“And moon gods’ blessings to you, Blood Wolf,” they say, only their lips didn’t seem to move, or did they?
“And, uh, the same to you,” I stammer, more aware of how un-ethereal I am than ever.
“Come, sit,” they say, for sure with their mouth this time, and gesture to the cushions. “Tea?”
“Um, sure. Tea would be great.”
“Omar, would you mind?”
“Certainly.” Omar bows not unlike a butler and then moves over to an electric stove I hadn’t noticed before where a steel kettle is already heating.
For some reason I assumed Omar would leave me here and head off to help, I dunno, patrol the borders or build something like Jasper is doing, but instead he goes about making tea as if he lives here as well.
When I sit and turn to Yoki, I find them watching me with an amused expression and a gentle smile. “Omar has become an attentive acolyte these past months,” they say, answering the questions I had only thought.
“Oh.” I didn’t realize Omar was so interested in the spiritual realm.
“After spending all that time with Agatha up north,” he says, carrying a tray of cups and a teapot to the circle, “I started to see the benefits of communicating with the spirits. Yoki has been training me since I arrived at the Sanc.”
He places the tray by our feet and pours tea into three ceramic cups before passing one to Yoki, then one to me.
“So you’ll be staying?” I ask.
“If you don’t mind,” he answers.
My cheeks are warm and I don’t think it’s from the hot tea. “I—I don’t mind.”
“Omar will be a steadying presence as we explore the great consciousness,” Yoki says, blowing gently then sipping their tea. They have this melodic way of speaking and this slight grin that makes them seem amused by everything, as if the ways of us earth dwellers are adorably novel to them.
For a moment we sip our tea quietly. Yoki and Omar seem content to sit in silence, but my mind is racing and I want to know what’s going to happen next.
“So uh, I was sort of hoping you might be able to help me figure out this whole blood-wolf thing…Omar says you’re amazing at all this wolf-energy spiritual stuff, and I really need some help to quiet down the noise in my head. You wouldn’t believe the headaches I’ve been having. It’s been majorly bad, like uberpainful, and I’ve been a mess, a complete zonker!”
Yoki waits patiently while I ramble, then finally looks up, smiles generously at me, and laughs ever so quietly.
“The lupine chorus is not a noise to silence but a blessing to embrace,” they say. “Like a river, you cannot fight it. You must let the current direct you and enjoy the flow.”
Are they going to speak in riddles the whole time?
“Uh, yeah, you’re right. Sorry. I know it’s not noise to block out, at least that’s what Omar told me. It’s just—”
Yoki raises a delicate hand to stop me from blathering any further.
“You have no need to be nervous,” they say. “I know why you have come.”
Unless Mal and the council sent a quick email or text, I don’t know how Yoki could know exactly why I’ve come, but I guess that’s just how in tune they are.
“So you can help me?” I ask.
Again they smile and laugh into their teacup. “You do not need my help. But I am happy to serve as your guide through the lunar planes.”
I take a breath and let my shoulders relax. “Phew, okay. Great. A guide. That would be—that’s perfect.”
Yoki places their cup down on the tray gently, then presses their palms together lightly. “You are unsure. Afraid that your path is not your own. Afraid to be lost among the multitude of voices that sing within the lupine chorus. But you need not be afraid. The path you tread can only be forged by the wolf within.”
Oy, again with the riddles.
“I would like, if I may, to begin with a ritual.” Yoki doesn’t move but Omar stands all of a sudden, as if he knows what they need without them asking.
