PROLOGUE

The Dreamtime--that gap between what is and what was--is a space where "being" is an eternal, all-at-once state. In the Dreamtime, the past is the future and the future, past. All of what is, what has been and will be meets here. It is where souls reside before becoming and it is the place to which souls return upon ceasing. It is the space to which the spirit is called when dreaming and the essence flows during ritual. There is neither "life" nor "death" in the time before time; there is only the ever-lasting.

In the nexus of being the old ones sat, guarding the well of the Others.

"Hmm... the Old Ones... they call to me, Old Man," creaked Old Woman.

He nodded his head sagely, his mane of white hair spilling across his wizened shoulders. "Yes, I have heard them too, Old Woman. The Gods have finally chosen."

Old Woman tossed herbs onto the surface of the water, watching the bits of flotsam settle into intricate patterns—the meaning of which only she knew. "This one, she will not take the transition easily."

Old Man's eyebrows crept skyward. "She?"

"Mmmm, yes. We have not seen the likes of this one in many generations." She smiled.

Old Man's mouth quirked up on the edges, "Not since the world began."

Old Woman cackled, "The God's must be crazy!"

CHAPTER ONE

Old Man sat peacefully, legs crossed beneath him, deep in the shade of a tree on the Deep Well Station. The People walked around and about him, paying him little mind. In this time and in this place he was a storyteller--no more and no less. It was a guise that had served him well in the past and one that was more than suitable in the present.

Old Man had come to the Station everyday for more than a week. Each day he sat, watching, waiting, and peaceably sharing stories of the Dreamtime with the young ones who had come to visit the red desert. Today, his audience was small, but Old Man sensed deep within his soul that it would grow. The Wind and the Skies, the Earth and the Trees, they all whispered the Chosen One was coming. Yes, it would be just as the Old Woman had foretold.

"In the time before time," his tale began, "when all that is was still yet to be, the Gods stepped forth to make the Earth. As man and animal they roamed the land, helping the First People become." Old Man paused, lettings his eyes roam, searching for the Chosen One. He tipped his head, shaking his shaggy white hair free of his face, all the better to see the world.

He blinked slowly. There! There she was, standing alone at the very edge of the story circle. 'Ah!' he breathed. Her body was tall and lithe, her limbs long and supple. Guardians, he knew from long experience, must be fit to survive. Why, it was obvious even to him that the Gods had chosen well with this one. Tsk! Old Woman must not have read the leaves quite right.

A lanky boy sitting nearby nudged his neighbor, giggling. Old Man stared directly at the youth until silence reigned once more. The Chosen One stepped closer and he motioned for the boys to make room for her within the story circle. "As the People grew in number, they split into tribes to better cover the earth, each tribe taking with them the essence--the Tjurunga--of the Others who mentored them."

Alanna smiled nervously, wondering why the old storyteller was staring at her so intently. She smoothed her red-gold hair and straightened the collar of her shirt. Yes, she had traveled all night to get here; but surely she did not look that bad?

The elderly storyteller drew breath and continued onwards. "From the South Lands came the Tjilpa, the largest of all the tribes, carrying with them the Tjurunga of the great wild cat."

"Pfft! What a crazy story! My teacher says there's no such thing as big cats in Australia." One of the children remarked snidely. "It's just a myth!"

Oh, the arrogance of modern youth! In his day, no child would have dared speak to an elder in such a manner. Old Man raised a bushy eyebrow in warning and the child settled back meekly. "The Tjurunga was powerful, bringing strength and greatness to the Tjilpa. But nothing is given without cost."

His listeners leaned forward expectantly.

"In exchange for these gifts, the Gods expected the Tjilpa to care for the Tjurunga. Those responsible for the essence of the wild cat absorbed it into their souls, becoming living vessels for the beast."

"So, what? They became cat-people?!?" exclaimed one of the older children. "You must be joking!"

This time the Old Man completely ignored the outburst. Instead, he turned his eyes once again to the Chosen One, watching carefully for her reaction. "The Tjurunga's essence remains within its human vessels until they die. Then its essence is returned to the Dreamtime." His dark eyes took on a glowing light. "Where it rests until a new vessel is born."

Old Man fell silent. Waiting.

Alanna stood abruptly. "Well. That was... interesting." She shook her head, letting her bangs fall down over her green eyes. She was not sure why she had come to the Alice Springs District, why she had come to Deep Well Station. But she knew she was not here to sit and listen to some crazy old man ramble on about cat-people.

A tall shadow crossed in front of her, a hand wrapped tightly around her arm. "Do not leave without your totem, Missy." Old Man held out a small chunk of stone on a leather thong.

The short hairs at the nape of Alanna's neck bristled. She tried, with little success, to pull away. The crazy old man obviously was not going to let go. So she stepped back as much as he would allow. "I don't..."

Old Man pulled her back, quickly reaching up to slip the thong over her head. "Everyone gets a totem--a piece of the Tjurunga for luck."

The stone slipped down to rest between her full breasts. Alanna suddenly felt dizzy, disoriented, as if the world had shifted on its axis. Her fair skin paled to a milky white and a light sheen of sweat broke over her brow. She blinked rapidly. "Wha...?"

There. That was the reaction Old Man was looking for. The Tjurunga had indeed chosen as Old Woman had predicted. "Are you alright, Missy? Perhaps you should sit down?" He asked solicitously.

"No, I..." Alanna shook her head. The sun. It must be the sun. Or maybe she needed to eat. Her stomach heaved at the thought of food. Okay. So food was probably a bad idea. "I think I'll just go inside for a bit and lay down."

Old Man nodded, watching carefully as the Chosen One made her way shakily to the guest house.

And so it began...

CHAPTER TWO

Alanna tossed restlessly in her small bed. The room was too hot. Her skin felt tight and painful. Rivulets of sweat rolled across her body. "It's the flu. It must be the flu," she groaned softly. God, she'd give anything for some aspirin and water!

She jumped, pressing back into the soft mattress as images flashed back and forth at the edges of her vision. She could no longer distinguish between reality and the visions flickering before her.

Time stopped and the world shifted yet again. Alanna felt weightless, ethereal, no longer bound by the parameters of physical space.

She lifted her head. The fever was gone and she was no longer in any discomfort. "Have I died?" Red-gold sand stretched around her for miles. Overhead, a crescent moon shone down. She looked around, confused. "How did I get outside? Where am I?"

How wondrous! The transition had only just taken place, yet already the child had found her way to the Dreamtime. "Be calm, young one," a silky voice intoned from the darkness. "You are most certainly not dead. For there is no death here. You are Dreaming."

'Ooookay.' Alanna thought. Dreaming. Right. Fever or not, she must still be ill.

Alanna watched, eyes wide, as an old woman dressed in flowing amber robes approached. She took stock of the woman's wrinkled, sun baked skin and waist length white hair. Alanna frowned thoughtfully. The old woman looked amazingly like one of the characters from the Ten Commandments. She had seen that movie recently. Maybe that was why...

Old Woman walked towards her. "Why do you frown so, child? You are not ill, not at all. You have been chosen. Your body is simply adjusting to its new existence. And I am not certain exactly what a 'movie' is, but I can tell you whatever it is, this is not it. As I said, you are Dreaming." She stretched out a wrinkled palm. "You have sought me out in the Dreamtime in order to begin your journey."

Visual and auditory hallucinations. Definitely. She blinked up at the woman. "Ummm, chosen? Chosen for what? And what's this about a 'journey'?"

Old Woman smiled, again offering her hand. "Come, child. Walk with me awhile."

Go walk-about at night. In the great Red Desert. With an hallucination as her guide? Oh sure, that was a good idea. Not! Alanna shook her head. "Nuh-uh. Nope. I'm sick--feverish and totally out of my head. I'm not going anywhere with anyone, but especially not some 60s era, hippie, tour guide wannabe. I'd probably disappear into the darkness forever, never to be seen or heard from again."

A thoughtful look crossed Old Woman's weathered face. Had the People completely lost their ancestral memories? "You do not believe me?" She stared into space a moment, as if she could see the past, present and future hovering before her in the great void. "Ah, I see. That which was is no longer; and that which will be is not yet realized." She clicked her tongue. Old Man would have a much harder time with this one than she had predicted. "No matter." She placed her hand on Alanna's shoulder, causing a river of heat to flow through the young woman. "You will soon come to know the things you should know." Old Woman turned and started walking back into void.

"Wait!" Alanna called. "Please!" She struggled to rise and follow the old woman, but her body felt thick--as if it were being sucked down into quicksand.

A faint voice echoed back through the void. "Be calm, child. You will find the Dreamtime again when you decide you have need of me."

Alanna woke abruptly, heart thundering in her chest. She was drenched in sweat and ached in every bone in her body. "It was a dream," she whispered to herself. "Just a dream. It wasn't real."

****

Hours later Alanna emerged shakily from the guest house, bags in hand. She felt like crap. Some vacation this had turned out to be!

"I'll take your bags, Miss Shepherd. You just climb on up into the Rover. We'll have you down to the airport and on your way home in no time."

Alanna shifted her gaze to her driver. What was his name? Rafe? Jack? She could not remember. They all looked so much alike in their khakis and bush hats. Besides, her head hurt too badly to work it out. "Thanks."

He tipped his hat to her. "No worries, miss."

No worries. Oh, how Alanna wished that were true. She pulled herself painfully into the back of the Rover and settled in for the long ride to the regional airport. The world passed by in a series of bumps and thumps as the Rover made its way across the track. She was so tired she did not even bother to look out the window at the scenery.

The Rover jerked, throwing her sideways. A stream of steady cursing flowed from the driver's seat, then the vehicle settled down again. "Sorry 'bout that, miss. Blasted 'Roo just jumped right in front of us. Would've done some damage, that would."

Alanna ran a shaky hand through her hair. "S'okay," she mumbled.

Worried eyes glanced back at her from the rear-view mirror. The woman in the back seat looked a little green. "You alright back there, Miss Shepherd?"

Alanna's physical state was certainly questionable. Her skin felt tight again and she itched all over. "I'm good," she lied.

"Hmm..." Her driver was obviously not convinced.

Surely things would not get much worse? If they could just make it to the airport, she was fairly certain she would survive the trip home. Somehow. Alanna flopped back against the seat. "I'm fine, really. Let's just try and make it to the airport in once piece."

Neither driver nor passenger noticed the crow flying along behind them.

****

Alanna cleared customs just in time to board her flight. She was bone tired. Thankfully, she was flying first-class and had more than enough room to stretch out for a nap.

"Can I get you anything, Miss Shepherd?" the tall, blond steward queried as he handed over a pillow and blanket.

"Hmm..." If she just felt a little better she might take him up on the offer evident in his eyes. But right now all she really wanted were some pain killers and a gallon of Benadryl. She had a headache the size of Manhattan and the damned itching was driving her crazy! "I don't suppose you have any aspirin? And maybe an antihistamine?"

Blondie's grin was rueful. It was obvious he was mentally crossing Alanna off his entertainment menu. "Caught a bug, did you?" He nodded sympathetically. "We've a med-kit on board. I'll bring you something straight away."

Alanna gratefully popped the pills he handed her and chased them with water. "Thanks, loads. I think I'm just going to sleep a bit now." She closed her eyes, chasing away the light, and nodded off.

****

Alanna moved restlessly. In her dream, dark eyes chased after her. Serpents slithered all around her. Terror threatened and evil mocked her.

"I think we should wake her," chimed a woman. "We'll be landing in thirty minutes."

"She said she wasn't feeling well," a man replied. "We've still thirty minutes before we land. Let her sleep. I'll wake her once we're on the ground."

"I dunno..."

Alanna let the sound of the softly bickering voices wash over her, slowly bringing her back to consciousness. She was thankful they'd rousted her from that horrid dream. What a nightmare!

At least whatever was in the pills Blondie had given her seemed to have helped. She had stopped itching and her skin was not tight anymore. She shifted carefully, testing to see how far her limbs would go before pain set in. Nothing. Thankfully, her body seemed to be back in working order. How weird was that?

"Oh, you're awake!" Blondie exclaimed as he reached for her pillow and blanket.
Huh? Alanna stared at the uniformed man in front of her. What was that on his pocket? Quantas. Oh. Yeah. She was on a plane, heading home. "Ummm, yeah. Thanks for letting me sleep." Thirst raged through her and she licked her lips.

"Tsk. You're likely dry as a bone, Miss Shepherd. I'll bring you a quick cuppa." Blondie trotted off towards the galley.

Cuppa what? The scent of coffee rolled through the cabin. Alanna's nose twitched. She lived for caffeine! How long had it been since she'd had coffee? A day? Two? She accepted the cup the steward handed her gratefully. "Thanks."

He winked. The poor woman had really had a rough time of it. "No worries."

The fasten seatbelt sign flashed overhead and the captain's voice poured from the loudspeaker announcing their impending landing. Alanna finished her coffee quickly, handed the cup back and buckled in. Gods, was she glad to be home!

CHAPTER THREE

The airport was a bustling, noise-filled hub. Alanna's head ache had started up again. And the harsh constant sounds vibrating in the air around her were not making things any easier. Standing in line for customs she pressed her hands tightly to her ears, desperately trying to reduce the impact of the incessant noise.

"Passport?"

Her head came up. "Sorry?"

"Your passport, miss?" The nondescript woman in front of her held out her hand, waiting.

Her brain kicked in. Passport. Customs. "Oh, right." Alanna handed it over. "Here you go."

The bored woman flipped the little booklet open and shut before her. "Thank you. Next!"

Alanna staggered off to baggage claim, only to be overwhelmed by the scent of humanity spilling from the crowds pressed around the conveyor belts. Her gums ached tremendously and she was salivating almost to the point of drooling. 'Good Gods, what is wrong with me???'

"Mommy, look," a small voice piped, "that lady has vampire teeth!"

A harried woman in a stained coat gave Alanna a dirty look and yanked the child out of her path, "Well, really! It's not Halloween, you know."

Alanna did not respond. What a nutcase! The pain in her mouth worsened. Maybe this was not the flu. Maybe she had some sort of abscess and the infection was raging through her body. She spotted her Louis Vuitton coming down the baggage conveyor belt. Wearily, she tried to grab for her bags.

A man in a mold-green suit shoved her roughly. "Hey, lady, watch it with those claws!" He stalked away rapidly, mumbling something about women and long nails.

Alanna stared after him in confusion. "What?"

The tightly packed group of teens to her left were pointing and gesturing excitedly. "Wow! That outfit is totally wild. Totally! The hair, the teeth, the claws... Wicked!"

Had the entire city gone mad? The world spun dizzyingly. Hands grabbed her roughly from behind. Alanna gave a startled scream, scrabbling at the arms that held her.

"Shh, Old Man crooned softly. "Be calm, young one. You will only make things worse if you try to fight the transition."

Wait! That voice. She knew that voice! "What..."

Old Man pulled her to an exit and dragged her outside. Alanna had a brief moment of clarity before the world started to fade. Black ate at the edges of her vision as she glanced into his face. "You're the old man. The storyteller from the Station." She gasped.

His "Yes" barely reached her ears as she was pushed unceremoniously into the back of a large black van, landing in an unconscious heap on the carpeted floor.

All around them the world passed by. Not a single soul paid any attention to the old man, the van, or the crow flying lazily along behind.

****

Alanna awoke in her bed. Her own bed. Naked as the day she was born. How had she gotten here? Where were her clothes? She struggled to remember. The plane. The airport. The old man. The van. She put her head in her hands. Was it real? Was it a dream? She sat up quickly, wincing as the totem she still wore swung up wildly to smack her in the chin. Nothing made sense!

Poor thing. The first days after the transition were always the hardest. "I imagine you'd like something to drink about now," a voice as smooth and rich as chocolate rolled through the dark.

