Test of Faith

What a weekend. Between two company meetings, a wedding, and a unheard of gathering on the Den's roof, I believe I'm forever changed.

It started with Mitka's wedding to wife Ashley.

Syle's daughter, like most of the younglings in Midian, has grown up so fast...literally. She's now 18 and expecting her first child. A girl she insists will be named Claire. Mitka asked me to be her Maid of Honor for the wedding ceremony, and I couldn't be happier.

Just as with my wedding, The Pack came out in gorgeous formal dress for the ceremony in the theatre.

A short and sweet exchange of vows proceeded then we moved to the Twilight Zone club for the reception. Along the way, I thought about all the weddings being planned or those that had been. Mostly same sex, both female couples with not one ceremony held within the church's walls. The restriction's forced a lot of people to get creative within the city.

I wish them all the best in their future.

I've always been faithful to the Word of the Lord. I've always known that there are other things that God alone could not explain. That's what being a part of the Pack opened my eyes to.

I've seen and been a part of love I doubt I'd be able to explain. I've gained a new found confidence in my work. I've become very emotionally tied to the people and creatures of the Pack family. I may have my own business with working in the city, but my roots and ideals always lead back to the ruins that chose to take me in first.

It's never a strange thought to believe that there are greater things in the remnants of the ruins, and Ayr is amongst one the most finely tuned to them. He's always said things like how we should announce and give a howl of rejoice when a new member joined our family; or listen to the land in times of distress or calm for counsel. That's what this was - Counsel.

Ayr instructed us to gather fuel, wood, and to bring momentos for a special ritual fire. Having just seen him and Syle in church mass earlier that morning, I didn't think much of the fire to come. Ayr's a wonderful man, but he's not absent of eccentricities.

I still brought something for the fire. A stuffed folder. I never admitted it, but that folder was my life. All the condensed data on my life, everything that was taken from me. My parents' history, their lives, my childhood, all the tests done to me...all the torture that went along with it. In my hands, hugging tightly to my chest, was the very thing I had come to Midian to locate. The truth.

...and I threw it all away.

It was not at all what I expected. A fantastic display of bright colored flames and ceremonial chants. Not a traditional bonfire. Ayr did warn us not to fear or doubt what might come, but I declined to understand what he meant.

Then something appeared.

A spirit of white and glowing auras

I was not scared of the spirit itself, rather afraid of what was not known about it. My cybernetic eyes told me nothing was there, but my sight said otherwise. It knew Ayr well, warning him that his time was short. That didn't sit well with the others...nor did the spirit's attempt to strangle him. Most of the onlooking Pack growled or screamed, helplessly wondering how they could save him from ...well a ghost.

Ayr had called the spirit to provide answers and insight into the future of the Pack and the ruins. The Dregs currently are deemed a threat to the destroyed lands we've claimed as our own to protect. The Pack has split apart in several ways as well, and the spirit scolded us on this division. It claimed that we had lost our way and out pride as Pack of the ruins. Things did settle after some tense conversation and Ayr's release from the near strangulation. Ayr then encouraged us to ask the spirit our deepest questions.

What struck me was how meek and small Ayr seemed to be at the hands of this spirit. Once he was released, he moved away from the cirlce, respectfully submissive and quiet while the spirit beckoned us forward.

I think he was scared.

The spirit did say he was on short time.

Ayr will die soon

Don't you dare go there! Nine thousand years of life, he can handle a few more decades. I went first, offering the folder to the spirit then asked the deepest darkest question of my heart.

"Will I find peace in my lifetime?"

The answer I received was both wonderful and terrifying.

""You.. you... indeed have faced many things in such a short lifespan.."

"Your road is not over yet, I fear.. but if you believe you are strong enough to weather any storm.... you may find your peace child.... take what you have and cherish it... it may not always be there."

"So too do I warn of things of the past coming to find you"