::Hsia had to chase away another fanatic yesterday,:: Cateiran sent, his mental voice full of disgust and concern, both.

::Again? Isn't that the second time this year?:: Singer asked back, in the same manner. It wouldn't do to have young Reketet privy to their conversation, as it probably would have a lot to do with the midgrowth.

::Yes, and there were just as many last year.... It isn't getting better, Singer, despite everything I've done and said, and I'm worried about him. Even my own grandcubs aren't entirely comfortable with him, though I hate to admit it.::

::The bane of our breed,:: Singer said wryly.

Spirit chyriths, like Singer and the midgrowth Reketet, were a rare and stigmatized breed. They were traditionally linked to the return of a powerful and very evil creature, the creator of their species and eventual destroyer. Even though the Mystic Lord Cateiran knew exactly who would be the eventual culprit, knew it was not Reketet, and made sure that all of his subjects, the Mystics, and every other chyrith he came across knew it wasn't Reketet, it didn't seem to be enough. There were still regular protests and attacks on the poor, blind chy, both verbal and physical, and Reketet didn't have any real friends except for Singer himself and the Mystic lord and his immediate family.

So, in part because of that and in part because he just liked the gentle child, Singer made regular appearances at the Mystic breed den, ostensibly to help Reketet with his magic, which he had never had formal training in. There had never been anyone who could train him; Reketet's mother had been too psychotic to be much of a teacher, and could only teach him how to use his Astral-inherited abilities, anyway. A Spirit chyrith, though born of Dreams and Astrals, had both breeds' abilities plus their own, and training in those extra abilities took lots of hard work, sometimes.

Right now, though, they were just resting, Reketet leaning against his "uncle" Singer's side, with the greatly-aged Mystic Lord Cateiran stretched out on his other side. Singer had traveled quite a distance to reach them, and had, had to chase away his own persecution in the process, so simply wasn't ready to start practice immediately. Reketet didn't seem to mind. For having such an abusive past, the youth was amazingly affectionate, and quite content to just snuggle up to someone. Singer had absolutely no problem with that; so few chys were willing to be affectionate with him, that he found it quite refreshing.

::It shouldn't have to be,:: Cateiran grumbled. Ever since adopting Reketet, he'd gotten quite protective of him, and equally indignant at the horrible treatment Spirit chys as a whole had to put up with.

::True, but there's not really anything we can do about it,:: Singer pointed out. ::Everyone on the planet has heard about the prophecy....:: His projected mental voice trailed off as thought occured to him.

The same idea struck Cateiran, for he turned blind eyes on Singer and perked his ears hopefully. ::You've been off-world,:: he sent slowly.

::And no one offworld has heard of the prophecy,:: Singer finished the thought for him. ::And even if they had, I doubt they would care.::

::I don't suppose you could bring someone back for him,:: Cateiran said wistfully, putting his head back down on his bony paws.

::You know... I think I can do better than that.::

"Hey... Reketet," he began, smiling to himself. "I just had an interesting idea."

As if awakening from a light doze or a catnap, the small Spirit chy stirred and stretched out legs and back at once, all four paws brushing Cateiran's protruding ribcage. After a wide yawn, and a contented little noise, the midgrowth asked, "What's that? New lesson?"

Well, it wasn't exactly a lesson... but that would be a good way to disguise his first offworld trip. "I haven't taught you how to use the Planes Shifting ability yet," he replied. "Normally, I'd want to finish you up with controlling your three Summonings, but-- well, do you think you might enjoy a little trip off-world?"

The idea obviously surprised the young chy, as evidenced by a flood of alien surprise washing briefly through his mental senses-- Singer was used to the surges of emotion that served as better indications of Reketet's mood than his actual expressions. He chuckled softly at it, this time, and smiled wryly at the doubtful words that followed: "You think I could handle it?"

For most kits, Singer might have said no. Reketet was doing fairly well, however, and since this was largely just an excuse to get him to leave Chytonia behind for a little while-- well, he could make an exception and jump him ahead a little. "Of course you can," he answered firmly. "But you don't really need to worry too badly, just yet. Today, you just get to watch and tell me how I'm doing it. We'll take a little trip through my own, so you can see what it's like, and then we'll work on your own casting of it." He lifted one blunt-fingered forepaw and ruffled the younger Spirit's scruffy head-fur. Reketet giggled and swatted blindly (pun intended) at him, making him smile.

"The most I'll be expecting from you on the subject will be, I hope, making a window but not an actual door-- so there shouldn't be any danger associated with your own practicing. That won't be until next time." Though his wink in the direction of the blind youngling would go obviously unnoticed-- by both of his companions, no less-- the cheerful confidence that accompanied it would not.

"Well, if you think so," the cub answered, a giggle still in his voice despite the trail of doubt that emanated from him, "I suppose I gotta give it a shot."

::It's a good thing we're trustworthy,:: Singer told Cateiran with both fond amusement and a little concern, ::because he sure trusts us implicitly. I hope that doesn't apply to everyone.::

::I think he'd be able to tell if someone wasn't trustworthy,:: the aged Mystic answered, then gave his adopted son a nudge with his nose. "Up you get, then. Go find someplace good for a portal-- and please not at my doorstep, hmm? I'd rather not be feeling the temporal rip for weeks after."

"Oh, I'm not that bad at sealing off the warps I make, old man," Singer chuckled, rising. "Come on, Reketet, I know a good place just on the other side of that hillock." He padded that way, leaving Cateiran to enjoy the sun himself, with Reketet trailing obediently behind, hopefully ready for his first trip off-world. 

Chapter Two

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