Dark. Night-time? But when her plane landed, it had been morning! Good grief! Alanna had lost more than her memory, she had lost time. How long? Hours? Days? Alanna started to sweat.

Old Man rushed to Alanna's bedside, taking her soft hands gently in his gnarled ones. "Calm yourself, young one! Strong emotions will bring on the change and it is sill too soon since your last shift. You are not strong enough yet to shift forms twice in one day!"

Change? Shift forms? What the hell? Alanna blinked rapidly. Both her heart rate and breathing increased markedly. "Who are you? How did I get here? Where are my clothes?" Her skin itched and her mouth started to ache. "Oh, Gods!"

Old Man simply could not allow this. They could not afford to lose the Chosen One. His strong hands grasped her narrow shoulders, shaking her roughly. "You must cease this immediately, young one." He grasped her chin tightly, forcing her to meet his gaze. "Breathe with me. Slowly now. In. Out. Yes, like that."

Alanna did not like him staring into her eyes like that. It was like he was trying to dominate her and it made her twitchy. But the old guy was right. The breathing thing was really helping. The pain and the creepy-crawly sensations eased. "What...?"

Much better! Old Man set her back gently against the sheets. "Rest quietly, youngling. I will make you some tea."
Alanna took a deep breath. "Please. Wait. I don't want any tea." Her voice shook. "Please just tell me what the hell's going on."

She was determined, he would grant her that much. "Rest." Old Man moved determinedly to the door. "I will return in a moment."

Rest. Rest? As if she could! "This is insane. I'm insane." Her head snapped up. That was it! Whatever bug she had picked up and the fever, it had all just made her completely delusional.

"None of this is real! I haven't left Australia yet. I'm still on vacation. I'm still at the Station. I'm still sick and I'm dreaming Badly, but I'm dreaming." She plopped back into the thick bedding, feeling decidedly much better. "I'll just close my eyes now. When I wake up, I'll feel much better and all of this will have gone away." She snuggled down into her pillow, falling quickly into a restless sleep.

****

The old woman sat next to a well deep in the heart of the red desert. Her legs were crossed carefully beneath her and her robes, sky blue this time, lay neatly about her. "It is about time you returned, child. I have been waiting for you. We have little time now."

No! It could not be! This was the old woman she had dreamed of the night before she left Australia. She never dreamed the same thing twice. Alanna shook her head. "This isn't happening." Her voice was desperate.

Oh, worry, worry. It would take much to move this one past her denial and they had so little time. "Be easy child." Old woman patted the red earth beside her. "Sit with me a while."

Alanna moved forward slowly, inching closer to the old woman. Gingerly, as if this reality would shift and something new and awful break through, she dropped to sit on the hard-packed earth.

Alanna swallowed. "You said... In my dream, last time, you said you had something to tell me."

This was encouraging. At least the Chosen One admitted there had been a last time, even if her brain continued to claim the Dreaming was all an illusion. Old Woman nodded her head, causing her white hair to swing gently around her shoulders like a shimmering cloud. "And I did, child."

She did? Alanna thought carefully for a moment, attempting to recall the details of her first dream. She shook her head, "No... No, you said you'd..."

Old Woman took Alanna's hand, hoping the contact would give the poor child an anchor. "I said you would come to know everything you need to know. I set the answers within you, child. You need only listen to your soul a moment."

Confusion welled in Alanna's green eyes, "I..."

Warmth flowed from the Old Woman's lined hands, filling Alanna's body with peace. "In every generation, child, there is one born among us who is destined to carry a great responsibility." Her eyes, so like the Old Man's in their depth and darkness, took on an eerie glow. "You, Alanna, are the Chosen One for this generation."

The one chosen for what? This illusion was just as bad as the one with the Old Man. Alanna shook her head, "I don't understand."

Old Woman touched Alanna's cheek gently. "Look into my eyes, child. See the reflection of your soul in mine."

Alanna fixed her gaze on the old woman's face, slowly raising her eyes to meet the dark one's before her. Her brow wrinkled in concentration. Images flicked in the deep black pools of the old woman's eyes. How strange. How very strange. Alanna saw a woman, tall and lean with red-gold hair. "I... That's me. Isn't it?"

Alanna leaned closer. The images changed. She saw herself accepting the totem from the old man and then... something golden seemed to flow from the totem. It flowed outward from the stone resting between her breasts, covering her image like a glaze, almost obscuring her completely. "What is that?"

Old Woman's rough hand touched Alanna's face gently, pulling her attention from the vision. "Do you not remember, child? Do you not remember what it felt like when Old Man gave you the totem?"

"I... It felt... It was like the world tilted on its axis." Alanna bit her lip. "Everything felt... off. Like somehow there were two of me competing to be in the same space at the same time."

"Yes." Old Woman dropped her hand from Alanna's face. "You are you, but at the same time you are the Other."

Alanna shook her head. "The Other?"

Old Woman nodded. "Yes, you are the Guardian of this generation, child. It is you who has the responsibility to care for the Tjurunga, the Other who now resides within you."

"The Tjurunga? But, that's just a story." Unconsciously Alanna wrapped her hand around the totem hanging from her neck, smoothing her fingers across the stone's rough surface.

Old Woman sighed, regretting just how much the People had forsaken in their quest to progress, to modernize. "It is a pity that the People have lost the memories of their ancestors. Each generation believes less and less in the stories of the Ancients." Old Woman stood slowly and held out her hand to Alanna. "Come, child. You must return to the world now. Your soul is not yet strong enough to stay for so long in the Dreamtime."

"But..."

Alanna gasped, wide-eyed. She was once again in her own bed, and there was a cup of hot tea sitting on the night table beside her.

CHAPTER FOUR

Alanna padded on bare feet down the smooth, wood planked hall to her kitchen. The tea had revived her. It was time to track down the old man who plagued her waking dreams. It would be nice to finally get some solid answers. And maybe a good meal. She was positively starving!

Old Man looked up from the pot he was stirring. Ah, the young one had returned from her Walk in the Dreamtime. "There you are, Guardian."

Alanna's nose twitched. Hopefully the food was not an illusion, because whatever the old man was stirring around in her big metal stew pot smelled absolutely divine! She licked her lips hungrily. "You're cooking?"

Old Man nodded. Intense hunger was a sign the essence of the Tjurunga was fully melding with the young woman's. "Your body is still adjusting, young one. You will need to eat well and often to satiate your cat and keep your body healthy."

Alanna had almost forgotten. This was why she had come searching for the old man in the first place, but the delicious food smells had distracted her. "About that, the adjusting thing, what do you mean?"

Questions. Always questions. Old Man handed her a thick bowl of stew. "You already know the meaning, young one. You are a Guardian. Your body hosts the Tjurunga—the spirit of the Others. Did not Old Woman tell you this?"

Old Woman? Alanna's mouth dropped open. Surely the old man did not mean the creepy old lady from her fever induced dreams?

Old Man sat in the chair across from the young Guardian. "But I do mean the woman you saw in the Dreamtime, child."

Alanna dropped her spoon, spilling bits of stew across the table. "You read my mind? You read my mind! Oh, my Gods!"

Old Man reached out swiftly, grabbing her wrist to keep Alanna in her chair. "Shhh, child. Calm yourself. Even in this time there are those who can pick the thoughts from others."

Alanna yanked hard, trying to pull loose from the old man's grip. "Psychics, sure. They claim they can read people's minds. But they aren't real. They're all fake. 'Reading minds' is just a way for creative people to make an easy buck or two."

How time had changed things. Old Man clicked his tongue. "Tsk, child. Are you truly such a non-believer? Do you not believe there are things of this world that are well beyond the grasp of human understanding?"

Alanna did believe that spirits greater than man had formed and guided the earth. But she was somewhat of a Deist at heart; believing that the Gods had stepped back and basically left people to their own devices. In Alanna's rule book of life, all things mystic and mythical were merely creations of a desperate mind—forged out of the human desire to be closer to the Gods who had abandoned them so long ago. Alanna blinked. "Not really, no."

"Hmmm." Old Man shook his head sadly. "Old Woman told me you would be difficult, but I had hoped… Surely the Others would not have chosen a host with a mind so closed to the Gods?" He stood rapidly, pushing away from the table. "Your training, I think, will require more assistance than I can provide alone."

Alanna thought she saw the old man's image blur. Damn, this virus was something else! She rubbed her eyes, blinking rapidly to try and bring the old man back into focus.

Alanna dropped her hands. Impossible! The old man had vanished. Leaving Alanna alone in the kitchen, gaping at the empty space before her, where only a bowl of stew now resided.

****

Sometime later, replete with the stew she knew she must have made herself—even though she did not remember doing so—because there was no way the old man had ever really been in her apartment, let alone disappeared into thin air in her kitchen, Alanna sat in the living room trying to work up enough courage to dial her physician's after-hours service.

She stared at the phone. "I'll just call them up, tell them I've picked up some foreign virus and am hallucinating from the fever. They'll work me in." She turned it on, then off. Then on and off again..

"I would suggest you set the phone down, Miss Shepherd."

Alanna groaned. "Oh, God. Not again." Why would these hallucinations not leave her alone? She banged the receiver to her forehead.

A dark, masculine hand covered with fine hairs forcefully took the hand-set from her. "Stop this now! You could cause yourself physical injury, Miss Shepherd." Why some women resorted to histrionics in times of stress he could not fathom. "You are not ill, woman. I am real. This is real. You are not having hallucinations and you are most decidedly not delusional, at least not so far as this Guardian business is concerned."

Not delusional? Well, certainly. She was just perfectly sane. Hah! Unfortunately, that statement made absolutely no sense whatsoever. Alanna looked up, way up, into the face of a stranger. "Of course I'm sick. I'm having visual and auditory hallucinations. You're one of them. Real people—especially tall, handsome, totally to die for men with hair the color of burnished copper, emerald eyes, and sexy British accents—do not simply appear in the middle of my living room. It's completely illogical."

Now, if there were two things that definitely did not go hand in hand together, it was logic and the Gods. Thomas' experiences told him reality simply did not work that way. The man sighed. "My dear Miss Shepherd, I assure you I am quite real and I am indeed here, in physical form, in your living room."

Alanna watched as the stranger paced off to her liquor cabinet where he proceeded to pour out a snifter of brandy.

He thrust a glass into her hand. "Here, drink this. Then I suggest you, as the youth are so fond of saying in this century, get a grip. It is time you come to terms with who and what you are."

Alanna polished the brandy off in one gulp, gasping as the fiery liquid burned its way down her throat. 'Wow!' she thought, 'Who knew hallucinations had flavor?' "I know who and what I am, you fancy figment of my fevered imagination. I'm Alanna Shepherd, 23. I reside in New York City and I'm a writer—a well-published writer-- with an extremely over-active imagination that is definitely susceptible to suggestion." She slammed the snifter on the coffee table, causing the crystal to ring out in protest.

Gods, the woman had a temper! "Have a care, Miss Shepherd. I do believe that snifter is Waterford."

Alanna carefully tipped the glass to peer at the maker's mark on the bottom. Waterford. Well, he certainly knew his glassware. Sheesh. Of all the men she could have imagined, her mind just had to create a snob. "Look, bud, I've had a crappy few days. I..."

He snorted. He had helped Old Man train other Guardians and it was always the same. Really, why in the world did it take so much effort to convince people of the truth? "My name is Thomas Smythe, Miss Shepherd, and I would prefer it if you called me by my given name and not by that silly diminutive." He settled on the arm of her chair. "Fortunately for you, I do indeed know exactly the kind of time you have been having. I went through a similar experience myself, precisely 150 years ago."

Alanna laughed out loud. Her imagination was really working overtime tonight. "Oh, sure. 150 years ago, huh? That would make you what, almost 200 years old? Please!" She shook her head. "You can't be more than 35." It really was too bad she had left her laptop in the bedroom. She could have put this conversation to good use this in her next book.

Thomas raised his eyes to the heavens, pleading with the Gods for patience. "Hmph. If you must know, Miss Shepherd, I am 185. And a half."

She rolled her eyes. Not only was her figment a bona-fide snob, he was also sensitive about his age. At the rapid rate her mind was moving into insanity, she would be able to rack up enough billable hours in a therapist's chair to put his or her kid through college. "Oh, boy. Look bud, er, Thomas, if you'll just go away, I'll call my doctor now and check myself into the closest hospital."

Her visitor snorted. "Woman, you sorely try my patience!"

The Wise Ones were right. Misery did indeed love company. "You see what I am up against, do you not Thomas?" Old Man asked.

Alanna looked over. Oh, goody-gumdrops. The crazy old man was back. Sitting nice and cozy in the easy chair next to her fireplace. Now they had enough people for a tea party—Mad Hatter style. "Wow." She drawled. "When did you pop back?"

Old Man pointed his finger at her. Her apparent need for incessant and nonsensical chatter would drive him to insanity. "Silence, woman!"

Figment or not, there was no way Alanna would let any anyone--especially a man--order her around like that. Not in this lifetime! Alanna opened her mouth, intending to tell the old man what he could do with himself, and discovered she no longer had a voice. 'What the hell?' she thought.

Thomas nodded his head thoughtfully. Silence was definitely golden. "Yes, Old Man. I do see." His jewel-like eyes narrowed as he focused his stare on Alanna. "Old Woman is certain? There is no question in her mind that Miss Shepherd is the Chosen One? She is the one who will battle the Dark One and save the universe?"

Old Man nodded. "Yes, Old Woman scryed the prophecy herself. There is no question Miss Shepherd is the Chosen One." He shook his head irritably, making his hair fly back and forth in unruly wisps. "Unfortunately."

Thomas rubbed his hand wearily across his face. Maybe Old Woman's eyes did not see as well as they used to. "And you are absolutely certain Miss Shepherd is my mate? There is no mistake in this?"

'Mate? Oh, as if!' Alanna shouted silently. This was 2006! Women did not have 'mates,' they had boyfriends, lovers, significant others or husbands. Assuming they hooked up with a man at all, that is.

Old Man silently cursed the day the Gods had chosen him to mentor future Guardians. "Young one, I said mate and I meant mate. Now cease your endless psychic blathering."

Damn! The old man had picked her thoughts directly from her brain. Again! That was just so totally creepy!

Old Man tossed a glare in her direction then returned his attention to Thomas. "Yes, boy. The God's foretold all of this in the prophecy they sent to Old Woman. When the Others chose this one to host the Tjurunga," he nodded to Alanna, "they had their reasons." His expression turned morose. "What those reasons were, exactly, I cannot even begin to imagine."

What? Was this crazy old man insulting her?!? Alanna raised her tawny eyebrows and waved her hands frantically, desperate for a chance to speak.

May the Gods help them! "Yes, yes, young one." Old Man muttered. "Speak if you must. But please, no more rambling. You make this old man's head ache with your nonsense."

Suddenly, Alanna had words and a voice to give them life. "Fine. Have it your way. I'm not crazy. But, you know what? You people are definitely off your rockers." She thrust a hand through her hair, pushing her bangs out of her eyes. "Guardians, Gods, Others, Dark Ones, prophecies? And now this 'mate' crap? Look, I may write fiction, but I don't—won't live in the middle of it."

Obviously, the time for talking was over. Thomas would evidently have to 'go that extra mile,' as they said and show this stubborn witch her new reality. He reached out a hand to grasp the totem hanging around Alanna's neck. "You have no choice in the matter, my dear Miss Shepherd. No choice at all."

"Hey, take your hands off my..." She gasped as the air between them grew thick. The edges of her vision faded as the world around her shifted. Alanna blinked. Her living room was gone. Completely gone!

She swiveled her head rapidly, attempting to take in as much of her new surroundings as she possibly could. All she could see were endless stretches of red sand. This simply was not possible! "Oh. My. Gods! What happened? Where are we?"

