In the time of Oharu

The Second Volume November 1937 to November 1938

Chapter 8

by Mr. David R. Dorrycott

Spontoon Island created by Mr. Ken Fletcher. Used with permission.

Songmark and other characters (See Appendix A for complete character listing)

created by Mr. Simon Barber, used with permission.

March 23^rd, 1937

“You continue to amaze me, chosen sister of mine.”

Oharu looked up from her art, finding before her the feline known in this instance as Saimmi. Otherwise she was known as the High Priestess of Spontoon, the Great Mother of all Priestess. With that greeting though, not in this case. “Amaze?” she asked, not understanding exactly what the feline was referring too.

Saimmi sat near the mouse, waiting until Oharu had closed her newest sketch book and sat it aside before explaining. “Your adopted daughter. Oharu, you preformed a Great Change. From a distance. Speaking as your sister, I am amazed. It was though in the least expected by myself, for there was truly no other path open. Tatiana is not of the soul to harm others for no good reason. Harming Millicent Holmes would be to her a darkness that she could never accept. Now, as your Great Mother, I must say that it worries many of your sisters. For they know you not as well as I now do.”

“I was not wrong” the mouse answered softly. “She is my daughter, by both our choices. She is as much a part of me now as if she had come from my own body. It was at her request, and what true mother could refuse her daughter anything, not of the darkness.”

Saimmi nodded in agreement. “You have worked very hard sister. Your Spontoon is almost perfect now” she noted. “And your English?”

“You try to change the subject Great Mother” Oharu noted with a hint of laughter in her eyes.

“Guilty. Oharu. You preformed a Major Change. On retreat when I, the High Priestess of all Spontoon asked you to do nothing religious. You are still on retreat, and may be for days, years or your life should I desire it. Then why defy my instructions?”

“My daughter asked, and needed. I would not have done so otherwise and, well. In this case religion had nothing to do with the reason, or goal of my action. I bent a rule very slightly yes, but I was for my daughter. I would break rules for my chosen daughter. As I would for Molly.”

Sighing in defeat, the slightly younger feline admitted to herself that, in a battle of words with this mouse, she was sorely outclassed. She would always be outclassed, for the mouse had been trained by those so steeped in ritual and self introspection that nothing on Spontoon, or anywhere near her sphere of influence, came close. “Agreed then. Family is most important. And this change to her heart? You are, we both agree, not a God after all.”

“Is an opening to a sealed doorway only. A doorway she may choose to permit a seed of love to settle within, or not. That is her choice. Some time ago, for reasons she has not given, she sealed her heart from all love. I only reopened it. There was truly no change to her heart. Or her soul.”

Saimmi thought about that information, for some time before continuing. “As I said. You are not a God. Yet you changed your daughter to love a woman. Against her nature? This cannot be, for both our paths state that the doing of such is restricted to Gods only.”

Oharu shrugged. “Daughter cannot love her mother without loving all women. Even in the smallest degree. Tatiana had closed her heart to this, and all love. She has always had the heart to love any who opened their heart to her. Thus it has always been within my daughters heart to love one who loves her. That she could not accept a woman. This was not her true nature. It was her battered soul sealing itself from what she had done, what had been done to her. She would never truly have loved anyone. Male or female. Millicent is not only her punishment, she is her reward. Though that last I believe that I shall allow her to discover by herself. It is much as Molly has done. Both naturally could hold a womans heart with their paws with wonder at its beauty, though both will always prefer a male. Both chose to close themselves from such. For different reasons yes, but no. It is no twisting of Tatiana’s soul. I can not change a persons heart to feel love when it is against their nature, or hate or any other emotion. Only a God or Goddess may do that. I do not wish ever to be a God or Goddess.”

“And you did this from South Island, when she lay with her chosen love on Casino Island. Oharu, very few are able to do such.”

Again the mouse shrugged. “We were in the dream plane. She wished with all that she was. I found that her desire was true, her reason sound. That she felt Millicent should not throw her love uselessly against sealed castle gates. More importantly that in not much time, should I not do this, then Tatiana would begin hurting Millicent. In anger. Anger against herself that she could not truly return such freely given love. This Tatiana felt her Millicent did not deserve. I agreed, thus I could not refuse such a need. And there is no distance within the dream plane, we’re I on the other side of this world or not. You may do such, Catherine may do such. Dia-Kura I believe is best of us all in this. She dances in the Dream-plane where I walk. She dances with the storms, not even the lightning may touch her. Short of Kama, whom no one may understand the full truth of, these Great Mother are the truths I am aware of. There are others within our own sisterhood I believe may do such.”

“Very, very few” Saimmi admitted. “Perhaps three others, mayhap four should she exhaust herself in the doing. I have spoken with all your sisters, explaining to those who cannot do such that this is natural. They have calmed, yet I will warn you that you frightened several. Dia-Kura though was only amused, asking only what took Tatiana so long to ask for what was so obvious. You are right in this, that Calico is a flutterby within what we work to understand. She loves the storms, she dances in the storms while we hide to stay dry and fear the lightning. Well, these things happen. All I ask is that you refrain from frightening my daughters too much more. For the present. You see, as each realizes what you are, they realize what they themselves are not. Oharu, as High Priestess I have been thinking of offering you the position of my second.”

“Great Mother, I refuse” Oharu answered bluntly. “Dia-Kura will be your second. I have always refused. I will always refuse. I will die before I will accept. You are much aware of all my reasons.”

Saimmi blinked in surprise, for it hadn’t been a test this time. For one of her fire dreams had told her that Oharu as second to the High Priestess would be best for Spontoon in the coming darkness. Could it have been a dark dream she now wondered, carefully recalling those odd reasons. Could the fragment, now so close to its counter, be attempting to change what was, for what it wanted? If so, there were rituals to bind that from occurring. But if the third fragment was joined within Sacred Lake without binding. That sent a shiver of fear through the felines body. Should Kansas Smith discover the truth. Should she attempt... “I must tell you my fears” she abruptly informed the older mouse. “Of what has just come to me.”

Late that night Belle Lapinssen lay in the darkness on South Island. She had just come off guard duty and was, as seemed the norm of late, having trouble sleeping. What worried her she knew was the ease with which her dorm had survived the Arctic experience. By rights the experience should have near crippled them, ruined Ada. Yet other than a minor injury to Ada that had healed easily, they had breezed through it. Why she wondered, after all of her other classmates, one of which had come so close to freezing to death. Near froze because of her refusal to share her warmth with others, so violently that her own dorm had near given up on her. How then did her own dorm survive so easily? As she slipped into a light sleep her mind drifted back to that time last December, and the fear all four had of failing. Oddly none of them had been worried about surviving.

It was of course the arctic testing. It was still dark when the huge crab boat hove too, its powerful diesel motors deep roar quickly dropping to the dull mummer of near sleep, as they waited to be called upon again. Thick fog had enveloped the craft as an anchor was dropped, with only mild swells rocking it as it waited. Aboard five women stood, four working to inflate a tiny rescue raft while an older hound simply watched. Normally this delivery would have been by aircraft, unfortunately a pontoon had suffered damage upon landing, an unseen, barely submerged stump had caused just less than catastrophic damage that would take at least a week to repair. Thus the rented boat.

“Its awfully cold” the hound Ada Cronstein observed as she helped stretch out the tiny two person craft.

Carmen Velasquez leaned over the side for a brief moment, returning to checking the thin ropes that ran around their little craft. “More ice than water” the anteater reported. “Watch heads when in water.” Their two companions shivered, Prudance Akroyd looking towards the yellow furred hound watching them.

“You have one minute, eighteen seconds” Miss Devinski reminded the spaniel. “At which point, ready or not your aircraft begins to sink. If you are still in it you will drown, thus you will fail the course. As always there are no retakes. For any reason.”

