Bear Coast Page 14
“Hello Jammet… Jameen” replied Trex with a smile, happy that his memory had not failed him, “It’s been awhile, how are you both?”
“We’re good, we’re good,” said Jammet happily.
“Just the same old I’m afraid, nothing compared to what you’ve been up to,” continued Jameen with a smile.
Trex blushed slightly. He wasn’t surprised that the twins knew of his and Sara’s adventures, they were Sara’s closest friends all those years ago as well, after all.
“And now you’re off on another adventure,” said Jammet, sounding slightly envious.
“Hopefully just a boring sea voyage,” said Trex with a smile.
Sara gave her unsaid approval, nodding slightly.
“You never know,” said Jameen slyly.
“Don’t you two have something to be doing?” called Sallice from behind. She was mildly irritated by the jovial way the two twins were discussing the potential dangers Trex and Sara faced. As well as mildly annoyed that they knew anything about it in the first place.
“We’re on a short break Mrs. Kelgorn,” said Jameen kindly, temporarily deflecting the issue.
“Still,” continued Jammet, “you soon wont be the only ones having all the fun, we’re probably going to get transferred to BridgeHead or your final year, just like you Sara.”
Sara looked appropriately surprised.
“When did that happen?” Sara asked.
“We’ve been talking with mum and dad about it…” replied Jammet, leaning back slightly and taking a self important pose to highlight his pleasure on the matter.
“BridgeHead is the place to be it seems,” said Jameen.
“Wow,” said Sara, honestly happy to hear it. A large smile appeared on her face, a rarity.
“That’s great news,” Sara added.
“And how’s your uncle and Aunt?” asked Jammet, ploughing on unstoppably with his questions. He was subconsciously aware that there was only so much Mrs. Kelgorn would tolerate.
Sallice and Patt noticeably stopped what they were doing, interested at the answer, even if they didn’t dare to ask it themselves.
“They are both doing very well, we have the farm running like clockwork,” replied Trex.
“And your cousin?” asked Jameen, obviously her primary interest.
“Zea… she’s fine,” replied Trex, a little less confidently.
This was picked up by both of Sara’s Parents, despite their distance away.
“What does she look like?” asked Jammet, too interested to even consider not asking this potentially untactful question.
“Uhhh?” said Trex, unsure of how to respond.
“She’s about half-half,” said Sara, “with very pale yellow fur and brown hair.”
Trex was happy for the save, simply nodding at what Sara said.
“Wow,” said Jammet, continuing with his untactful behaviour.
“So has she got any powers yet?” continued Jammet.
“Powers?” questioned the young Anthro lion.
“You know, like in the stories you hear about halflings.”
“Jammet!” scolded his sister, her brother’s lack of tact even crossing her line of good taste.
“She’s not even in school yet,” said Trex, a little bewildered with the onslaught of questions.
“Oh,” said Jammet, a little disappointed.
Both Jameen and Sara rolled their eyes at the inquisitive wolf.
“Hopefully once we start our schooling in BridgeHead we can meet up more often,” said Jameen kindly, moving on from her brothers questions.
“That would be nice,” said Trex honestly.
“And of course there is no reason you can’t visit us,” added Jammet.
This was too much for Sara’s parents in the background, who had been listening with a mixture of interest and displeasure.
“Jammet. Jameen,” called Patt suddenly, “I am sure that your parents would not appreciate you wasting your time here when there is work to do.”
Sara’s father’s voice clearly indicated that it was time for the two to leave, immediately, or face the consequences.
The two twins could read the writing on the wall.
“We’d better go,” said Jameen tactfully, starting to back away a bit in preparation for leaving, “take care you two. And make sure you get back safely.”
“Best of luck, we’ll be seeing ‘both’ of you again soon,” said Jammet, following his sister.
As the two had personally wished Sara well the night before, there was no need for a big goodbye now. In any case, Jammet found the idea of doing anything soppy in front of Sara’s parents particularly embarrassing.
Sara and Trex watched the two as they walked back the way they had come.
The twins had barely disappeared from sight when Jamett’s voice could again be heard.
“Hello Sage Filfia ma’am, best of luck,” Jammet said in good spirits.
“Hello,” came the voice of the Sage, “and thank you.”
Sara realised that the twins had probably been talking to the Sage for a while, waiting for Trex to appear.
Sara, Trex and Sara’s parents all turned to see Sage Filfia come around the corner. She was carrying a dangerously overloaded large basket full of herbs and vegetables. She had a satisfied smile on her face.
“Oh, time to go already,” said the Sage, seeing the two youngsters fully packed and ready to go.
The Sage was filthy, her normally impeccably clean clothes covered from head to toe in dirt of one description or another. She obviously really did love gardening and farming, and used each opportunity to fully immerse herself, literally it seemed.
The four Anthros all stared at the unusual sight, unsure of how to react.
