The Woods Are Alive

[Amorentia]

Peni POV

Truly I felt like Chris Angel the Mind Freak preparing for a majorly dangerous stunt. All morning I'd eaten different strengthening foods and potions. Ewan's hand was never far from me as he, the Midwives, the Shaman, Sam, Jacob, and Marcus all made plans. Sometimes I felt like reminding them, "Hello, I'm the one traveling to the other side to meet with our eldest of ancestors to try to learn how to kick come ass in Spirit Form." But all of the their planning gave them some feeling of control. I knew it was for my best interest. 

Marcus was going to disillusion the Pack for practice. With a kiss from my sweet man, I reminded him, "If it gets dangerous, you apparte back her immediately, okay?" He was now getting pretty good at the spell the Ancestor's gave us to disillusion the Pack. We all had to admit it was pretty bad ass. None of us could wait to use the skill. There was nothing like being torn apart by a gang of invisible ferocious wolves. 

After he promised, he apparted with the guys to the large forest by the Community Center on the Rez waiting. With Ewan beside me putting a hand on my stomach to monitor the babies, and the Midwifes nearby, I first phased so that I could be in the Pack mentality. It felt unbelievably amazing. Closing my eyes, I slipped into my trance thinking I'm crazy for trying this.  

It was like the Ancestor's were speaking another language even though I spoke the same language. It was like a lifetime of teaching summed up in one sit down chat.

"You really need more warriors with you. You're limited working alone."  Chief Kaheleha said eyeing Taka Ata who was the Chief who ended the Spirit Travel with our people.

Putting on my hand on my babies I said, "I'm working on it. The faster these babies are born, the closer we are to having that Spirit Army."

"That can be arranged." chief Kaheleha said casually.

When they sent me out to test my newly learned skills, they stayed near enough for me to call on them if needed.

The Pack

"What do you think is keeping her?" Jalil asked standing with the Pack in the forest.

"I don't know, dude. The leaves or rustling. Maybe that's her?" Paul looked up at the tops of the trees where barely a breeze blew.

"This isn't Peni. If she came, she'd come bigger than that." Tori looked around at the sky confidently.

"How are we supposed to know?" Justin asked.

"Maybe she can't do it..." Davy suggested.

"Give her time," Sam said finally.

Peni POV

Looking around the forest where I could hear the Pack. My mind went blank. Everything I'd just been told left my mind completely. Seeing Marcus leaning against a tree, he looked up almost like he could sense me. It bolstered me a bit.

"Be creative." I heard the ancestors say inside me where only I could hear. "Open your mind to gain a broad perspective of the area. Use what's in the environment around you."

The Pack

The entire Pack's attention was drawn to a rustling across the forest floor.

"What tha...."

Suddenly a three dozen squirrels all came barreling toward the Shapeshifting Wolves.

"Dude, you totally flinched," Jalil laughed at Tori.

"Terrifying, Peni." Paul joked.

"Squirells?" Justin asked as Davy hunted one making them all look at him as he swallowed it saying, "Thanks for the snack."

"Where's the scary stuff" Jared asked. 

Cursing in my head, I told them through the Pack consciousness, "Give me a chance. I'm trying here."

Peni POV

It was hard to hear the ancestors encouragement over the jokes about killer bunnies, horde of mutant butterflies, and a herd of deer I could send feeding the Vampires to strengthen them before the battle.

Marcus was the first one to dodge behind the cover of a tree when he heard the call of the gulls approaching. Bless my hubby, he already knew me better than the rest of the Pack. Finally I was able to listen to the Ancestors with a smile on my face as it was like a shitty version of "The Bird's" around the Pack - literally. Ignoring the complaints as it rained birdy doo, I focused on the Ancestors.

"Think of your enemies weakness," thy told me. "Use it against them to your advantage."

"What am I supposed to do?" I asked. "Bring out the sun and  have them sparkle each other to death?"

"Know your enemy." I was told. "What could cripple them?"

Thinking, I thought about the Vampires keen sight so I drew in a dense fog leaked in between the trees clouding the woods in darkness.

"Great, Pen." Jacob said. "Now none of us can see."

"Use you're internal GPS." I quipped back. "Keep track of each other in your head."

"Peni it will never do," Sam said as gently as he could. "At least not with us around. It's too much of a to be liability fighting blind."

"We could all wear lamp lights." Jared suggested. 

"Install fog lights on collars." Davy laughed.

"Give Sam a big light house hat to lead the way." Tori added.

Justin started making noises like a fog horn as everyone laughed.

For once, I was not amused. This was seriously hard. Being so pregnant, I was already feeling the fatigue. "You all are not helping. I'm trying here."

"Sorry." Jacob was the first to say through the Pack consciousness. "We're focused. Bring the thunder."

With as much strength as I could, I tried. All that developed was one fat, dark rain cloud with a mist of showers. The Pack was uncharacteristically quiet. No one say anything. Not one smart ass comment. 

"Shut up." I snapped.

"We didn't say anything." Jacob told me. I know they didn't. But they didn't need to. I knew what they wanted to say. 

"Concentrate." The Ancestors told me. "Don't force it with your mind, focus with your power. Let the magic flow through you. Become one with your Mother. Let her feed you. Channel her strength."

Mother Earth  from where all of life flowed. I knew that power. I fed my family daily with it.  Taking some deep breaths, I pulled my focus out  of my head to tap into my instinct.

"That's the way."  The Ancient Ones told me. "Now let go completely and become the magic."

No one in the Pack spoke. It was clear to see Peni was getting stretched thin. As the Pack moved through the thicket, a breeze began to pick up. As quick as it started, the breeze grew as leaves rustled their way to fall from trees. Even more quickly, tree limbs began to snap as the breeze turned into a full blown wind. 

"Nice, Sis..." Jalil called as the wind became a force of its' own bending and swaying the trees at it's mercy.

"That's more like it, Peni." Sam encouraged me. 

"Like Lord of the Rings," Justin laughed. "The woods are alive."

The Pack lowered them self closer to the ground stalking with their fur flattened by the wind as Marcus held onto a tree for support. As quickly as as I started it, it stop. I was utterly spent. Just feeling one of the Quad's move inside my body back home made me feel on the brink of collapse. Sighing I told them frustrated, "That's all I can do."

"That's excellent Peni." Jacob encouraged.

Peni POV

"You did great." Sam told me.

"I have to go back to sleep." I told them exhausted. "It just takes so much energy." To the Ancestors I said in my head, "Maybe after I have the kids I can do more. They just take so much...."  

"Soon enough, daughter." The ancestors said. "Soon enough. It  was a good start. We'll do it again very soon. When you have support, you will be unstoppable."

Slipping into my body I could already felt Marcus beside me. Obviously he'd apparted back as soon as the wind stopped. All I could so was lean into him not even able to open my eyes as he told told me how proud he was of me. Hearing his voice full of approval I drifted off to sleep with his arms around me lending me the strength I needed to recharge.   

Peni Clearwater written by Amorentia. All of the Pack written by Amorentia. Jacob Black owned by Nessie_Jacob.

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