Their forth member, the rabbit known as Belle Lapinssen, abruptly shook so violently that all four of those with her thought she had gone into convulsion. “Cold is not for me” the mid-American girl explained as she regained some control over her bodies shivering. For now she held the ropes bound to their small stack of allowed, yet unknown supplies. Of them all, only Miss Devinski knew what those packages held, for she had packed them, and many like them back at Songmark. Her one warning was that they could containe letters, parts or food, but not to place any hopes on the contents. They were simply what had washed ashore after the crash. Privately all three girls were certain that those heavy little wooden boxes contained nothing but used lead fishing weights.

“Thirty seconds” the Songmark instructor warned. Ada gave the little raft a hard tug and it popped into shape exactly as advertised. With Carmen’s help she edged the little yellow rubber craft onto the ships transom, now ready for launch. As they did so the ships engines coughed, then silenced. Being chewed up by a running propeller wasn’t part of Songmarks official course. Forcing the launch of a life raft off a ships stern into frozen seas though was well within the guidelines.

“Now” Miss Devinski announced.

Instantly the little yellow boat dropped, a moment later three splashes were heard. Miss Devinski looked at Belle who was laboring to get her heavy boxes over the side without help. “Three demerits to your dorm” she announced. “For leaving you alone with the entire load.” Standing she walked to the laboring rabbit. “You are now drowning, abandon the boxes and save yourself. Three demerits. You will drown in twenty seconds. If you drown you will fail this course. You will never see your sweet mouse again.”

Belle’s answer was a heavy grunt, and in less than a second she too vanished, pulled more than jumping over the side. Leaning over the stern Miss Devinski searched carefully. Abruptly Belle’s head popped up, surrounded by barely floating boxes, the boxes ropes still in her paws. “Six demerits” she called. “They could have been filled with iron parts. You would now be sixty feet down, on the bottom with nothing but crabs for company. You would never see her again in this life.”

Belle looked up at her instructor in dismay. Not even to shore yet and she alone had cost her group twelve demerits. She was about to curse at herself, when the cold finally hit her through her leathers and new rubberized canvas longjohns. It was a physical blow that caused her to inhale sharply, the waiting seawater entered her open mouth forcing her to cough. Shaking herself she made for the dingy. Being smallest, Ada and Carmen were already aboard. There was obviously no room for her or Prudence.

“Shore is that way” the Mixtecan reported, pointing into the fog. “I hear waves hit land. Not far.”

“Better not be far” Prudence warned. “Or Belle and I will be frozen before we make it.”

“Good. Be fresh low fat meat keep Ada I alive longer” the Mextixa girl answered as she pulled out a light metal paddle. “Where I hit kill easy?”

Working together the four made for where they hoped the shore would be, Ada carefully hauling Belle’s crates aboard as they traveled. Thankfully it was only a matter of minutes before Prudence realized that her feet were hitting bottom. Reporting this to Belle she stood, the two now dragging their little boat ashore. Less than five minutes after hitting the water all four were ashore, Ada and Carmen dragging the little rubber boat well above the high water mark, while Bell and Prudence stripped out of their freezing wet clothing. Stripped down to the rubberized canvas that was all that now stood between them and full nudity. Hypothermia was a very possible danger for the two largest members of the Akroyd dorm. From out in the fog they felt more than heard the heavy diesels start up again. Alone, on an unknown island, with only the personal supplies they had brought with them. Theoretically the little ship would remain within sight of the shore for rescue if need-be. They were Songmark third years, they all knew that the boat would be gone before they made camp. Unlike their first two years, there was no instructor to watch over them anymore. They would live or die by their own abilities. As yet they were aware of no third year who had died during a test. But a few, less than half a pawful, had failed due to physical reasons. Ones body could only take so much, and Songmark was designed to prove to each girl just where that wall was. To prove that no one was immortal.

“Two weeks” Ada whispered even as she worked to start a fire with frozen driftwood. Wood that Carmen was dragging to her selected fire site. Each branch or board had to be banged against rocks to clear it of ice, then again to break it into suitable lengths. Each stick, large or tiny, was soaked with ice that would melt as it burned if this was not done. But they needed a fire, Prudence and Belle needed heat to recover quickly. This time of year storms were a constant, not a possibility.

“We knew was coming” Prudence gasped, wrapping her arms around a shivering Belle. Neither which could speak much at the moment as their teeth began to chatter. All now wished that they had accepted the Cranium Island shrews offer of those reflective cellophane sheets, but the price had been too high they had thought at the time. Now they knew the full truth, a weekend each as the shrews lab animal would have been cheap at three times the price.

“Open those crates we dragged along” Ada instructed Carmen as she shaved tiny feathers of wood from their larger cousins with her school knife. “While I see if this new toy of Alpha’s really works.” Her price for this new toy had been a night with the shrew. A night of having the mad scientist poke, prod, measure and record everything about the hound. A baseline Alpha had explained. For reference to later experiments. What those experiments might be Ada was certain that she didn’t want to know. Ever.

Leaving her wood to Ada’s care a now shivering Carmen dragged the boxes next to her. Using her own often maligned school knife she carefully pried each one open. “Four books at top” she announced, lifting a hardbound volume from a stack of its fellows. “Those bibles the Spanish sent us.”

For some reason the Spanish Air School believed that all of Songmarks girls needed saving. Even Carmen, who attended services religiously and could quote the King James version. Backwards and forwards.

“Give me one” Ada asked, accepting the black bound book Carmen tossed to her. Opening it she started tearing its thin pages into tiny strips, much to the dismay of the Mixtecan. “This paper burns well Carmen” Ada explained as she created her little pile of tinder. “Your choice. Read and freeze. Burn and live.”

“Living is better. Book is just book” the anteater decided. “Many books, only one life.” She watched as Ada pulled a small grey bar from one pocket, scraping flakes of strange metal alloy off it onto the paper. Then reversing her blade Ada began striking it much as steel to flint. Bright blue-white sparks cascaded onto the pile of tender. Abruptly there was an answering blinding flash, followed by a puff of smoke.

“Alphas rod worked” the Mixtecan laughed. “You pay right price for heat I think.” Moving the small crates to help block what prevailing winds were coming ashore, she then helped her shivering companions closer to the fire now growing under Ada’s care. By sunrise all four would be warm, but Prudence and Belle would have drifted into a deep healing sleep.

“If you think so, you spend a night as Alpha’s pet toy” the canine answered. Putting away the precious bar she began helping the anteater. With the sun coming up they all knew that there would be more wind. “I was sore for three days. Everywhere.”

“Everywhere” the anteater asked with a sly smile on her face.

“Everywhere” Ada admitted with a deep blush.

By mornings light Carmen, her spare dry socks wrapped about her long muzzle for protection, ventured out to explore. Normally they would have explored in pairs, but with their two largest members still down for the count, certain risks had to be accepted. They were all four stuck on this island for two weeks. Though where they landed was flat, it was barely above high tide. The idea that two weeks would pass without at least one storm rolling deep water over their position was not to be believed. Simply looking at the landscape, with its water rounded boulders, surrounded by wrack, proved that it happened often enough. And from the upper level of debris had certainly happened not too long ago.

While Carmen was gone Ada made a thin soup from some of her hideaway stash and snow water, using the aluminum cup that had come with her American style canteen. It was a delightful design, acting as pot, bowl, cup or wash basin as needed. Right now it made the perfect pot. By the time Carmen staggered back into their makeshift camp an hour later, and barely on schedule, that hot thin soup tasted delicious.

“Found a cavern. Not cave” she announced. “Too big, wind will score it always. Too low to water. Need to look some more.” She passed over her waterproof notebook, a map of the coast area she had searched drawn upon it. “Look familiar” she asked.

“Should” the canine agreed. “We studied these islands for months. Which one?”

“I fear Alaid” the anteater admitted.

“Alaid, Atlasov, Oyakoba” the hound chanted. “It belongs to America, Russia or Cipangu. Depends on who’s warship last visited.” She indicated a pile of wadded up sheets of paper. “Stuff between your rubber outfit and your fur. It helps.”

Picking up a wadded sheet Carmen grimaced. “Thus the Holy Word works to our favor. Prudence and Belle?”

