Coil of Worlds

With a feline hum, he started talking. Chion had a gift for storytelling, using his deep, beautiful voice for good measure. She soon realized that it was not his words but the way he wound the words together with his voice. Through their link, he brought the stories to life, sending her hints of smells, textures, and feelings from his memories.

My first memory was when I was a kitten of a month old. Kureto has a tradition that for every Paka born, a ceremony—if the Family so chooses—takes place in the hope we will meet our Ai. An Ai is a human that is bound to us by the providence of both God and his Goddess. It is a time for great celebration. When a paka and a human bind together, magic is born through their bond. Although not all Pakas are bonded to their Ai, I remember there being much anticipation about my being a part of a Tal’Ai. The pakas and some of the human Kurites knew that I would be unable to join the ranks of the warriors because of my coat. Even at that age, I was left alone and looked upon as something of an anomaly. As the ceremony neared, I remember being caught up in the excitement.

At the time, I did not understand the significance of being bound, but I did understand the elders worried about the contributions I would later give to the city. The day arrived and I was taken to Malkese Hall. It is at the center of the city and is where the Council Room is housed. In front of the stone structure, there is a large stage, a pavilion. People had decorated the stage with huge banners marking the binding day. I was one of fifteen pakas to be bound that day. It was only then that I realized how different I was. This was the first day I had seen others outside my immediate litter. All the other pakas were solid black.

When one of the Tal’Ais called the ceremony with their Voice, the humans formed a line through the streets. The smells of food and drinks pervaded the air. Hawkers went down the lines in the hopes of selling their wares. The binding works when the person recognizes the paka after speaking with them. If the paka and the human recognize each other, then they both reach out and simply touch, right arm to right foreleg. This touch is what binds the two individuals together. From that point forward, they are inseparable. The human’s eyes change from a light, pale blue to the same color as the paka’s eyes. To have the golden eyes of the Paka is a sign of prestige in our society.

With the last of his words, Chion stopped and looked at her. The look held such secrets and hopes that she had no idea how to respond. I was unable to recognize another person as my Ai. As the others around me found theirs, I was left behind. I had thought that I was fated to not be chosen by the Gods to be a part of a Tal’Ai and the ability to channel magic. Many pakas never find their Ai. It is a mystery why some are able to bond and others do not.

Since that day, I have often theorized that not every paka can bond to their Ai because our society must continue. We need pakas of every station to survive. Many of the female pakas no longer participate in the celebration. They decide to bear young and do not wish to be burdened with the magic or the duties that arise when bound to their Ai.

For every fifteen pakas born, only five choose to participate. It is becoming a holiday instead of a rite. Magic is what helps us fight the Pyrannis. It is a part of our ancestry, where the previous generations survived by the bonds they forged. I do not understand how the people do not foresee the coming losses if they do not follow the traditions.

At last he quieted, withdrawing into himself. It was an amazing story, a fantastical tale of magic and bonds with animals. Her mind reeled at the possibility of such a feat. Although he told the story with neutrality, a hint of sadness emerged when he spoke of being left behind. Wanting to comfort him, she caught up with him and reached out to touch him on his right shoulder.

For a single second, all she felt was the silky softness of Chion’s hair. But then something miraculous happened. Her soul opened like a rose in bloom, and her essence streamed through her very bones. Like water flowing over a dam, it traveled down her arm and through the fingers still touching Chion. As it coursed through her body, she felt her own essence for the first time in her life. It was a soft, supple texture but strong, much like the silky threads of a spider’s web. When Chion’s own soul rose up to meet hers, the texture was a smooth, hard substance, reminding her of a rock that had been washed over by water through the ages.

In that moment, she sensed both their essences were steadfast, yet elastic, able to change when called upon. Both substances, hers a pale yellow and his a majestic blue, wrapped around them like two ropes, pulling them closer together, twirling faster and faster until both strands melded together. It became a single, thick pulsing strand of green light, only to split into two separate, thinner strands. Both strands hovered over them for a moment. Somehow, without taking her eyes off the magical event taking place around and above them, she knew Chion mirrored her bewilderment and awe, watching in trancelike wonder.

Without warning, the two identical strands of magic struck their foreheads in a tight shaft of light. The pain was excruciating. She screamed when it hit her, feeling like her head was exploding around the laser-like light. Lara’s eyes overflowed with unchecked tears. She was unable to bring her hands up to shield her face from the magic. She screamed again in agony. She distantly heard Chion roar in pain. He whipped his head back and forth to rid himself of the strand and the torture.

They both ended up on the ground, shuddering. The instinct to curl into a ball never occurred—the intense heat and pain too terrible. As they both came close to the point of feeling death was the better alternative, the pain washed away and was replaced with a gentle, cool mist, soothing in the aftermath of the magic’s attack. Dazed, they could only lie upon the ground, heaving in unsteady breaths of air. Unable to help herself, Lara turned inward to see what had happened. Something deep within her had been pierced by the strand of light.

And then she found it, her soul had evolved—been transmuted—into a new substance. Her soul was no longer consumed of the subtle yellow glow, but was the deep green of the light that had tortured them seconds before.

When she could finally speak, her voice was scratchy from the screams involuntarily ripped from her. “What happened?”

Gingerly, she raised her right hand to touch her forehead, but found no bumps or ridges that would cause the pain. She half expected to feel a brand burned into her skin. Opening her eyes, she dazedly looked over at Chion. Chion still had his eyes closed, tossing his head and twitching his spine in small convulsions.

Something caught her attention. Staring at Chion’s forehead, she croaked, “Chion?”