"What happened? We sifted through time and space into an alternate reality. Where are we? This, Alanna, this is the Dreaming."

'This' was becoming too much like a bad episode of the Twilight Zone. She raised a hand to grasp Thomas' where it lay against her chest, still wrapped around the totem. "Dreaming? How can I be dreaming? How can we be in the same dream."

Where was a dictionary when he needed one? Thomas sighed, pulling Alanna closer to him. "There is so much for you to learn and so little time in which you may learn it, my dear. We are not 'dreaming,' this is the Dreaming—specifically this is the well of creation. The place where the Tjurunga and the People came into being."

Alanna's red-gold brows drew together in a frown. "I don't understand."

Why were women always so desperate to understand things? Why on earth could they not simply accept things as they were? Thomas placed his hand upon her neck, stroking his thumb upwards towards her jaw. "Yes, I know this. Old Woman has given you the knowledge you need. Old Man has shared the story of the Tjilpa with you. But still you refuse to come willingly to understanding."

Alanna swallowed. The simple touch of Thomas' hand did crazy things to her system. Her pulse beat heavy in her throat and her breathing quickened measurably. She tried backing away from him slightly, but could not. His strong hands held her firmly in place against him.

Thomas sighed. "Hear me, Alanna. When the ancestors of the People, those Old Man and Old Woman refer to as 'The Others,' finished their creation, their spirits returned to the Earth in animal form to take up their role as protectors of the People. Each generation, the Others choose another Guardian—someone who will honor them, care for them, and assume the physical responsibility of Guardian. The totem, like the one you wear, is the vessel which carries the essence and enables the transfer." Thomas lowered his head to hers, placing his mouth next to her ear. "When Old Man placed the totem around your neck, the essence transferred itself to you. It now resides within you."

Some 'thing' had moved into her body? What on earth did Thomas mean? Goosebumps shivered down Alanna's spine. "Within me?" she squeaked.

Thomas raised a hand and Alanna watched transfixed as the outline of his fingers and palm blurred. "Within you, Alanna." The image before her sharpened, but it was no longer a human hand he held up in front of her. It was now a massive, tawny gold paw, complete with razor sharp claws. "As it does within me."

Holy crap! She had just jumped from Twilight Zone right into an episode of Ray Bradbury Theater. Alanna's eyes widened. "Oh, Gods. You're... you're some kind of shape-shifter. Some sort of were-cat!"
Thomas nodded. Therianthrope would be more precise. But, he supposed, from her perspective Were-cat was probably the best description of what he had become. "Old Man's story was entirely truth, Alanna. The Tjurunga do exist. I too was chosen, Alanna. Like you, I am the Guardian of my generation."

Oh, damn. Stephen King with his fictional were-kitties had nothing on this guy. "But how?" She whispered.

Thomas sighed. He hated rehashing ancient history, but if it would help Alanna come to terms with her own situation... "Ah, well. My story is not so different from your own, my dear. I had a good life, a good job and a promising future once upon a time. I am, or rather was, a Solicitor. I had traveled to Australia on business, but as soon as I set foot in Sydney, I felt almost compelled to make a journey into the red desert."

He released her abruptly, turning to look out over the vast red sands. "My guide, a wizened old man of questionable ancestry, told me the red desert was a place of great magic, the birthplace of all of the people currently inhabiting the earth. The old man took me out into the red dessert to the great rock. Then he showed me the pictographs left by the ancient people and told me the story of the Tjilpa."

Though more than 100 years had passed since the Tjurunga had chosen him as its host, the memories of that time were still so fresh Thomas could see the events unfolding, like a motion picture playing just behind his eyes. He reached inside his shirt and pulled out a totem that was almost an exact duplicate of the one Alanna now wore. "When it was time to leave, my guide gave me this as a token of my visit." He cradled the totem carefully. "By the time I took my leave, the possession had already begun."

Freaking hell. Alanna pulled her gaze away from his taut behind side to stare at his face. She hoped above all hope that Thomas meant something other than the demonic style possession she had seen in movies like Damian. "Possession?" her voice quaked.

Thomas shrugged. "I can think of no better term to describe what happens when the spirit of another being moves into your body."

This was so not good. "But," Alanna licked her lips, "The spirit... It doesn't control you, right? I mean, you're so..." She shrugged helplessly.

"So normal? So human? Yes. I retained my humanity, Alanna. The cat and I… we are merely two parts of a whole. Each being is separate, though we share this one body. It is not so bad, really. But, I have had a very long time to come to terms with my cat, my dear. He and I have grown quite used to one another over the years."

Thomas dropped his totem, taking her once more into his arms. "Unfortunately, Alanna, you do not have the same gift of time. You have only until the vernal equinox to accept the Other's presence and learn to co-exist with it."

The vernal equinox? That was when? Like the beginning of Spring or something? Alanna shook her head. She was not an astronomer, but that definitely could not be right. Surely if the Gods had chosen her to carry this unholy spirit-thing, they would give her sufficient time to adjust! Right? "But Thomas, that's only two months away. I can't possibly..."

The newly chosen were always looking for an easy path. Thomas raised her face to his and pressed a gentle kiss to her full lips. "I'm sorry, Alanna. If I could give you more time, I would. But the fate of the People hinges on this very issue." Thomas grasped the totem Alanna wore, drew her tightly to him, and willed them back to the world.

The air around them warmed and the scenery blurred once more. Alanna blinked, surprised to find they were once again in her living room. How much time had passed, Alanna was not certain. Thomas was right, though. If indeed the fate of the world rested on her shoulders, there was much she had to learn. And apparently very little time to learn it in.

****

Alanna paced back before the fire, pulling the totem back and forth, back and forth worriedly with each step. "Old Man, how long until I have to do the shape-shifting thing again?" She asked.

Old Man looked up from the flames flickering in the fireplace before him. Hmm, she had accepted the idea that another being dwelt within her. This was a form of progress. Maybe. "The Tjurunga is not constrained by time, young one. Or moon phases, for that matter. The stories you have heard or read of men changing into animal form at the full moon are simply stories—myths created by man to explain the unexplainable."

He shrugged broad shoulders. "Unlike the myths men created, where the beast emerges to ravage and plunder, the animal within you acts solely to protect the People, and its host. You will shift only when the great cat feels there is a need or when you call upon it."

Well, that was something. At least she would not have to worry about turning furry and running around howling, er, yowling at the moon every 28 days. "But... you said I shifted at the airport." Alanna shuddered, scratching gently at the skin on her arms. It felt as if ants were crawling across her skin. Ugh!

If the woman could not get a handle on things soon they were going to have a problem. Thomas laid his hands on her soft shoulders. "Have a care, Alanna. Your anxiety calls to the cat inside you in the same manner as fear. If you cannot..."

"I am not doing anything on purpose to call out the damn cat!" Alanna wrapped her arms tightly around her middle. She could feel the cat inside her, taut and coiled, ready to pounce. 'Breathe' she told herself. 'Hold it together and just breath!'

Old Man shook his grizzled head emphatically. "Young one, your mind calls out to the cat whether or not you realize it. You must strive to control your emotions, young one. Yes, your cat emerged at the airport. You were not yourself and the cat sensed that. It emerged to protect you. You cannot afford to have the cat re-emerge now. Shifting again so soon, when you are not yet acclimated to the change, could damage you."

This was just getting better and better! She felt her nerves fray. "Damage?" Alanna gulped painfully. "Exactly what do you mean by 'damage'"

"Young one," Old Man paused. He always hated dispensing this bit of news. He sighed deeply. "Young one, if you shifted now there is a very great possibility that your cat would assume complete control. You might not be able to shift back."

Alanna panicked, her mind teetering at the very edge of sanity. "Not shift back? You mean... You mean I'd really be the cat? As in forever?!?" She was having an anxiety attack. Her heart beat raced along so swiftly she thought it would break right out of her chest.

Thomas' hands tightened on her shoulders, his fingers digging into her skin. "Think happy thoughts, Alanna."

"Happy thoughts. Hah!" She breathed in deeply, counting to ten. Her jaw still ached, but it was a small ache. She tried creating an image of a serene sea in her mind, hoping the mental picture would help her achieve some measure of calm.

Finally, she stopped trying to control the beast and let herself enjoy the feeling of Thomas holding her. "Okay. Okay." This felt pretty good. Maybe, if he just held her for a while, she could do this after all. In fact, she knew she could. There was absolutely no way in hell she was going to allow herself to become furry—not if there was any chance she'd have to stay that way! 'Gods, what would I tell my editor?' she thought.

Thomas' comforting embrace helped her regain a measure of calm. The itching continued, but at least the ache in her gums and jaw had eased. "So, how do I acclimate to this thing? Is there some sort of ritual, prayer, chant or something to help speed the process along? Because, honestly Old Man, I don't know how much longer I can contain my anxiety here." She scratched her neck. Damn, if she kept this up she would be completely covered in welts by morning. "And I sure as hell don't want to cause myself any permanent 'damage'!"

Sheer determination could work to their advantage. If, that is, the young one focused on staying human. "Hmm..." Old Man tipped his head slightly. "Becoming used to the cat residing within you occurs faster for some than for others. But if you consciously decide to coexist, perhaps..."

Hah! Like she could just wave a magic wand and make everything all better. She snorted. "It's not like I really have a choice here, Old Man. This thing is inside me now, whether I want it or not. And the only way I can get rid of it—at least according to the legend—is to die." Alanna scratched harder. "Frankly, I'm just not ready to take that step at this point in my life—possessed or not. Which means me and the Tjurunga are going to have to come to terms pretty damned quick."

Thomas was definitely intrigued by this woman. Her strength of will was phenomenal. And her physical body, well... He hugged her to him, pressing her fully against his lean body. "I would not have you die just yet either, Alanna."

Yeah, she could feel just how happy he was to have her here. Men! They were in the middle of what could likely be a major disaster--at least for her--and he had his mind on sex. She rolled her eyes at him. "Uhuh, yeah. You just want to get laid."

He laughed, tugging gently on a length of red-gold hair that had spilled over her shoulder. "Well, there is that."

Outside the window, in a nearby tree, the crow sat watching. Perhaps, it thought, the God's were not so crazy after all.

CHAPTER FIVE

Alanna screamed in frustration. "Aargh! Forget it, Thomas! It's been three days now. I'm done with the peace and harmony crap." She was tired, so tired. None of their so-called 'training' had done a thing to help her control the cat.

"I can't meditate the blasted cat away. All I've done is give myself a nasty case of nervous hives and a rotten headache." She rubbed at her chest. "The damned cat wants out!"

Patience was definitely not Alanna's strong suit. Thomas' eyes narrowed. "Perhaps we are approaching this task from the wrong direction."

Harsh laughter rang out. Oh, as if there were a 'right' direction with this one. Old Man looked up from his cup, wishing it contained something stronger than tea. "These are the methods all of the Guardians have used throughout time, Thomas." He shook his head, clearly at a loss. "How else would we do this?"

The sound of bells tinkled softly through the air as Old Woman shimmered into the garden. "Ahh, Old Man. How narrow your thinking has become." She smiled in greeting. "All of the Guardians, save one, have been male have they not?"

Thomas bowed to the old woman respectfully. "Your point, madam?"

The boy was always so full of himself! Old Woman rapped him smartly on the arm. "My point, boy, is that Man is different from Woman."

Here we go again, Alanna grimaced. "Great. Can we skip the conversation about the differences between the sexes and get to the part where you--or someone--tells me what will work here?"

"What is this, child? No welcome? No greeting? Did not your mother teach you to respect your elders?" Old Woman frowned severely, displeasure shone clearly in her eyes. "Even Thomas, as arrogant as the boy is, remembered to greet this Old Woman properly, child."

Alanna groaned. Manners? The old witch was berating Alanna for her lack of manners? At a time like this? For cripes' sake! "Right. Look, I'm about to burst at the seams here. Literally. Kitty wants out to play and no amount of catnip will appease her." She rubbed her jaw, trying to ease the ache created by the pressure of sharp teeth just waiting to explode through the surface. "If you have some suggestions on how to make this process work, I'd really appreciate hearing them. Both of these guys," she pointed a hand towards Thomas and the old man, "insist I can't shift right now." She sent a look of desperation the old woman's way, praying for her assistance. "That means kitty and I have to come to terms. Please, can we skip the niceties? Help me!"

"Hmpf." Muttered Old Woman. "Modern children. Always rushing around, never making time for their elders." She sighed, sinking slowly into a lounge chair, arranging her flowing purple robes carefully around her. "It's simple really, child. Man finds it difficult to co-exist with his emotions; therefore he strives desperately to contain them. By placing boundaries on his heart and mind, man is able to control not only his emotional self, but his physical self as well."

Alanna tilted her head back, staring up at the sky and willing the Gods to send her strength. Or at least a cute bartender with a really strong margarita. "Okay. Nothing new there." Alanna stated.

"Woman, on the other hand, lives for emotion." Old Woman continued. "She cannot merely co-exist with it. Without love, joy, anger, and fear her life is meaningless. When woman strives to contain herself, chaos ensues."

Alanna could see the wisdom in that. She had fought unsuccessfully to control her emotions for days. Her body and mind were nothing but chaos at the moment. "So... if I give in to the emotions, allow myself to experience them, then what? Every time I get the least bit emotive all hell breaks loose."

Old Woman took Alanna's hand, "Does it, child? Or would it be more true to say that when you are emotional and do not give in to that emotion fully all 'hell breaks loose' within you."

Alanna looked from the old woman, to the old man and then to Thomas. "Umm... I.... Maybe." Did the old woman have a point? She thought a moment. "At the airport, when I felt so awful, I was fighting really hard to keep it all together. Is that why the cat emerged?"

Perhaps the child was capable of reason after all. Old Woman nodded. "Exactly, child. Had you allowed yourself to feel, allowed yourself a moment to stop and nurture yourself, your cat would have likely stayed quiet."

Alanna felt like throwing herself on the ground and tossing a tantrum--a loud one! "So... what do I do now? Sit down and have a good cry?" She queried.

"Tsk, child. Use your head. You need to vent your emotions." Old Woman looked over at Thomas. "You have a mate, make use of him."

A very wicked grin appeared on Thomas' handsome face, causing the old man to chuckle. Truly, it was about time the woman made use of what the Gods had given her.

Alanna looked at Thomas quizzically. "Make use of him? How would I…" Her green eyes widened. "Whoa! Wait a minute! Wait just a darn minute! I'm not taking that man into my bed just to appease the blasted cat." Alanna groused.

At last! Thomas took Alanna's hand, pulling her rapidly towards the house. "We do not have to make use of the bed, if you do not wish it Alanna."

****

Thomas was like a runaway train. There was no stopping him once he decided on doing something. "Thomas." Alanna struggled, trying to pull out of his arms. "Thomas! Stop! Just wait a minute."

Wait? He had done nothing but wait! "Why? You've let me touch you and hold you for days now, Alanna." Thomas slid his hands underneath her shirt, removing it swiftly. "Give in to the moment." He dropped his head licking and nipping at her mouth.

Ah, damn. His mouth felt so good! Alanna's arms lifted and she slid her hands into the soft hair at his temples. She pulled gently. "We know nothing of each other, Thomas. Nothing."

Thomas pulled back, looking deep into her eyes. "I know everything I need to know, Alanna. I beg you, do not fight this. Please, do not fight this. You heard Old Woman. If you fight to contain your emotions, your cat will emerge on its own. Your humanity will be lost to you entirely."

His hands traveled her body knowingly, lingering on the lush fullness of her breasts, the soft curve of her stomach, the lovely patch of soft red-gold curls between her thighs. "Gods, Alanna, you are beautiful."