“I got them into their dried clothing a little while ago. Two pots of hot liquid each. Their better, but still washed out. I’d guess another few hours. That ice water just saps you dry. Our heavy jackets still haven’t dried out.”

“Yes” the anteater agreed as she patted her still damp winter coat. “You I, we be worse if not take raft. You watch wind, is coming from West. Might mean a storm. Still have compass?”

“Three” Ada answered. “I’d rather be on Main Island right now.”

Carmen laughed, though her laugh was thinner than usual. Cold was seeping into her body and she of all of them was not designed for cold weather. Certainly not for this kind of weather. “You have that ahead to dream of. I have studies only.”

Ada quietly picked up the notebook, checking to be certain that her one of her own mechanical pencils was still where it should be, and working. “Another full moon” she said as she stood. “Another piece of my heart ripped out. Carmen, it isn’t right. I love her with everything I am. For a day, maybe two she loves me just as much. Then she couldn’t care less if I breathed or not.” Stepping away from the warmth of their fire the hound checked her compass. “If I knew then what I know now I would trade with you in a moment. Then, I would not. Carmen, those hours are so sweet I cannot explain them. After are the weeks of dust pouring from my heart. I will eventually lose her that is certain.” She pulled her slightly less damp overcoat closer to her, then walked away into the icy mist.

Sometime later Belle woke to Prudence shaking her. “Huh.. What?” she asked. She was cold, icy cold. But she had been so warm just a little while ago.

“Wake up” Prudence ordered. “Ada hasn’t come back. She is ten minutes late.”

“Ada?” Belle shook her head. So cold, oh. They were on the island. Of course. Pushing Prudence away Belle tried to stand, only to discover her legs wouldn’t move.

“I’m sitting on them silly” Carmen explained. “You need to dress. Ada is ten minutes late. It is not like her. Wind is building. We need to move. Now.”

Taking a deep breath of icy air the rabbit forced herself awake. With Prudence’s help she dressed, her heavier clothing still a little damp from its immersion, even with the now whipping fire. She barely questioned when the two girls started shoving wadded paper between her new immersion suit and her fur. Yet even with all three of them working it took twenty minutes to make certain everything was picked up. All were suffering from the cold, which was slowing their thinking process. With the last of their gear on their backs they started inland, dragging their raft with its crates behind them, following the last direction Carmen had seen Ada walking. Carefully following the little carron’s of stone both Ada and Carmen had built as guide posts.

“It’s another carron” Prudence announced after studying the stones before her. Why was it so hard to think. Oh yes, the cold, and that wind was picking up. “Left spiral, Ada. She went that way.” Turning a bit to the right the three continued their trek, unaware at how badly the cold had sapped their strength already. They found Ada less than fifty yards away, laying face down in the blowing snow. Gathering around their companion it wasn’t difficult to determine what had happened. Ada’s right ankle was twisted around, a hole in the ice showing exactly what had occurred. In her right paw was Carmen’s journal, held out as if offering to someone.

“Broken?“ Carmen asked after Prudence had checked the trapped foot.

“No way to tell until we get that boot off” Prudence answered. Around them the wind was building faster. There was a storm coming and it was going to be a doozy. “She was coming back, so check her map. Maybe she found someplace” the hound ordered.

While Carmen studied Ada’s additions to her map, Belle helped lift the canines body onto Prudence’s back. “I will drag the boat” Belle explained. “Until you cannot carry her. Then we trade.” Neither considered the anteater, as Carmen was having more trouble with the cold than any of them.

“North-East” Carmen announced. “Seventy feet above us. Path there. She finds cave, Facing South.”

“Seventy...” Prudence looked up into the low lying clouds. “That... will be such a trek” she whispered, knowing her friends could not hear her words. Shifting the smaller hounds weight she started moving, Carmen leading the way with Belle following behind. “We should rope ourselves” she realized suddenly. Thus another ten minutes were lost as safety precautions were followed. Precautions designed to save someone’s life.

It did.

Ada’s cave turned out to be a small thing in width, but went back as far as any cared to follow. Outside the storm was building, but by blocking the caves opening with stones and snow there was little breeze within. “Need fire” Prudence gasped. She looked around but saw nothing that might burn.

“Crates” Belle supplied. “Wood.” Her own face sported a massive bruise from falling. If she hadn’t been tied to Prudence, then Prudence to Carmen it could have been hours before anyone noticed she had fallen. She would have been frozen solid by then.

“Snow for water” Carmen decided, searching Ada’s still motionless body. “Her wonderful canteen bottom. Yes.” She held up the canteens detachable bottom as if she had located the Holy Grail. Crackling noises brought her back to reality. Carmen and Prudence were slowly making hash of the wooden crates. Their contents tumbled about, to be shoved out of the way for now. Heat was now paramount. Had the crates held pure gold, it would have had no value to any of the girls other than as bricks around a firepit.

Taking out her water resistant (for nothing had been found to be truly water proof) electric torch Carmen began exploring their new home. She found that it widened enough to be comfortable a few dozen feet further on, then abruptly shrank back to its original size. Oddly she found no evidence of any creatures making it their home. At least not in several years, as the only dragged in bedding she found was rotten with age. Useless even for fire. Returning to her friends she gave her report.

“Maybe an old volcanic vent” Prudence decided. A low moan of pain reminded her of Ada. “Drag her back now, before she wakes up. If that is broken we can’t move her when she wakes up.”

Ada woke later to the smell of fire and boiling broth. “I’m in heaven” she whispered.

“Can not be” Carmen corrected. “She not here.”

Lifting her head the hound studying her situation. “My friends are here. If I cannot have her, the three of you will do nicely” she decided. “What happened? I fell. I remember seeing someone coming towards me. I held out the book, then nothing.”

Belle looked up from the broth she was warming on their tiny fire. “You damaged your ankle. Bad. No walking, not for a long time. Have some thick rich stew.” She offered her friend the thin broth, which Carmen helped Ada hold. “No one else out there.”

“Delicious” Ada decided after a long drink. “Best I’ve ever had. Prudence?”

“Sleeping” Carmen answered. “We sleep in shifts. Have blocked cave. Both ends. But thought something want in.”

“What something” Ada asked.

“Not know” the anteater admitted. “Low moan, hollow sound. Come, go. Think maybe lost sailors spirits. Then discover was hole in wall. Wind blowing across. Scare me more than believe. Now stuffed full old animal bedding.”

“Which explains why this place was abandoned” Belle continued. “What animal is going to bed down in that sort of noise?”

“Good luck for us” Ada agreed. “Supplies?”

“What we bring with us” Carmen announced. “Then ten cans mack-a-rotty in boxes. Worn engine pushrods. I use to splint your ankle. Lot of old radio cable. Strip some use tie splint to ankle. Dozen Spanish bibles, make good bed. Noisy but comfortable. Help start fire too. Nothing else.”

“All that.” Ada sighed, laying her head back. “Hey!” Reaching behind her she discovered a pillow made of excelsior stuffed into her carry bag. “This stuffs explosive” she reminded her friends.

“Yes, but soft. Maybe not go boom with hard head on it.”

Ada took a swing at Carmen, which moved her ankle, which... She barely managed not to scream too loudly. “Exactly how bad” she asked when her brain finally reset.

Carmen’s long tongue whipped out for a moment, a sign of the anteaters nervousness. “Ankle out of joint. Belle put back together. Bone not broken.”

“You will heal” Belle filled in. “You will simply be doing zero walking for some time. They cannot fail you for a dislocated ankle. Not when it is already set and healing well.”

“So what do we do now” Ada asked.

“Get some sleep like Prudence” the rabbit answered. “Then take further stock of our supplies. Perhaps strip some wire for a snare.” She looked over to where Prudence was snoring lightly. “We are to survive two weeks. There are not sufficient supplies for four for even two more days in this cold. We need a great deal more calories here than on Spontoon after all. As you are the wounded one, if food is needed we shall dine well. If the meat is a bit stringy it is still meat. I will console the grieving widow rest assured. Now I will take first guard.”

