“I was. It did” Katrina admitted. “Where are you leading me?”

“Are there any female saints within your beliefs?”

“Several.”

Smiling the mare leaned closer to Katrina. “Consider from outside. You were defeated yes? Yes. You were sweet meat for taking yes? Yes. Demon had tasted you yes? Yes. This is not miracle you not only break free, but push back creature greater than yourself by many, many levels?”

For a very very long time Katrina was silent. “I am not” she whispered. “I am... I am a simple carpenter. I am not...” She sniffed, fought her emotions, then began to cry.

Saimmi listened as each of her priestess’s gave their reports, sending each to their rest when they had finished. Now she had to wait but for one person.

On Meeting Island Tehepoa had discovered that knowing a persons name did not mean that they were easy to find. He did discover Mrs. Whitehall’s home, but the woman there was only babysitting the teachers son. Helen she explained, had left only an hour ago for the launch site on Main Island. Miss Devinski had gone with her. No she admitted. She did not know where the site was, only that it was on Main Island. Perhaps the school? Why, S.I.T.H.S. of course.

On Moon Island, at S.I.T.H.S. Tehepoa found no one, for it was a weekend and everyone was gone. A groundskeeper though sent him to a certain house. There he discovered that yes, the son was involved in a Goddard Club but he had left at sunrise song for main island.

By the time Tehepoa finally tracked down the exact location of Catherine Devinski it was near noon. Taking a tiki taxi, Oharu’s to be exact, he headed for Main Island. Even though the taxi pilot grounded below his destination it was still a quarter hours hard climb to the site. Once there he found dozens of students busy laying out some kind of construction site, several of Spontoon’s best builders assisting them. Another ten minutes were wasted locating his prey.

Catherine Devinski was not happy at having her picnic lunch interrupted. Still, Tehepoa had arrived before desert. That would have been embarrassing for Helen. “Why should I bother” she asked. “It is school break. Traditionally we allow our students their own follies during this time.”

Taking a breath Tehepoa steaded himself. Then he began to explain. He had just gotten to being sent for the High Priestess when Miss Devinski excused herself. “I know the place” she admitted, then turned to Helen. “When I am done I will not be fit to be with, so I will go to Songmark to sleep.”

“You do” the afghan replied. “And I will be very, very angry. Come home when you have finished. I’ll be your whipping girl.”

Catharine kneeled down, kissing her companion. “That” she husked. “Will never happen. Anyone hurts you and I shall kill them.”

“You will?”

“I will.”

“Oh dear me” Helen giggled. “I do believe you honestly do love me. Now go, this seems serious.”

“It is” the hound admitted. “Very serious.”

Tehepoa found himself abandoned at the first village they passed. “I apologize” the Songmark Instructor explained. “I must do things now you, as male may not know about.” She had kissed him on the forehead, a kiss that hours later he could still feel. Later, while enjoying a light meal on the beach Tehepoa came to one certain decision. Whatever Catherine Devinski was, he was certain of one thing. She was all female.

Catherine though had ordered the wolf piloting her taxi back to Eastern Island. There she departed, asking him to wait for her. When she returning she was wearing a blood red robe and carrying a polished wooden case. It was nothing like anything anyone had ever seen her wear before, yet being polite the natives only stared in silence. “Main Island, as close to her place as we may land please” the hound ordered. Her trip to Main Island was without further conversation.

Saimmi greeted Miss Devinski in a way that stunned her waiting priestess’s. “Welcome Honored Sister” she announced, giving the greeting of an equal to Songmark’s only hound instructor. “Huakava instructed me of you. You will defend?”

“I will listen first. Only then will I decide wither I defend, prosecute or execute” the hound answered. She laid aside her red robe, showing that under it she wore but sandals and a multi-colored linen skirt. One that reached almost to her feet. On her upper arms were long brass snakes, twining about them. She wore nothing else but the power that so obviously flowed around her. Opening her case she withdrew a silver two bitted axe. “You will instruct me as to events” she asked softly.

“I shall. Ghayda, water and food for our honored guest, and please Ghayda. Close your muzzle. You are creating a breeze.”

Hours later, when Oharu finally woke it was to firelight. Torches had been placed all about Great Stone Glen. Torches that cast both light and ever changing shadows. Staggering out of her hut, her body still exhausted from the early morning battle she looked about. There had to be at least twenty priestess about she realized. Great Stone Glen had probably not seen such a gathering in thousands of years. At least not since its inhabitation by Spontoon’s current native population.

