Chapter 11 - The Shepherd

Story by Children of Gaia on SoFurry

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#12 of Main Storyline - Children of Gaia - The Beginning...


It was a slow tuesday for Reverend Michael McDowell at the Church back in College Park, GA. But then, tuesdays were always slow in the massive church. Garbed in his regular black outfit befitting a reverend, the young reverend sighed as he came from the rectory, after finishing up his monthly collection talleys for the church. The brown haired, green eyed man began walking through the main chapel towards the alter. He bowed his head momentarily and placed his first two fingers over his face and body in honor of the holy trinity. As he turned around, He noticed a young white rabbit mutanimal sitting quietly, eyes closed and head down in prayer, with his ears drooped over his shoulders. The man watched him as he approached slowly towards the young rabbit.

"May I help you?" The reverend said as he approached.

It was Geist, now garbed in a long trench coat to cover up his team uniform as to not raise suspicion. The young rabbit's eyes popped open and looked directly to the reverend who was now currently sitting next to him.

"I'm sorry reverend, I'll be through in a moment." he replied shyly.

"It's ok," the reverend replied as he placed a gentle hand on the rabbit's arm. "I am not bigoted by your kind being at my church. What troubles you?"

"Is it that obvious father?" Geist asked as he looked down.

"People come to church when there is no service for two reasons: They have committed a horrible sin, or they search for guidance my son. Which is it for you?"

"Guidance, Father."

"Tell me of your predicament."

The rabbit sighed and once again consoled to the ground. "I was raised roman catholic. My parents brought me to church every day when they were alive. They helped me read the scriptures and verses from the bible. But, I feel somewhat conflicted by a particular part, the story of Sodom and Gomorrah."

"What do you mean my son?"

"Well according to the scriptures God was angry because of the way they acted in the two cities. Especially because they embraced... homosexuality."

"And?"

The rabbit shuttered a bit. "Well, I've been taken into a person's home. It's much more welcoming than the last place I was at. The people are wonderful and help me, and I help them. In a way... they saved me literally from the depths of hell itself you could say. But one person in particular I find very special." The rabbit shifted nervously, his ears still drooped over his shoulders. "He's disabled, but he's really sweet and helpful to me. You could say he's a computer wiz. I can't describe the feeling I get with him. I fear though that these feelings may be love. I feel like I love him but The bible says..."

"Would you like to hear my interpretation of Sodom and Gomorrah?" the reverend asks suddenly. The rabbit's ears perked up suddenly as his eyes and head turn slowly toward the reverend. "I believe God was not angry because of the fact they practiced homosexuality, God's wrath stemmed from the excess in which it had bred. As you may remember, the revelers of Sodom and Gomorrah were also excessive drinkers, they partook of drugs, and they had parties every night. I believe it was hedonism that sparked God's wrath, not homosexuality."

The rabbit looked back down and closed his eyes in deep thought. "What about the scriptures of a man shall not lay with another man as you would a woman?"

"Let me put it this way my dear rabbit..." The reverend gave a gentle smile and placed his hand on his shoulder. "God works in mysterious ways. It may be in the bible that says that, but who wrote the bible? it was the hand of man, and not god's hand, that wrote the book. Granted there are some things that may be taken out of context easily, there are still many good lessons to learn from the bible. As long as there is good in your heart, you will never have to worry about God's wrath. Do you believe you are a good person?"

Geist slowly sat up and looked the reverend dead in the eye. "I do believe I"m a good person. The others I work for are working towards understanding between my kind and humans, such as yourself."

"Then you've nothing to fear of God, my child." The reverend smiled brightly.

The rabbit once sighed a bit and closed his eyes in contemplation. With the priest's words, he felt a heavy weight slowly lift off his shoulders as he slowly began to smile at the father's words. "Thank you, father. It's rare to find anyone these days who have your understanding and demeanor towards my kind."

"We are all god's children, God just decided to smile upon you and make you special."

"Wished it felt that way..." the rabbit said.

"This gentlemen you have feelings for. Does he know how you feel?"

"No," Geist replied. "I don't know how he feels about anything. He's so into his computers and his work. It's like..." he hesitated. "It's like he's plugged into his machine."

The reverend slowly nodded, "It he gifted like you?"

'gifted' he says. Geist nodded softly, merely glad the reverend used prettier words than most other people would. "Yes, he's a mouse, a mouse with powers to control computers and such. I've yet to determine the full extent of his power."

"Sounds Magnificent." the reverend said kindly.

"He is. He uses his powers for the good of all mankind I assure you though."

"If you don't mind my new furry friend," he said and placed his hand on the rabbit's back. "What are your powers?"

"It's complicated," he replied. "Technically, I'm a medium, I'm able to see people who have passed on to the next life. Not only that but I am also able to manipulate electromagnetic fields that spirits are supposed to feed off of and I can give the spirits enough power to manifest. I can also become incorporeal myself and able to phase through walls. I guess you can say that I'm a living ghost.

"A Living Ghost huh?" Michael repeated. "I'm sure the seeing spirits can be a curse at times?"

Geist nodded, "It can be, It can be overwhelming as spirits are drawn to people like me. They want their stories told, they want loved ones to know they are still around, and others... Just want someone to pay for their death."

"I see," he replied. Suddenly his attention was stolen away by a young fox across the row from him. It seemed the fox, garbed simply in a black turtleneck sweater and a pair of jeans, was kneeling down in the row directly across from him. The fox softly sobbed as he knelt with his head down and hands pressed together.

The priest was about to excuse himself when Geist suddenly put his gloved hand on the pastor's shoulder. "Don't worry about him, he's with me. He too was in a very bad situation. A lot of the people who come to the house I live in has. He's thanking god for answering his prayers."

The pastor smiled gently and looked back to the rabbit. "The Person who take you in must have a beautiful heart."

"He does, he's very relaxed about all of us. He's a wonderful person."

"Would this happen to be the famous Doctor Moreau freshly back from the dead."

Geist wasn't surprised at reverend's knowledge of his benefactor, his return was splattered all over the news after he took congress by storm just a few days ago. "The one in the same."

"Justin you done?" came a familiar british voice from behind. They both turned around to notice that Soulfox, garbed in a simple fall coat and blue jeans standing behind them. He had his hair pulled back and his specially crafted eyeglasses on.

"Yeah," he finally replied, "I found my answer today." Before he left off, he held out his hand to the priest, "Thank you father, for everything."

"It was my pleasure, my son," he replied as he shook hands. "You know we have Mass here tomorrow. if you could come, I would be delighted to have you"

Geist smiled and placed his free hand over the already gripped hand, he smiled and nodded softly. "I will be here Father, I'd like to be a member of this church."

The father smiled as they finally released their grip of each other. Watching the others go. Geist gently placed his hand over the fox's shoulder, to say "ready to go." The fox looked up and simply stood up to follow Soulfox out slowly. The father went out into the aisle to watch the trio make their leave and smiled. Today was a good day. Though slow, he may have saved the soul of one of God's devout. It was days like this in which he loved his job.