Ada laughed softly, carefully settling back down as Carmen joined her. Warmth was most important now as the rocks about them had none. “Oharu would burn you alive if you went cannibal on her” she said softly.

“Oharu? She is our friend yes, she teaches me to draw” Belle replied. “Why should I worry what that mouse cares about.”

“Well” Ada yawned. “That is a bracelet of her hair your wearing on her left wrist. Right?”

Snorting the rabbit settled down for her watch. “It is for friendship only Ada. Not as your tailfast ring. One you both still wear, through all your protestations otherwise. There is not any of my fur within it. She will make you a wonderful wife. Priestess Oharu will make me a wonderful friend.”

Ada simply giggled softly as Belle turned her back, snuggling as carefully as she could against the anteaters warm body. Sleep came quickly, but it was dream filled with others, not her friends.

Three days passed as the four both slowly explored the area outside their new home, and unwound discarded aircraft wiring harness’s to pass the time. A bitter storm had struck, and where they had set their first camp was nothing now but whitecaps. That was, if they had been able to see more than three feet in front of them. The forth day though broke bright and sunny. A perfectly calm day, unbelievable so considering what they had just experienced. Belle and Prudence quickly went out to see what they could find, making certain to use their new metal rope as a guide back should another storm strike. Their fire was nothing now but tiny embers, embers carefully fed with splinters by Carmen as she watched over Ada.

They were out of food and the hound wasn’t the kind to just lay around letting others take care of her. Ada silently feared that she was beginning to go somewhat mad, for her dreams had been strange, and becoming even more so as each day passed. Unable to move around well, not able to leave the cave because she couldn’t walk, the hound was going stark raving mad with boredom. Having her friends tend to her needs of nature was even more embarrassing. Especially considering the source of the only paper that they had. “Someone will pay for this” she abruptly declared.

“Someone is” Carmen answered softly. “Me.”

“I guess so” the hound admitted. “I apologize, and I mean it. To change the subject, these rubberized canvas outfits you came up with probably saved our lives several times. How did yah design them?”

“Thanks” Carman said, a blush rising from her neck. “Saw canvas diving outfit. Thought keep water out. Problem was heavy. Keep water in too. So think long time, try to think like Alpha. It made my head hurt.”

Both women laughed at that image.

“Think, use very thin cotton. Use very thin rubber coat. Wait cure, punch bizillions holes in rubber with tracing wheel. That let hot air out, take sweat. But little hole not let big water in easy. It work when test in harbor, so make for you three too. Think maybe we sell to classmates?”

“We can try” Ada agreed. She tried to move her ankle, finding that though it twinged it didn’t scream at her. Putting her bare foot against a stone she applied pressure. A hot wave of pain rolled up her leg, warning her that this wasn’t a good idea. “Can you see our intrepid explorers” she asked, covering her pain with the question.

Carmen made her way to the caves opening, careful to cover her long snout before sticking it out. She’d already experienced one minor bout with frostbite and though only a discomfort, it had been enough to warn her what could happen.

“They are returning” she announced. “With wood.”

“Wonderful news” Ada admitted. “I’m freezing in here so I know your already frozen.”

“Not when with Belle” the anteater admitted. “She has much softness to share.”

“And is stuck on that lovesick mouse. God, what is it about that mouse anyway. She can have Belle and still pines for Molly.”

“You can have me” Carmen reminded her friend. “But still pine other.”

Ada closed her eyes. “Point taken, you win the argument paws down. I’ll never understand love.”

“I think no one will” her friend agreed. “Now I help break up wood. You stay in cave. Is better for you.”

Ada watched her friend leave, pushing the layers of cut apart yellow raft aside, thus letting icy air in. It truly was warmer inside, but only by a few dozen degrees. If they brought the temperature too far above freezing, water began to drip from the ancient stone. It was a constant balancing act. But with the outside temperature hovering somewhere between flash frozen and you have got to be kidding me, their little den was a five star hotel. “Next time you break your ankle” she said to the yellow rubber curtain, but she knew she didn’t mean it.

Carmen was surprised when her friends pulled out a reddish stone from one of their bags. “Look like hockey puck” she admitted, accepting the thing. “What is?”

“Crab” Belle gasped, her voice turning into ice as she spoke. “Place is littered with them. They popped their legs in the cold. Weird.”

“Crab” Carmen asked, her eyes widening . “Fresh crab?”

“Some survival test right” Prudence asked. “We can’t get crab ever at Songmark, but come up here to freeze and we are surrounded by the things. Help with the wood. We can hardly move. Belle’s pack is full of legs. Gulls are everywhere” She patted a wad of feathers at her side. “We eat well tonight! Fresh roasted seagull and boiled crab for all.”

Later that evening, with their fire now built up as far as was safe, Ada found herself pulling feathers from freshly killed gulls. Frozen, the birds made the task difficult. “You covered a lot of crabs up” she asked.

“Big stone carrion. If we are lucky nothing large will get to it. I don’t expect that luck, still we tried” Belle admitted. “There’s more wood to get too. That’s important. We can cook and freeze what we have, stack it just inside the entrance. We haven’t seen any indication of large predators, or small ones other than gulls for that matter. Tonight we can feast, then eat sparingly. Tomorrow the three of us will recover everything we can find. There obviously isn’t enough here to last the week, but it will help a lot. And if the storm holds off long enough the four of us can drag in enough to feed us a month. There’s frozen fish too by the way.”

“Yes” Prudence agreed from where she was boiling crab legs in their one tiny pot. “Important we don’t go crazy eating too much. We’ll get sick. Not want to gain weight yes? Who wants a plump girl in her bed?”

Weak laughter answered her.

Another storm did return late the next day, catching Carmen still several hundred feet from safety when it did. She managed to struggle up their guide wire until Belle grabbed her, the larger rabbit easily carrying both anteater and supply bag out of a raging storm. Carmen though was so cold she couldn’t even help undress herself. Shivering violently, her last impression was of Ada holding her arms open as she was pushed against the roaring furnace that was her friends naked body.

Thus their time was spent, withdrawing into the cave during storms, and there seemed to be an awful lot of storms they noted. Salvaging firewood and cast up sea life for food. Not exactly the worst lifestyle, but all four knew that had they not found this little cave their lives would have been much worse. Pity those caught out in the howling winds, where not even the smallest fire could be reliably kept burning. To Ada went the serious task of keeping the days right. Miss Devinski had said sunup on the fourteenth day. She would wait no more than four hours, then they would be considered dead. A rescue would be attempted, but if they could not be found there would be a memoriam anyway. If they ever did make their ways back to Songmark it would be to a failing grade. All would be for nothing. On the fourteenth day, several hours before the allotted time, they dressed fully in now dry and fairly clean clothing. It would be a very long trip with Ada still bedridden.

It was not the fishing ship that returned, but the repaired Songmark floatplane that landed on a flat, featureless bit of ground. Stepping out Miss Devinski looked about her and smiled. Her four little fledglings were still alive and healthy. How she knew no student could know. Still she knew. Taking her time the yellow furred hound looked about her. Where her students had cast their first camp there was no evidence. She ignored that, turning to look inland. Then without a word, or even glance at her compass she started walking. Half a mile inland she met her students making their careful way back to the shoreline. A glance at the prone Ada informed Miss Devinski that her injury was minor. “You are well” she asked Prudence.

“Yes Mam. But crab and seagull does get boring.”

“It do” Belle agreed, releasing a very unladylike belch. “Filling, but boring. Roasted Cod does make a nice break though.”

Looking over her students Miss Devinski seemed to come to some conclusion. “I look forward to your reports” she decided. “Now we must hurry back to the aircraft. There is a White Russian warship rumored to be in these waters.” She followed her students as they hurried, they themselves following their instructors trail in the featureless snow. That had been, as their instructors had admitted openly afterwards, the most dangerous test any Songmark girl could expect to encounter while in school.

