Marshmallows by the fire

[auschars]

Who: Xavier, Clive, Chris, Kayla, Gil, Emil
When: Sunday night, after this postWhere: The California Desert

Comments

[cowboy_chrismc]

"What kind of story?" Chris asked. He'd told campfire stories a time or two like most people where he'd grown up, but after what just happened... he wasn't sure that was the kind of story Xavier meant.

[auschars]

"Whatever comes to mind," Xavier suggested. "About yourself, your life, the things you've seen."

[cowboy_chrismc]

"Well... my father just bought the farmer's market and the surrounding compound cheap," Chris said. He didn't think this was the most exciting of stories, but it was something that was on his mind.

"There's a lot of fields to grow in, and there's houses from the commune that he's going to fix up as rental properties. I was surprised when he told me that he wanted me to be a partner in the enterprise - not just working for him, but a full interest in the business. I've been learning a lot of innovative methods in my agriculture classes, so I'm hoping he'll let me try some of them out."

[walkingxgil]

Gil sleepily accepted a marshmallow, and ate it slowly. When he'd finished, he spoke, playing with the marshmallow stick as he spoke.

"Maybe he means a story about what happened to us ..out there." He touched the medallion around his neck, reflectively. He looked around the circle, meeting everyone's eyes in turn, then dropped his gaze to his hands.

[cowboy_chrismc]

"Oh," Chris said, feeling kind of sheepish that he'd started babbling about the Farmer's Market instead.

[kayla_mc]

"I learned that giant roaches - and little flesh eating roaches - are really, really scary," Kayla said.

She shivered. "It was super creepy."

[dantesque]

"May I tell a story?" Emil asked.

It wasn't a story about now, exactly, so he wasn't sure. He looked to Xavier for approval. "It doesn't relate precisely to what just occurred..."

[just_so_smooth]

"Thanks for having me along," Clive said. "I hadn't planned on getting this involved, at all. I wasn't kidding about my responsibilities, though." He looked from Chris, to Gil, and finally to Kayla. "I know how it looks, believe me. I would hope that I've proven myself to you all, by now."

[auschars]

Xavier shrugged. "Sometimes life chooses you, regardless of what you are or what you look like."

[kayla_mc]

"I'm glad you came along," Kayla said, smiling at Clive. "You're a good Servator."

[just_so_smooth]

Clive grinned. "Thanks, Cavegirl. Don't think that kissing my ass will get you out of running laps, though. You know I love laps."

[dantesque]

"Will you tell us a story?" Emil asked, looking to Xavier.

He'd heard some very interesting stories from his mentor before, and he thought the others would enjoy them as well.

[auschars]

"If you like," Xavier said, nodding. "What would you like to hear about?"

[dantesque]

"Can you tell us a story about Slo’w?" Emil asked, the Eagle god fresh on his mind after what they had just experienced.

[auschars]

"Alright... Slo'w, as you may have deduced, is one of the Great Ones who watches over us from the Higher World, guiding those of us here on the Middle World, and standing in opposition to the Lower World and those who would unleash its many terrors," Xavier began.

"When the Chumash were more numerous, it was the responsibility of the shaman to pass on Slo'w's guidance, and to bring those chosen to be judged by Slo'w. The shaman, guided by Slo'w, would learn the ways of great magicks, great medicine to keep the balance of the world and to protect the people from the nunasish - those of the Lower World who emerged to claim the lands of the Chumash as their own.

It is said that thousands of years ago, it was the Great Eagle who guided the Chumash to the lands of abundance in which they lived peacefully for thousands of years, lands of great power. And it is this power that has made the land prosperous - and dangerous - even today."

[walkingxgil]

"...chosen to be judged by Slo'w..." Gil said, quietly. "We weren't really coming out here for that, though. I know he wasn't." He indicated Clive with a jerk of his head. "We didn't even know he was coming. He didn't even know it until he got to your house, by the sound of it. You're the mortal agent of Slo'w, but how'd you get all of us without time to prepare us? How did you know that we'd go along with it?"

[auschars]

"Vampires were a European problem, until colonists from Europe began settling... and even then, they got their start on the East Coast," Xavier answered Chris, then turned to Gil.

"Who Slo'w chooses is up to him... but I know from experience that the solitary life is not the best life to lead, for those who become guardians of the Gateway... and that those willing to accompany a crazy old man into the desert -- to follow a dream, to search for truth, to watch over the innocent, and to protect each other -- would have all the qualifications necessary." He chuckled a moment. "A test of heart, a test of mind, a test of brotherhood, and a test of courage. Brotherhood is the most overlooked of challenges... for without being able to work with others, you will always be limited by that which you cannot achieve alone."

[dantesque]

"I'm very glad you all came along," Emil said.

He had been willing to do his vision quest alone, but doing it with friends was so much better.

"I hope we can all continue to work together."