His head dipped lower, capturing a bright red nipple between his teeth. "Oh." She bit her lip. She was losing control too quickly! He knew just how much pressure to apply before pleasure crossed that fine line into pain. It was as if they had been lovers for decades.

"Thomas," she gasped weakly, "please. This isn't right. I can't..."

"You can, Alanna. The Gods have made their choice. Accept it. Accept me." His lips wandered over the soft skin of her abdomen. "Mate with me, Alanna." His hand dipped down between her legs, stroking her through her downy curls. Moments later he buried his fingers deep in her tight channel. "Let me help you with your struggle. Let me ease you."

Alanna struggled briefly, lust and fear warring in her soul. He felt so good. So very good! The cat within her yowled, crying out for release. It recognized Thomas as its mate, even if Alanna did not. "Ah, that's good. So good."

She canted her hips upward, matching her rhythm to his strokes. Soft pants and growls filled the air. The essence of the Other blended with her own until she could no longer tell where her needs ended and the cat's needs began. "Yes. Yes, Thomas!" She came so hard she would have fallen if he had not supported her.

Thomas peeled out of his clothing in record time. Then he picked Alanna up and tossed her on the bed. "You are mine, Alanna." He crawled over her, his large body dominating her smaller one.

He held her hands above her head, moving to press his lower body against her insistently. "Spread your legs for me, Alanna. Open for me sweeting."

Alanna moved her knees as far to the side as possible, welcoming his heat and strength. Gods, she needed him! She needed this!

"Accept me, Alanna!" He positioned his thick cock at her opening and with one quick thrust, sheathed himself to the hilt inside her. Gods damn she was tight!

Alanna felt as if her body was being torn asunder. He was so large! "Thomas, please! I need... Ah, Gods!"

Thomas grunted. It took everything he had to hold back, but there was no way he was giving in to her demands until she agreed to the . "Accept me as your mate!"

She sobbed. "Yes. Yes! Oh, Gods. Yes, Thomas!"

"Now!" He growled, driving into her over and over again in his desperation to make her his and his alone.

Her body clenched tightly around him, milking and squeezing him with every thrust. Orgasm washed over them in breaking waves, each ripple growing stronger than the one before. Seconds, minutes, hours later they both collapsed into an unconscious heap.

Deep inside Alanna's head, the great cat purred its contentment.

CHAPTER SIX

Alanna emerged from her bedroom early the next morning. She was sore, tired disheveled, and sated.

Somehow, Alanna knew, the experiences of the night before had allowed her soul the freedom to fully merge with the essence of the great cat. Her senses were sharper, more pointed. She could still feel the presence of the Other deep inside her mind; but, the cat was no longer trying to tear its way out of her body. This morning she felt at ease in her own body, something she had not experience for days.

Old Woman smiled as Alanna entered the kitchen. Though her own time of needing had passed over a millennium ago, she still remembered well how the early days with Old Man had affected her. Yes, very well. "How do you feel, child?" she asked gently.

Alanna blushed, heat rushing up her neck and face in waves, and offered Old Woman a shy smile. "Better than I did yesterday, thanks."

"Mmmm..." Old Woman nodded, wisely with-holding further comment. She had no desire to embarrass the young Guardian. The child had enough issues to deal with.

Alanna reached for a mug and poured herself some tea. "How did you know?"

Old Woman did not answer, moving instead to pass the young Guardian a plate filled with eggs, bacon and wheat toast. The trials of the day just passed would have depleted the child's energy stores. It was important that she recharge her body. "Here, child. Eat. You must keep the beast within you satiated in all ways if you wish to stay in control."
Alanna goggled at the amount of food, but accepted the plate meekly. Instead of heading towards the dining table, she found a place to sit at the small bar where she could watch Old Woman work. "Seriously, though. If there has only been one other female Guardian in all of history, how is it you knew exactly what I needed to do to placate my cat?"

Old Woman's dark eyes took on a distant, far-away cast. It was as if she peered into an invisible crystal ball and was able to see another time and place than the one in which she now stood. "Ahh, child. Have you not yet guessed? Did not Old Man tell you? The Tjurunga is not constrained by time. Or by space for that matter." She sighed deeply, her proud shoulders stooped as though she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. "I am that other Guardian."

Alanna gasped, "But that makes you more than..."

Old Woman chuckled. "Older than I care to admit, yes child." She leaned over and rapped Alanna's knuckles. "But just because this woman is old, do not think for one moment she has lost her faculties."

Old Woman stared down into her tea, watching as the blackened leaves swirled gently in the cup. "I have seen what the Gods intend for you, child." She shook her head. This morning she wore her hair in a plait down her back and the movement caused the thick braid to sway. "Your path will not be an easy one."

Alanna's breakfast took on the flavor of sawdust. She set her fork down carefully on the edge of her plate. "I know there's more to this than my acclimatizing to the cat and accepting Thomas as my mate. And I still find a little weird by the way."

"Yes, child." Old Woman sighed. "I know. Even though the world was different and women were expected to accept a mate not of their own choosing, it was still much the same for me. When the Gods dropped Old Man into my lap, I was still very young. I had worked long with the wise man of my tribe and had hopes of being chosen as his apprentice." She shook her head. "The Gods had other plans, though."

Old Woman turned her gaze to the kitchen window, pausing a long moment to watch a stray crow swoop and dive before continuing. "The Gods tell us that every man of this earth is brought into being with two souls. When man is born, his second soul is sent into the Dreamtime. When the woman who will be his mate becomes, the Gods give the second soul to her." She turned her eyes to Alanna. "You, child, are fortunate that you have found your mate. Some people wander this earth the full span of their lives without ever finding their second soul."

"The old man... Do you two have names, by the way? I feel a little silly referring to you as 'the old woman' and him as 'the old man.'" Alanna shifted uncomfortably on her stool, hoping the old woman had not been offended by her question.

Names were unimportant in the grand scheme of things and Old Woman had given hers up long ago. "Old Man and Old Woman will do, child." She shrugged.

Alanna sighed. "Whatever floats your boat. Well, Old Man said that my mating had been foretold in a prophecy. Can you tell me about it? The prophecy? Why was it important for me to find my other soul? To find Thomas? I mean, besides the fact that being near him, being with him obviously helps with controlling the cat."

"Eh, the prophecy." Old Woman set her cup on the counter in front of her. "Prophecies are a bit like the leaves here. Swirl the cup one direction and the leaves say one thing. Swirl it the other and they say something else." Old Woman stuck a finger in the cup, obviously lost in her own train of thought. "The leaves, like the Gods, are quiet today."

Huh? Were none of her would-be mentors capable of a straight answer?!? Frustration etched Alanna's brow and her eyes sparked green fire. "But, Old Woman, what did the prophecy say?!?"

Old Woman drew breath as if to answer, but something or someone beyond Alanna's shoulder distracted her. She raised her head and smiled, "Ahhh. Good morning Thomas. You are looking quite rested."

Oh, Gods. Not now! Alanna's head snapped. It was ridiculous to be nervous of Thomas after what they had shared the night before, but she could not seem to help herself. She gulped, "Thomas."

Thomas ignored the old woman. He had eyes only for Alanna. He marveled at the blessing the Gods had bestowed upon him. He had wandered the world alone for so long. He never truly thought he would find his true mate.

Thomas placed his hands lightly on Alanna's shoulders, leaning in to kiss her cheek. Ahh, so smooth, so soft, so different than his own. "Good morning, my dearest Alanna." He nuzzled her neck, nipping gently at her skin. His cat caught her scent, recognizing its mate. The beast purred its pleasure, happy to be close to her once more.

Alanna's body went pliant and her face filled with heat. She sniffed, scenting the air. Her eyes widened with pleasure as Thomas' natural musky smell invaded her senses. How odd. He must excrete some sort of cat-based, uber-pheromones or something. It had to be a chemical response, there was no other reasonable explanation for her immediate needing. With just a touch, this man—a man she knew so very little about—made her body ache with need. She pushed back against him, wanting, needing. "Thomas, please..." she whispered.

Thomas' beryl-colored eyes glowed softly. His hands kneaded her shoulders, much as a cat would nudge another cat with its paws. "I know, my heart. I know." It would be impossible to achieve anything of any consequence this morning if he remained too near his mate. He let go, stepping back and taking a deep breath to clear the foggy cloud of need from his head. "I, too, wish we could lie abed this morning and explore each other at our leisure, Alanna. But we have much to do today." He stretched out a calloused hand, cradling her cheek for just a moment. "Too much, I am afraid, dear one, to allow the needing to sweep us away just now."

Alanna closed her eyes, hoping to regain her equilibrium. Damn! What was it with this 'needing'? She never reacted to men like this, never wanted to keep them around the next day and simply hold them. She was more of a 'love 'em and toss 'em out before breakfast' kind of girl. Alanna's hands shook as she reached for her tea. The mug clinked softly against the saucer.

Old Woman reached a wrinkled hand across the counter to take Alanna's mug, saving it from possible damage. "The needing will grow easier with time, child. Thomas is right. You have much to do today."

Much to do? Obviously someone had forgotten to give her a copy of today's agenda. Ugh! Alanna closed her eyes and swallowed. "Like what?" she managed.

Old Man strode through the door, confidence emanating from every pore of his wizened body. "Today, young one, you will learn to call your cat."

"Call my cat?" Alanna exclaimed from her perch on the bar stool. "But, Old Man, you said shifting so soon would damage me! I don't want to be furry forever!"

Old man shook his grizzled head, his eyes twinkled with mirth. The young one was such a worrier! "Yesterday the change could have done you damage, Guardian. Today, child, it will not. Hopefully."

Hopefully? "Well. That's great. Really, that's just great." Alanna murmured. She had just managed to put the damn thing in its crate for a while and now they were going to make her call it out. On purpose. "Shit."

Thomas pulled his mate her from her seat, murmuring soft words of comfort.

"Have faith, Alanna. Old Man and Old Woman have mentored all of the Guardians throughout time. You must believe in yourself and trust that the Tjurunga will protect you now."

Trust the beast not to consume her? Oh, Gods!

Old Man turned and stalked towards the door. "Come, young one. We have no time to waste."

****

This was awful! Alanna was nervous and jittery. She tried focusing, but this annoying little voice in her head kept reminding her about the 'damage' she could do if she accidentally let the cat take over. "You know, we could do this tomorrow."

Oh, for Gods' sake! Surely the girl could do better than this? "You are not trying, Guardian." Old Man admonished.

Alanna tossed the Old Man a sour look. Who died and mad him judge and jury? "I am trying!" Alanna groused.

Old Woman knew they pushed the Guardian too hard, but they had no choice. The vernal equinox drew ever nearer. "Well try harder, child." Old Woman admonished. "You must be able to call the cat. If you make the change consciously, you retain control. You know what happens when the cat emerges without invitation—the cat dominates and you lose your sense of self, your sense of time, your memories." Old Woman clicked her tongue. "Tsk. Turning the great cat loose on its own in a city this size would be a very dangerous thing."

"Right. Big cat, big city. Bad idea." 'Oh Gods,' Alanna thought. 'I could eat some poor, innocent person.'

Thomas rolled his eyes. Had circumstances been different, he might have enjoyed teasing her about this. As things stood, Thomas felt teasing probably would not produce the results they needed. Still, he could not resist ribbing her just a little. "Nonsense, dearest one. Your cat is the protector of the People. It might eat a thief or murderer, if it were hungry enough, but it would never eat an innocent."

"Oh! Oh, that's awful!" She exclaimed. Confusion swiftly drew Alanna's brows together. "Wait, how did you…?" Her eyes widened with sudden awareness. She stomped her foot angrily. "Thomas, how could you?!? Can't I have any privacy? Won't you please stay out of my head?" She scratched behind her ear.

Her cat was there, very close to the surface. Thomas could sense it. He knew Alanna could do easily call it out on her own if she tried hard enough, but he could see she was growing weary of trying. It would do none of them any good if she simply gave up.

Thomas took her in his arms. "Shhh, mine own. I've no need to step into your head. You project your thoughts loudly enough anyone with half a mind can read them." He laid his head on her shoulder, his rough cheek touching her soft one. "Relax, sweeting. We'll do this together."

Thomas' touch brought warmth, comfort and security. Alanna felt as if everything was simply... better when he held her. She nodded her head jerkily. "Fine. Okay. Whatever."

Thomas turned Alanna to face him and took her hands in his. "Here, dearest. Sit with me. Now, close your eyes, Alanna. Match your breathing to mine."

Breathing. She could manage breathing. Alanna breathed in and out, deeply, slowly.

"Good, dear heart. Now picture the cat in your mind's eye. She's waiting for you, quietly, in her cave."

Alanna concentrated. Finally, a picture of the great cat, tawny gold, strong, sharp teeth and claws, appeared behind her eyes.

Thomas watched Alanna carefully, searching for the tell-tale signs of the change. Ah, there it was! He could see a faint shimmer in the air outlining her body. "That's it. Alanna." Thomas released her hands and moved away slightly, giving her the room she would need to shift. "Call to her, Alanna. Invite your cat to share your space, your body."

"Here kitty-kitty." Alanna called, "come out and play with the nice people."

Thomas rolled his eyes. His mate's first response to stress was always sarcasm. She needed to concentrate. He rapped her jean-covered knee lightly. "Focus, Alanna."

Alanna tried. She put everything she had into it. Suddenly, she felt a shifting in her mind. The itching increased. Pain filled her jaw. Heat crept through her from top to bottom. Then... nothing. Absolutely nothing!

'Damn it, Thomas! It didn't work.'

'Didn't it?' Thomas' words stole silently through her mind at the same time a low, rumbling purr sounded from in front of her.

Alanna opened here eyes. The colors were gone and everything seemed a lot bigger than it had moments ago. 'What?' She shook her head, swiping at her itching nose with a paw. 'Paw? Paw?!? Oh, my Gods! I have paws?!?' She stood, turning excitedly. 'And a tail! Thomas, I have a tail!'

Thomas' golden eyes followed her as she gamboled about the garden. Had things been different, he might have pursued her and used the chase to relieve some of the sexual frustration that had been building within him all day. 'Yes, my dear, and quite a lovely tail you have at that.'

Alanna stopped and stared at the large male cat. 'Huh? Oh, hell no.' Thomas was a gorgeous specimen of a cat—heavily muscled, sleek, tawny-gold and proud. But still... 'I don't do furry.'

Thomas snuffled, as much a laugh as his feline vocal chords would permit.

Old Man wrapped his arm tightly around Old Woman's shoulders. The Guardian had succeeded! How wondrous! Together they joined in the raucous celebration, laughter and light filling the garden.

"Well done, child." Chortled Old Woman. "Well done!"

****

Alanna's control over the great cat grew day by day. She could shift at will now, something which made everyone quite happy. But she worried. Still she worried. The vernal equinox was growing ever closer and she had no clearer an understanding of the upcoming battle than she had to start with.

At night, when she lay in Thomas' arms with the troubles of the world beyond her door muted, she wondered at the purpose of it all. "Thomas?" she queried.

He sighed. His mate's mind never seemed to shut down, not even at night when she should be resting and allowing her body to re-energize itself. Thomas' hands stroked her hair red-gold hair gently, "What is it, pet? Can you not find your sleep?"

"My mind is still running. I can't seem to shut it down." Alanna pulled his hand from her hair and brought it to her lips, laying a soft kiss in his palm. "Why did the Tjurunga choose me, Thomas? I'm not strong. I know nothing of fighting and haven't a clue how to battle evil and save the world. What is it I can do that someone else couldn't?"

Thomas sighed. She could not leave the prophecy alone. "Ahh, Alanna." He loosed his hands, rolling away from her to rise and stalk in all his naked splendor to the French windows.

"Please, Thomas." Alanna implored. "I've asked Old Man and Old Woman again and again, but they tell me nothing." She wrapped a sheet around her tightly and traipsed after him.

