Post by Zoralee on Jul 19, 2005 6:37:17 GMT -5
Kayla and Melanax
Kayla Derix stood beside the granite rock in the center of her yard skyclad in the early morning light. It was only a month ago that she had moved in, but there were already numerous blossoms around her. She wanted as much growth and fertility as possible to be present today.
She had made all the necessary preparations for the ritual. The dried sage bundles were smoldering on either side of her, one more effort to cleanse the site of negative energy and malicious entities. A green and purple candle burned, a flame of life and magic. Her parchment, ink, and feather pen were ready for her ideals to be made clear to the spirits. The chalice of wine was poured and resting on the flat top of the boulder-turned-altar. Her athame was ready on the ground beside her. And finally, the focus of the ritual: an appropriate vessel. Kayla had picked up the raven just today from the exotic pet store. Right now, it was tethered to a stand by a generous leash, looking about with haphazard curiosity.
Kayla took a few deep, cleansing breaths, adjusted her braided, leather bracelet, and began to call for a familiar.
"Gaia, cluinn mo urnuigh," (Gaia, hear my prayer) she began. The Gaelic seemed appropriate to the occasion. The animal associated with her Celtic astrological sign was the Raven.
With great seriousness and concentration, she began to write a list of qualities that she was seeking. The black ink dipped and flowed into sinuous characters on the page. "Intelligent. Curious. Tolerant. Patient. Knowledgeable of the magics of the Earth." She repeated the words out loud and in her mind as they soaked into the parchment. Once the list was completed, she lit the bit of paper on the candle flame and watched it burn quickly to ash. The smoke would carry her desires to the realm of the spirits.
Next, she took her silver athame, dedicated to the ways of druidic magic, and pierced her right palm. She let the blood drip into the chalice of wine, infusing it with some of her own magical essence. All the components were now in readiness. It was time to make her request.
Gaia, cluinn mo urnuigh.
Mi dean seo aite naomh.
Mi eisd ris do guth freoraich.
Mi amhaire airson companach
Fas anns a? chumhachd le.
Le do gaol, Ma?thair.
(Gaia, hear my prayer.)
(I have made this place sacred.)
(I listen to your guiding voice.)
(I seek a companion)
(To grow in power with me.)
(By your grace, Mother.)
She knelt in still, solemn silence awaiting the response, her palm still wet with blood, her bare skin just starting to feel the heat of the rising sun. The soft yellow highlighted the stretch marks on her breasts and thighs, the ones she never paid any mind to.
The normally joyful redhead became aware of a strange blue light infusing the air around her. The raven cawed once as the light coalesced around it and contracted into it, leaving the air seeming slightly duller but the bird appearing brilliant with life.
The raven blinked twice as it looked around, the movement now intentional rather than instinctual.
Strange, Kayla heard distinctly in her mind. It feels so much more ? constricted than last time. I?ve been afar too long, perhaps. Whatever had come into the corvid seemed to be thinking out loud, such as it could.
The raven turned to look directly at Kayla. Greetings, human. I take it yours was the summons I have answered?
"Yes, I am Kayla Derix of the Verbena tradition." She spoke the words plainly, trying to control her excitement.
Please, dispense with the vocalization. It?s unnecessary. The raven shuddered and ruffled its feathers. My connection here is tenuous yet, and I am weak. It looked around and noticed the chalice. You have provided the necessary sustenance. And what an appropriate medium you?ve chosen. Anima enim omnis carnis in sanguine est. The spirit-guided bird, feathers shining like obsidian in the light, hopped over to the wide-mouthed chalice and drank deeply. That was quite sufficient. You know your ritural well, Kayla Derix. It chose to remain perched on the granite while it looked around the garden and then back to her. You don?t speak Latin, do you? Pity, but no matter.
Kayla pauses a moment before asking in her mind, "By what name shall I call you spirit?" She was trying very hard to reign in her enthusiasm. The willpower necessary for self-control was considerable.
I was known as Melanax on a previous excursion to this plane. I see no reason that I should have to remember some other name to answer to. And you may think of me in the masculine, if you prefer. Being referred to as an "it" is simply undignified.
Kayla bowed her head in respectful greeting. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Melanax." Kayla's uncle and mentor had taught her how to prepare for the ritual and what to keep in mind when negotiating a contract, but how to deal with a spirit on a personal level ... well, there weren't any hard and fast rules in that department. She was unsure how to continue.