“I’ll just put these away then,” said the Sage with a smile, sauntering in the direction of the main house while happily ignoring the stares that she was receiving.
A short time later Trex and Sara were riding their respective animals on either side of Sage Filfia and her steed.
Sage Filfia’s horse was a massive red beast.
Unusual for a domesticated horse on the Anthro world, its large, long dear-like antlers were not filed back. The antlers had two main branches and various smaller ones, reaching about half a meter over the animal’s head. The red animal did not have a bridle, or stirrups, the Sage simply sat on top of a soft blanket on its back, held in position by two very loose and soft braces.
The horse walked in slow powerful steps, without any direction from its passenger at all.
Sara couldn’t help but feel a little small somehow. Sage Filfia sat almost a full head-height higher on her massive mount then Sara did on the smaller Misha. Trex sat another head higher again, due to Suzzi’s incredibly long legs and large hump on her back.
Sage Filfia had only cleaned herself up a bit, seemingly not concerned, or possibly a bit proud, of the earth that was still visible on her clothes.
They had finally made it to the main road and were travelling up-hill towards Torstberg. The city being perched still higher up in the valleys of the northern mountains.
The three had been travelling in silence since leaving Sara’s home. Sage Filfia’s presence seemed to radiate quiet. Most Anthros that found themselves in the old wolf’s immediate surroundings often did not speak. Everyone became self conscious about ensuring that what they said actually carried real meaning and purpose.
Sara wondered how Jammet had managed to gather enough courage to start up a conversation with the imposing elder. But then again, a lot of the Sage’s mystique had surely been removed by seeing her bent over with her arms in the dirt, working a large vegetable patch. Also, Jamett’s special version of social obliviousness probably kept him blind to things that would worry most other Anthros. It was amazing what some males could get away with. Sara doubted the Sage would have tolerated such informality from a female.
“From what I understand” said the Sage suddenly, grabbing the atten
tion of her young escorts, “the two of you have fought side by side a few times now… is that correct?”
“Yes ma’am,” said Trex quickly.
Due to his lion training, as well as social differences, he was not as influenced by the Sage’s natural intimidating projection as Sara.
“Did you notice anything… unusual while you were fighting at each others side?”
Trex didn’t have the natural scepticism of Sara. As he had a wolf for an aunt, and an underlying faith in all Anthros, it made it easier for him to trust the wise old female. This made him more willing to impart information.
“Twice…” said Trex, “twice now, when I’ve been in a really bad spot, facing someone with the intent to kill, and my back against the wall, Sara was able to project emotions into me, it gave me incredible strength and determination, I’ve never felt anything like it.”
Sage Filfia seemed to be satisfied with the description. The older female turned in her saddle to face Sara.
“And you Sara?” she asked.
Sara, by nature, didn’t really share information willingly, but after facing three days of mental harassment from the powerful old wolf, she knew better then to bother hiding anything.
Sara put up a token stubbornness, holding defiant eye contact with Filfia for a moment to indicate that she was not happy giving the information freely.
“I have noticed that I am able to control my emotions considerably more when I am fighting beside Trex,” said Sara, having had more time to think about it, “I can make my most dangerous emotions much more intense without losing control.”
Trex listened on with interest. He had been unable to gauge how much Sara was using her projection. It was somehow comforting to know that he had a positive influence on her, instead of it only being one-sided.
“I would assume,” said Sage Filfia calmly, addressing Sara, “that you felt the influence of Trex constantly.”
Sara nodded.
“And that you Trex only felt the influence of Sara on occasion.”
Trex nodded.
“Very typical,” said Sage Filfia with a smile, “that is the effect of your individual cultures at work.”
Both of the youngsters looked at the Sage with interest.
“Anthro lions are by their nature communal, meaning they subconsciously share everything willingly, including their emotional projection.”
“Emotional projection?” questioned Sara, not having ever heard that term used for Anthro lions.
“Let me finish,” said the Sage calmly, raising her hand.
“Anthro wolves, however, are more individualistic,” the Sage continued, “they mostly keep their projection for themselves to increase their strength, speed etcetera. What they end up sharing is more of a by-product, unless they deliberately concentrate on a specific individual.”
Sara couldn’t help but think that wolves were being painted in a somewhat selfish light.
“To come back to your statement just before,” continued the Sage, “why do you believe that lions do not project emotions?”
Sara thought for a second before answering, not wanting to sound stupid.
“Anthro lions get their concentration from having no emotions. They are not normally influenced by any projection.”
Sage Filfia smiled, leaving an appropriate pause to allow for both youths to absorb everything that was being said.
“Trex,” said Filfia. “What do you ‘feel’ when you are preparing to fight?”
Trex thought about this for a second.
“I feel focused, concentrated… it’s as if time slows down, you are aware of everything around you, you become one with your equipment, you notice every sound… everything.”
“Are these not emotions?” asked the Sage, turning back to Sara.
