Far From Home

    I stared at my master in disbelief. "You’re saying the spirit journey will take a few years?"

    "I may not be able to talk about it, but it is almost certain to take a while. You may bring one companion and once you return..." My master said, trailing off as she waited for me to finish the sentence.

    "I may only talk about it with you, my companion, or a Council Shaman. Like they'd ever see me. I'm not import—"

    "Stop. You are important, and you'll go on to do great things. Every Shaman takes a spirit journey. I'm not sending you away, and your companion has already volunteered if you'll have her."

    "It's Mooner, isn't it."

    "You know, the Alpha Council won't tell me why you call her that, she won't tell me, and I respect you too much to order you to tell me. I ask again, as your friend and mentor; what is with that name?"

    "I'll tell you if I ever see Luna in bright pink pantaloons with purple polka-dots." I said, looking over at the small statue of the two lupine deities, the small coyote of the moon, and the large wolf and creator of canine kind.

    "Mark my word, you'll be telling me when you get back."

    "Maybe. So, just to confirm..." I started

    "Follow the Magic. It'll bring you to where you need to go, and don't forget to stop along the way..." She continued, trailing off.

    "As its not about the destination, but the journey to it," I finished my Master's wisdom with a grin.

    "Alright you got it, now go forth and enjoy your adventure." She shooed me away as I took one last look around the cottage I'd called home for the past decade of my apprenticeship as a Shaman, looking at the jars of ingredients, the caldron, the paintings that I made to teach me focus still hung on the walls, alongside soul masks and icons of Luna and Lupus. Heading outside I took one last look around the clearing; containing the cook pit, a sparring and fight ring, and a twelve and a half foot charred circle where I'd failed my first fire spell; and finally at my best friend, Moonlight Runner, the one who stuck by me, even after the accident that had me outcasted. I looked at her and nodded with a smile, before motioning for her to follow me. We both took off, heading straight east, following the chaos magic out of Lycana and into the great unknown.