“You are not rested child” and ancient voice announced from beside the huts doorway. Looking down the mouse found herself standing above a woman so ancient as to have no age.

“No aged one” she answered, noting that someone had gathered, and returned her black arrows. “It will be days before I recover from such a battle. What occurs?”

“The squirrel gains freedom. The rabbit gains training. Of the shrew. Ah, that yet is to be decided. Perhaps bound in bronze chains, then tossed into Sacred Lake. It has happened before within my lifetime.”

“She is guiltless” Oharu whispered.

“Then you will defend?”

“I will.”

“This is good” the white furred priestess admitted. “That the one who defeated her will defend her. This is to her advantage. I have other news.”

Stepping down Oharu kneeled next to the sitting priestess. “That is Honored one?”

“When this is done you are to be instructed by myself. You are to learn the Shapewalker ritual, write it down that others who need such may learn. I have agreed to this, for having learned of Huakava’s great project I have decided that it needs the doing. Now child, you may call me sister, but I am not an Honored One.”

“Then I am not female” Oharu replied.

Aged laughter answered her. “Saimmi was right. I do like you. You are blunt, observant and honest. Very well, this is what has occurred since your eyes closed to this world.”

Alpha Rote stood naked before the gathering, shivering in fear. She tried not to show her fear, yet it was only by Nancy’s strength that she remained standing. Nancy. Who had declared that whatever fate awaited Alpha, she would share it. Of Katrina there was no sign, for she and three other priestess’s had left for another place hours ago. What had happened to her friend Alpha wondered. Was she now laying on the harbor floor, a feast for crabs. Tossed down into some forgotten pit to die slowly of her wounds, or sold to slavery. Never to be seen by free eyes again. Or had some other fate been hers. Quietly she hoped that the rabbit would be fine, she liked Katrina. Oh she did not return the rabbits full love, but she was a dear friend Alpha did not wish harmed.

When Catherine Devinski stepped into the light both Alpha and Nancy gasped in shock. Her facial fur was now tinted, strange symbols combed within her fur and she showed so much fur. The double bitted axe held within her paws gave her a deadly look. “I am your defender” the hound announced.

“As am I” a rougher, tired voice added. Stepping beside Catherine the mouse seemed so tiny, yet her brilliant kimono drew ones eyes from the taller hound.

“We defend you Alpha Curie Rote” Catherine announced. “From certain death. Do you accept us?”

“Do” the shrew announced, looking up to see the serious expression upon her wifes face. “I do” she repeated.

Both women turned to face those others, those who had found places among the temple ruins. “We have been accepted as Champions. Let it begin.” With those words Catharine struck her axe’s pommel against the ground. For years Alpha would claim that thunder answered her. For longer years Nancy would agree.

Standing carefully among the ruins Saimmi announced the charges. Dark Magic. Calling up of a Demon. Attempting to open a world gate between Spontoon and the darkness of that demons world. Giving up her own wife to said demon. Likewise giving up Katrina’s life and soul to the same demon. Endangering all who lived upon Main Island. Settling back down Saimmi awaited Catherine’s answers to those charges. What neither Alpha nor Nancy could know was that the important judgement had already been decided. All this was intended to frighten the two women, and any whom they spoke to about this in their later lives.

It was long after midnight when the last words were spoken. Saimmi again spoke. “High Priestess Devinski, of the Minoan Path. Priestess Oharu of the Shinto Path. I have decided. Alpha Rote is guiltless in this act. Having been possessed since just after birth she could not know her actions were those of another. Thus she is guiltless. Her mother is also found guiltless, having been deceived by her own God. Having thus spoken, Alpha Rote. You require a foundation. What you build upon that foundation is your later decision. A priestess will be chosen to instruct you. I have been informed of your intelligence little sister. Should you apply yourself this will require perhaps one half moon of your life. Nancy Rote. You may not have further contact with your wife until her foundation training is complete. You may not step upon Main Island until she returns to you. Remember that Sacred Island is denied you, Sacred Lake a deadly danger. Are there questions?”

“I not die” Alpha nearly squeaked.

“No” the feline answered. “One cannot hold the child to blame for the adults actions. Alpha Rote, you are a better scientist than you ever will be a priestess. Or sorceress. It is my guidance that you learn only enough to protect yourself from further capture. You have a choice child. You may become a great scientist, or a fair sorceress. But never both.”

“I become scientist. For Nancy” Alpha decided.

“Then after sunrise song you will go with she who has been chosen to teach you. Your wife will return to Casino Island. There and the rest of Spontoon she may be detective with her friends as much as she desires. This matter is closed.”

