The Prodigal Son

[Amorentia]

It was different entering the dream of someone who had no idea what I would be doing there. When I made my way into Marcus Flint's dream on orders from the Ancient Council, I was throughly surprised to see me pressed up again the very tree he left me at in the woods. But this time he hadn't left. Holding me in his arms, I was naked from the waste up, pressed against the tree. His hand was on my thigh as my legs wrapped around him. I leaned over seeing where it was going as it made it's way up my skirt. Admiring the nice look at my face when he sucked on my breast, I crained my neck to get a better view of the handy work he was doing under my skirt. I was impressed not only with his form, but by the lovely sounds I was making. I would do me.

 Bringing his head up to my lips he whispered before going for a kiss, "I knew you'd be hot."

 

"If I new that was going to happen I would have followed you home." I interrupted him. Even though it was me he was pleasuring, the real me didn't like being usurped.

Marcus head whiped around at the sound of my voice. He looked at me standing there, then at the me in his arms, then back at me standing behind him. Figuring his dream just got more interesting, he let the me against the tree go, coming toward the real me with a smile, "Damn my imagination is working overtime." Pulling the real me in his arms, he bent me backwards into a mind spinning deep kiss.

"Wow..." I breathed. "Wait. It's really me here, Marcus. I'm a spirit traveler." I stood up pushing him back a little to protect us both from my urge to jump him.  "If there wasn't a room full of dead Indian's waiting for us, I would totally take you up on that."

 

That wasn't something that would have flown. I could just see the room full of Elder's in a silent room waiting patiently for hours fo our return with crickets playing in the background while my spirit got busy with Marcus's in his dreamtime.

As he shook his head I explained. "I've come to get you to take you with me to meet some special people. I know it still feels like a dream, but it's very real. Can you trust me enough to come?"

With a half smile he said, "Knew it was too good to be true" Taking my hand he said. "Yeah, I trust you"

 

Holding his hand I looked into his eyes. It was one of those moments where it felt like things slowed down. Before I even knew the magnitude of the truth I spoke, I told him, "I want you to know I'm not trying to play games with you, Marcus. I really care about you."

 

Marcus followed silently till we got to the tunnel. Then he said in a low voice, "Leading me into a light...I'm not dead or anything right?"

 

"No, you're not." I laughed. Then I turned to face him. "Marcus, your life is about to change. I want to prepair you. It's going to be a bit of a shock. I'll be here for you right now, and after you wake up. You won't have to face this alone. Don't be afraid." I almost laughed at myself telling him not to be afraid of a room full of dead Native Americans. "This is a dream coucil of the Quileute. Do what I do. And I'll be beside you the whole time, okay?"

His eyes tooked terrified, but he nodded. Holding his hand inside of both of mine, I lead him into the room. I felt him squeeze my hand. I squeezed back to reassure him. By the reaction on John's face, I could see that he remembered Marcus from my house. Making the signs of respect to the coucil,  I took Marcus to sit beside me on the mat. With a smile, I slid my arm through his as a comforting presence. I could only image what this was going to be like for him. Though my mind went blank when John was hit with the news, suddenly I knew that I would do anything it took to help Marcus through this.

 

The Grandfather greeted him with more formatlity that we'd experienced so far. After a welcome was extended to him, the Grandfather began by listing the names and the the ancient titles of our tribe, along with a history of the Magic of their people, as well as how the tribe carried through the ages up to the present day. It was a little embarrasing as he began to talk about the future, mentioning myself and Jaki, with the unique magic we have. He explained the ancestor vision of the future, the role of the Pack, and all of our connections explaining how they come to play in building the future. I was not comfortable where I thought they were leading. I as releaved when the Grandfather changed direction.

 

Marcus looked horribly confused. His face tried to stay respectful, but his eyes screamed, "What does this have to do with me?"

 

Putting my arm around him, I rubbed his back knowing the answer was coming.

"You may wonder why you have been called here." The Grandfather addressed Marcus directly. "Through your life you've felt the strain knowing there was a part of your life that was missing. You were right when you felt out of place with the family you were born into. This is where you belong. You are a son of our tribe. A Sorceror and Shapeshifter of the Quileute people." I tightened my arm around him. 

 "What?" Marcus asked."But I don't shapeshift?  Are you sure you have the right guy?  I mean, my family is all pretty normal...no wolves..."

The Grandfather smiled kindly, naming Marcus's Mother by name as he retold the story of his conception that was convieghed earlier to John.

 

Marcus listened while he was told of his Mother's trip to La Push to escape the man he knew as his Father, as well as her affair with the sixteen year old John. "The secret she carried back to the man she married was that she carried a child that was not his. You are that child."

 

As I rubbed Marcus's back, John looked over saying with an apology to Marcus, "I never knew."

