We are one, after all, you and I
Together we suffer, together exist
And forever will recreate each other
–Pierre Teilhard De Chardin
Title: "A Wizard's Companion"
Author: desrose, "Destiny's Creator" "Destinies Creator"
E-mail: pup4588
Fandom: "Young Wizards" © Diane Duane
Category: Slash
Pairings: Tom/Carl, Carl/OFC, One's Champion/Lone Power, mentioned Nita/Kit and Dairine/Roshaun
Genre: Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Date: August 31st, 2006- September 26th, 2011
Feedback: Yes, please. Constructive criticism always appreciated.
Archive: myriadwords , youngwizards, desrose , and (Destinies Creator)
Rating: Fan-Rated Teen (FR-T)
Disclaimer: Without prejudice, the majority of the characters and universes contained herein are the property of Diane Duane. No Infringements of these copyrights are intended and are used without permission. All other original characters and plot devices are property of the author and may not be reproduced without expressed permission. Chapter titles and summaries are taken from The Magician's Companion by Bill Whitcomb.
Summary: (Challenge 108) "'All it said was that you were going to have to pay back the exact amount of energy used up at some future date. And it must have been a very great amount, to require Lifeprice to be paid. There's no higher payment that can be made.' Carl fell silent a moment, then said, 'Well, one.' And his face shut as if a door had closed behind his eyes."
Warnings: Coarse language. References to violence. Non-explicit adult themes. Any prejudiced views expressed by characters are not reflections of beliefs the author holds and are not meant to be offensive to any person or people.
Spoilers: "Young Wizards" series up to book eight—Wizards at War
Dedications & Acknowledgments: To all the colors of the rainbow—and to what and who they represent—may our banner forever wave!
And of course to my betas: non_canon and labellementeuse , without whom none of this would have been possible. Thanks for the help throughout the years...
Forward:
The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.
In this universe there is a language, the Speech, which is absolute. Everything existing and non-existing is defined by the Speech.
Within the Speech there are twenty laws or "axioms." From the tiniest atom to the highest of The Powers That Be, all obey these laws. They cannot be broken.
At least, until now...
PROLOGUE
Present day—Annie's POV
The dog Annie heard the Calling.
She tried to shake it off, tried to ignore it, she had done her Duty for the night. But the Call was insistent and growing more urgent.
Finally, growling slightly in irritation, she Answered and as a result was instantly taken. She could feel Monty and Dudley do the same.
The Hunt was on.
Present Day—Dairine's POV
It was dark, everything still, until a pair of lights came into existence, piercing the night and making it vanish at Nita's bedside. The lights expanded to let two sheepdogs step out into the room. Then the lights were gone. The darkness was back, bringing with it Annie and Monty.
Dairine scrambled to give them space, looking at each—and a still snarling Dudley in front of her—in turn.
Annie and Monty paid her no heed as one after another they jumped atop a still-sleeping Nita, who woke up with a jolt and a painful groan.
But was she really awake? Annie thought fearfully and started to bathe her face.
Thump she went as she rolled out of a bed not made for quite so many wiggling bodies.
Dairine winced, "Mind explaining what's going on?" Annie heard her say. She had directed the question at her sister but was probably willing for anyone to answer.
Annie wouldn't answer and neither would the other dogs. Not now, not ever.
This is not the time, she stressed to Nita.
"Not now, Dair. I've got to get dressed and see Tom and Carl!" Nita got up off the floor, turned on the lamp on her chest of drawers, and started frantically searching for clothes.
"But what is it? What happened? And what are they doing here?"
"Long story," Nita gasped. "I'll tell you when I get back."
Nita, Annie observed, suddenly adopted a look of great concentration. Then sighed, "Of course he's still asleep, he needs his rest after what happened."
"Who?" Dairine questioned.
"Kit."
There was a silence between them interrupted by a bark, Annie's order to go faster. Dudley tried to encourage her by dancing around and retrieving certain articles of clothing.
"That one," Dairine said after a while and pointed to Dudley, "Bit me."
"Really?"
"You were having a nightmare or something, enough to wake the whole house, probably the whole neighborhood. I tried to wake you up but then he appeared and wouldn't let me come near you."
Good job Dudley, Annie praised. Dudley just put on a goofy, innocent dog-smile.
"Is there something wrong, sweetheart?" Nita's dad looked in on all the commotion, coffee in hand and not saying a word about the dogs.
"I'm not sure, but I have to find out. Bye Dair, bye dad! I'll be back soon. Love you both!"
And then she ran down the stairs, dogs in tow.
Present Day—Annie's POV
It was barely sunrise when they stepped out the door. A crisp morning still dawning, they watched the human member of their pack layer herself with sweater, jacket, and scarf. Annie knew what she was doing and paid no mind, but Dudley tilted his head in confusion, even more so when he was picked up and wrapped in a blanket. Struggling to get away, he stopped at the look Annie gave him. Dudley calmed down in Nita's arms and they were off.
Annie was already panting hard before the walk even began, the wind freezing her tongue. It wasn't the chill that bothered her, she was comfortable in her own fur, instead her exhaustion came from an overly exciting night on the Dreamscape. That's what haunted her every move. She had to concentrate to make sure she was really "here" and not "there."
She needed actual sleep but her duties were not yet over, she was leading Nita to their home and Annie was anxious to get there. Unwillingly she had spent a night away from her pack leaders and, though they were Senior Wizards, it was her responsibility to protect and watch over them.
Recognizing various familiar scents she eagerly sped up, knowing home was close. She knew a lot of things now, more than ever before. All dogs did. But this was something she'd always known: home.
"Annie, wait!" she heard behind her as she broke into a run, but with a quickly barked order to the others to stay with Nita, she ignored the command. It was a taboo act and she would have to make it up to Nita later. Maybe take her for a nice walk or a game of fetch.
She wished she had the energy to make a simple personal gating, but knew that would have been a waste. Instead, she loped the last few blocks, taking shortcuts through yards and over walls. Finally she leapt one last hedge and was home. Much more calmly than she felt, she strode up to the front door.
All right, she asked the house, any intruders enter the premise?
The house itself gave a negative, welcoming her back warmly and wondering where she had been.
Annie huffed. Never mind that, are our masters okay?
She was shown a scene of both of them sound asleep within.
Right now though, that meant they were vulnerable for attack.
She was about to rouse them herself when Nita came up behind her and rang the doorbell instead. Annie decided that was enough. She contemplated howling to be certain they were awake but didn't want the attention. Especially not from The Wolf Who Ate the Moon, who always listened closely to what dogs have to say.