Belle woke from her dream, hearing the morning songs first words. Had an intervention occurred? Without lifting her head she looked over to where Ada stood, just outside the fires circle of light, yet still within view of her dorm-mates. Had help come from the canine’s side, or... She looked at the circle of mouse fur that encircled her right wrist. A bracelet of friendship Oharu had said. Could that Priestess have done something? Or had it been simple luck. Songmark trained well, in truth Belle couldn’t think of any school that pressed their students harder to learn, yet cared for them as much. Or had it been, as their instructors decided, simply a combination of luck, skill and training that gave them such an advantage. She began to rise, deciding to ask that mouse the next time she saw her. Her heart suddenly skipped a beat. It was Spring now, had been for three days now. Spring, and Oharu’s season.

March 26^th, 1937

Oharu Wei walked the South beach of South Island, looking across the bay at Sacred Island. She had been meditating on Saimmi’s fears that the fragment, brought close to its main core, was beginning to influence herself. Possibly all priestess’s. That was possible the two had decided, so Saimmi had left quickly. To gather certain Priestess’s to block the lead encased fragment from somehow communicating with the larger, more powerful one deeper within Sacred Lake. Oharu had attempted to go with Saimmi, but been stopped by the High Priestess. “Two things make this much too dangerous to allow you to be involved” Saimmi had warned Oharu. “One, you have already touched the smaller fragment once. And most importantly second, you are entering your season. Your soul would be open to any attack. You must cool your season, thus I will send three to do this for you. When you have calmed I will return, to tell you of what occurred.”

Now it was two days later, a message had just arrived informing Oharu that the ritual had been completely successful, but that Saimmi and her helpers needed time to recover. Now she was returning to the longhouse that her visitors had taken her too. Facing Sacred island, it was invisible from the water as it had been built in five yard jungle. She could feel the need within her returning, a need that had been pushed aside only for that one message. Ahead of her waited three vixens who had, as she had been informed, jumped at this chance. Yet, within her she wished they had been one certain doe, occasional a certain rabbit came to her thoughts. This time of hunger though had not been as bad as those previous. Bad yes, yet she was able to control herself a little. Not though enough to grant those three any rest. They were all three quite inventive after all.

On Casino Islands sparkling sands, the English housecat Millicent Holmes was walking with her wife-to be. That woman being the sable now carrying the name Tatiana Wei. They were enjoying one of the rare nights that Tatiana now had, free time and passes being much harder to find as the school year came so near to an end. “We will be in Hawaii soon my love” Millicent reminded Tatiana. “A full month of such walks. Why, you may even walk with me one evening.”

Sensing that her wifes mood was not one of gaiety, Tatiana pulled the buxomness woman against her, staring up into those deep nearly endless eyes. “Radost' moya, ya skhazshu po tebe s uma” she replied softly. “We will be one. Until death. My oath upon that.”

Millicent held one paw over her mouth as she giggled. “I drive you crazy?” she asked. “Why my love, I have never driven even a motorcar. How ever then could I possibly drive you crazy?” Her answer was Tatiana’s lips on her own.

Some long time later the two separated, Millicent taking a deep breath while Tatiana only watched her. “When we first met I was but a target. A goal that would be easy to obtain” the English woman whispered.

“Dah. Truth. Then. All that over. Now. Each day I love more.” Tatiana gently kissed Millicent’s nose. “Mother” she whispered. “Opened heart as I asked. I think you fill heart slowly. Slowly. Still one day will fill whole heart is Pravda. I so wish you to. Please.“

“I too love you more each day my wife-to-be” Millicent whispered. “And that man is taking photographs of us” she added, indicating a direction with her own eyes.

Tatiana looked over where a wolfhound tourist was standing, his very expensive camera was currently openly aimed at them. She stuck her tongue out at the tourist for a moment, then lead Millicent off to the Double Lotus. At least there no one stared, and few took photographs. None without asking first.

Yves rolled his film up, carefully replacing the 35mm cartridge with a new one. Though he never dealt with Sapphos. They were simply impossible to break correctly as two attempts had proven, he did have several acquaintances who loved the photographs he occasionally took. And paid well for prints. Those he had just taken would bring in a nice bit of coin, probably enough to offset most of his trip. The big breasted housecat would be very popular, and the summer coated ermine was rare enough to cause interest of her own. Why, Lady Elizabeth would be out of her little mind trying to attract those two to her little family. An image of the housecat wearing a certain style of leather outfit came to mind, causing the wolfhound to snicker softly. Yes, Lady Elizabeth would want both of them, and pay highly for the pairs safe delivery. Carson and Carson was going to get another little job once that vixen saw these photographs. Of that he was absolutely certain.

Continuing his own little walk down the beach he finally stumbled upon the reason for his presence on Casino Island. Stepping out of a water taxi was the female he had chosen to replace his current pet. Swinging his long-lens camera up he took a photograph of a certain Dalmatian. Yes, with a body like that she would be very interesting to sample. Silently he took photograph after photograph of the woman known as Katherine McMaster. His special employees, and his little Italian toy must know exactly what she looked like after all, when they went to collect her.

Katherine of course had noted the photographer. She was a Songmark graduate after all, thus nothing that occurred near her was missed. A quick examination of the photographer caused interest though. He was tall, he was handsome and he was of a type she very much preferred. Had Yves known that before sending his special employees and the Italian on their own mission, his entire plan would have shifted immediately. As it was Katherine had business to attend to. Business that did not grant her the time to approach that wolfhound. At least not today. A few discrete inquires later would tell her where he stayed, how long he would be around. Since by his actions he had already shown interest, certainly an accidental meeting could be arranged. As she walked in the direction of American Airlines new terminal, Katherine’s mind was busy making plans. Certainly something more interesting than business dress for their first ‘accidental meeting’ she decided. She continued her day, all the while completely unaware of what fate the wolfhound had planed for her.

Thus is was that later that evening, having just posted the freshly developed negatives of Tatiana and Millicent to one of his contacts in France, Yves spotted his target walking just across the street from him. She was in a clinging dark blue dress that showed her curves quite well. A much better view he decided, than the heavy linen business dress she had been wearing that morning. Taking a chance he walked across the street, approaching the woman.

“My pardon” he said in English. “May I speak?”

Katherine looked up from the fruit she had apparently been examining. “Yes, you may” she answered as she stood straight. To the wolfhounds amazement Katherine stood eye to eye with him. She was a very tall woman he abruptly realized. Oh this was very interesting.

“I thank you mademoiselle. I did see you this morn” he continued. “My name is Yves. Yves Garennier. As time is very short, for I must leave within the week, I shall be blunt, yet hope you will not be insulted. You are very beautiful. I would like to know. If may. To take you to dinner perhaps? Only to talk.”

“Only to talk” Katherine asked. It had been a very very long time since she had ‘been involved’ and the wolfhound did very much interest her. Had this been an European nation she would of course have been insulted. It was though Spontoon, where time was often very short. On Spontoon a tourist stayed a week, two or a month. But never long enough for the niceties of correct social interaction. As a native she was well aware of this, well used to taking her pleasure when it came and not waiting months or years for a ‘proper commitment.’ And it had been a very long time.

“I think so” she decided. “For talk only. My name is Katherine McMaster, and there is a very nice restaurant only upon the next street. The Golden Pinecone.” Replacing the kumquat with its brothers she gave the canine stall-holder a wink. This scene had been a plot between the two of them. To their eyes it had worked perfectly. To the Dalmatians amusement the stall-holder gave her a quick signal that he hoped that Katherine’s night would be quite memorable. Rejoining the Frenchman she indicated which direction to walk. “I am a pilot. Half owner of Kart-Toombs. It is normally a air cargo service though quite often we fly tourists.” she explained as they walked. “And you?”

“Aristocrat” Yves admitted. “In name only. I am of course without lands or station.” He granted her a mournful look. “My elder brother took all. I am but a poor photographic artist. One who makes his way about the world.” His look broke into a soft bit of laughter a moment later. “Thankfully my brother still likes me. He does give me use of his ship, when he does not have a need for such. This year he is in London. With his Aristocratic business.” He laughed fully then. “Better he than I.”