“Not real ones, not like anger, or fear or love.”
“Hmmm,” mused the Sage out loud.
“What are emotions exactly?” she asked suddenly.
Both of the youngsters looked a little confused, everyone knew what emotions were, didn’t they?
Feeling as if they were being lead into a logical trap, both wisely decided not to answer.
“And what happens if you combine emotions, is that a new emotion? Is everything we ‘feel’ an emotion, and if so, can you always explain clearly what you feel?” the Sage continued.
Sara and Trex were both lost in thought.
“And what about thoughts? Do they not affect emotions as well as describing them? And what of the body, that also has an affect on emotions, where does a clearly defined line exist between any of these things?”
The two youths looked appropriately overwhelmed.
“Thoughts, feelings and the physical body are all very complex systems on their own, together, the combined system is almost unfathomable.”
Sage Filfia left an appropriate pause for this to sink in.
“The most important thing you need to know is this…” she said in a serious tone, getting their undivided attention.
“Emotions… feelings… this is the link between your mind and your body. Emotions are fundamentally separate from either in its own way, they influence both… and are influenced by both. Just like you, with your thoughts, can control emotions; your emotions can control you, by influencing your thoughts. This is also true for the interaction between your emotions and your body, and so consequently, indirectly between your thoughts and your body.”
The older wolf looked from one of her companions to the other, observing how they were reacting. Satisfied, she continued her introduction.
“Now you may be wondering why I brought this up, but it is important to realise this fundamental principle. Unfortunately, most current teachings in both wolf or lion territories fail to understand the fundamental subjective nature of this emotions-thought-body line, so over simplify while explaining isolated elements without taking into appreciation the system as a whole.”
The Sage took another pause.
“Now I want you to keep this in mind in regards to what I am about to say…
The Sage took a calm breath before continuing.
“…both lion and wolf powers are derived from controlling emotions, nothing more. The wolves generate their abilities by focusing their emotions, the lions by balancing them.”
Sara and Trex took in the new information, both their brows furrowing slightly with the strain of trying to understand the logic.
“Shouldn’t the two cancel each other out? Ma’am,” asked Sara suddenly.
“In what way?” asked the Sage.
“They are both trying to do opposite things. Shouldn’t the one cancel the other out when wolf and lion are positively influencing each other?”
“Ahhh,” said the Sage, impressed with Sara’s quick train of thought.
“You are thinking one is negative and one positive, equalling zero?”
Sara thought for a second.
“I suppose so.”
“Not everything that is different has to be naturally opposites, it is all a matter of perception. I prefer to think of the interaction like… like building a tower,” replied the Sage calmly, “Wolf training focuses on building one emotion, or one single pillar if you like, as tall as possible.”
“This is what I meant before by current training over simplifying key elements,” the Sage added as a side note.
“As you could imagine,” Filfia continued, “one pillar can not reach that high before it becomes unstable. Trex’s influence on you is to widen the base of your pillar, this allows you to build much taller then you could previously have been able to do safely. The same works for Trex and lions in general, they have a very solid foundation due to their training of evening all emotions out. Your influence on him, when he allows it, is to rapidly raise one pillar out of this wide base, something the large solid base allows him to do rapidly, without too much danger.”
Again there was a pause. But this time it was Trex who came up with the question.
“In what way?” asked the Sage, ignoring the slip up.
“I mean, wolves get stronger, faster and the like, while we can change the properties of materials. Ma’am. They seem completely different.”
The Sage smiled, pleased with the order of the questions.
“You remember what I said about thought, emotions and body?”
“Yes…” answered Trex, a little hesitantly.
“Look at Sara,” the Sage instructed suddenly.
Trex did so. Sara looked a little self conscious.
“She is physically no larger then you… she has no more muscle then you. In a few years time you will be considerably physically more massive then her, do you think she will still be stronger then you when not controlling her emotions?”
Trex thought for a second before answering.
“No, of course not. She gets her strength ‘from’ her emotions, not her body.”
“Do emotions have strength? Can emotions even move a feather without a living body to act through?”
“What about a Sage’s control of the weather, or a Shaman’s potions and spells?” challenged Sara, believing she had an opening.
Sage Filfia laughed, happy to see Sara’s probing, calculating mind.
“That is a lesson for another day… for now we will concentrate on the abilities that most Anthro wolves and lions have.”
Sara had no choice but to accept the deflection.
“As I was saying,” continued the Sage, “emotional energy acts on a physical body. It is a common misconception to separate our body from the rest of the world. What exactly is the difference between emotions acting on our body or on an external object?”
“One is part of your living body, the other is not… ma’am,” answered Sara, happy to be pointing out the obvious.
“Trex,” said Sage Filfia, “you said before that your equipment becomes an extension of your body, correct?”
“Yes Ma’am,” answered Trex.
“And how do you do this?”
Trex had to think about this, continuing the logic of the conversation.