Thomas lowered his head to touch the cool glass, frustration evident in the taut lines of his body. His mate was like a dog with a bone, she worried and worried until problems simply crumbled around her. "Alanna, the Gods' messages are never clear, never precise. I have come to accept that I will never know all I think I should know. Can you not accept this also?"

Alanna had never been good at taking the low road. She laid her hand on his arm. "You know more than I do, though. Won't you tell me, Thomas?"

He drew her with him to a nearby chair, pulling her down to sit beside him. "I do not know why the Tjurunga chose you, dear heart. Perhaps it sees in you something you cannot see in yourself."

His lips traced a line across her brow, smoothing the troubled furrows that seemed to be ever-present lately. "I know that you will play a significant part in the coming conflict with the Dark One, Alanna. I know too that you carry my second soul. You were predestined by the Gods to be my mate. And, it is foretold that our union will provide you with the strength and power you need to defeat the Dark One." He tightened his hold on her. "But beyond that..." his voice trailed away.

Alanna stared into the night, her green eyes narrowed in thought. "What or who is the Dark One, Thomas? Do you mean evil incarnate, sort of an aboriginal version of the Christian Satan come to earth?"

Thomas sighed. "Truthfully, Alanna, I do not know who or what the Dark One is. I do know there is nothing in this world or elsewhere that is either all good or all evil, Alanna. Nothing is ever quite so black and white. All of life is composed in shades of gray, some beings appear rather neutral, some light and still others very dark."

Alanna was disappointed. Not in Thomas, but in his answer, or rather his non-answer. Her head dropped back against his shoulder dejectedly. "Thank you, Thomas. Thank you for sharing at least this much with me."

He pressed his lips to her brow. "You are my mate, Alanna. I would do anything and everything within my power to save you this uncertainty."

She snuggled deeper into his embrace. "I know, Thomas. I know." She looked up at him, her eyes glowing green in the dark. "Make love with me, Thomas. Help me forget. For just a little while." She pleaded.

Thomas pulled her over him, sliding warm hands up to cup her breasts. His fingers stroked over her softly, gently.

She leaned down, pressing her mouth to his in a deep, soul searching kiss. Her hands played lightly across his shoulders and down his chest. It was funny. She had never thought of men with hairy chests as being sexy. But she loved the thick pelt covering Thomas' chest. "You're so hard where I'm so soft," she murmured.

"Mmm..." Thomas had a hard time being still. He wanted nothing more than to toss her to the floor and ride her hard. But tonight, tonight he knew she needed gentleness. However, it took everything he had to let her touch and explore freely.

Alanna's soft hands curved downwards, tracing lines along his rock hard abdomen. He was startled when she slid backwards off his lap. "Alanna?"

Alanna's eyes reflected her every emotion. Thomas could see how much she wanted him and it made his heart sing.

She licked her lips. "I want to taste you, Thomas." Her hand wrapped around him gently. Her thumb stroked upwards along the underside of his erection.

Thomas shifted restlessly. "Alanna, please. I cannot..." He set his hands on the armrests of the chair, curling his fingers into the leather.

Alanna ignored him, leaning forward slowly. She wanted to taste him, lick him, consume him! Her tongue flicked out, lapping softly at the head of his cock.

Thomas groaned. "Sweeting. Ah."

Alanna's mouth enveloped him, surrounding him with liquid warmth.

Thomas relinquished himself to the pleasure. All thought left him. He moved his hands to the back of her head, pushing her gently downwards. "Please, Alanna!"

She took him deeper. The head of his cock hit the back of her throat and she swallowed.

"Gods damn!" Thomas groaned. It had been a long time since he had been with a woman who cared enough to see to his needs like this. And none, "Ah, yes!" None had taken him as Alanna did.

Thomas' pleasure fueled her own, fanning the flames of the needing higher and higher. Alanna gave into his unspoken request willingly, letting him fuck her mouth as deep and as hard as he needed to.

Thomas' groans grew in strength and volume. Alanna sucked harder, faster. "Alanna! Sweeting, please... No! You must let go, I cannot... Oh Gods!"

Alanna's eyes gleamed with an inner fire. She swallowed Thomas down whole, milking him of every last wondrous drop of life giving essence. She sat back slowly, licking her lips, smiling her satisfaction.

In a voice raspy with emotion Thomas told her how beautiful she was, how amazing. "Alanna. My mate."

Alanna stroked him, her green-gold eyes wide with wonder. "You're still hard."

Thomas pulled her to him, lifting her onto his lap and sliding her down onto his throbbing cock. "Only for you, Alanna." He started rocking her, pressing his hands against her bottom to teach her the rhythm he wanted, needed so desperately.

Alanna caught the rhythm quickly. Leaning forward, she grasped his wrists, pulling his hands upwards to cup her breasts, refusing to let him have full control of their lovemaking. She shifted her knees outward, pleased to find the new position allowed for deeper penetration.
Thomas' face tightened. His eyes darkened. His mouth opened in soft pants. He was close, she could see it. Alanna bit her lip hard, trying to distract herself from coming too soon.

Their movements quickened. Thomas put his hands to the sides of her face, holding her so that he could watch her eyes.

Alanna increased her pace, pounding against him roughly, riding him for all she was worth until he writhed in ecstasy. Then and only then did she allow herself to follow Thomas over the precipice and find her own pleasure.

Afterwards, Thomas simply held her, enjoying the closeness of being inside her. They fell asleep still joined.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Old Woman stood by the well of the Others, watching as time and fate swirled ever closer together in the dark waters. "The Dark One comes. The time for battle draws near, Old Man."

The Dark One was impatient. He yearned for battle. Old Man hoped the Compact would hold, but knew the Dark One found it increasingly to abide by the God's restrictions. He sighed. "I was afraid of that." His knees creaked as he dropped onto the ground nearby. "We are not ready for this, Old Woman."

Old Woman cast herbs upon the surface of the water. "Whether we are ready or not is of little consequence, Old Man. The story of our lives has already been written. We cannot undo the telling, we can strive only to insure that the outcome is as it should be."

Old Man nodded. "Aye, woman. So it is written, so it shall be." He rose wearily, stretching his hand out to grasp his mate's. "Come woman. The Gods wait for no man. Let us prepare for the times to come as best we can."

****

Alanna sat cross-legged, desperately trying to achieve a state of calm. Her assignment today was to find a way to communicate with her cat. The task should have been an easy one, at least Thomas had told her it would be easy. But every time she tried to empty her mind, her thoughts returned to her late-night conversation with Thomas. Alanna was despondent. She could deal with cranky editors and pushy publishers. But this business of battling the 'dark' absolutely unnerved her.

She sighed deeply, shifting uncomfortably from one buttock to the other. Whoever said the Lotus position was ideal for meditation was insane. She gave up, uncrossed her legs and dropped her head in her hands. "Why? Why am I a part of this? Why would the Gods choose me for this task? What does it all mean?"

A quiet voice eased its way through the recesses of her mind. 'You are needed, Guardian. Your purpose will become clear to you soon.'

Oh, Gods! Had she made contact? Alanna sat up so quickly she almost fell over. "What the hell?" she exclaimed.

'I do not understand your query,' the voice purred.

Just her luck. The cat's speech syntax was a throwback to a prior century. "Gods, can't anything about this mess be easy?"

'I have often been confused with the Gods. But I am not a God, I am merely a protector of the People.'

Okay. Maybe this would work if she kept her questions simple. Alanna tried again. "Are you my cat?"

'I am the Tjurunga. I am the one who has chosen you. I seek only to offer you comfort.'

Alanna crawled to a chair. "Why wouldn't you answer my call earlier?"

'I did not think you truly desired my presence at first.' The voice paused a moment or two. 'After awhile, I could feel your anxiety, your worry. I sought only to comfort you, Guardian.'

Well, the cat was sympathetic to her plight. That was a plus. Maybe. She licked her lips. "Okay. So..." She closed her eyes and drew a deep breath. "I guess this isn't any weirder than anything else that's happened so far." She nodded decisively, "You're probably right. I could use a little comfort."

The Tjurunga spoke swiftly now. "We share one body, but we are still two minds. I know this is not comfortable for you, Guardian."

Alanna smiled grimly. "No, it hasn't been comfortable; but I'm trying very hard to get used to it." She paused. "Cat, why did you choose me?"

Alanna thought for a moment the Tjurunga would not answer. 'You are needed,' it whispered.

She nodded. "Yes, you've said that. Why me, though?"

'You are the Chosen One.'

She slammed a fist on her desk. "Damn it! This is like pulling teeth! One freaking minimal answer at a time. Why can't you just spit it out?"

Confusion spilled across Alanna's mind. 'I'm sorry, Guardian. What is it you wish me to spit out? Have we eaten something objectionable?'

Great. The stupid cat was a literalist. "No. I meant, why am I 'the Chosen One'?"

'Ahh...' The voice paused. 'The Gods foretold...'

Alanna waved her hand impatiently. She absolutely did not need to hear anymore of this prophecy bullshit. She needed actual answers. "Yeah, yeah. The Gods said I'm to do battle with the dark, mate with Thomas and make the world a better place. Right, I got that. Seriously, though. Why me​

Feelings of peace and serenity swept through her, enveloping her in a blanket of warmth. 'Be at peace, Guardian.'

She closed her eyes, accepting the comfort that was offered.

'You are a true Guardian, young one. Your hereditary line can be traced backwards through time immemorial to the blood of the very first Guardian. It is for this reason I chose you.'

It's a family thing? Who knew? "So why me? Why not my brother? Or my cousin or some other lucky family member?" She asked.

'Your brother would not be suitable. Nor would your cousins, all of whom descend from your mother's brothers. Your hereditary line is matriarchal, the power in your family flows only through the females.'

So it was all her Mother's fault. Huh. Alanna blinked slowly, lost in thought. "So... if I'm related to the original Guardian, and this gift or whatever comes down only through the women of my line... I'm what, related to Old Woman?"

'Yes.' The cat purred.

Life could, indeed, get weirder. "Is that why she's here? She's making an extra effort and helping me adjust because I'm family?"

'Partly.'

Alanna rolled her eyes. One word answers provided so much useful information. "Okay, then. If that's only part of the reason, why else is she here?"

The Tjurunga was silent for what seemed like an eternity. 'She must train you, Guardian.'

Uhuh. Alanna gave serious thought to banging her head on her desk top. "Train me to...?"

'To take her place when the battle is done.'

Alanna was confused. "Take her place? Where is she going?"

Sorrow flowed through her. 'Guardian.' Regret tinged its words. 'The old woman is not fated to survive this battle. She prepares you to take her place in the world. To assume her duties as mentor and wise woman when the Gods return her body to the earth and her soul to the Dreamtime.'

No, no, no! The Gods were confused. No amount of training could prepare her for that! "I should have known better than to ask." Alanna's boots slammed the floor with each step as she pounded out of the room.

****

Alanna searched frantically for her mentors. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her through the house and the garden. But both were empty. Neither Old Man, Old Woman, nor Thomas were anywhere to be found. She had to find Old Woman. Alanna needed the wise woman to tell her the truth.

"Where are they?" Alanna gasped breathlessly. They hadn't left her alone for more than a week, why would they start now?

"Perhaps," an oily voice rolled thickly through the air, "they have abandoned you."

Alanna whirled, startled. A stranger sat in the old wicker rocker to her left. "Who the hell are you?"

His smile caused the fine hairs at the nape of her neck to bristle. "Why, Alanna. I am your destiny. Surely they told you?"

Alanna's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean you're my destiny?"

The dark man rose. He was taller than Thomas, darker, much more foreboding. He walked towards her. His gait confident, his strides sure. "How disappointing. I thought for certain the Tjurunga would choose someone with a bit of intelligence." He walked a circle around her. "Of course, the Gods have always been a little crazy."

Alanna turned her head, following his path with her eyes. "I don't know who the hell you are..." Alanna growled.

The man stopped directly in front of her, reaching out a long-fingered hand to grab her by the neck. "Do you not?" His grip tightened. "Think about all of the players in this little game of yours, my dear. Who is it you have not yet met, hmm?"

Damn and double-damn! The Dark One! "But you can't be the Dark One! You're not supposed to show up until the equinox!"

He leaned his dark head down, pressing his lips to her ear and whispered, "Did not the Old Man tell you that time means little, Guardian?" He drew a long nail down the side of her cheek, leaving a deep welt. "Like your cat, I am not constrained by the world's concept of time."

'Call to me, Alanna,' her cat whispered in her mind.

Alanna's cheek burned. It was difficult to breath and she was loosing her ability to focus. Cat. She had to call her cat. Alanna clawed desperately at the hands wrapped around her throat.

'Call to me now, Alanna!' her cat growled.

Alanna took a short breath and desperately tried to focus her thoughts. There! She could see the cat in her mind 'Come,' she whispered silently. Alanna almost wept when heat rushed through her body. Sheer joy flooded her when pain crept through her jaw and the itching started. She raised a hand, watching gratefully as her image began to blur. "Yes!" she cried.

"No!" The man holding her shouted and dropped her to the ground. "This cannot be! You cannot have mastered the Tjurunga so soon!"

Alanna roared triumphantly, stalking forward towards the Dark One on four feet now instead of two. 'Bad man. Evil man.' The cat growled. 'You will not hurt what is mine!'

Suddenly, the air in front of Alanna blurred. In the space where the Dark One had stood now appeared a great serpent. 'Think you to best me, young one?' It hissed. 'Best the Dark One?'

"Alanna, no!" Voices cried out across the garden. "Do not do this! It is not yet time."

The cat ignored the voices and swiped at the serpent with a great paw.

The serpent moved swiftly out of reach. 'Hah! It is too soon. Too soon!' The serpent sang. 'You are no match for me, for me!' It slithered closer, curling to strike. 'Come and greet me, young one. Come greet your destiny!'

A hard body slammed into Alanna, knocking her to the side. 'No!'

Alanna shook her head, rising to rejoin the fight. Only to discover the serpent was no longer there. Alanna shifted quickly, returning once again to human form. "Where did he go? What just happened?"

"Gods breath, Alanna!" Thomas reached out, roughly pulling her to him. "I did not think he would come for you before the equinox. We were supposed to have more time..." He buried his face in her hair, drawing on her scent, reassuring himself that she was safe and whole.

Old Woman's voice whispered through their minds. 'We are out of time, children.'

"No, it can't be!" Alanna turned and saw the old woman, still in cat form, lying on the ground. Her body was twisted at an awkward angle and blood ran from the many punctures in her neck and chest.

Alanna looked on in horror as the cat curled into itself, painfully doing what it could to help the Old Woman regain human form.

Alanna pushed away from Thomas, running to her mentor's side. "What happened? You're hurt!"

Old Man lifted his mate into his arms, cradling her body against him. Even though he had known his mate would perish in battle, his soul was not prepared for the loss.

"Do not grieve for me, Old Man." Old Woman whispered, her eyes reflecting her love for the man who had walked beside her for millennium. "I will see you again in the Dreamtime." She held her hand out to Alanna. "Come, child, we have little time now. Take my hand."

Alanna's eyes filled with tears, "But..."

Gods save her from impertinent children! "Take my hand, child!" Old Woman commanded.

Alanna clasped the old woman's hand desperately between her own. An arc of light flew between the two women. Alanna gasped as burning heat rushed up her arms and through her body. She tried to let go, but could not. "Please!"

'Hear me, child.' Old Woman's voice whispered through Alanna's mind. 'Accept all that I have learned through the ages. Know all that is, all that was, all that will be. Remember, child. Remember...'

Alanna's eyes snapped open. It was not supposed to be like this. It was not supposed to happen this way. The cat had said Old Woman would die in battle. That time had not come yet! Tears ran down her cheeks. She looked down, desperate for one more look at her mentor's face--only to find the old woman's body was no longer there. "No!"

