Interlude

Incacha sat next to the pool in the center of a small clearing in the blue tinted jungle that was Enqueri and Yachachiq's personal corner of the Spirit Plane. He had dwelt here for several years now, ever since his murder at the hands of a hired killer. He had been visiting the Sentinel Guide pair in Cascade when the three of them had been informed that the outsider who had used his friends to obtain "mineral rights" was finally being put on trial and their testimony was needed. After the three of them had testified, the man had apparently ordered a hit on the trio. The assassin had struck at the loft while Enqueri had been absent. He had struck the visiting Shaman with a bullet only for Yachachiq to strike him over the head with a frying pan. Yachachiq had used a spare pair of handcuffs to secure his prisoner even as he summoned help. Unfortunately Incacha died before the summoned warriors and healers arrived. As a spirit, he had watched as many others arrived, Enqueri first through the door, ensuring the assassin was incapacitated before checking on Yachachiq as the younger Shaman wept over Incacha's body. When faced with the wrath of a Sentinel in full Blessed Protector mode, the hired gun quickly revealed who had ordered the hit and began working on a plea bargain before he was even fully booked. The foolish outsider was sentenced and subjected to harsh fines. His assassin was also convicted and sentenced as quickly as the courts allowed.

As the years passed, Incacha continued to watch over his friends. He had suffered quite the fright when the female Abomination had drowned Yachachiq and breathed a sigh of relief when Enqueri recalled his Guide to the land of the living. Now he watch as Enqueri and Yachachiq's Pride began to gather in their city. He knew The Great City would call the Alpha Prime pair home soon. He had known when she was found and awoken. He had known when she had left to return to her true home among the stars and he had felt her return to her second home to gather more of her people, her children back to her bosom. Now Incacha sat, Enqueri's Panther and Yachachiq's Gray Wolf sitting proudly beside him, and waited for the Pride to arrive.

As Chancellor Edwards placed the first group in conference room two, the first Spirit Guides arrived in the clearing. A Hummingbird flitted about until an Opossum motioned for her to join him. A Mongoose sat perched on the head of a Sloth Bear, allert for trouble should it appear. A Black Bear and a Swan settled downed, trying to keep a young Arctic Fox, a juvenile Badger and a small ball of light close by as a young Hawk tried to groom the vixen. A Great Gray Owl settled on a limb as a Jaguar herded a Weasel to the base of a tree.

With the second group came a Coral Snake that joined the Gray Owl on his perch. A Lone Gray Wolf inclined his head to the Alpha pair and joined a Lion in reclining upon the grass. The Wolverine and Otter pair quickly approached the Jaguar and Weasel, clearly sensing some form of comradary. The Lynx and Coyote pair found a tree to curl up under and settled down to wait as a Falcon and Tortoise pair went to perch beside the Hummingbird and Opossum.

The third group to arrive had behaved differently. The younger Panther, the Ibis and the Silver Fox had immediately approched Yachachiq's Wolf and greeted him. Brother hummed in the air as a Badger, a Bald Eagle and a Golden Eagle waited for their mates to return to their side. The Grizzly Bear with the Great Horned Owl perched atop his head seemed to shrug before finding a spot that suited his needs. An Egyptian Cobra and a Raven settled on a rock nearby as a Timber Wolf and Snowy Owl led their own odd brood to settle near the Black Bear and Swan. The Spirit Guides for the second group of children fascinated the Shaman. The Red Fox and ball of light were expected but the strange creature that appeared to be both Bear Cub and Owlet confused him. Softly he called to her, "Pardon me, little one, what are you?" She smiled and replied I'm an Owlbear Cublet! Uncle Sweets told my human about owlbears. He said that owlbears are fantasy creatures but he'd heard of other kinds of Mythical creatures being Spirit Guides so why not a Fantasy one? "Your Uncle sounds wise indeed. Does he still help guide your human?" Incacha asked. No, Uncle Sweets died about a week after he told my human about owlbears and I took this shape. He was shot by a bad guy he was helping hunt down, the Cublet cood sadly.

At that moment a rustling in the underbrush brought a small group's arrival to everyone's attention. A man between 20 and 30 years of age stepped into the clearing followed by a woman about the same age with a Falcon and Lioness behind her. The man walked straight to the pool, knelt at its edge and slowly reached out to touch the reflection of a woman who looked to be his sister. Tears began to fall as he whispered, "Can you ever forgive me, sister? My other half forgave me but can you? Will you do what I could not and escape our Father's tyranny and protect your Mate?" The woman spoke softly as she rested a hand on the man's shoulder. "Ari, she found the note you left. Ziva will explain everything to the others. It's been long enough that they can process what happened better now and they know about what we were, what they are. Haven't we mourned our deaths enough, Ari?" "How can you ever truly forgive me, Caitlin? I murdered you; I murdered my Sentinel to keep you from falling into my Father's hands. Even if he was responsible for my insanity, I should never have taken that path," Ari wailed softly.

"Poor lost souls," Incacha greeted them softly. "You need only forgive yourself, lost Guide. Was your own death by your hand as well?" "No, my Father ordered my sister to execute me. I can only pray that she finds a better way out for herself and her Guide," Ari replied mournfully. "As Pride that should have been, you are both welcome to stay and rest. And I believe you can be assured of your sister's forgiveness. Look," and Incacha pointed to where Ari's Falcon had landed in front of the Cobra and bowed its head. The Cobra butted its nose against the Falcon's beak and lightly smacked a wing with the tip of its tail. Foolish brother, our Father is to blame more than you. Forgiveness is granted, Shalom be yours, the Cobra hissed and Ari wept tears of cleansing.