Spiritual Growth

Story by Hidden Heart on SoFurry

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#6 of An Honored Promise


********sorry there is no real sex in this one it came out all plot and perfect to me but the next chapter is going to have a lot of naughtiness as will the chapter after that with the direction i plan to g, hope enjoy and it doesn't bore my fans of this series********

It was nearly 8 p.m. when Janet arrived home, the sun was still shining but was beginning to fade, her home looked old and rugged, the wood having molded over in places and it looked as if one would have to worry of rot but the wood was strong underneath. She hadn't really taken the time to view it since she got back noticing for the first time and remembering and finally realizing how little it had changed.

Something strange caught her attention at the tree line at that moment and she could see something almost glowing. She went inside to look for Drakin he was her protector after all as well as her guide she should really bring him in case she needed his council.

She entered the house and looked around for him, but didn't find him. What she did find was her stuff in the corner of the bedroom rummaged through, she blushed as he had found the case with her sex toys and the box of photo's from her relationship with Robert. It brought a deep blush to her face to know he had been looking at these things especially without asking her but somehow she didn't feel angry. In fact something made her feel better about the fact he had seen the pictures of Robert and her, to know that while she had enjoyed the fetishes and play she had with him, they didn't really seem as important to her as the last couple of days with her wolf.

She repacked the box and pushed them into the closet when she saw a flash to her right and turned just in time to see a deer spirit leaping through the kitchen. She stood and saw two more at the tree line through the kitchen window joined shortly after by the one who had run through her home. They acted so natural as if they were feeding on the grass but then all looked up at her and then turned walking into the forest, the last stopping and throwing his head her way to see if she was following.

She didn't know what to think of it nor could she wait for Drakin, she was worried but her fear was far less than her curiosity after all her wolf could take care of himself he was her protector and she knew him to be strong. She grabbed her coat and went out the door closing the screen but leaving the door itself open, she was two distracted to notice as she followed the tree line to where the spirits had been.

When she reached where the deer had been she saw another in the distance and quickly but carefully moved through the woods. At each stop she would see glimpses of a spirit animal at first it had been a deer or elk in some cases a moose but soon after rabbits and squirrels and what she could swear was a beaver even followed. She was being led deeper into the forest at each turn, when it got dark she had started to cast light spells to light her way.

It was around 10 p.m. when a depressed and distraught Drakin had reached the cabin so caught up in his own thoughts he almost didn't notice her truck had returned. His ears perked and his nose flared as he felt something strange. Something didn't feel right, he went to the door the lights off in the house only to find the front door open only a screen in place. As he walked through the house it looked as if she hadn't even been home except all the stuff he had gone through had been picked up and put away.

He wondered briefly if she would be angry with him, the thought cleared from his mind as he took in a deep whiff of the scents and could tell a few things that did not comfort him. Her scent was excited but not aroused when she had been here last she had left in a hurry the door made that obvious and more than that it was a while ago. He cursed himself he had been gone to long he had no right to shuck his duties like that. he should have been there when she returned she should have been there to deal with whatever situation had arisen. If anything happened to her...His nose flared as he picked up something else something not normal, a spirit scent he had smelled them before they were very foreign but at the same time familiar to the animal the spirit came from, it was deer he was sure of it.

Drakin rushed out the door smelling for the deer finding the scent with Janets at the tree line but spirit scents weakened quickly he wouldn't be able to follow it but Janet's scent was still strong he could track that, he had to find her he had to protect her. The more he followed the scent the more worried he became the scents were faded but he could smell all kinds of spirits as he followed the trail, spirits didn't do this they didn't group and act unnatural unless there was a reason nor did they work as a group unless under the control of a greater force like...like a forest guardian!

