Disclaimer: all I own is a possum named Marty. And Virginia stole him

This chapter begins part two. Omnipotent POV unless denoted.

Brittany looked over the story that she had compiled from memories while sitting in a hospital bed years before. She had forgotten the tingle of power in her veins, and nearly convinced herself that the occasional scorch marks. After all, she was a college graduate now, years had passed since that strange time when she spent months in Rivendell. Sighing, she put away the hastily scrawled words and searched for her purse and cell phone to go and meet Virginia. They met up on Nia's way home from work and they laughingly told each other of their days: Virginia, of a dress rehearsal of her latest play, Brittany of her time as carbon dioxide converter extraordinaire. They both had outgrown the childish daydreams of discontent youths and faced each day of reality armed with gas mask, pitchfork, and clown nose. Okay, maybe not so outgrown, but matured—somewhat.

:So fell like catching a movie tonight?" Virginia asked her subdued friend.

"Just, just let me call Marina and Selene," Brit replied, whipping out her cell phone.

The crazy duo was wiping the chalk from their hands and throwing climbing harnesses in the back of Selene's car when a beeping rendition of "Charge!" Came from the back pocket area of Marina's shorts. They all made a plan to meet in a few hours. The two chatted ideally for a few minutes, and then parted ways. A strange passerby noticed the changes in their appearances—from happy-go-lucky youths to daydreaming teens and determined young women. They would be needed son, these modern day heroines.

At dinner that night the foursome reminisced about past happenings and future outings.

"remember that time we snuck Brittany out of the hospital?"

"Or that time we vowed to go on a cookies and ice cream diet, to rebel against the health food craze and the conformity?"

"Nah…nothing so noble as that, we just wanted the sugar."

Brittany and Virginia mentioned they were leaving or the weekend to visit Brittany's relatives up north.

"I don't see why. It's WAY to cold."

"Not all of us are wimps like you."

"I'm not a…hey! What was that for?" Marina responded when she was poked in the side by Virginia.

"No reason."

The food pile slowly dwindled and the conversations lulled as the bill was tallied and the friends said good night.

"let's cut through the park," Virginia suggested to Brit, who was walking amiably beside her.

"Last one through is a rotten egg!" and this, coupled with a sprint, was the only response Virginia got. Their footsteps pounded and the only sound to be hear was B's laugh and Nia's occasional curse as she stumbled. Soon they found their path deviating, heading for the heart of the cultured forest. Stopping for breath and heaving a bit, Virginia leaned her arm against a tree as Brittany doubled over again. "I knew there was a reason why we never played sports." She wheezed. Virginia began to walk in slow circles, "exercise in evil," she paused for a bit and looked at B with her head cocked sideways,"—did you know that your neck is glowing?"

Brit's fingers unconsciously fiddled with the amber stone hanging round her neck—she never took it off, and it never seemed to tarnish or fade.

"Is it new?" Virginia gestured to the necklace which had been freed from it's typical space beneath B's shirt, she pointed at the gem, "Amber…oh…looks expensive, wonder what type of tree?"

"Nah, not expensive, just a remembrance of a friend from a lifetime ago…." She replied, half to herself, but Virginia wasn't even listening, rather, she was tracing a weather worn carving on the ancient tree trunk. The wind began to blow harder as some raindrops started to fall. Thunder clapped in the sky and a brilliant flash of light—it was a searing lightening bolt that seemed to split the sky. I hit the tree in front of the two women, but neither was frightened, they simply stared open mouthed at the tree, and the power that was engulfing, but not burning it. The rain turned to a drizzle, and soon a fog engulfed and embraced the two girls as a subliminal voce answered "It is time." At that, there was an earth shaking explosion and the two fell through dimensions of time to land in a soothing darkness, and not even questioning, they slept.

The next morning Selene and Marina were filled with a restless energy. The car, as they drove to work, was filled with anticipation, charged with the feeling that 'something was going to happen.'

"Do you ever feel like your life hasn't started yet? Like, you're waiting some for something, anything to prove that there is meaning to your ineffectual existence?" Marina poised this rhetorical question as she drummed her fingers against the window pane. "Every day of my life," Selene responded as she carried a pile of books to where they now sat, a windowed alcove at the library. "I thought it would end after graduating high school—that a void would be filled once I was self-reliant," Selene continued, "But it's not, and no amount of animal crackers will fill it."

"Yeah…I guess that's why we climb, or row, or read. I do it because it's an escape—the high thrill rush sense of accomplishment with the guarantee of being home in time for supper," they sat in silence for a time longer, until Selene's stomach growled.

"Alrighty, I'm out of here," she said, picking up her car keys with a jingle.

"Adios."

Selene walked easily through the parking lot and drove her car to the best taco place in the world. While she was standing outside contemplating the pros and cons of hot sauce, she noticed a man sidle up to her. Unalarmed she continued to shove the monstrous concoction of cheese, tomatoes and chicken into her mouth, stopping for air only when she reached the bursting point.

"are you ready?" he asked, and she knew it was not for a simple walk around the block. Unflinchingly, she took his black gloved hand and said, "Yes."