“Such is life” Katharine agreed, waving to a small restaurant. “Ah, we are here.” So well had Yves practiced that lie over the years that Katherine had detected nothing but the truth throughout their entire evening together. Nor the morning after.

March 27, 1937

Stepping upon a certain wolf’s water taxi the Spontoon Priestess Oharu Wei settled into her normal place. “Sacred Island” she ordered the wolf, her rough, glass on iron voice denying the beauty that still showed in her battered face. “It is my time.” She carried a book the wolf noted. A book covered with strange symbols, and it seemed to move a little in her arms.

Without a word the wolf, after turning away a group of tourists, turned his craft away from the docks safety. Turned it into the lane reserved for water taxis. He ignored the complaints from behind him, just as he ignored the craft that turned out of his way. Even though by law they had the right of way. For by custom, any water taxi with an Honored Mother aboard had priority over all. Save the Great Mother herself. And though he was aware of Oharu’s position in the scheme of things, there was no hierarchy between the Honored Mothers themselves.

It was a choppy day, with waves slapping against the little ships port side as he turned for Sacred Island. Even with an Honored Mother aboard, his destination frightened him. In his youth he had seen the results of a foolish young man from Africa who had swum to the island, and spent the night alone. He also had seen the results of those who wished to become Honored Mothers, and were refused. One in seven failed the test, whatever that test might be. He had seen two who had failed, returned one to Main Island himself. With Huakava guiding him that day. Now his favorite, the mouse who had brought him his own brass tiki was going to her test. It worried him.

It frightened him.

It had been early morning when she had stepped upon Sacred Islands shore once again. Well before Sunrise song and alone she had stood upon those ancient stones. She was alone as was requited by both ritual and law. “I will wait Honored Mother” the wolf had offered after Oharu had stepped from his water taxi. “You will be accepted. I believe this.”

“I have already been accepted” the mouse reminded her odd friend. She glanced at the freshly shined brass Tiki on the small ships bow. “As you are aware. Else that metal would not now ornament your proud ship. We are both aware that you cannot wait. It is forbidden. Nor is it safe for either of us that you do so.” She held tighter to herself the book Malou had brought from her homeland. A book she had never opened, though it was certain that Saimmi had. “Great Mother Saimmi has told me that I will be here more than the standard day. Perhaps two days, even a week. You cannot wait that long. Besides, your wife would think that I am trying to take you away from her.”

The wolf laughed, reaching to release a rope that held his water taxi to the ancient stone dock. “You Honored Mother? Of all on these lands my love has no worry that you would be a threat to her marriage. She knows your true path. Then when I am told I will return. Fair well Honored Mother.”

Oharu watched as the water taxi backed away, turning smartly for its return trip to South Island. Or Eastern, or even Main. Where the wolf went when she did not need him was none of her concern. How he knew when she would need him, where she could be found the mouse could not fathom. Turning her back on the other islands Oharu walked up the crumbling stone piers dry surface, making her way to the place where Huakava awaited her. Huakava, and unknown uncounted others who’s spirits might or might not remain here. Sunrise rose as she approached the ancient ruins. A first touch of warmth that moment drew from her unbidden the Sunrise Song. How long between each singing occurred here the mouse could not know, yet it felt right as her rough voice rose to meet the morning light. She finished the song as her foot stepped off the last stone onto land.

“Welcome child” a voice announced. Wither it was spoken to her ears or only her mind she could not tell. Nor wither it was a male or female voice. For no figure stepped out to greet her, no flickering paw bid her further. So she moved further inland, until finally she came to that great stone door last closed after Huakava’s body had been laid to rest.

“She is not here” that sexless voice answered her thoughts. “As with all, she has passed beyond, or been reborn as was her choice. There are no ghosts upon these lands to cause fear among the living.” There was a short pause during which Oharu felt that she was being examined. “So many weights you still carry. Leave behind all that is worldly. Only then may you bring your book and enter with welcome. Your weights though. These must be attended too. You will leave without many of them.”

Setting her burden aside Oharu followed the voices instructions, soon standing before that door clad only in the fur nature had granted her. As she picked up that book Nikki’s wife Malou had brought to Spontoon a soft grating reached her ears. Before her that stone doorway opened easily, if not quite slower than she would have liked. Being in nothing but her fur was uncomfortable, even though no mortal eyes were able to view her nakedness. In truth, she was shamed to be so in the open. Shamed that her scarred back should be shown in public in such a holy place. Still without further thought she entered the structure, to have that door close behind her. Yet she was not in the dark, for though strange in shape to her eyes carved crystals glowed with a soft ivory light. Light that left no shadow, light that burned coldly and with no flickering.

“Our library is below. Ninth door to your right child. There you may leave forever your written burden. Afterwards return here.”

Again she followed that voices instructions. Soon she found herself standing in a room filled with ancient statues, rolled scrolls, books and things her mind could not quite classify. Each and every item though looked as new as the day it had been created, or at least she felt it did. Finding a place she laid the book down, noticing at once that its constant apparent movement almost instantly quieted. Looking around her Oharu shivered. So much knowledge. To learn such, that thought built a fire within her. For a few minutes she looked about her noting everything, yet far to well trained to touch anything. Even though her soul burned to know. To learn. With a deep sigh of regret the mouse turned her back on that room, soon returning to where she had been instructed.

“You have done well child. There is nothing within that room that your mind would understand. Yet. For it is all of the ancient world. Even your sister cannot understand but a few pages of that book. Enough to know what it is, what it will one day do to this world. Now walk the left corridor to its end. We await you there.”

‘We’ the mouse thought. ‘Of course We.’ Stepping forward she made her way to a large chamber. She had been here once before, watching silently as Huakava’s body had been laid to rest. Now about her were the small stone containers that held every High Priestess’s ashes since the breaking. This place though was not only for women, for at least a dozen male names were carved into stones as well. This was the resting place of all those who helped guide Spontoons people through the ages, and there were so very many places yet available. Saimmi had once told Oharu that there was a greater chamber, one where ashes of simple priests and priestess lay. There one day her own ashes would be laid to rest, should she prove worthy. Here though were the great ones. Here too were the ones brought out of Krupmark’s unholy place. Here one day she would help lay Saimmi’s body, if she lived long enough.

Abruptly Oharu found herself in another place. Again she was in the spirit world, though this time in body. Not simply soul. It was a shocking transition, as for a brief instant she had felt cold like no other burn her bones before it was over. Looking about her she found herself in a pleasant landscape, yet different enough to constantly remind her that she was no longer upon the mortal plain. Two figures advanced from the mists. One male, one female. Though she could not make out their species, for their forms shifted as they moved. Again she could not tell if they were simply spirits, messengers of the Gods or Gods themselves.

“Please sit child” the male offered, again a stone lifting from the ground as he spoke. Sitting the mouse awaited mutely for whatever would come next. “You surprise us. No reminding us that you have already been accepted?”

“You are already aware of this Great Ones” Oharu answered. “To remind you of what you know would be childish.”

“And you are no child” the female asked.

“In all things I am as a child to your own knowledge, your own experiences, your own abilities. I will be learning until my last breath.” Oharu admitted. “Yet still be as a child to you.”

Both seemed to look past Oharu. It was with great effort that she did not turn to see what they were looking at. “Your last breath” the male repeated. “Turn to see what and when that will be.”

“Thank you Great Ones for such an offer. Yet I prefer it to be a surprise.”

“Yes, He was correct to accept you” the female admitted. “You are aware than no living thing stays upon these lands after Sunset Song unchanged?”

“I am aware” Oharu admitted. Her tail though betrayed her as it moved in a nervous twitch.

“Fear not” the male laughed. “What was done to Kansas Smith will not be done to you. You are aware that she will soon find a way to regain her original form? Though weither she will accept that bargain is yet to be determine. Should she, it may not go well for her I fear.”