Melanax looked over Kayla from top to toe. Yes, I think you and I will be able to work well together. And I want you to know that I appreciate the choice of a raven for my vessel. I did so want to experience the avian form. Last time, I was a badger. Quite useful but not wholly as mobile as I'd like. Melanax cawed and trilled for a moment. Such a beautiful song, he mused. Kayla just smiled and bowed her head in response.
Well, I suppose we should dispense with the idle chat and begin the contract. I believe I possess all of the mental qualities you requested. The raven's chest puffed out in a seemingly unconscious gesture. And I have a rather extensive knowledge of the magical properties of various minerals that I will make available to you. That should fulfill your other request. I also have am aware of some varieties of esoteric facts that may prove useful from time to time. And I assume you?d prefer the devouring of some of those Paradox energies mages tend to accumulate. I do find them to be rather tasty. But ... Melanax cocked his head. Kayla could feel a probing of the spiritual energies in the area. ... my influence here seems restricted, yet. My appetite, as it were, cannot be as great as last time. Pity. But I imagine that I'll require less of your essence to remain, as well. Will this satisfy your search, Kayla Derix?
"Yes it will, Melanax," She answered plainly. She was about to list what she could offer when the raven closed his eyes and became very still. Her uncle had warned her that sometimes familiars had rather strange requests. Perhaps it was best to simply let him make his demands.
After a short while, Melanax opened his eyes again and looked at Kayla. This is what I desire from our bargain. You shall provide me with this same amount of your power each week. Your blood and wine in this chalice will be an acceptable means to transmit this. Out of respect for my physical form, you shall consume the flesh of no bird. He looked at her with cocked head and blinking eye. Kayla suddenly felt horribly exposed, as if her very Avatar was being prodded and examined. You are already burdened with a parallel prohibition. Perhaps you should consider veganism. Regardless, my requirement remains. Also, there are subjects I wish to study. Each month you will provide a new tome of magical study for my perusal. If a subject piques my interest, I would prefer that you satiate my curiosity. I often find human magical endeavors fascinating and sometimes just outright amusing. Also, I would like to know more about the sport you call football. A new tome on this subject each month is also required. As for the mortal needs of my physical form ... Melanax flapped his wings to punctuate his request ... I would like to eat foods consumed at football stadiums. Hot dogs, I believe. Cheese nachos are also acceptable. Finally, you shall purchase a pair of season tickets for the Baltimore Ravens, and give them away to be sold at a charity auction of your choosing. He paused, staring at Kayla. These are my contract demands. Can you fulfill them? Are they acceptable?
Kayla considered only for a moment. She knew nothing about football and season tickets would put a bit of a crimp on her finances. Red meat was something she wasn't used to buying. But there was something intriguing about the demands, and Kayla was eager to pick Melanax's brain about the crystals in her display counter. "I accept," she said with a broad smile.
Good, said Melanax, and he cawed to announce his approval. The raven leaned down and picked loose the knot tying his ankle to the brass stand. Then he flew to the ground and used his beak to pull a piece of parchment from the sheaf that Kayla had brought out. It had written on it all the details of the familiar contract between them. Melanax pressed his foot to the corner leaving a metallic-blue footprint. Kayla wasted no time in making a fingerprint with her own blood, now sticky on her palm.
Burn it, he said. She did, like she had done before. As the smoke dispersed into the L.A. haze and the spirits learned of the binding agreement, the air of her sanctum again became filled with blue light. It began to intensify and collect around both Kayla Derix and Melanax, bringing a sense of weight and tightness and unity to the two new partners. Kayla could already feel Melanax's presence in her mind, like a nugget just under the surface.
When the brightness had finally passed, Melanax spoke first, still, as always, in Kayla's mind. Our partnership now begins, Kayla. I believe it will be a fruitful one.
"It is an honor to share this part of the journey with you, Mel," she said out loud, unable to keep her gleeful satisfaction from her voice.
Mel? Hmm. I suppose that?s acceptable until it grows tiresome. The raven hopped onto Kayla?s shoulder as she stood to head inside. He was careful not to dig his claws too deeply into her bare skin. Her first stop would be the bookshelves in her apartment. She had a contract to uphold, and there was no time like the present to begin.
I understand you are a student of augury, Kayla. It will be quite fascinating to observe your progress in this subject. Kayla smiled, joyfully content with her new familiar.