Alpha felt herself spun about and lifted. Before she could breath her lips were sealed by Nancy’s. Only when her lungs began to scream did the squirrel allow her breath. “We have but half the night” Nancy whispered.

“That it true” Catherine’s voice agreed. Turning about both found themselves face to face with their instructor.

“Minoan” Nancy asked.

“Crete, study the island. I will expect a full report on schools first day. No less than one hundred pages.”

“Yes mam. But...” She indicated the hounds dress, or lack of it with one paw.

“Nothing is as you first see it. Now a word of warning. Should either of you ever speak of this you will automatically fail Songmark. Is that understood?”

“Fully” “Completely” both girls answered.

“You have half the night, there is a longhouse available. Use it.”

Catherine watched the two hurry off. “It was a dangerous thing they did” she said to her companion.

“It was Great Mother” Oharu answered. “Mistake placed upon mistake. Lie hidden by lie. She could not know. Her love, her friend. They could not more than suspect.”

“Nor did her mother know, else judgement would have been harsh.”

“I would not have liked to travel to Cranium Island Great Mother” Oharu admitted. “Even with Saimmi’s three blades. Such would have started a war.”

“Oharu. Two things. One. Had this been of purpose. War would already have been declared.”

 “Agreed. Your second?”

“If you ever call me Great Mother again I will tickle you until you cry. Oharu, we are friends. I need your constant probing. It releases much stress from my soul.”

“Oh.” Oharu looked over to where priestess’s were filing out, knowing a certain grey furred ancient would remain for a time. “It was my thought that Helen probed you.”

Catherine looked down at the mouse. Hefting her silver axe a moment. “For that, may you swim in warm marshmallow.”

“My fur...” Oharu gasped, then shrugged. “Of course my pet will be there to lick my fur clean.”

“All of it?”

Oharu giggled. “All of it. Katrina?”

“Has issues. She has been taken to Angelica’s village. To one who can guide her, help her withdraw and learn what she is. A bible has been sent to her, that she may have its guidance. I hope that she will return for her second year. She is one of our best new students.”

“One day Catherine, I thought to apply. Then I realized I fear to pilot an aircraft. Even were I to be accepted, I would be wasting a place.”

“Then perhaps we should start a ground school” the hound decided. “Not everyone can be the pilot after all.”

“I would like that” Oharu admitted. “When I have finished Huakava’s great book, then I will apply.”

Catherine reached down to place a paw onto the mouses head. “I will hold a place for you, and hold you to your word. Now I am tired and it is a long trip home. Will you excuse me?”

“You may have my hut, I have other duties to attend.”

“Oh sure, and find you curled up against me in the morning. I think not.”

Turning fully around Oharu looked up into Catharines eyes. “We are friends. We will never be lovers. I offer you my bed, not myself. Will you accept?”

“All right. But I have to get cleaned up first.”

Oharu smiled. “I will get a sponge to wash my pet with” she laughed, skipping out of reach as Catherine grabbed for her.

Turning to the tall splinter of stone near her Catherine Devinski frowned. “Oh please do shut up” she told that strange stone.

It was late morning when Katrina Schmidt awoke. She could tell from the scents and sounds that she was in an uncivilized part of Spontoon. If in fact she was still on any of Spontoon’s islands. Opening her eyes the first thing she saw was a bible. It had been placed on a trimmed banana leaf beside her. Lifting her head she looked around. She was in a hut, one somewhat a cross between a longhouse and that hut she had seen in that pagan holy place. Sitting up Katrina felt her head explode. A moan of pain escaped her lips, her paws lifting to press upon her aching temples.

“This secret herb does help” a voice announced.

Turning around Katrina found a middle aged mink sitting near her, holding out a cup of something. That something streamed and smelled wonderful. Accepting the cup she found herself holding coffee. With a smile of thanks the rabbit drank.

“My name is Alexia, I was a nun once” the mink continued. “One evening it came to me that I followed the wrong path. Not of religion, but of what I was doing with my life. I have since married and have several healthy pups. I teach in the village school, all lower grades. My life is calmer. Fuller. Yourself?”

“I am confused” the rabbit admitted. “Of my place as well.”

“Then we shall talk. It was why I was chosen, being Catholic as you are. I was told of your adventure. You pressed back a demon by yourself? Helped turn it back to its prison world? I have seen strong priests fail in the attempt. Perhaps between the two of us we may relocate the path you have stumbled from.”

“I would like that. A great deal” Katrina admitted. She sipped more of her coffee, wondering where her life was headed.