“I had hoped so” Oharu admitted. “Though I would have liked to have known the Smith who should have been, not the Smith twisted by her mother.”

“Perhaps in another life you will” the female agreed. “Though if she retains your gift or rejects it is still to be seen. Her mind is a difficult thing to follow, even for we. For not only is she not of our ways, she is unstable. Always desiring to please her mother, yet at the same time horrified by her mothers actions. Her soul is twisted by this in so many ways as to be pure chaos, changing moment to moment. You were correct. Had her father nurtured her she would have been much different. Yet such choices are left to mortals, though there are times we wish they were not. In her future we do not look, for it was with amusement that we watched your unique manner of removing that threat. Even we wish to be surprised when she stands before that dark crystal to make her choice. Will she turn to full darkness, regain her old form. Or will she turn away for that darkness. Accepting your gift for what it is. Still she will be the Smith you know now we think. That cannot be so easily changed. Will she become your greatest enemy or your friend in her own strange way. These things we look forward to discovering. This is of interest to us. Rarely does one bring such entertainment to our existence. And yes dear child, we do wager on the outcome of certain things.”

‘Gods’ Oharu decided at those words.

“But of course. Only we may change what is fully. Child. There are pains you carry, burdens you hold that will forever keep you from being the Priestess we need. Unless corrected now. Here. Spontoon needs you differently than you are now. It is true that Saimmi needs you as a shield for her warriors. As a source of power they may draw upon when in need. Do you accept this, knowing that to be such will eventually mean your death?”

Oharu fidgeted. It was one thing to speak freely with the spirit of Great Stone Glen. It was another to simply face Gods. A stray thought, a wrong decision would be disastrous. Still her Shinto Temple training came to her rescue. ‘Be truthful in all things, no matter the pain’ she remembered. “All mortal things perish” she answered softly in her ruined voice. “Nor would I wish to be immortal. Thus death is an inevitability none may avoid. Though I admit that it is my desire to die of old age in my own bed. To die protecting others, that also is a good death. Yes, I accept this fully. Knowing that to save them one day I may fall.”

“An honorable death” the male corrected. “Your choices show you are most honorable child. Do not ever think again that you are not. Still to be this shield there are things about you that must be changed. Will you accept these changes, not knowing in advance what they may be?”

‘To accept.’ Oharu swallowed, abruptly knowing true fear in her heart. They had already told her that what she had done to Kansas Smith would not be done to her, but that had simply been a change in form. From what a mothers bitter milk had starved to what a God had truly intended. A simple change. Standing she walked towards the two, finally stopping only an arms distance away. They could turn her male, change her species, make her unworldly. Anything was possible with a God. Kneeling she lowered her head. “I am yours to change as you need” she answered, though the decision sent alarms of fear through both mind and body.

“She fears” the female noted to her companion. “This is good. It shows that this child is fully aware of what can occur to her. Return to your stone child, no darkness will touch you this day. Your heart has been reduced to ash. This we cannot allow to continue. You must know love, must have a life companion to serve these lands fully. You love yes. Foolishly, yet again this was a choice of mortals. You must have love in return. For having love will bind you further to this land. Knowing this, you will understand this change. For she whom your heart even in its ashes yearns for will never return such. To be the Shield your sister needs you must receive love as well. Still I shall not remove from you your love of the doe, I will though heal your heart. You must then open it to another, for a life alone is not your fate. Not in this life nor any other we can as yet see. Your soul is such that it cannot survive such a life without great damage.”

A warmth filled Oharu’s chest as she sat again upon that stone. Within her chest she felt as though some great fire had built within her, yet it was only warmth. For a time this warmth continued, then slowly faded. As it faded Oharu felt a difference within herself. She still loved Molly yes. She would always love her. But now there was an emptiness within her. An emptiness that filled even as she thought of it. Looking within herself she found that the rotted place that had once held her nightmares was healed. Her heat held the doe Molly still, but by less than half did the doe now fill that space. “I will always love her” she whispered.

“Of course” the male agreed. “Ones first love is always ones strongest. Now she is your past. She is part of you, yet she no longer rules your soul. Child, we had hoped that Annette would fill your heart. She was the one chosen for you, yet it could not be. Now she has moved on. Think of all those you know. Tell us, had you a choice, which would you allow within your heart now. Which of all you know presses hardest now to enter your heart. Find her, see her. Open your heart too her. For she is your future.”

Images passed through the mouse’s mind as she remembered all those closest to her. Images studied, voices remembered, events, conversations, often scent and touches as well. Ada. For a moment the canine seemed to smile to Oharu. Then she turned to take the Svedish feline Angelica within her arms. If not Ada then... “Her” the mouse decided as arms reached out toward her. “We are friends, she has shown interest many times. In truth, yes. I could do no better. I could do much worse. Should she accept. Her heart, I would allow it to touch my own.”

“This you will have to discover child” the female admitted. “Though in truth her heart has long been open to you. Still only she may make that final commitment. We have learned you will not accept one who has not freely given herself. Your choice though must be soon, for time is not with you anymore. When you leave this place you will be fully educated, as are all who come here. Thus does this weight slip from your shoulders child.”

“Your body has been harmed” the male observed. “It is a harming the such that was never meant for you. It is a harming of such no woman should carry. Such a harm is an anchor to your soul. It will hold you back forever if not healed. Thus I shall heal you.”

Again a warmth filled Oharu’s body, but lower down. Much lower down. At the realization of what must be occurring struck her Oharu’s eyes filled with tears. “Thank you” she gasped after that second warmth passed.

“You must leave children to our people child” the female explained. “Your soul passes from family member to family member. Thus you must be able to have children. To do so was impossible before. Now. Now you shall have those children you so desire. Child. You were sent to us in full condition. Those who even now you cannot hate caused so much damage. This was not intended for you. You have done nothing to deserve such. Still by our own laws we may only make three changes, for you are not High Priestess. Two we chose, the third we allow to be your choice. Now a third change. There are many injuries to your body child. Choose which you would have removed.”

“My voice” Oharu answered almost instant. “I would have my true voice again.”

“Of all things” the male asked. “Your fear of the ocean, your ruined back, your once graceful face. Of all these you choose your voice? Know child that in your older days, should you have them, your back will pain you greatly. Know also that mark upon your throat will remain.”

“I know Great Ones. Yet my voice. To sing again in the pure tones. To not have children pull away when I speak, or pitying looks. Most importantly, to be able to speak the rituals without constantly correcting myself. It is what I choose.”

“Then it shall be done child” the woman answered. Again for a third time Oharu felt that warmth. When this time it passed she felt her breathing ease. Her breathing no longer sounded as two bits of paper crossing each other, her throat seemed more open. So to was the constant pain of her throat gone. So much granted her. Then her duty ahead would be heavy. So be it. For such gifts were dreams she had once taken as nightmares.

“Before you” the male continued. “Comes that darkness you well know. Understand this child. Though there are many paths still available to you when entering that darkness. Only three result in your survival. On one path your heart carries on through, to be with you for the rest of this life. The other you step through alone. But I warn you child, there is a shadow third path that may become solid. This path leads you to great difficulty, great pain. It is not a path you should expect to follow, for along it you must be the cause many deaths. We can see within your soul that this path would cause you great pain for the rest of your life. Now our time for today is done. Tomorrow we will begin instructing you.”

“Sleep child” both ordered. “For it is well past Sunset Song” the female continued. “It will be days before you finally return home where your sister awaits you. Remember this though. Only those who so serve our children as you, and your sister, are so many times gifted. Do not think to stand above others, for they serve as best they can. For gifts may be withdrawn, should the cause be needed.”

Then she was again in the mortal chamber. Past Sunset Song? So much time had passed, yet it felt as though only minutes. Still her body was now exhausted. Laying on the strangely warm stone floor Oharu tried to sleep. So many changes to her. She knew that her life would be spent repaying those Gods for their gifts. Yet she could never have asked for greater ones. More importantly, even without them she would serve just as fully as she would with them.