He knew not all spirits were friendly, some guardians only acted in the interest of nature but others went a step further they didn't just protect the forest they tried to expand it, to stop development to stop humans from living near there protectorate these spirits loathed human kind and although the animal spirits under them rarely felt one way or the other for humans were not able to question or resist the commands of a Guardian. Could she have been lured away to them somehow? was a guardian gong to try and kill her? what had he done, how could he have been so stupid as to leave her so vulnerable during the infancy of her magic could she even defend herself against a spirit of such power yet?

Janet panted tired from the chase she had to sit for a minute, several hours at such a brisk pace had worn her out following the trail of spirits which seemed never ending was certainly tough and she shivered as she realized she was getting cold. She had forgotten her jacket, wait did she even know how to get back? shit what had she done so lost in her curiosity of he spirits had she really just wandered into the woods with no bearing or direction? She looked down and then around taking in her surroundings.

A voice clear yet somehow gruff called out to her a light glow coming from somewhere maybe 50 meters off, "Magi you have come, enter my home and learn what you have come to learn."

Janet stood, she had come this far what did she have to lose at this point what did these spirits want with her. She entered a clearing the glow softly coming from the grass, a small stream of water cascaded over a rocky ledge several yards away. It was beautiful, it was pristine, it was smothered in the flow of strong magic that made her feel revitalized and rested. This was a place of strong spirit energy much like the falls she had gathered the rings from.

A roar drew her attention to the top of the racks and there stood a giant cougar. In the corner of her eye she noticed movement and soon realized she was surrounded, several predator spirits gathered around the clearing and even several actual cougars could be seen at the edges waiting as if only needing a command to kill and eat her. Janet was afraid, she cursed her stupidity of course like all things there were bound to be spirits that wished her harm not just good will and she had walked into a trap full of them or so she thought.

"Daughter of Lynn daughter of the walker of spirits daughter of the magi still your fear we are not here to harm you, your mother was friend to all spirits present even I the Guardian of this territory. You have not been lured here to be harmed but to fulfill my pact with your kin," she turned as the cougar spoke from the rock.

Janet calmed as the cougars and most of the spirits left the clearing and turned back to the cougar as he moved down casually from the rock to the small pool of water at the base of the rocks, "what...what was the pact you had with my mother?"

He huffed, "your mother reinforced many of the guardians homes made our power great once more, in return we had pacts with her regarding many things this one regards you. Before you think this makes you safe know that you must earn our respect and power before we have any obligation to you. Your mothers pact with me was to share with you knowledge when I felt you ready for it. Today you met Moco the demon bear allied to the wolves. You can see the spirits and have had your aura awakend and it grows stronger by the moment. There is knowledge you seek and i believe you are ready to use it wisely."

Janet kneeled down by the pool as the cougar touched the water with his paw causing a ripple and an image to appear in it. In the image was a book and then a new image appeared of her mother writing in the book and closing it and casting a spell that made the book cover in rock and sink into the ground. The stone looked familiar as if she had seen it and then a smile rolled her face as she realized where it was she turned to the cougar.

May i ask your name Guardian?" she asked.

"I am Torat the Saber tooth this will be the name of mine you know and in return it is fair to know yours." he answered.

"I am Janet, i am sure i am supposed to have a title or a special name but i must apologize that i don't know what it is so i can tell you." Janet said softly.

A purr rumbled from the cougar as he moved back to the rock, "It would normally be an insult to a spirit to not give your true name in return for them giving yours, instinctually you knew you would insult me if you had just said your name was Janet, a name on paper of humans not that of your spirit. by being truthful that you did not know this name and apologizing you have shown me great respect. It was a test to see if you could learn the etiquette of spirits and you passed quite well. In truth i already know your true name given to me by your mother. Before you ask names hold great power and you are not ready to know yours nor have you learned the dangers of evoking it. In addition to showing you the location of that book and completing my last obligation to your mother, i will tell you two things in the hopes they are headed and help to create a new bond between you and the spirits that will be beneficial like the one with your mother was. First, to enter an area like this without consent or gift is to invite violence between spirits and the transgressor. The second is that war spirits and vengeance spirits like myself will attack with any provocation if not treated in the proper manor. This discussion we have now is the result of your mothers pact, you can think ill of us for harming you but it is our nature and we must follow it when we have no reason not to. It is time for you to go now travel south and do not worry you will not die here you are destined to do other things."

