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The Judgement of Lily Marks

"Lily Marks."

The white fox stepped forward at St Peter's summons. He held out a paw and said, "Welcome." He was furclad, as was everyone here, now that she could see them. She was, too, when she thought to check. It would have bothered her, before, but here it didn't seem to matter to anyone.

Lily looked around.

There were Furs everywhere, mostly in pairs or small groups. The further she looked, the more Furs she saw. And the more she looked at them, the more she could tell about them.

That one was a Jew. She could tell, somehow. What was a Jew doing here? Their religion didn't have the same kind of afterlife that Christians were promised.

There was a Buddhist. And a Hindu. And a Muslim. And...an atheist? Where was she? Were there any other Christians here at all?

Lily scanned the area, using her new sense, and found three Christians nearby, sitting under a tree talking. She strode over to them and said, "Excuse me." They looked up at her and one said, "Can I help you?"

"I hope so," she said. "I'm looking for somebody. Where is our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?"

"I am here, Beloved," came a voice from beside her.

Lily turned and saw the most beautiful Fur she'd ever beheld. His beauty was partly physical, but there was more to it. He had presence, she decided. His whole being radiated exquisite power, infinite wisdom, and absolute kindness.

She was momentarily stunned but regained her faculties. "Where are we?"

"Walk with me," the being said. "There are things we must discuss."

He led Lily away from the other Furs, and they soon walked in a meadow beside a stream. He turned to her and said, "You asked where we are. Where do you think we are?"

"I would guess that this is Heaven, or some part of it," she replied. "But, it can't be. There are so many here who should not be."

Her companion regarded her for a moment. He raised an eyebrow and said, "Who should not be here?"

"Well, I saw a Jew just after I got here. And a Muslim. And people from other weird religions. And an atheist, for God's sake!"

"Why should they not be here?"

"Because they're not Christian! They haven't accepted you as their personal savior!"

"And what is the mark of one who has done that?"

"They dedicate their life to you entirely, they attempt to be like you every day."

"And all of the people you have seen here have done that."

Lily's muzzle gaped and she was speechless for a moment. "But-but...how can non-Christians have done that? They haven't accepted you as the Son of God!"

"Am I?"

"Of course you are! This is ridiculous! How can you question yourself?"

"Don't you?"

"Well, yes, I have questioned myself, but I'm a mortal! I'm imperfect, fundamentally flawed, nothing without your redemption!"

"So, you truly believe that you require my intervention to be a complete, valuable being?"

"Yes, of course!"

Jesus Christ turned to Lily, looked directly into her soul, and said, "Nonsense."

* * *

Lily wasn't sure how long she had run.

Where the hell was she?! She was dead, she was sure of that. Memories had come trickling back. She'd been knocked unconscious, and then shot dead, while trying to help the Hunters capture Nathanial.

Nathanial. She'd accused him of terrible things, been a total bitch to him for years. Why? None of the reasons seemed to make sense in this place. She could remember their last argument, and her venomous accusations seemed ridiculous now. What bloody difference did it make that he was a different religion?

These thoughts had whirled around in her head as she ran, and it had been their unrelenting torment, not the actual physical activity, that had worn her down. The total shock of Jesus telling her she didn't need him, combined with the memories of her life from an objective viewpoint, had broken Lily. She lay weeping in a dense forest, where no more light reached the ground than understanding reached her consciousness.

Where do I go from here? she thought. Is this my punishment? To stay here and wonder for all eternity why I did terrible things?!

After some time--she couldn't have said how much--she remembered the new sense she'd used when she arrived here...wherever here was. She'd been able to know things about people just by looking at them. Could she apply that to this situation as well?

What do I need to do to understand? Lily thought. There's so much I don't know. More memories were coming to her now, along with other information. Not only was Nathanial a Mage, but he was more powerful than anyone knew.

Nicholas had developed more in the last few weeks, with the help of Nathanial and their new friends, than he had in his whole life. And Micah...

Micah, too, was developing fast. And he--all of them--had abilities that no one suspected.

And they were all friends with other kinds of magical beings.

Lily found the strength to rise, and made her way through the forest. As she continued to ponder, the forest thinned, and she could see to navigate. It resembled a place that she had known in her childhood, and she had been impressed by its exquisite beauty. Only here, it was even better.

So many things I didn't know. What else don't I know? More images came to her. Her pups and their friends had already fought great evil, and a larger conflict was looming for them.

Why am I only learning this now? Lily wondered. And why would it have made me furious before?

"You have questions, Beloved."

The Fur she had thought was Jesus stood before her. She hadn't seen him approach, or maybe she'd been too wrapped up in her own thoughts.

"Many questions."

"Tell me what you do know, and you will find that you also have answers."

"I'm dead, I know that," Lily began. "I remember the circumstances. I know that I was terrible to my family, for reasons that made perfect sense to me at the time."

"Good. Good. And what is this place?"

"I -" More information came. "It's a place where I get to...evaluate my past life and...decide how to do better next time?"

The Fur she now knew was not Jesus smiled, and the whole forest was bathed in sunlight.