Check
Kayla Derix stood beside the granite rock in the center of her yard skyclad in the early morning light. It was only a month ago that she had moved in, but there were already numerous blossoms around her. She wanted as much growth and fertility as possible to be present today.
She had made all the necessary preparations for the ritual. The dried sage bundles were smoldering on either side of her, one more effort to cleanse the site of negative energy and malicious entities. A green and purple candle burned, a flame of life and magic. Her parchment, ink, and feather pen were ready for her ideals to be made clear to the spirits. The chalice of wine was poured and resting on the flat top of the boulder-turned-altar. Her athame was ready on the ground beside her. And finally, the focus of the ritual: an appropriate vessel. Kayla had picked up the raven just today from the exotic pet store. Right now, it was tethered to a stand by a generous leash, looking about with haphazard curiosity.
Kayla took a few deep, cleansing breaths, adjusted her braided, leather bracelet, and began to call for a familiar.
"Gaia, cluinn mo urnuigh," (Gaia, hear my prayer) she began. The Gaelic seemed appropriate to the occasion. The animal associated with her Celtic astrological sign was the Raven.
With great seriousness and concentration, she began to write a list of qualities that she was seeking. The black ink dipped and flowed into sinuous characters on the page. "Intelligent. Curious. Tolerant. Patient. Knowledgeable of the magics of the Earth." She repeated the words out loud and in her mind as they soaked into the parchment. Once the list was completed, she lit the bit of paper on the candle flame and watched it burn quickly to ash. The smoke would carry her desires to the realm of the spirits.
Next, she took her silver athame, dedicated to the ways of druidic magic, and pierced her right palm. She let the blood drip into the chalice of wine, infusing it with some of her own magical essence. All the components were now in readiness. It was time to make her request.
Gaia, cluinn mo urnuigh.
Mi dean seo aite naomh.
Mi eisd ris do guth freoraich.
Mi amhaire airson companach
Fas anns a? chumhachd le.
Le do gaol, Ma?thair.
(Gaia, hear my prayer.)
(I have made this place sacred.)
(I listen to your guiding voice.)
(I seek a companion)
(To grow in power with me.)
(By your grace, Mother.)
She knelt in still, solemn silence awaiting the response, her palm still wet with blood, her bare skin just starting to feel the heat of the rising sun. The soft yellow highlighted the stretch marks on her breasts and thighs, the ones she never paid any mind to.
The normally joyful redhead became aware of a strange blue light infusing the air around her. The raven cawed once as the light coalesced around it and contracted into it, leaving the air seeming slightly duller but the bird appearing brilliant with life.
The raven blinked twice as it looked around, the movement now intentional rather than instinctual.
Strange, Kayla heard distinctly in her mind. It feels so much more ? constricted than last time. I?ve been afar too long, perhaps. Whatever had come into the corvid seemed to be thinking out loud, such as it could.
The raven turned to look directly at Kayla. Greetings, human. I take it yours was the summons I have answered?
"Yes, I am Kayla Derix of the Verbena tradition." She spoke the words plainly, trying to control her excitement.
Please, dispense with the vocalization. It?s unnecessary. The raven shuddered and ruffled its feathers. My connection here is tenuous yet, and I am weak. It looked around and noticed the chalice. You have provided the necessary sustenance. And what an appropriate medium you?ve chosen. Anima enim omnis carnis in sanguine est. The spirit-guided bird, feathers shining like obsidian in the light, hopped over to the wide-mouthed chalice and drank deeply. That was quite sufficient. You know your ritural well, Kayla Derix. It chose to remain perched on the granite while it looked around the garden and then back to her. You don?t speak Latin, do you? Pity, but no matter.
Kayla pauses a moment before asking in her mind, "By what name shall I call you spirit?" She was trying very hard to reign in her enthusiasm. The willpower necessary for self-control was considerable.
I was known as Melanax on a previous excursion to this plane. I see no reason that I should have to remember some other name to answer to. And you may think of me in the masculine, if you prefer. Being referred to as an "it" is simply undignified.
Kayla bowed her head in respectful greeting. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Melanax." Kayla's uncle and mentor had taught her how to prepare for the ritual and what to keep in mind when negotiating a contract, but how to deal with a spirit on a personal level ... well, there weren't any hard and fast rules in that department. She was unsure how to continue.