When he lifted his head, he in turned stared at her. Both of them were dumbstruck. If it hadn’t been a moment of consternation mixed with awe, she would have laughed at the picture he made. His dilated eyes went wide, his ears pressed back against his head, and his mouth fell open with a slight hiss and cough. It was an expression she’d never seen on an animal.

When he continued to stare at her forehead, she reached up to cover it with the palm of her hand. She rubbed the area again, afraid she’d missed it. “What happened? And why do you now have a black tattoo on your forehead?” Still trying to find something on her forehead, she scratched the skin. “What are you staring at? I don’t feel anything. Do I have one too?”

Chion drew on his composure like a shield. In a voice full of respect, he said, You are now My Lady in truth. We are bound together, you and I. We are now one of the Tal’Ai. And yes, you now have a black tattoo on your forehead as well.

“But that’s not possible. I’m not from here. What about the ceremony? I didn’t go through the ceremony.”

His eyes lit up with his happiness. Yes, we are now irrevocably bound. The God and Goddess have chosen us to become one in power. He paused and said with some confusion, My Lady, I cannot tell you the significance of the tattoo. I have never placed eyes on another with this mark.

She sat up with caution, ensuring all her limbs still worked. She argued, “But you said we were bound. Doesn’t that mean all the other people and pakas carry them as well?”

No.

She was taken aback by his succinct answer. “Well, why not?” Recalling something he said earlier, she exclaimed, “Wait. You knew all along? You knew we would be bound.” Glaring at him in accusation, she dropped her voice to mimic his, “My Lady. I have been hearing it in the wrong context.”

Sensing he was more amused than anything, Lara pulled up short and counted to ten. She was not going to lose her temper. She wasn’t. Once she had a firm grip on her emotions, Lara said, “When were you going to tell me?”

Instead of looking in his eyes, her eyes were drawn once more to the tattoo. It was an odd geometric shape, yet it looked…unfinished. The hair itself was branded with the mark, with possibly the skin underneath as well.

As soon as you spoke to me, linking us mind to mind through a mental path between us, I knew. The first time we met, I knew. However, you are a foreigner and, as you say, from another world. You needed to learn of our history and society before learning about your destiny as an Ai. You needed time before you decided to undertake the change. Seeing her skepticism, Chion nuzzled his large head into her shoulder, butting her lightly in affection. This is why I never allowed us to come close enough to accidentally brush against each other. I was afraid touching would bring the binding forth before you were ready. Had I not been caught off guard, the bond would not have occurred. I never could have predicted that you would reach out to me, right arm to right foreleg. I am not often surprised.

Thinking back, she realized he was right. Even by accidental design after their first meeting, they had never once touched. He bumped his head against her, and she instinctively brought both hands up to scratch behind his ears. It felt right, though the experience was new for them both. The necessity of touching Chion made her want to jerk away. The only thing stopping Lara was that Chion acted as if he needed the contact as much as she did. For a few moments, they enjoyed the new intimacy in silence.

She admitted, “I sensed your sadness with the last of your words. I didn’t think anything of it.”

A low rumbling came from his chest and throat, and she felt his contented purring where her fingers glided through his coat. Careful to never break the contact between them, Chion nudged her leg over, making enough room to lie down on his side beside her.

Just so you know, I’m taking this very well right now. But it won’t last. I’m pretty sure I am in shock.

He rubbed the side of his head against her leg. I understand. We have much to learn of each other, but we will do this together. With our bonding, I fear we must reach Malkese sooner than I planned. I have no choice but to relinquish my route to another scout.

Lara only halfway paid attention to his statement. The entire situation was surreal. She was lost in this world, not knowing the people, animals, cities, culture, or anything of war. Without Chion, she would have been food for the pot, literally.

Something had gone wrong with their bonding though. The marks were something Chion did not understand. Needing some space to think things through, she pulled away mentally, physically, emotionally. At once, she was bereft, a cold emptiness taking the place of the prior warmth.

What do you think happened?

Acknowledging her need for space, he stood up and paced away from her. I do not know the significance of the mark or the magic that caused it. Somehow, through the mark, we are bound as Tal’Ai. I feel the truth of this through our bond. You will now be able to wield magic through our bond with me as the channel. I have never heard there was pain when the Paka and the Human bond into one entity. We must speak to the elders. Do not fear our bond. It feels like it should, or what I have heard about the connection. Our need for physical contact will diminish as we both adjust to its newness.

“This is becoming too weird,” she mumbled under her breath. “I can handle the people fighting with weapons and armor. I can even handle the big glowing spiders. I can handle—to a lesser extent—the dinosaur-like rakir. This, however, is much too weir—”

In mid-rant, she was gently bowled over by one of Chion’s forepaws. From the ground, Lara glowered at him, then she started giggling at his expression. Once she started, she couldn’t stop. The giggles deepened into a helpless belly laugh and she held her sides.

She gasped, “All right. All right. I get your point. I’m not allowed a pity party.”

She was hit with the notion that Chion was playing with her, making her laughter die away. Swallowing became difficult as an unidentifiable emotion held her in its grip. She sat up to hide her face.

With an indelicate, feline cough and a toss of his head, he said, Come, My Lady. He swiped the entire length of his body along her right side, leaving behind a mass of white hairs on her clothes. She looked down at her clothes in dismay. God help her, the paka had a long body. As she climbed back to her feet, she shook her clothes and watched as the hair drifted to the dirt floor.

With that single, playful action, her trust in the paka was absolute. Chion was truly, without a doubt, her friend. Lara lightly dropped her right hand to rest on Chion’s back, and they continued on their way to the waystation.