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white tip toe slot 10
Change eyes to scarab
As Stevie lay curled up in the back of her den, she could sense that she was nearing the end of her long life. She had lived a good life, a happy life, full of the companionship of her pride mates and the joy of watching the next generation grow and learn. And yet, she had regrets...
She had heard the call of the ancestors early in life, but had chosen a life with her pride instead of answering the call. How different would life have been if she had become a shaman instead? In the end she supposed it didn't really matter, but she couldn't help but wonder if she had made the right choice. Hopefully the ancestors would welcome her warmly when she left to join them.
Though whether that would be lions or jaguars she was unsure. She had always felt as if though she was pulled in different directions, by two different worlds. Perhaps that was why she chose her pride instead. After all, who had ever heard of a jaglion shaman? Who would have listened to her messages really?
Stevie lay her head on her paws, closing her eyes and sighing softly. Suddenly, a warm breeze ruffled her fur, it smelled of rain, of flowers, and of green growing things.
As Stevie opened her eyes and raised her head, she was greeted by the sight of two ghostly beings. The first was undoubtedly a lion, but the second.... Heavier set than a leopard with unusual looking spots. A jaguar? She blinked several times and snorted in surprise at the odd couple. The lion spirit regarded her with something close to amusement, while the jaguar gave her a gentle smile.
Stevie heard a gentle voice in her mind.
"Dear one, you have lived a full life, one full of love and joy. But you still feel as if there was more, do you not?"
Stevie sat up slowly and turned towards the them.
"I felt your call as a cub," she said softly,"but I was too afraid to answer it."
"Would you answer it now, little one?" The spirits asked.
"How can I? I am a jaglion, between worlds, between ancestors. Who would listen?", Stevie asked sadly.
"We would," said the spirits in unison."We have great need of you. You who are between worlds, who can answer the call of both ancestors, and who can deliver messages between these worlds."
"I am old now," Stevie replied,"Too old, to be able to run to deliver those messages."
"Would you be willing if you were young and able again?" Asked the spirits.
Stevie raised her chin, looking the spirits in the eyes. "I would," she replied firmly.
The spirits smiled warmly,"Then we will grant you our blessing, though it comes with a price, dear one. You will be outside of time, between the world of the living and the dead. A part of neither, yet vital to both. Are you still willing?"
"I am," said Stevie.
"Then close your eyes little one," the spirits said gently."when you open them, you will be born anew."
Stevie did as the spirits commanded and closed her eyes, she felt a feather light touch upon her brow. Her body suddenly felt warm, almost too warm, and light as if all the years had suddenly washed away. Next she felt what she could only describe as lightning racing across her body, but strangely no pain, rather she felt strong as if though it was giving her it's energy.
When Stevie finally opened her eyes, the spirits were gone. Stumbling to her feet, she quickly exited the den, and walked over to a pool of water. The reflection that greeted her, was both like her and not. Gone were the signs of age, instead replaced with a young, healthy jaglion. Her markings were no longer the soft grays she had come to recognize, but a glittering, glimmering blue. The mark of the ancestors. Her eyes filling with tears of gratitude, Stevie softly thanked the ancestors for their kindness.
Sparing one last glance at her reflection, Stevie prepared to set off on her journey. She took with her the seeds of the wild centaury, the plant that grew in her old home. She would plant them in her new home, to remember her old pride by. The road will be a long one, full of danger and adventure. But Stevie is, at long last, ready.
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