Old Man folded his hands into tight fists, ignoring the blood that covered them. His ancient eyes were dark with pain and sorrow. His heart grieved. "Old Woman is of this earth no more, young one." He had walked beside his mate for centuries. Now... Now he could only see her while Dreaming.

Old Man rose, staring for a moment at the ground where his mate had taken her last breath. "Come, Guardian. We've little time now." He turned, walking briskly towards the house. He never once looked back.

Alanna looked to Thomas, sorrow and despair threatening to overtake her. He held his hand out to her and together they returned to the house.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Alanna sat at the table in the kitchen, holding tightly to Thomas' hand. "I know who he is now."

Old Man poured a cup of tea for each of them before sitting down. "The fight between light and dark is as ancient as the Gods themselves, young one. The Dark One..." His gnarled hands wrapped tightly around his mug. "Should he win this fight..." his voice trailed off.

Yeah, Alanna had seen Old Woman's memories first hand. She knew the Dark One's nature. If he won, the impact of his victory would be like that of a nuclear bomb. Alanna nodded her head. "I know. If the Dark One wins, everything is lost."

"Yes, that is so." Old Man placed his cup on the table before him. "Everything—all that was, all that is and all that will be—will be destroyed forever."

Alanna sighed, clearly overwhelmed by loss and her new responsibilities. Old Woman's memories were almost too much for one person to hold. "Old Woman showed me all that she knew. But... Her memories..." She shook her head.

Thomas could feel his mate's pain and frustration. He stroked the back of her hand, rubbing his fingers in circles to soothe her. "The prophecy says only that the battle between light and dark ends when the chosen confronts her destiny on the day the newborn sun races across the sky and day and night are equal. Then, and only then, can the Dark One be defeated."

Alanna pushed away from the table with a frustrated groan. "What the hell does that mean? Nothing in Old Woman's memories tells me how to defeat the Dark One. Only that I must defeat him—or sit back and watch as everything and everyone I've ever known is destroyed."

Old Man watched Alanna pace the length of the kitchen. The young Guardian's strongest trait and greatest flaw was her propensity to worry something to death. "Think, young one. What did the Dark One say to you before we arrived."

What did he say? Alanna pushed a hand through her hair. "He said..." She thought a moment. "The Dark One said he was my destiny. That he thought the Tjurunga would have chosen someone with more intelligence; but, the Gods were crazy, so..." She shrugged.

Thomas's brow rose in question. "The Dark One said he was your destiny?" He turned to the old man. "That's a bit odd, don't you think?" Could there have been more to the prophecy than Old Woman told them?

Old Man's eyes took on a distant expression. "Yes... yes, it is. The prophecy only showed one path. I wonder..."

"You wonder what?" Alanna asked.

Old Man shook his head. "I must think on this." His physical form melted swiftly to nothingness.

Alanna waived her hand towards the chair where the old man had sat. "I really hate it when he does that."

Thomas stood. Taking Alanna by the hand he pulled her down the hall towards the bedroom. "Come, my dear. I would spend all the time I can with you before we battle the Dark One again."

Alanna smiled wearily. She had lost a great friend today. And maybe she would lose the battle with the Dark One, but at least the Gods had brought her Thomas. Even if it was only for a short time.

****

Thomas' hands roamed Alanna's body. "Mine." He growled softly. "My mate!"

"Ahhh, Thomas." Alanna arched, trying to make contact with as much of him all at one time as she possibly could. Sorrow and desperation had served to make the needing intensify. She and Thomas had coupled only hours before, but the way her body ached for him now it felt more like days.

"Your body calls to me, Alanna." He purred against her neck. She stroked his erection with a firm hand and he shuddered against her. "I want..."

"What?" Alanna gasped as Thomas' nimble fingers found her. Her body softened. Moisture pooled between her thighs as her body rode his hand. "Oh... Thomas..."

He turned her, pushing her to her hands and knees before him. The pale curve of her bottom was enticing. "I need to mate, Alanna." His thumb pushed inside her, testing her readiness. "I need to mount you, to take you like this."

Something in Thomas' voice unnerved her. Alanna tried to pull away. Thomas' hands grabbed her roughly and he used the weight of his body to push her down. "Yes, that's it. Fight me. Fight me, little one. Twill serve to make the victory sweeter."

She struggled against him, the cat within her stirring to life as it too sensed the presence of its mate. "Thomas, please."

He mouthed Alanna's neck, nipping at the soft spot just above her shoulder.

"Ah, Gods." Alanna cried out.

Thomas shifted forward, pushing his way roughly between her legs. She could feel the hard length of him, his heat burning against her tender flesh. She bucked her hips against him, crying out at the intensity of the sensations rolling through her.

Thomas' teeth scraped across her neck once, twice, then fastened tightly, holding her in place.

Alanna grew passive, dropping her shoulders and raising her hips to him submissively as if she were a female cat at the peak of her heat.

With one quick thrust Thomas buried himself deeply inside her.

Alanna cried out, shifting her hips and pushing back to take him in even deeper. "All of it, Thomas!" she cried. "Gods, give me all of it!"

Thomas pulled out and drove in again hard. She was wet, but still really tight. It felt so good. So very good! He pulled her up slightly, angling his hips so that the friction from his cock moving in and out rubbed right against her most sensitive areas.

Alanna needed something. Something more. The friction was good, but it wasn't enough. She sobbed in frustration. "Thomas please!"

Thomas' hand smoothed across the tender cheeks of her ass. His thumb stroked up and down against her crack and she cried out. He leaned forward, easing a hand between her legs to gather moisture and bringing it back to play along the pink pucker of her ass.

Alanna's breath caught. Memories of another time, another man flooded through her. Fear rode along her nerves. "Thomas, no. I... it's been a very long time. Please..." she begged.

Thomas ignored her. He spread the moisture he'd gathered carefully across her rosette, making sure to coat her well so he would not injure her.

Pleasure overrode the fear. Dark desire fluttered through Alanna, increasing the needing. She wanted.... She needed... She had no words to give him. Desperately, Alanna pushed back harder, humping her hips against him to try to find release.
Alanna felt Thomas press against her ass, slowly, surely pushing his fingers inside her. "Ahhhh..." she cried out.

Thomas pressed past the tight ring of muscles, pushing his fingers as high and as hard as they would go.

Alanna rocked her hips up and down, trying her best to ride both his cock and his hand at the same time. She felt full. So blessedly full. "Please, please, p lease," she chanted.

Thomas thrust once, twice, three more times, before sending her crashing over the edge. Then his spine bowed. His body convulsed in harsh spasms and he followed along right behind her.

In his head, Thomas' cat roared. It had won the battle. The cat within Alanna rejoiced.

****

The crow watched closely, its head tipped to better see Thomas as he angrily paced the garden. It was not happy. The Dark One had broken the Compact. It did not take such things lightly. Rules existed for a purpose! The crow fluttered its wings, restlessly shifting back and forth on its perch.

"Why does he confront her now? What does he want with her? What does he hope to gain? The vernal equinox is still almost four weeks away." Thomas stopped, running a hand through his hair in agitation.

He raised his eyes to the skies. "I have never questioned what you wanted from me. I have done everything you requested of me, wandering far and wide across this world to protect the People. I have been alone for almost two hundred years." He shook his fists, crying out to the heavens. "I have just found her and you would take her from me now?!?"

The crow could not deny the pain filled cries of the man who had served his masters so well. The night air shimmered as he left his perch and shifted into human form. "Be at ease, Guardian."

Thomas stopped abruptly, turning slowly toward the visitor. He had never seen the man before. His burnished skin, coal black hair and eyes were totally unfamiliar to Thomas. "I do not know you," he growled. "Strangers are not welcome here!" His stance opened and he readied to shift.

The visitor raised a hand, "Do not, Guardian. I pose no threat to you."

Thomas caught a glimmer in his side vision. Moments later Old Man appeared at his side. He took one look at Thomas' visitor and dropped quickly to one knee, "Greetings, Old One."

At least there is one among them who recognizes power. Crow inclined his head in return, "Old Man."

Could not the boy sense the presence of the Ancients? Old Man reached out a hand, pulling Thomas to the ground beside him. "Kneel!" He hissed.

Thomas complied with his mentor's directive, kneeling down beside the Old Man and bowing his head in deference to the stranger.

That these two who had sacrificed so much and gained so little would still be willing to serve the Gods… Crow shook his head in wonder. "You owe me nothing, Guardians." He held out a hand. "Come. Rise up now."

Thomas and the old man stood but maintained a respectful distance.

"How may we serve you, Old One," the old man asked.

How may they serve him? Crow was silent a moment. "You have just come from the Dreamtime, have you not Old Man?"

Old Man nodded. "Yes. The new Guardian had an untimely encounter with the Dark One and I journeyed to the Dreaming to seek answers from my mate."

Crow turned his gaze to Thomas, but kept his words directed to the old man. "And did you find your answers among the spirits in the Dreaming, Old Man?"

Old Woman had revisited the prophecy, but her reading was no different today than it had been five centuries ago. Old Man shook his head. "I found nothing, Old One. Nothing at all."

Crow sighed. "I had hoped..." He shook his head. "It matters not. The Dark One has broken the rules of the Compact. I know not what his purpose is, but it does not bode well for your young Guardian."

Thomas paled. "But, Old One. The prophecy foretold a victory." He held out a hand, stopping just short of touching the ancient standing before him.

"Victory? For whom, Guardian? Do you think only of yourself and your mate? Have you no thought for the People?" Crow's voice grew cold and his icy. "Would you sacrifice all that has been, all that is, all that will be for the sake of one individual? For her?"

In his heart of hearts, Thomas knew he would have great difficulty choosing between the continued health and well-being of the People or that of his beloved mate, and he was ashamed. "Old One, I have traveled alone for so long..." Tears glittered in Thomas' dark eyes and he bowed his head.

"I hear the pain in your words, Guardian. I know the sorrow in your heart. The rules of the Compact have been broken, thus I have the right to interfere. Thus, I will do all that I can to help you prepare her for the upcoming battle."

Crow whirled, preparing to shift. "But mark well my words, Guardian. If I must choose between your mate and the safety of the People, your sorrow will not sway me. I will choose the People." The air blurred and the crow took to the night air once more.

****

Old Man watched Alanna carefully as she paced back and forth in front of the windows. Her mood this night was precarious. "We do not know why the Dark One came to you early, young one. But we think he will wait until the vernal equinox to approach again."

Alanna hated this, the uncertainty of it all. She stopped, turning anxious eyes to the old man. "You think? You're not certain, though?"

Thomas sat near the fire, eyes closed, brandy in hand, miserable to the core of his being. "No, my dearest. We are not certain."

Thomas had been Alanna's rock and her salvation. In the short time they had been together, she had grown to depend on him, to look to him for support. The defeat she heard now in Thomas' voice really bothered her. "Who is this Old One, the one you call Crow? What is he? How do we know we can trust him?"

Old Man's frowned, the motion pulling his wrinkled skin downwards until he looked almost comical. "He is an Ancient, Alanna. A child of the Gods." He folded his gnarled hands in his lap, seeking to convey a sense of calm he did not feel.

A crazy son of the Gods. Oh, wonderful1 That really made Crow a worthy ally. Not! Alanna groaned in frustration. "That's great, guys. Really. But can we trust him? We know the God's are a few light-bulbs short of a chandelier. Why should their off-spring be any different?"

Thomas shook his head morosely, refusing to meet Alanna's gaze. "Nothing is ever certain, Alanna." Nothing. Not life, not friendship, not love. Darkness and despair ate at his soul.

He paused a moment, letting Crow's words drift back across his memory. There was no question in Thomas' mind. He was as certain of that as he was of the sun rising each morning. Crow would send Alanna's soul directly to the Dreamtime if it meant a victory for the People. "We know only what the Old One chooses to tell us."

Thomas would do almost anything to avoid a lie, but he knew Alanna would not care to hear the entire truth. A lie by omission was nevertheless a lie. He crossed his fingers in a habit leftover from childhood. "Crow has told us he will do what he can to see that you are prepared for battle with the Dark One."

Alanna simply could not comprehend why the child of the Gods would take so active an interest in this battle. "Why?" She asked.

"Because, my dear, the Dark One has broken the rules." Crow stated as he appeared in the room, directly behind Alanna.

What was it with these people? Had they never heard of doors? Alanna screamed. "Do not freaking do that!" Angrily, she stomped off to the kitchen.

Crow stared after her, confusion marring his features. He worried the young Guardian was not quite right in her mind. "Are you truly certain that you wish to keep her, boy?"

Thomas tossed back the last of his brandy. "I would not choose to live without her Old One."

CHAPTER NINE

The Chosen One could try the patience of a judge! Crow shook his head in frustration and tried once more. "Listen child and this time hear me, for I shall not repeat this for eternity. In the time before time, the All-Father sent the Sun-Mother out into the world to stir up Life. The Sun-Mother created all that is and laid the path for all that will be."

Crow paused a moment, searching the Guardian's face for signs of comprehension. The young one's face was totally devoid of any expression. Crow wondered if she even heard him. Sighing, he continued. "But the Gods give nothing, not even Life, without a price. Life, they decreed, must be renewed every 500 years. And for Life to come into being, a battle must be waged between Light and Dark. With Light, Life is born to the Earth. Without Light, the Earth cannot produce Life."

Blah, blah, blah. Yawn! This sounded too much like a theology lesson to Alanna. She stared blankly at the Old One. "Umm... So, that means what? Are you saying I'm the Light?"

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" Crow exclaimed. "Finally! You have come to understanding!"

Oh, ha-ha. Like anyone off the street could understand this guy's stories on the first try. Alanna shook her head. "No, not really. I get that I'm the Light; and I know who the Dark One is. But you've still not told me anything about the battle, how to win, or what the heck I have to do with the earth's ability to produce life."

Madness! Utter madness! What were the Gods thinking with this one? Crow slapped a hand to his head. "You make my head ache."

Well, that was too darn bad. Alanna rolled her eyes. "Same goes, buster. You may be some sort of demi-god; but you sure are lousy when it comes to providing explanations."

Oh, dear. The young Guardian's habit of speaking before thinking was going to get her into trouble. How Old Man wished Old Woman was still here to help out with this one. "Guardian," Old Man cautioned softly, "take care with your words."

There were definitely times, like now, when his mate would greatly benefit from a muzzle. Thomas swiftly pulled Alanna down beside him and placed a gentle hand over her mouth. "Shhh, sweeting. The Old One is trying to help you. Now listen to him, please."

"Were Old Woman still among you this would be so much easier." Crow sighed.

Old Man nodded, reflecting that truer words had never been spoken.

"The 'battle' is not so much a physical war as it is a war of the minds, Guardian." Crow said. "The Dark One has little real power beyond shifting forms and the ability to move through time and space. He real weapons, young one, are trickery, intimidation and fear."

A battle of the minds? Alanna's brows drew together. "Okay. So. I'm the Light, we know who the Dark One is, and he's going to try and trick, intimidate or scare me into forfeiting the battle to him. Now, what do you mean by 'earth' and 'bring forth life.'"

The Old One clinched his teeth together so hard his jaw ached. "No. Not what, my dear, who." He stated.

Who? Thomas grew still. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. "Old One, do you mean 'Earth' is a person? You are saying Alanna must join with another person, and what? Literally bring forth Life? That's insane! She is my mate. The Gods predestined our union. She cannot join with another." The cat within him roared its displeasure. It too would fight, tooth and claw, to keep its mate.

What was this? Crow had said nothing of the Guardian taking another mate. He had meant only what he said and he had said only what he had meant. "Yes, boy. Exactly."