Melanax looked over Kayla from top to toe. Yes, I think you and I will be able to work well together. And I want you to know that I appreciate the choice of a raven for my vessel. I did so want to experience the avian form. Last time, I was a badger. Quite useful but not wholly as mobile as I'd like. Melanax cawed and trilled for a moment. Such a beautiful song, he mused. Kayla just smiled and bowed her head in response.
Well, I suppose we should dispense with the idle chat and begin the contract. I believe I possess all of the mental qualities you requested. The raven's chest puffed out in a seemingly unconscious gesture. And I have a rather extensive knowledge of the magical properties of various minerals that I will make available to you. That should fulfill your other request. I also have am aware of some varieties of esoteric facts that may prove useful from time to time. And I assume you?d prefer the devouring of some of those Paradox energies mages tend to accumulate. I do find them to be rather tasty. But ... Melanax cocked his head. Kayla could feel a probing of the spiritual energies in the area. ... my influence here seems restricted, yet. My appetite, as it were, cannot be as great as last time. Pity. But I imagine that I'll require less of your essence to remain, as well. Will this satisfy your search, Kayla Derix?
"Yes it will, Melanax," She answered plainly. She was about to list what she could offer when the raven closed his eyes and became very still. Her uncle had warned her that sometimes familiars had rather strange requests. Perhaps it was best to simply let him make his demands.
After a short while, Melanax opened his eyes again and looked at Kayla. This is what I desire from our bargain. You shall provide me with this same amount of your power each week. Your blood and wine in this chalice will be an acceptable means to transmit this. Out of respect for my physical form, you shall consume the flesh of no bird. He looked at her with cocked head and blinking eye. Kayla suddenly felt horribly exposed, as if her very Avatar was being prodded and examined. You are already burdened with a parallel prohibition. Perhaps you should consider veganism. Regardless, my requirement remains. Also, there are subjects I wish to study. Each month you will provide a new tome of magical study for my perusal. If a subject piques my interest, I would prefer that you satiate my curiosity. I often find human magical endeavors fascinating and sometimes just outright amusing. Also, I would like to know more about the sport you call football. A new tome on this subject each month is also required. As for the mortal needs of my physical form ... Melanax flapped his wings to punctuate his request ... I would like to eat foods consumed at football stadiums. Hot dogs, I believe. Cheese nachos are also acceptable. Finally, you shall purchase a pair of season tickets for the Baltimore Ravens, and give them away to be sold at a charity auction of your choosing. He paused, staring at Kayla. These are my contract demands. Can you fulfill them? Are they acceptable?
Kayla considered only for a moment. She knew nothing about football and season tickets would put a bit of a crimp on her finances. Red meat was something she wasn't used to buying. But there was something intriguing about the demands, and Kayla was eager to pick Melanax's brain about the crystals in her display counter. "I accept," she said with a broad smile.
Good, said Melanax, and he cawed to announce his approval. The raven leaned down and picked loose the knot tying his ankle to the brass stand. Then he flew to the ground and used his beak to pull a piece of parchment from the sheaf that Kayla had brought out. It had written on it all the details of the familiar contract between them. Melanax pressed his foot to the corner leaving a metallic-blue footprint. Kayla wasted no time in making a fingerprint with her own blood, now sticky on her palm.
Burn it, he said. She did, like she had done before. As the smoke dispersed into the L.A. haze and the spirits learned of the binding agreement, the air of her sanctum again became filled with blue light. It began to intensify and collect around both Kayla Derix and Melanax, bringing a sense of weight and tightness and unity to the two new partners. Kayla could already feel Melanax's presence in her mind, like a nugget just under the surface.
When the brightness had finally passed, Melanax spoke first, still, as always, in Kayla's mind. Our partnership now begins, Kayla. I believe it will be a fruitful one.
"It is an honor to share this part of the journey with you, Mel," she said out loud, unable to keep her gleeful satisfaction from her voice.
Mel? Hmm. I suppose that?s acceptable until it grows tiresome. The raven hopped onto Kayla?s shoulder as she stood to head inside. He was careful not to dig his claws too deeply into her bare skin. Her first stop would be the bookshelves in her apartment. She had a contract to uphold, and there was no time like the present to begin.
I understand you are a student of augury, Kayla. It will be quite fascinating to observe your progress in this subject. Kayla smiled, joyfully content with her new familiar.
Check