When Oharu awoke food and water awaited her. Plain food to be sure. Simple fruits, a paw full of nuts. Cool water. When nature spoke she found that the stone door was already open. After returning it closed again behind her. Again she found herself before those two. Again the stone rose for her to sit. “This” the male started. “Is our lands before the Great Mistake. We warned them. Yet in their great knowledge they thought themselves all knowing. Look before you at what once was.”

Before Oharu an image of Spontoon came into being. Had she known what she was looking at the mouse would have called it a full color topographical map. Her short return to education had not reached yet that point. As she studied what was before her the map turned slowly. “Moon Island has changed” she noted. “I was aware that the waterfall had moved, but that Eastern Island is only half what it once was? South Island is shorter and there are many small islands shown that no longer exist.”

“Such was the cost of their failure” that male voice answered. As Oharu watched the map changed, before her eyes it became what she knew of today. “It can never again be as it was. Such was the madness released upon that day.”

“How many” Oharu asked, her soul shocked by what had been shown her.

“Died?” the female asked. “All but less than two hundred. Those all on the Southern most point of Main Island. They survived only because they took instant action. Of all who were. Of all who could have been. Less than two hundred survived to carry this warning, their culture to your future. Of all the priests and priestess only one priestess survived. For she was tending an ill child that day. All others died in the actual event, or while trying to slow or record it. For no mortal could have stopped that destruction.”

“How much will you allow me to remember” the mouse asked suddenly.

“Very little” the male answered. “Consciously. As with all your sisters. You are not High Priestess. Upon your mortal shoulders is not the great weight of full knowledge. Though she calls you sister and secretly claims you as her second, not even she may remember fully. I am afraid child that as trained as you are, as powerful as you are and will one day be, mortals are simply to weak to survive such a weight of pain without falling fully into madness. Even your sister remembers little more than you will. For such a weight of death will always crush a single soul.”

“Amelia. Helen, Saffarina?”

“Have their place. They too will be taught. They too will not remember. Now we will speak of the nine anchors...”

Again Oharu slept upon that cold stone floor, yet to her exhausted body it felt as soft as any bed she had ever laid upon. When waking food awaited her again, as did the open stone doorway. Though to her mind only a few hours passed at each meeting it was certain that a day had passed. As to the why, this took three days for her to realize. She was being taught what she should have known had she been born upon these islands. Though her year of hard study had given her enough to stand against the fragment, it was just enough. To her was being given the knowledge that she would have had, should she have been born to Spontoon. That and more, for within her mind now she knew how Great Stone Glen had once looked. How Sacred Island had once looked. How and where all the nine anchors had been. It was knowledge she would not consciously remember, still it would be available when she needed it. Should she need it. When she realized where the male shrine on Moon Island was located she almost laughed. How would the military react, when finally it realized that it had built its modern mess hall directly over those ruins. And still the days went by, still she learned more and more until finally on the seventh day that door did not remain open, but closed behind her when she answered nature.

Her time on Sacred Island was over. Oharu could only hope that she had learned all that had been shown her. Almost she forgot to take her lavalava cloth. Only after walking several hundred feet down the path did she remember it. Embarrassment caused her to blush. Had her fur been thin enough it would be obvious that blush had reached to her breasts. Even as she dressed the mouse wondered at her ability to so easily forget her state of undress. Yet even as she walked back down towards the shore Oharu realized something else had changed about her. Her clothing felt restrictive, cumbersome. How long would such a change take she thought. Months, years? Exactly how long had she remained in that other world. Though only seven days had passed in her mortal world, how long had truly passed in that place of the Gods? Perhaps she would never know, for even as she walked those memories of her teaching passed from her mind. By the time she reached the waiting water taxi, Oharu had consciously forgotten almost all she had been shown.

“Great Mother spent nine days” her wolf companion informed her as Oharu sat in her accustomed place.

“Great Mother was taught more than I” Oharu replied, abruptly reaching up to place both paws at her throat. Her voice was back. Her voice from before the hanging. These were the first words that she had spoken in the mortal world, and their sound was a shock to her ears. Her companion though remained silent. For he and his kind had seen, had heard greater changes than a voice being returned to sweetness. She could sing again. Sing as she loved to sing. Not croak like some beaten frog. Yet for the rest of their voyage Oharu remained silent. Fearful that her voice would return to that harsh sound she had lived with for over a year.

Two days later, within the confines of that school known as Songmark, two young women were working. Their dorm had made a surprise profit from selling Carmen’s unique design of waterproof clothing, along with the new portfolio. Around them were weekly bags of letters, many holding offers of marriage from various furs. Those had been tossed aside in the most part, though Carmen had kept some of the interesting ones. Those Belle and her classmates had noted always held photographs. At the moment though both Belle and Carmen were ‘home’, while there two roommates were off. Ada to Main Island, and probably her last days with Angelica. Prudence to, well wherever a private place could be found for Prudence and her native hyena love. Supposable the two were setting accounts straight, this being the last free day until their graduation, or absolute failure next week. Strangely the rabbit found herself staring out the rooms single window towards Main Island, instead of tallying numbers as she should be.

“I still available” the anteater offered. “We both know she cursed of heart. You have no choice.”

“She’s just rather cute” the Southern rabbit answered. “A friend, nothin more.”

Carmen laughed, though it was a soft laugh. “You never act this way about girl ever before. Belle Lapinssen you are many things. My good friend. Companion. Can trust. But this time you are great fool. Go to her. Now. I finish with numbers.”

Belle shook her head no, turning back to the work before her. “She’s on Scared Island going through her own testing. What can I do? Kill Molly? Oh sometimes ahd just love to wring that little mad doe’s neck. It’d just make Oharu hate me. Until Molly is outta her heart I’ve no chance. But we did have us one wild fling before third term started. Oh will that be something tah remember in mah old age. Why girl. She wore me out. Completely.”

Carmen had the decency to blush, though her long tongue did flicker out as though to test the air. “I am still available” the anteater reminded her friend. “I will not exhaust you. Often.”

Belle laughed while picking up her pen. “Hon. You an I are friends. We will be friends until we die. But nothing more. Now where are we?”

“On Spontoon, hoping we pass Songmarks final year.” Belle just laughed. She was, Carmen noted, back in a good mood. That was important.

Late that evening Oharu stepped into Great Stone Glen for the first time in over a week. She had remained on South Island these last two days, learning to live in the mortal world again. She found that the Glen was as clean as she had left it, though a door of sorts had been fitted on her small hut and the window shutters were down. Stepping in she sensed more than scented the feline awaiting her. “Great Mother” she said in greeting.

“Has been waiting some time” Saimmi answered as she stepped from behind Oharu’s hut, fresh reeds in her arms. “I have been repairing your hut my sister. A limb fell and damaged it. I see that your voice has been returned to you. What else?”

Walking down to where her superior waited her Oharu bowed as was her norm. Then carefully she reported what had been given her. “Yet I remember little of the time” she admitted. “I am aware I know many things, still I cannot remember them.”

“Nor do I. Until I need the knowledge” Saimmi admitted. “Then it is there for my use. I too was gifted, yet I think I shall keep secret those gifts. Selfish of me, don’t you think my sister?”

Oharu smiled, reaching out to take the reads from the felines arms. “No sister I do not. You must know every one of your priestess’s to the depth of their soul. Yet you must remain a mystery to us, lest we take you for granted. My students?”

“They are off tending shrines of course. I have asked that they visit their village and not return until after tomorrows sunrise song. You and I. We must talk. And that talk must be most serious.”

Setting aside the reeds Oharu turned for her water bottle, only to find it filled with fresh water. “I..”

“It is my turn to supply the water. Now we must talk.” Saimmi sat on a log set up for the purpose. “For I have work for you. I have duties you must accept. Most importantly my true and much loved sister, I must know what you are now.

Accepting the situation Oharu settled down on the same log. “Shall I pour” she asked.