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"You know, the fundamental difference between him and us is that our visions are always true. And no one likes a true oracle because no one likes the truth. His visions though are only what might happen in the future. The future's not set in stone. So he has it easier." Tseen Ke huffed, as he helped his sister stand, the slender but usually sturdy female uncharacteristically weak. He was once again trying to be the voice of reason as well as a source of strength after one of her episodes. He himself wished that he'd never had a vision, having seen what no mortal should in his mother's past... and no longer cared too much for her scrying the present in pursuit of information about their future-seer brother.


"The truth is all about you Tseen Ke, if only you'd let yourself see." Passing a bright paw over her face to smooth away the stress, Verdandi tried to compose herself and waved off his attempt to continue supporting her as they started to walk away from the spot they had dozed in. It was temporary, it would pass quickly this weakness, even if the headache she had wouldn't. She only grew weak if she forced her visions. Still it wasn't so bad. She'd barely touched the 'undercurrent' as she called it and seen a flash of a cub that she knew was her nephew but had never met.


"If only you would stop trying to force yourself to see!" He shook his maned head and walked alongside her. While she valued the spirits, the gods, the 'undercurrent' of life they could see in their visions above everything else - he was more practical. Pushing yourself to exhaustion and pain for barely a glimpse was not worth it. Better to forget or wait until a better time. As always, Verdandi inevitably agreed, eager to soothe her brothers quiet rage. But it wouldn't stop her for too long Tseen knew.

Tseen Ke was instantly on the defensive position even though it was only a lone lioness and hardly a threatening one at that. They’d been so engrossed by the age-old argument that not only had a stranger appeared from behind a rock but one that had overheard their conversation. Subtly he tensed just a little, ready to tell Verdandi to run if any more sprang from anywhere, but he was also a bit intrigued. The last seer they’d met had been a foolish lion, the one before sounded utterly unaware that what he was describing was a vision and the only other besides those two that they knew of was their lost brother. Had their father been right that there were other Seers scattered across the lands then? This purple striped female spoke as if it were common knowledge.

“Let her See then what comes to her naturally, for those do her no harm. Forcing the visions to come too hard is like a bird jumping out the nest before it’s ready to fly. It’ll fall and all for the lack of patience.” He answered her, rather than asking who she was and if more of her pride – because he hadn’t been so off guard he hadn’t worked out they were near a pride – were about.

“You know what it is to See the spiritual undercurrent? To want to understand?” Verdandi ventured, taking a step forward rather than hiding behind her brother. His protectiveness can in natural response to her usual skittishness, for while she tried to remain calm being beaten for ‘weak’ seer powers all her cubhood had taken it’s toll. Her curiousity was stronger than her fear however and she added –

“It’s such a big part of who I am. The only thing we have of our mother’s are the powers her blood bestowed on us. Tseen though -” She started but stopped at the annoyed look her reluctant-seer brother flashed her.

Her paws shook nervously, just noticeable, despite Verdandi’ will for them to stay steady. Takatifu’s caress had been a surprise but oddly, felt right. She recognised a soul like her own, she thought, in the stranger. To work for understanding of what they could See… If only Tseen Ke could see it how they did! And 'you are not alone', it sounded beautiful, to a lioness who'd been so alone for so long. Her brother loved her dearly and she loved him too but they'd been wandering just the two of them for so long, everywhere they went inhospitable or wrong for them - it was like a magic phrase to Verdandi.

“A greater spirit? Is that what you’d call a goddess? In which case, we’re alike in that too. Our mother was a greater spirit too.”

“Verdandi.” Tseen Ke said. “Don’t you think we should find out who your new friend is before you go spilling our life story like… entrails from a carcass…” Tseen Ke puzzled at his choice of words, for he’d had a brief flash – unbidden and painless – of such an image flash before his eyes. He could only see things in the past. Just what had he seen?

It set him on edge even more that seeing the stranger touch his sister had. He disliked not knowing how things were. He didn’t like the unknown. He liked knowing things straight. Entrails and embraces! What next?

“Xiu Xiu, goddess, Greater Spirit even, of Sorcery was ours. Our father never told us about her really. Are Minders nannies for cubs or –“ She started, but her brother butted in, gently but firmly. He raised a paw slightly, and his sibling hushed. Verdandi naturally deferred to her stronger sibling. He’d once laid his life on the line to save hers and she knew that all he did was try to keep her safe. But while skittish still, she was excited and so very curious now. Her ears were up, her eyes alert, her tail tip twitching.

“Sorry ladies but before we arrange any visits - and thanks for the kind offer - but what’s the Mizimu'Tungika like besides worshippers of spirits? What do you do besides hunt as all lions must? What defines you? I’m sorry if I appear rude, Takatifu, but my own visions have taught me to look before you leap and since the undercurrent doesn’t seem to want let me look besides a brief flash…please indulge my questioning.”

“Sounds alright so far, though I look forward to talking to these Minders. I like to know as much as I can. Call it a personality flaw.” He turned to his sister, obviously relaxing some at Takatifu’s explanation. He placed the same paw that had silenced her affectionately on Verdandi’s paw. He left it there only a moment or so but it was a gesture that softened them both somewhat. It was like him giving his blessing, he supposed. “You wish to visit, so we’ll visit. If perhaps…”

If perhaps the pride was good, if perhaps it fit, if they were allowed to, maybe they’d even stay. It didn’t need saying really because it was obvious that Verdandi had her hopes up.

“Thank you.” She said to him before turning to Takatifu with a smile. With her brother behind her, supporting her, she had a touch of confidence now. “You’ll join them? I always thought that everyone did eventually but then I’m fond of happy endings. You’ll have to tell us more on the way.”

"I see no problem with enduring a bit of pain and sacrifice to reap the rewards, and what greater reward is there than joining the undercurrent? Or the spirits as you say." Verdandi walked alongside Takatifu, pleased to have someone to talk to about such things besides her brother. She too already thought that she'd do well here, even if it was only for as long as it took hear of their cusoms and history from the Minders. She would never again feel so alone. As much as she loved Tseen and he took the very best care of her...he had never cared for the spirits as much as she did, save to pacify their father, and once Tseen had freed them of him he'd never induced a vision again. Leaving her, once they'd split up with Ramlin, totally alone in it. Here however it seemed everyone cared.

So far all he'd heard about was spirits and actually encouragement Verdandi's foolish exploits. But then perhaps someone here could teach her a correct and safe way to do it, he thought, as he fell roughly in line with the two females. That would please them both because he did want Verdandi to succeed, just not to sacrifice her health for next to nothing. If sacrifices were to be made they should be for something.

Tseen Ke meanwhile wished for something more tangible, more physical, for Verdandi was wrong - he did care about the spirits but he knew he wasn't made for such a paws on approach. He was made for fighting, for hunting, for the flesh-and-blood world not for the realms of visions and signs like she was. If he once had been, well, their upbringing and his past-visions had seen to that.

Which was good, since soon, he'd be hearing about the Claw that complimented the Blood and the Heart he'd heard a little bit about so far. Soon as Takatifu had led them to the Minders.

End.