Tears began forming in Marcus's eyes. I smoothed his hair wishing I could make this easier on him. The Grandfather continued to speak. "The man you knew as your Father knew you were not his child. There wasn't a day of your life you weren't punished for that. When you were sixteen and the shapeshifting magic came alive inside of you, is when the extend of your punishment became extreme."

 

In the stars in front of him, the Grandfather drew up images of Marcus's transformation. While his Father spit insults at him as his temperature rose, his Mother stood over him trying to manage the changes any way she could. She tried various potions. The first time he phased his father tried to kill him. Since the Killing Curse was ineffective on their form, it simply stunned him. When he came to, human again, his Mother obliviated him.

 

Horrified by what I saw, I burried my face in Marcus's shoulder. No wonder Marcus grew so quickly in his time at school. He was easily one of the largest kids at Hogwarts. The temper he had, the aggression all made sense now. He wasn't a giant brute who could have been part troll, he was a Quileute Shapeshifter without the guidence or protection of his pack.

 

Marcus looked away from the scene, turning his face toward me. It was too painful for him to watch. Holding his face in my hands, I used my face to shield him from the images of him being forced to take wolfsbane potion. The sounds of his cries from the past could have easily been mine. I knew full well how that stuff was toxic to our system. Rubbing my face against his, I held him as the story showed him being caged the next few months. When it came time for him to return to school, between the torture, shame, and the memory modification, he forgot how to change. The urge was supressed forever.

 

Then Marcus's face turned toward John. For the first time I saw the trace of the wolf inside John. His fists were clinched, hands shaking, with his face intense with rage, as he watched the torment the son he never knew endured. "If I would have known I could have protected him. Why could no one have told me earlier? We have Shamans, seers... I never would have let this happen." John shouted. His mild mannored soft voice gave way to sheer outrage. Beside him his wife spoke in whispers trying to sooth him.

 

Tears fell down Marcus's face as I folded him in my arms from behind him. Leaning my head into him, I wished I could take the pain away.

 

The Grandfather smiled kindly at John. "Not even we have the answers to the way time unfolds, my Great Great Grandson. All we know is that there is a purpose for everything. Everything happens for a reason."

 

Holding Marcus in my arms rocking him gently, I shivered. Everything happens for a reason. Marcus's large hands reached up to cover mine. He bowed his head with the magnitude of the ways in which his life just changed.

"How can that be right?" John ask furiously. "He was a child."

 

The Grandfather walked closer to Marcus. As I tried to console him, the Grandfather spoke to him in the same kind voice, "My Great Great Great Grandson, you have spent a life outside of the protection of your people. Would you like to have that now? We can give you the answers your seeking. We can give you the family you've always wanted -  a Father who understands you, a family who accpets you, a Pack who embraces you, and more."

Marcus breathed in deeply, trying to be strong. Still he broke. I held him tighter as he looked up and nodded.

The Grandfather took a hold of Marcus's hand saying, "We're glad to welcome you home." With tears in her eyes, I joined the the room as we all began to sing the Paddle Song, welcoming Marcus. I watched as his Great Great Great Grandfather proudly introduced him to all the unfamiliar faces that had come to meet their missing son. Amid the smiling faces and opened arms, he was pulled and kissed by Grandmothers, Grandfathers, Uncles, Aunts, Great Aunts, and more. I stood close by in case he needed me. John stood on the other side of the crowd watching Marcus with a longing in his eyes. When they worked their way to where John stood, he gave his son a small smile, holding out his right hand.

Marcus looked at him for a moment. Then slowly he reached his hand out to take his Father's.

When their hands met, John pulled him into a Fatherly embrace. As tears streamed down his face, John said through clenched teeth, "I never knew. My son. I would have never let them do that to you." Taking a hold of Marcus's tear stained face, John said in a sure voice. "I'm proud of you. I've seen the man you've become. I want to get to know you. If that's okay?"

Marcus smiled, "I never had a father, not a real one."

With a bear hug, John embraced his son again. Taking ahold of his head, he kissed the blond hair saying, "You do now."

 

After some more embraces from John, as well as other members of his family, the council was conviened. With his hand in mine, Marcus looked back to John who was holding his wives hand. John smiled. As I lead Marcus away, once again voices raised to sing in celebration from behind us as the Coucil celebrated a lost son that was returned home.

 

When we landed in Marcus's room, I looked at him to percieve how he was doing. Putting my arms arouond him I asked, "If you want, I can apparate over to wake you up so we can talk? You mind must be spinning. I always feel that way when I come back from one of these."

 He traced a finger down my cheek saying, "Come to me, I need you."

 

Putting him back in his body, I knew after what we just went through, I'd move heaven and earth to give him whatever he needed of me. Tucking him back in his body I said, "I'll be right back."