Exactly? Alanna's green eyes widened. "Oh. Oh, no. No, no, no. You don't mean..." She sat up abruptly, pulling out of Thomas' embrace. "You're saying that in order to win the battle, I have to not only mate with Thomas, but we have to bring forth little Thomases?"

Crow looked at Old Man, confusion apparent on his face. Eh, Crow would never come to understand the workings of man's mind. Their convoluted reasoning simply escaped him. He simply nodded. "Yes. I thought I was rather clear on that point?"

Old Man blinked. "With Light, Life is born to Earth."

Thomas had no idea what to say, or think, or feel. He shook his head, totally at a loss for words.

For the second time since Alanna had been chosen by the Tjurunga, she gave up her hold on reality and simply let the cat take over.

****

The living room closet was warm and dark, as close to a den as the cat could find in this place the Guardian called home. It curled up in the farthest corner, prepared to do battle with those who had threatened its young host.

"Alanna. Alanna, sweeting. Come out now." Thomas called softly.

The great cat's eyes glowed from the deep recesses of closet. 'Do not enter lest you wish to do battle!' It growled menacingly at the Guardian in the doorway.

Frustration etched Thomas' features. He tried ignoring the cat, speaking instead to his mate. "I know you can hear me, Alanna. You need to regain control and shift back."

Thomas put a foot in the doorway, but stepped back quickly when the great cat snarled in challenge.

Thomas turned bewildered eyes to the Old Man, "I am afraid to shift, Old Man. I do not think her cat would accept me now." His expression was pained. He was at a loss on how to help his. "Can you not do something, Old Man? If Alanna retreats any further into her psyche the cat may not allow her to shift back to human form."

The boy was right. Alanna's cat perceived Thomas as a threat and was doing everything in its power to protect the young Guardian from harm. Old Man turned and shooed Thomas away from the door. "Leave us, boy. The Guardian needs time and space to collect herself."

Thomas turned away reluctantly and left the room. Crow followed behind him.

Old Man dropped to sit on the floor just outside the closet, out of reach of claws and teeth. "He is leaving, Great One" He lowered his head, bringing his body close to the floor. "You know me of old, Great One. You know I am no threat to you or yours."

The great cat huffed, tipping its head to look at the old man. 'She feels pain, Guardian.'

Old Man nodded, careful to keep his stance submissive. "She is but a cub, Great One. She struggles still to understand the way of the world, our world. It has been difficult. The burden she carries within her is very heavy."

The great cat blinked, its green-gold eyes flickering in the darkness. 'She is confused, fearful. She wishes only to hide.'

Cats did not reason the same as man. The Great One saw only the need to protect its host. It would need reminded about other duties. Old Man sighed, regretting that he must pit the Tjurunga against its host. "You carry the prophecy within you, Great One. You know the part she must play. Can you not help her come to terms with this?"

The cat's eyes took on a far-away look. 'I remember the prophecy.' It turned its massive head towards the Guardian. 'I will try to help her remember too, Old Man.'

The Old Man bowed his head respectfully. "That is all we can hope for, Great One."

The Old Man sat, still and silent for hours, while the Tjurunga bargained with its host. He hoped, for the good of all, that the great cat could help its host understand.

He agreed with Crow. Everything would be so much simpler if Old Woman were still with them. The Old Man's head nodded and he dozed a while

****

A hand reached out to Old Man from the dark recesses of the Dreamtime. Old Woman smiled gently. "I have been expecting you, Old Man. I thought perhaps you would return sooner than this."

Old Man clasped her hand tightly. Sorrow lifted and he knew joy once more. "Our souls are tied together for eternity, Old Woman. You cannot rid yourself of me so easily."

Old Woman's eyes filled with light. She laughed softly. "I would not dream to try, Old Man."

Old Man kissed her palm. "I know not what to do for her, Old Woman." He sighed. "She fears her destiny."

Old Woman closed her fist to hold his kiss. "It is a great burden she carries, Old Man." She shook her head. "Should she choose to have a child, she insures the continuation of life. Should she deny the opportunity, all of life will cease. It is almost too much for one so young."

Old Man stared into his mate's eyes. "Is the responsibility the Gods have given her truly so terrible?"

Old Woman sighed. "Is it so difficult to understand, my love? It is not so much the responsibility she fears, I believe, it is the total lack of choice. The Gods, in their infinite wisdom, have removed her free will. She did not choose to carry the Tjurunga, to act as Guardian to the People until the day she dies. She did not choose the man to which her soul will be mated for all of eternity. And certainly she did not choose to be the Light of the world." She laid a hand on Old Man's cheek. "The entire weight of the world literally rests on the shoulders of this woman who is truly little more than a child herself."

Old Man closed his eyes wearily, his craggy features dissolving into a frown. "How can I help her, Old Woman? How can I help her move through this?"

The man was a challenge, but Old Woman loved him deeply. "You are as old as the world, Old Man. Have you learned nothing of women?" She leaned in and kissed him.

Old Man bowed his head, humbled before the woman he had loved in life and would love throughout life eternal. "Should I live until the end of time, Old Woman, I would still not fully understand women."

She laughed. To think, it only took him a few millennium to acknowledge his lack of understanding. Old Woman rose, pulling the old man with her. "It is time for you to return to the world, Old Man. She needs you now."

****

Crow tapped lightly on Old Man's shoulder, startling him into wakefulness. The old man placed a finger to his lips, pointing into the closet.

"No need for silence, Old Man." Alanna raised her head. "I'm here."

Old Man nodded.

"Why is it always the woman's job to save the day?" She queried.

Old Man looked to Crow. What could he say to this young woman? What would she understand?

Crow understood the old man's dilemma and carefully considered the Guardian's question in silence. He nodded to Old Man, yes, perhaps he could find some common ground. "Were you raised in the Faith, young one?" He queried.

Alanna shrugged. "We went to church Easter and Christmas, but religion wasn't a big thing for my family. I'm a bit of a poly-theist these days."

Poly-what? Crow shook his head. It mattered not. "Do you recall, perhaps, the Christian story of Joseph and Mary?" He asked.

Alanna rolled her eyes. Well, duh! Anyone who spent even one Christmas at church knew that story. "Sure."

Crow allowed his inner eye to turn back to that far away time. "The world in that time was in turmoil. The Gods had sent messenger after messenger out amongst the People, yet no one listened. The time for the battle between Light and Dark was approaching as the Compact decrees it must every 500 years; but the Gods were hard-pressed to find a suitable Guardian among the People."

Crow moved past Old Man to lean casually against the door frame, taking care not to appear threatening to the still wary Guardian. "One of the Ancients went out among the People, searching their souls one-by-one for a suitable host. It took much time, but eventually he came across a man of great faith, one who still held hopes and dreams for his people deep within his soul. The Ancient consulted with the Gods and it was decided. The man, whom your Christian history calls Joseph, would carry the Tjurunga for his generation. He was destined by the Gods to be the Light and it would be his duty to find his mate and bring forth Life."

Joseph, husband to Mary and father of Jesus, was a Guardian? Alanna laughed out loud. Every story requires the reader or listener to suspend his or her sense of disbelief for a time. But this one really tested the boundaries. "Oh, that's just too funny. You're kidding, right?"
Kidding? Crow frowned. "I do not jest, young one! Joseph suffered his burden alone for many years. The Dark One plagued him from afar, sending him dark dreams and filling him with doubts and questions. Like Thomas, Joseph had nearly given up hope of finding his mate and renewing the Compact with the Sun-Mother. But the Ancients intervened, as they are often wont to do when their People are at great risk. They sent messages to Joseph in the Dreaming and he found his second soul in Mary."

Alanna was confused. "Mary was a Guardian? But, how can that be? Old Woman told me she was the only other female Guardian."

Crow nodded his dark head, surprised Old Woman had shared this with her. "Yes, that is so. There have only been two female Guardians in all of time—Old Woman and now you, young one."

Crow continued, "There is no need for the Earth to be a Guardian, only the Light must hold that designation. It is a mere quirk of fate, a whim of the Gods, that both you and Thomas hold this honor together at this time."

Alanna stood to pace. "So Jesus..."

Crow continued his tale. "The one your Christians call Jesus, the Life Joseph and his mate Mary brought forth, renewed the People's Compact with the Sun-Mother and changed the course of the world for centuries to come."

"That's so weird." Alanna stood still. "So the doubt, the fear, the abject terror I've been battling lately... That's the Dark One's attempt to manipulate me? To keep me from fulfilling the prophecy and renewing the Compact?"

Old Man looked to Crow for confirmation before answering. "Yes, child, this is what we have come to believe. The Dark One has long been called 'The Trickster' and 'The Deceiver.' It is what he is best known for." Old Man rolled slowly to his feet. "It is a great deal to take in all at once, but there is no more time for you to dwell upon the matter, Alanna."

Crow reached out a hand shaded the color of coal and touched Alanna's cheek. His eyes took on an eerie glow as they stared directly into hers. "Do you accept the prophecy, Alanna Shepherd? Will you assume your role in history?"

Alanna slowly raised her hand, placing it on top of his. "Yes, Old One. I do and I will."

CHAPTER TEN

The Dark One sat, deep in the recesses of a dank cave, scrying bowl in hand. His dark eyes stared into the water and his frown deepened. "Damn, them!" He threw the bowl against the cave wall where the clay pottery shattered into pieces. "They think to outwit me?!?"

He stood and paced the breadth and length of the cave. "No, no, no! I have trod this earth for millennium. I will not suffer another 500 years here." He raised a fist to the heavens and screamed. "Do you hear me? Do you hear me, you ancient fools?" He pounded his chest. "I have suffered enough for your foolishness."

His cries echoed through the cavern, "No more, do you hear? No more!"

****

Alanna woke abruptly. Sweat bathed her body. Goose flesh erupted across every inch of skin. "Oh, Gods! Thomas!"

Sleep left Thomas quickly. He sat up, ready to battle whatever monster threatened his mate. "Alanna! Sweeting, what is it?" He took her in his arms, pulling her tightly to him.

Alanna felt like she was five years old again, screaming out for Daddy to save her from the monster in the closet. She moved fully into his embrace and held on with all she had. "He's coming, Thomas. The Dark One is coming and he's very, very angry."

Thomas smoothed his hands up and down her back. "Shh, sweeting, shh." He soothed. "Remember what the Old One told us? This battle is not a physical one, pet. It is a metaphysical battle." He pressed her head to his shoulder. "The Dark One sends you dreams, hoping to frighten you."

Yes, the Dark One had certainly frightened her. Alanna pushed away from him. "No, Thomas. That may have been true before, but this time is different." She looked earnestly into his eyes. "It's different, Thomas. I know it."

Thomas knew how real dreams could feel, but they were still just dreams. He wrapped his arms tightly around his mate, holding her close. "Alanna..."

Her hands fisted tightly in the hairs on his chest. "We've three weeks until the vernal equinox, Thomas. I'm still not with child."

Thomas nodded. It was a difficult situation, made even more so by her fear. His hands stroked her hair. "You must truly want a child to conceive, Alanna."

"What if I'm not fertile, Thomas? What if I can't have a child?" She asked., desperation making her voice shake.

He put his hand to her chin, forcing her to look at him. "You must not have doubts, Alanna. Your cat will insure your fertility. But if it senses even a small shred of doubt within you, it will not permit conception." His thumb stroked along her cheek. "It seeks to protect you, as do I, and it would not allow you to be burdened by something you did not truly desire."

Could it be that simple? Alanna closed her eyes. Breathing deeply, she centered herself and opened her mind to the great cat residing within her. 'Cat? Is what Thomas said true?'

The cat huffed softly. 'It is true, Guardian. You are my host and the protector of the People. But it is my duty to you to protect you in all ways that I can.' Warmth and peace flooded through Alanna's body.

Alanna relaxed, allowing the cat's essence to fully merge with her soul. "Thomas?"

He rubbed his cheek softly against hers. "Yes, my love?"

She drew a deep breath. "Give me your child."

Thomas laughed softly, tumbling her back on the bed. "Nothing would give me greater pleasure, my heart."

Thomas' hands touched and stroked along her body. His moves were light and playful, but his eyes—so dark and earnest—his eyes told her just how serious he was. He buried his head in her neck, nipping and sucking at the soft skin.

Alanna's breathing grew ragged. Her heart beat fast. "Ah, Thomas."

Her nails curled into Thomas' shoulders. She knew he could not be gentle for long—the needing was simply too great.

Thomas pushed her knees apart, making room for his large body. Thick and demanding he ground against her, his hips making short, tight movements as he fought desperately for control.. "Gods, Alanna! I can't..."

Alanna laid her palms to his cheeks. "I've no need for foreplay, Thomas. I'm always ready with you. Take me, Thomas. However, you want me, however you need me, take me!"

Thomas' eyes flashed golden fire. Moving swiftly, surely, he plunged into her core, driving inwards and upwards again and again.

Alanna felt as if Thomas was attempting to reach her very womb. "Please!" She cried out as the force of his thrusts neared that fine line between pleasure and pain. She lost her grip on his shoulders and scrabbled for something solid to hold on to. Her hands found the headboard, grabbing desperately for a handhold. "Oh, yes. Yes, Thomas!"

Alanna could feel the fire building within her. The pace of Thomas' thrusts increased. She knew it would be soon for him as well. "Thomas! Now, Thomas!"

Then all thought fled as their two souls merged into one.

****

Thomas woke her twice more that night. Each time bringing her rapidly to the brink of pleasure before joining his soul to hers and leaping into the flames of passion. She grinned blissfully up at the ceiling, thinking how glad she was the only ones in hearing distance were Old Man and Crow. Given the situation, she seriously doubted either of them minded last nights passionate grunts, growls, moans and screeches.

Alanna's cat was peaceful, completely sated by the evening's emotional buffet. If she concentrated hard enough, she could just sense it curled, sleeping at the edges of her consciousness. She turned to look at Thomas, still deep in sleep beside her. She ran a hand across his hard stomach, stopping to rest on that part of him which had brought her so much pleasure. "How amazing." She murmured.

"Isn't it, though?" A snide voice remarked behind her.

"He's here!" Alanna rolled swiftly. The great cat within her coming to immediate alert. "Thomas!" She reached back to shake him. "Thomas! The Dark One. He's here!"

Thomas did not wake.

The Dark One stalked towards her. "He cannot hear you, my dear. He is in the Dreaming and I have made concerted efforts to insure that he remains there for the duration."

Alanna leaped from the bed, moving to the center of the room where she could shift quickly. "I don't believe you, you bastard. You don't have enough power to control him like that."

"Really?" The Dark One's maniacal laughter filled the room. "You might be surprised by the power I wield, Guardian."

Alanna called to her cat, picturing the Great One's body in her mind, encouraging its essence to overtake her human form.

'No, Alanna,' the great cat whispered. 'You cannot shift now. To do so would endanger the child growing within you.'

Alanna gasped. Her eyes widened. "No! I don't believe you!"

The Dark One was oblivious to her internal conversations. Thinking she spoke to him alone he challenged her. "Shift, Guardian! Shift that we may wage war and end this battle once and for all!" The Dark One ordered.

Alanna's eyes flashed back and forth between Thomas and the Dark One. Her mind cast about for a means of escape. "No! No way. I will not fight you, Dark One. You've broken the rules. In my book that means you cheated and have to forfeit the game. Now let Thomas go!"

"Forfeit?" He growled, pushing forward and forcing her to back towards the wall. "Forfeit?!? You think I should forfeit the war? Why, the battle has not even begun, Guardian!"

Long fingers wrapped around Alanna's throat, making it difficult to breathe. 'Help me out here, cat. If I can't shift, what the hell do I do?'

'In this form the Dark One is merely a man, Guardian.' The cat emitted a great battle roar. 'Treat him as you would any human attacker.'