Janet nodded and left the clearing the dawn breaking through the tree's as the grotto seemed to disappear, how long had she been in there? She pulled out a compass and started heading south. It wasn't long after she came to an open field the morning dew on the grass and in it was Moro by a fire with her mate. They looked up confused but happy never the less to see her. They quickly moved her to the fire and warmed her up as she sat on the log they had moved there to sit on.

Janet looked at them confused once she was covered in a blanket and warming up by the fire, "why are you out here i can't possibly e near your camp."

Moro nodded, "very true in fact we are in the territory of the Talis tribe, your uncles tribe, they were most angry with our sudden movement without permission through there territory without prior permission, however Moco said it was of great importance that we come and that you would need us. Once i told your uncle this he was immediate to give us permission and calm things between the tribes."

Janet sighed softly, "how did Moco know where i would be?"

"Moco was visited by a messenger of spirits and told you were on a spirit quest and that you would emerge here."

Rud gave janet some coffee as she relaxed, "that must be how Torat knew i wasn't in danger."

Moro dropped her coffee, "Torat? Torat the saber tooth is the spirit that you visited?"

Janet looked at her, "i take it thats unusual?"

Moro nodded, "i have only ever known of that guardian through Moco the saber tooth is a slayer of alll who trespass deep into the forest, no werewolf can enter his territory without first having a powerful spirit like Moco first ask permission and even then it is rarely granted, to thin he would have reason to speak to you without provocation is unheard of."

Janet smiled, "he had a reason he had a pact with my mother apparently she chose him to decide when i was ready to receive my mothers knowledge."

Moro nodded, "your mother had extensive knowledge of spirit magic, she knew more than any of the magi before her it would make sense she would leave a powerful spirit to decide when that knowledge could be used wisely."

"He said i needed to earn his respect as my mother did if i wished to befriend spirits, he also said he was impressed with the way i spoke with him since i knew so little, i wish i had been able to give him my true name like he gave me his."

Moro growled as she shifted, "to give a creature like that your true name could be disastrous, the true name can be used to strip one of there powers even to force them to bend to the will, guardians are among very few spirits able to resist such power."

Janet gasped as she saw the anger and when Moro saw her reaction immediately calmed and shifted back, "Moro please calm down he already knows my true name it was entrusted to him by my mother and i would have given it to him anyways even if she hadn't."

It was Moro's turn to gasp, "what are you saying?"

"i am saying that i hold no fear of this spirit he had a kinship with my mother and i honestly believe he wishes it continued with me. My mother had pacts with apparently dozens of spirits many of them Guardians, from what i learned she did i think she believed them growing in power and becoming closer to the magi was very important."

Moro sat back down, "i apologize for how i reacted Moco and Torat do not get along and that animosity moves to me as his familiar, what you seek to do is very dangerous but i believe you have a path and perhaps Torat knows much more of it than i but where is Drakin why isn't he here with you?"

It was at that moment Drakin burst from the tree line panting and seeing the three talking at the campfire, Rud immediately transformed and roared as he rushed towards the wolf who quickly darted back into the forest.

Moro stood, "Shit!"

Janet stood and threw off the blanket, "whats going on?"

Moro took Janets hand, "we must hurry Rud is extremely angry at Drakin."

Janet ran with Moro into the forest Moco appeared to lead them on the trail, "Moro what is going on why is Rud after Drakin?"

"I am sorry Janet i should have seen this coming, Rud is a warrior and your sign of affection to him made him protective of you, Drakin did something awful by our laws he left you unprotected and allowed you to be led into a situation that could have left you hurt or dead in so many ways i can't count them. His duty is to put his life before yours and protect you failing to do so is a violation of our pact with the Magi Drakin has committed an executable offense!"

