a/n: Goodness, real life got real. Sorry for this delay. Thank you poka for the kind words. Glad I can still keep you guessing just a little bit.
This chapter is a little unconventional. This explores spirit totems which are a special part of my tradition. There are spirit totems that come into your life temporarily as a messenger, others that stay with you for a short journey. And then there is a life totem who is with you throughout your life and is a reflection of your character and finally a shadow totem that is also there throughout your life to warn you. Your shadow totem often arrives as an animal that unsettles you because it's trying to show you something about yourself that you don't want to see or is hard to accept. These totems are on display here.
Prompt: Omens and Curses
Chapter 21: Totems
July 31, 1998
A cry of pain awakened the spirits. It was a unique pain that sent ripples through the threads of time. A life was entering the world and that meant an unseen battle was about to be waged.
Pain was the price of life.
"That's a cynical view," the large gray wolf said, sliding up to the panther.
"You don't get to read my thoughts," the panther pushed back, shaking off the offense.
"Come now. I wouldn't need to read your thoughts to know you were watching this and thinking the worst of the process."
"Process," it scoffed. "Who watches this and thinks any of this was designed."
"Reading my thoughts now?" the wolf returned, knowing the dark omen couldn't and had simply guessed. "Even you can't deny the design of this is for a purpose. The boy is going to be born on the same day of the year his father was born. The mother's love will save the child in the end, time will tell if it saved more than one life."
If a panther could roll its eyes, it certainly tried. "Everyone involved thought they were making the right choices. None of them had all the information. If this is a design, the human condition is a terrible design."
"We can't know. We're just messengers. No matter how much you think we're meant to intervene. It's their journey."
"Not for everyone. The father is being influenced. He wouldn't have made these choices if it wasn't for the curse inside him."
The rare valid point from the counterpart. "He's not our soul to guide."
"What are you two doing here?" a voice called out from the void.
"Oh great. The life totem is here. Where have you been?" the shadow totem asked, sniffed at the wolf. "The journey totem has been picking up your slack. She's a worse optimist than you are."
An otter slid in between the two. "You're lucky your task is temporary. Imagine spending a human lifetime with this one."
The wolf's tail flicked. "This is a long journey she's started. I'll be with you longer than most."
"I haven't been needed, to answer your question about where I've been," the otter shot back at the panther. "And I'm a realist not an optimist."
"What you mean you haven't been needed? She's suffered some of the worst curses and pain of her life. You'd think a life totem would be needed for such ordeals."
"None of them were of her choosing," the otter countered. "But I've been watching. You nearly convinced her to release a terror. What were you thinking?"
"It made a strong argument in its favor. And haven't you spent the same amount of time with her as I have? She would never allow such a thing to control her," the panther commented, licked its paw. "I was bored. She was unconscious forever."
"A shadow totem is meant to test their charge and teach them lessons," the wolf observed, "It's no wonder she's so rigid if this is how you've gone about that task. She thinks any failure can end in disaster. They're supposed to learn from their mistakes, not fear them. Appearing as a dark omen. Honestly."
The otter glanced smugly at the panther. "What I've said for years. Is there no messenger totem for this event? You'd think there would be for something as life changing as childbirth."
"It's with her," the journey totem said, "We're just observing."
"Ah. They get all the perks. Did you see what this one was?" the life totem asked, trying to peer through the void.
"A wolverine," the wolf said.
"Cliché if you ask me. As I was musing before you two showed up. Bridging the physical and spirit worlds… inner strength. Things she needs to hear right now, I guess," the panther said and yawned. A sound beyond the void, started all three totems. They turned as one to see a newborn buffalo wobble into their space. "Who's this?"
"It's the boy's life totem," the otter observed. "Hope and a bright future it would seem. Does he have a name?"
The tiny buffalo gave a full body shake and struggled to find its balance again.
"Children," the shadow totem whispered.
"Liam," the buffalo announced. "Homage to Lily and James. She was afraid calling him Harry would put him in too much danger. He has her eyes."
The otter preened proudly. "Go to him. Look for the wolverine. We'll see each other often." The three totems watched the new life totem join their charge. "We'll be needed soon. Best get some rest." The other two stretched and vanished into smoke. The otter stayed a little longer to make sure Hermione got her own rest she desperately needed.