Disclaimer: I don't own Fairly OddParents.
Author's Note: Thank you x-Oscena-x and candlelight for your encouraging reviews!
Chapter 6: New Shaman
Sand whipped through the air, beginning to form a funnel shape. It spun toward a skin tent. It was the tent of Hirsi, shaman of the Jackal tribe. The sand battered against the tent, knocking it down with the full force of it. The sandy wind then picked up a lava lamp, buffeting it into the tent diagonally across from the broken one. Mid-buffet, it broke the shaman's head open. However, the wind buffeted it back onto its previous course, into the tent.
Reem was shocked to see the purple object. It had to be from the spirits. How could any mortal craft anything that exquisite? The fuchsia goo, the smooth sides and the shiny, dark gray bottom and top. However, it was covered with grains of sand. Reem wondered if the sand was there on purpose, to remind everyone that even the most beautiful things would never be flawless, or was just the result of the sandstorm.
She opted for the latter and started cleaning it.
A teal-blue of smoke came out of the fetish, like a smoke version of the sandstorm. It dissipated, revealing a floating baby at its center. It blinked its magenta eyes in annoyance. If the baby was not a spirit, she would have been absolutely positive that she had interrupted his nap.
Reem winced. She had two toddlers and when they were babies, it was an absolute daymare whenever their naps were interrupted. Still was. If she could ever get them to nap, that was…
The spirit baby started bawling. Spirit wails! Like mortal ones weren't enough! She couldn't hold him and/or put him in a blanket, but she could sing him a lullaby. She sang him her favorite, about how the spirits created the world.
The baby snapped his fingers and was swaddled in blankets. He closed his eyes and went to sleep. Reem picked up the swaddled spirit, careful not to actually touch his holy body, and put it down on the floor. He looked so content there, with his eyes closed. If he weren't a spirit, she would have decided to adopt him. Unfortunately, he was. Creator!
The village messenger ran to her tent, panting hard.
"The shaman just died," he said, "Head broken open. Need to choose new one…"
Reem looked at the spirit baby that had came from the fetish. The spirits must have sent it because they wanted her life-mate, Reba, to be the next shaman. Certainly not for her to sing lullabies to.
"Oh no," said Reem anxiously, "That's horrible. How will the tribe keep itself safe without the spirits' help? Could you get my life-mate, please?'
"I don't know," replied the messenger, "Yes."
He dashed off, panting hard.
Reda arrived back from hunting a few moments after being fetched by the messenger.
"What it is, Reem?"
"When the shaman died," she said, pointing at the fetish, "I got this magical object. A baby spirit came out. I think that means you'll be the next shaman, dear."
"That's a great honor," said Reba, "But are you sure I can do it?"
"You'll do fine," said Reem, "The spirits chose you, didn't they?"
"Hopefully," said Reda, "We don't know."
He guessed the spirit would tell him the secret of the becoming-the-shaman ritual, since the previous shaman had expired from a head wound and couldn't tell him.
However, the spirit's undisturbed sleep continued.
"I thought you'd tell me how to become a shaman," growled Reda, "I wish I knew how to become a shaman!"
The spirit baby woke up, wailing.
"I wish you knew how to too, honey," said Reem.
GONG!
"I need to fast for seven days," said Reda, "Also, I need a spirit guide. I assume this spirit baby was sent to be my spirit guide."
"Probably was," said Reem, "I hope the spirits sent him so we could raise him into a great hero."
"Why?" asked Reda , "Aren't our children enough of a handle already?"
"His content expression is cute," said Reem, "I wish you had him too."
GONG!
Norm could now grant both their wishes.
"I'm going to begin the ritual now," said Reda, while exiting the room.
"I wish you didn't have to go," said Reem, "I'll miss you!"
GONG!
The messenger ran to their tent, panting like mad.
"Yurem's the new shaman now," he said, "He's been taught for years."
The fetish sucked him in a teal-blue spiral of smoke. The spirit baby whimpered but nothing prevented him from being sucked in.
"His time in the mortal realms is done now, dear," said Reda.
The messanger picked up the object, eager to deliver it to the new shaman.