She could do that. Alanna's knee came up, driving into the Dark One's groin.

The Dark One screamed in agony, releasing her to double over into himself.

Alanna turned swiftly, grabbed the Dark One's hair, brought her knee up again and slammed it into his face. "Take that you evil bastard!"

The Dark One staggered. Blood poured from his nose and mouth. "Fool!" He screamed. "I will not lose this battle to a fool!"

The air shimmered before her. 'Run, Guardian!' The cat screamed in her head.

Alanna dashed to the other side of the room. "Thomas!" Alanna cried. "Thomas, wake up! Dammit, I need you."

"Alanna?" a groggy voice croaked from the bed.

The Dark One hissed, his transformation completed. 'Come out and play, little Guardian. Come and play with me, with me.' Its oily, sing-song voice oozed through her head.

There was no way she could make it past the serpent to get to the door. "Thomas? Thomas! Need a little help here, okay?"

The Dark One slithered slowly, purposely towards Alanna. "A little nip here, a little nip there." The serpent's forked tongue flickered out to taste the air. "So much fear, my dear, my dear."

Alanna watched, eyes wide, as the serpent coiled its massive body. "Such a tassssty little treat you will be, tee-hee."

Thomas tried to move and found that he could not. His limbs were heavy, as if weighted with lead. "Alanna? Alanna where are you? What is happening?"

Alanna settled in the far corner of the room and prayed for all she was worth. She hoped that the Gods really heard her pleas. She was completely out of options.

Suddenly, the serpent struck out. Fangs sank deep into Alanna's thighs. She cried out as the pain of the Dark One's venom entered her body. "Thomas!"

The door crashed open. Crow stepped through followed by the old man. He pointed a hand at the Dark One and lightening streamed from his finger tips. "You will not do this!"

The serpent writhed, then suddenly the Dark One stood again as a man before them. "Ha! It is too late, Old One. I win."

Crow's eyes turned to molten gold. Crow waived a hand towards the Dark One, freezing him into place. "I am empowered by the All-Father to pass judgment when necessary, Dark One. Have a care how you speak to me now."

Crow's lightning bolt freed Thomas from the Dark One's hold. He rose shakily from the bed, confusion etched across his features. "Alanna?"

Alanna sat on the floor, her hands wrapped tightly around her thigh. Tears streamed down her face. "Help me, Thomas!"

Thomas rushed to her side, wrapping her in his arms. "Oh, Gods! No. No, Alanna. I cannot lose you!"

Crow cried out in anger. He would not permit the Dark One to win this way. With a wave of his hand, the room and all of its inhabitants dissolved into nothingness.

****

Alanna staggered, disoriented and sick to her stomach from the bite as well as the transition between the world and the Dreamtime. "Thomas?"

Old Man took her arm. "Guardian?"

Alanna sank to her knees, her face a pasty green. "I'm going to be sick."

"Alanna!" Thomas grabbed her, catching her just in time to hold her as she lost what remained of her last meal.

Old Woman appeared before them, worry etching deep lines in her face. "Come, boy. Bring her to me."

Alanna closed her eyes, resting her head wearily against Thomas' chest. "That's funny. I though I heard Old Woman." She laughed. "Couldn't be, though. She's dead."

Thomas set Alanna down on a soft quilt near the well. She cried out as cool hands brushed against her burning forehead. "Shh, child. This is the Dreamtime. There is no death here. Remember?"

Alanna blinked up at her. "I'm not dying?"

Old Woman smiled gently. Tears filled her dark eyes as she reached to pull a blanket over the young Guardian. "Have no worries, child. When the body dies, the soul returns to the Dreamtime. There is no beginning or end here. Only life eternal."

She was dying in a place where people do not die? Confusion ran rampant through Alanna's mind. "Oh."

Old Woman smoothed her hair. "Sleep a while, now. We will work through things when you wake."

Closing her eyes, Alanna slept.

****

Thomas worried. "Why does she sleep so, Old Woman?

Old Woman clucked. "Boy, must you always ask questions?" She pulled him away from his mate and pushed him towards the fire. "You can do no good here. Go on now, boy. I have much work to do. Go with Crow and Old Man. Your mate will still be here when you return. I will see to that."

With fear and trepidation weighing heavy upon him, Thomas turned and reluctantly did as he was bid.

****

The red desert resonated with sound. All around him voices thundered. Thomas shook his head at the sheer confusion of it all.

"I say to you that the battle is forfeit!" Declared a stunning woman wrapped in white robes. "The Dark One deliberately broke the rules, engaging the Guardian in battle before the appointed time."

The Dark One smiled a toothy grin. "I have been imprisoned in the world for millennium, Sun-Mother. Am I not entitled to bend the rules now and then?"

Crow glared at the Dark One. "Silence, you crazy fool." He waived his hand. "All-Father, though I have sympathy for this one because he has served the Gods so long in the world and his soul has grown weary of this service, I would point out that this Dark One was a willing partner to the Compact. He was not forced to serve you. He chose to serve as the Dark's representative in the world."

Heads nodded and voices rose in agreement.

"With all due respect, oh Ancient Ones," the Dark One spoke, "Time has changed things a great deal and the People in the world today are very different from those 500 years ago. Surely all of you have noticed how difficult it is to find appropriate hosts for the Tjurunga amongst the current generations?"

The Dark One paused a moment, waiting as the crowd subsided. "Did I not have the right to see for myself whether the youngling was a true Guardian? To see whether the requirements of the Compact had been fulfilled?"

Crow whirled around to confront the Dark One face to face. "I myself told you the Guardian had been chosen. Did you not believe me?"

The Dark One bowed mockingly. "Old One, you are the offspring of the Gods; but you are no more a God than I am. Our words and deeds serve our own purposes. How could I be certain you did not lie?"

All-Father's golden eyes narrowed dangerously. "Proceed with care, Dark One. You are speaking to my offspring."

The Dark One simpered. "Your forgiveness, oh Ancient One. I have been so long from the Dreaming that I have forgotten the rules of court."

"Bah!" Sun-Mother exclaimed. "This one 'forgets' nothing. His actions serve only to further his own purposes. The Dark One understood the terms of the Compact. He agreed to them willingly. He knowingly and deliberately broke those terms. I say the victory goes to the People."

All-Father drummed his fingers rapidly. "What of the Guardian? What does she say of this?"

Thomas stepped forward, his head bowed low. His hair fell forward, covering features aged by grief. "Ancient Ones, the Guardian is unable to stand before you and speak on her own behalf. She suffered a mortal wound during her battle with the Dark One. Her mortal body now fights a battle with death."

The Gods cried out their displeasure. "How dare he! How dare the Dark One break the rules. The Compact is clear! The Dark One may not use force in battle."

All-Father held his hand high and the throng grew quiet. "What manner of trickery is this? The Dark One has no power over the Light, save that of his mind."

Crow stepped forward. "Father, the Dark One has gained much in his time walking the world. He now holds the power to shift from man to Serpent. He challenged the Guardian to battle while in human form. The Guardian called for forfeit as is her right, but the Dark One refused to cede the battle. He shifted into Serpent form and attacked her."

Crow shook his head regretfully. "At this very moment the venom of the great viper courses through her system, ravaging her body," He paused, his eyes downcast, "and the body of the new life growing within her."

"No!" Thomas felt the world fall out from under him. His mate was with child? He staggered and would have fallen had Old Man not grabbed him.

Sun-Mother stepped forward quickly to stand before Thomas. "Where is she? Where is the Guardian I chose?"

Old Man loosed his grip and Thomas dropped to his knees before the God. Tears rolled in rivers from his eyes. "Old One, she..." He drew breath, "She is with Old Woman. She lies dying beneath the great Desert Oak, beside the well of the Others."

Sun-Mother turned slowly around to face the Dark One. "Hear me, representative of the Dark. I brought the world into being. It is through my power and my power alone that the world and all its inhabitants, including you, exist. You have broken the Compact with your trickery. Thus, this battle is forfeit. You have lost, Dark One."

The Dark One sputtered in protest. "You do not dare!"

"Oh, I dare Dark One. And not only have you lost this battle, I decree the People will be plagued by you no more!" She stared at the Dark One, sparks of power flashing behind her eyes. "The young Guardian, my Chosen One, has suffered at your hand. Should my Guardian or the new life she carries within her pass from the world before the time decreed by the Fates, you will pay the price for my loss." She clapped her hands. Bells toned loudly through the desert.

All-Father nodded his head. "As Sun-Mother wishes, so shall it be."

****

Old Woman sprinkled herbs over Alanna's fevered body. She gathered power to her and laid her hands upon the young one's wounds. She chanted prayers to the Ancient Ones. asking them to protect the souls of the young Guardian and the new life she carried within her.
Alanna slept on, her body restless from the torment caused by the Dark One's venom. Her breathing grew heavy, each breath in and out painful and labored. Old Woman knew, deep within her heart, that this one's survival and the survival of her child depended entirely upon the whim of the Gods. So many lives hung in the balance this time. She only hoped the Gods would be merciful.

Old Woman looked up from her charge when she saw shadows cross the sands. In the distance, three figures approached. She hoped beyond hope that these were not the Fates coming to reclaim the Guardian's soul.

Thomas raced across the sands, falling to his knees beside his wounded mate. "How is she, Old Woman?"

Old Woman shook her head. The boy's eyes held so much sadness. "She lives, Thomas. Barely." She had promised Thomas that his mate would still be here when he returned. Old Woman sighed. She had managed that, but not much more.

Thomas' tears wrenched Old Woman's heart. He felt so much pain.

He reached out to take Alanna's hand, folding it gently into his own. "And the child?" He murmured. He raised dark eyes to hers. "Does it still live?"

Old Woman took his hand and laid it softly on his mate. "Here, Guardian. Invoke your cat's senses so that you may see for yourself how she fares."

Thomas focused, calling his cats essence, urging it to join with Alanna's. His spirit surged, moving swiftly across the boundaries of life. In his mind's eye, Thomas could see the large spark that was Alanna. It was faint, but still present. He moved within her, searching. There! He had found it, the spark of new life tucked safely in the warmth of its mother.

Thomas sent waves of strength and comfort outwards along the mystical link, bathing both Alanna and the babe in his love. 'Live, sweet ones.' Thomas pleaded silently. 'I dare not lose you. You are my my world, without you I am lost.'

A small soul reached out, bathing him in warmth and comfort. 'I live,' it whispered.

Alanna's soul echoed behind it, 'I live, Thomas. I live.'

Thomas wept until he had no more tears, and then he slept.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Alanna awoke in her own bed. In her own condo. Naked as the day she was born. "What happened? How did I get here?" She sat up quickly and shoved a hand through her hair to push it out of her eyes. Wow! Talk about dejavu.

A hand reached out, pulling her back into the warm, soft nest of linens. "Rest, sweet one."

Alanna turned, snuggling her head into the pelt on her mate's chest. "Thomas!"

Thomas wrapped her tightly in his arms, holding her to his heart. "I am here, pet."

"I had the worst dream, Thomas!" Alanna exclaimed. "I dreamed that the Dark One attacked me. I called for help and you wouldn't come. And then..."

Thomas placed a finger over her lips, shushing her. "I couldn't come to you, Alanna. The Dark One had bespelled me, trapping me in the Dreamtime."

Alanna jerked backwards. "What? Are you saying it wasn't a dream? That the Dark One really...?" She sat up, threw back the covers and looked down at her leg. Yes, there they were. High on her thigh. Two neat incisions. She turned confused eyes to her mate, "I was bitten? Really bitten? But how... I mean, if that was real, then..." Her eyes widened. "Oh, my Gods!" She grabbed Thomas' hands. "The baby! Thomas, tell me please. Did I lose the baby?"

Thomas' face broke into a joyous smile. "No, my love. Our child lies within you, safe and warm." Reaching out, he took her hand and laid it on her belly. "See? Here. You can feel her spirit within you if you concentrate." Pride filled his eyes. "Her soul is very strong."

Alanna allowed the essence of her cat to rise to the surface. Borrowing power from the Other, she reached out with her mind to find the spark that lay within her. "Oh!" Her eyes grew wide. "Oh, Thomas! She's alive." Tears filled her eyes. "She survived!"

Thomas could see the wheels turning in his mate's head. He knew she preferred him to stay out of her head, but he could not allow her to worry now. Not now. "Yes, my love. You are both very much alive; and you have no need to worry about any further battles with the Dark One."

Alanna was confused, "I don't understand. The Compact..."

Thomas pulled her to him gently, folding her warmth into his. Finally allowing himself to enjoy the pleasure of her skin. He stroked a hand down her back. "Ah, yes. The Compact. I'm afraid Sun-Mother was most displeased that the Dark One broke the rules and placed your mortal existence in danger. As you are so fond of saying, 'all hell broke loose.' Sun-Mother forced the Dark One to forfeit the battle and then destroyed the Compact for all time." He smiled gleefully. "The Dark One no longer wields power in the world."

Alanna was glad, but... "What of the People?"

The Gods had actually made things both simpler and more complicated at the same time. "Ah," Thomas sighed. "The Gods have decided that perhaps the People can take care of themselves for a time. The Guardians will still keep watch, but we will no longer actively interfere in the lives of others." He smiled, "Well, except in the lives of those chosen as new Guardians."

Alanna's teeth worried her bottom lip. "And the Dark One? You said he no longer wields power in the world, but you didn't say he'd been banished or anything."

Thomas stroked the soft line from Alanna's brow to her shoulder. "No, unfortunately the Dark One is still with us." His thumb grazed her lip, soothing where she'd bit at it. "The Gods took pity on the evil one. They granted him mortality. When his mortal years are spent, his time in the world will end and his soul will be returned to the Dreamtime—just as he wanted."

The needing was beginning to rise. Alanna felt the first twinges of heat creep upward from her center. She fought to tamp it down. There were still things she needed to know. "Is he a danger, Thomas? He kept harping on and on about my being his destiny. Will we have to worry and watch out for him the rest of our lives?"

He drew her face down to his, silencing her for a moment with his tongue, teeth and lips. "No man is a danger to me or mine, Alanna." He grasped her hips, raising her above him."

Alanna could feel the hot, hard head of his cock resting against her. "Thomas," she protested.

Thomas rocked upwards, sheathing himself deeply inside her. "Ahh... The time for talk, my dear one, is over." He rocked against her, setting a furious rhythm. "It's time for action."

"Umm..." Oh, Gods! Her mate had a point. A damn fine one at that. Alanna caught the rhythm and dedicated herself to the ride.

Outside the French doors, a crow watched. The Guardians were safe, for a time; and all was well with the world once more. It bobbed its head twice in satisfaction, then flapped its great wings and took to the air.

EPILOGUE

In the time before time, that space where all that was, all that is and all that will be come together, the old ones sat, guarding the well of the Others.

Old Woman stared intently at the swirling waters in the well. The nexus of life was churning, colors flowing wildly across its surface.

Old Man leaned forward intently. "Well? What do you see woman?"

Old Woman smiled, her eyes softening with joy and love. "She has arrived."

"And? She is safe? Healthy? Whole?" Old Man raised a bushy brow impatiently.

Old Woman nodded. The babe was indeed safe, having been born at home after a very short labor. She came complete with ten fingers, ten toes, and—very much to the surprise of Alanna and Thomas—a tiny birthmark on her pink bottom shaped exactly like the stone totems her mother and father wore. "She carries the totem of the Tjurunga within her, Old Man."

Old Man stared for a moment, his eyes blurring as he turned his focus inwards. The Gods spoke of a time when the wolf would lay down with the lambs and the leopard and lion lay down together. The Dark One walked as one with the People now. Thomas and Alanna had mated, joining their souls together for eternity. And now...

"Yes, Old Man. And now a little child shall lead them."

And so it all began...