Janet ran faster, "are you saying he is trying to kill Drakin!"

Moro, "i am afraid so."

Janet stopped pulling Moro to a stop with her, she started chanting and covered Moro's eyes and before she knew what was going on they appeared in a new location with Drakin running right towards them with Rud following close behind. Moro looked around trying to gain her bearings and when she did what she saw next almost shocked her to much to act. Janet called out to the forest and both Rud and Drakin fell to the ground tripped and tied up in vines both dazed and confused. Janet walked over slowly followed by Moro.

Rud Calmed but stayed in his werewolf form struggling lightly to free himself but Drakin lay panting and wheezing heavily and in total exhaustion, "now you two you need to stop this and calm, Rud, Drakin deserves the right to explain what happened before you assume he just abandoned me."

Rud growled but calmed and made no move towards Drakin as the vines moved away freeing them, "there is no excuse for leaving you without protection."

Drakin sat up tiredly his ears tilted back, "he is right Janet i failed you, i was off thinking to myself and left you completely unprotected, you should let Rud kill me."

Janet sighed angrily, "what is it with you fucking werewolves and killing people for making mistakes? you know your all half human and everyone makes mistakes for gods sake."

Moro put her hand on Janets shoulder, "it is our way Janet it may seem harsh but we must all pay for our mistakes and his could have ended your family line, your future and a symbiotic relationship between our kinds that has lasted a thousand years."

Janet looked to Drakin leaning down and holding his head in her hands, "your ways are old and need to be updated not that they don't hold a great wisdom and in truth i understand what your saying but as an Elder i have a right to make decisions regardless of the law correct?"

Rud kneeled and nodded, "you are an elder you may not change or ignore the laws without the approval of the whole council no one elder has that right however the right to make an exception or the right to pardon an offense even one of this magnitude is within your power."

Janet nodded, "Drakin I pardon you on this occasion for what has happened I believe there is reason behind what you did and you will share that with me once we are home and i also believe that Torat would not have allowed you into his sanctum and i would have gone in despite that. No harm has come of this event and a greater good may have been begun from it and for these reasons this matter is closed."

Rud amd Moro nodded and kneeled as Janet put her hands on their shoulders, "i must ask of you a favor."

Moro smiled looking up at Janet, "of course elder we would never deny your request without great reason."

Janet smiled, "this matter is to stay secret as is what happened between me and the spirits the spirits do not wish to reveal all to us if they had they would not have needed to bring me so far from my home and i don't want the clans to know what happened with Drakin i consider this penance by them for the way he has been treated till now. If it was not for Drakin's kindness and loyalty i would not be anywhere near as ready to be who i am or willing and that consideration makes me believe this will never happen again."

Moro and Rud spoke in unison, "as it has been asked so shall it be done."

A voice from behind startled them all making them turn, Drakin bearing his fangs as Moro and Rud both stood ready, "that was well done Daughter of Lynn such fair judgment shows promise."

Moro and Rud moved in front of Janet, "Moro is that who i think it..."

Rud was cut off by her reply, "yeah that is Torat the Saber Tooth"

"fear not little wolves i simply wished to see how Janet would handle this situation you didn't think the little wolf could come running into the clearing by accident do you? she is right your kind is responsible for his actions and lapse in judgment it is these things that have made us guardians wary of the wolf clans and their notion they can protect the woods but it is the Magi who save you Lynn the wild heart and now her daughter have given us hesitation in our judgment i suggest you heed her words that one has a great destiny to fulfill."

With the end of what he said Torat disappeared with a flash of light and both Moro and Rud changed back to their human forms. They agreed to keep the matter silent and led by Drakin back to the cabin all went there merry way, when they entered the house Drakin stopped and sighed.