Discovering Dhurga

chapter 5

This was the first morning I woke without tantalizing smells of delicious food greeting me. I knew it couldn’t continue on our journey, but still, it was disappointing. I made my way out of my shelter and found Khoth readying a breakfast from our provisions. Not amazing like back at Khoth’s home, but really not bad. As I chewed the bread and meat roll, I thought about the encounter last evening. I glanced at the shield that had not diminished whatsoever. I also remembered something Khoth said that caused some alarm. He had mentioned dragons much bigger than he was. Damn. That would have to be one big dragon especially if their presence alone was enough to deter the nashornt. I decided it would be a really good idea to learn to defend myself in some way in case Khoth was not near or worse.

You are right, Kat. I need to begin your magical teaching so you can defend yourself. Let’s begin now. First examine the shelter closely, see if you can find where the magic flows into the supports.

I closed my eyes for concentration, and reached out with my senses. I didn’t really feel the source even though I could feel the magic circulating throughout the camp. I opened my eyes to go closer and looked with my eyes at the base of each thing Khoth had “encouraged” into shape within the camp. There it was, like tiny raindrops of shimmering power flowing up from the ground.

That’s right! All magic and power comes from Dhurga himself. Every being with a consciousness can draw this power into themselves to sustain life, encourage your surroundings to provide your needs and even to heal another. Try drawing into yourself from the surrounding life. Don’t take more than you need, if you accidentally take too much, you will kill the life around you, but you can put it back if you do so quickly.

Ok, so I drew it in. How am I supposed to do that? I closed my eyes again and took slow breaths. I was drawing in air, maybe I could use the same action to draw in magic. So, I imagined breathing in the magic with my body. Ya, it didn’t work.

Keep trying, you are on the right track.

That is encouraging. I tried again. And I felt the smallest movement of those tiny upside down drops of magic drawing toward me. Not just up my feet from the ground, but from everywhere. It seemed like I could encourage the Glow to come to me. It was intoxicating and exhausting. I let go of my concentration and the Glow settled again to its natural current.

Extraordinary!

There was that word again. I have to admit, it was extraordinary to be able to feel the magic come toward me. It reminded me of shaking off drops of water after a bath, but in reverse and the drops were too small to see, but I could sense them. I asked if I had used too much. Evidently not.

Now, watch with your senses as I gather magic for the shield.

I watched with my eyes closed and my senses and then with my eyes open and my senses. That was going to take some practice. He encouraged me to try it, and after about 10 tries, drawing magic in like a breath, I made a sputtering shield big enough to keep a caterpillar safe. But I smiled from ear to ear as my little shield sputtered out. I just used magic! It was incredible, satisfying and a little tingly where the magic brushed my finger tips. That day passed with me gathering magic and casting small shields as Khoth walked down a path toward the distant mountains. By the end of the day, I could cast a shield big enough to protect my head that could last a few minutes. Progress is progress however small. The evening passed without any creature encounters and I slept really well.

The next morning we broke camp and headed closer to the mountains. I was practicing gathering magic and casting shields. I occasionally practiced just gathering magic and using my senses when the Pull took a turn, a sharp turn, with urgency. “Khoth? Something feels different, like the Pull is shouting”

I felt it as well, Kat.

The direction in which the Pull indicated was even more rough and wild that the way we had been traveling. I could see a very small path, maybe used by creatures the size of rabbits. I don’t know if there are rabbits here. It seemed to be Pulling right to the top of a craggy mountain peak encircled with snow and clouds. Well, that doesn’t look at all inviting. I couldn’t resist the pull, I nearly slid off Khoth and started running up the mountain, but he stopped me.

Kat, wait. You will never make it on foot! It would be much easier if we flew to the top. We will start with a very short hop and glide and see how you feel about going higher.

We had to do something, the Pull was a physical sensation now and rising in urgency by the moment. I was afraid my ability to ride Khoth while flying was going to be far inferior to his ability to carry us both safely up the mountain. But the Pull would not allow me to be parilyzed by my fear, there was no denying the Pull. So I agreed to fly with Khoth, anything to relieve the urgency of the Pull. At first he only jumped and glided for a very long way. Remarkably, I stayed in the saddle and it was actually very fun. If it wasn’t for the urgency of the Pull, I would definitely say it was fun. After success with these small aerial maneuvers, Khoth took us above the treetops. I found myself holding my breath and squeezing my eyes as tightly shut as possible. I could feel the rhythmic beating of his wings once in a while and gliding between. It was extremely comfortable, but windy. I would have to find a way to have some warmer clothes as soon as possible. I had a death grip on the saddle and my hands became sore. I ventured a peek and noticed we had gotten really close to the base of the mountain and Khoth seemed to be headed for a clearing. When we landed, he asked me how I felt. The Pull had calmed a bit, the shouting had dimmed to an urgent plea. Once we set down, I climbed down Khoth and immediately collapsed on my noodle-like legs. I lay trying to catch my breath and grow bones in my legs while Khoth watched me carefully. I was finally able to sit up and gaze in the direction of the Pull. Khoth was still watching me. “What?” I said aloud.

Each day you surprise me, Kat. Many would have taken weeks or months to learn to fly. But you have learned in hours. Your legs will get stronger the more we practice. Now, we will be able to find your purpose and fulfillment with speed.

I was kind of excited not to be on the ground with other creatures that wanted to eat me, until I remembered there were probably some of those in the sky as well. The Pull was not so intense since we started heading in the direction and getting closer, but it was impossible to focus on anything else. Also, I could feel something different about the Pull towards the mountain peak. It wasn’t the same as the pull I had felt since my first days of awareness of magic. I felt like I was going crazy, but the Pull seemed to have a different message than leading me to my purpose and fulfillment, whatever that was.

We quickly reached the peak, after circling around, we landed on a very small outcrop of the rocks. There was no snow, at the time, but it was so cold. I found a large fuzzy leaf blanket in the pack and placed it around me. The cold didn’t seem to have any effect on Khoth, and he was warm, so I kept close. Also the wind at the top of the mountain was not a gale, but strong still. I mentally asked Khoth “Now what?”

I can sense the Pull you feel through our bond, but this communication from Dhurga is for you. Reach out with your senses and find his message.

So I did. It was the most beautiful thing! I could “see” magic coursing around the top of the mountains, through the rocks and … well into the mountain.

I explained what I had seen and indicated the place in the side of the mountain where it seemed to be flowing inward, like a mountain spring in reverse. Instead of water coursing through the ground down to collect and become a stream, the magic seemed to be pulled into the mountain and the focus, or stream went right into the side of the mountain. How do I just go into the mountain to get my message from a living planet that was conscious. This really sounded impossible. But, who am I to say what is or is not possible in the cosmos? I predict I will be thinking that a lot.

We neared the point where magic flowed into the mountain, I could even see it if I looked closely with my eyes open focusing my senses. It seemed like living water and living light came together in the most spectacular way. I looked at the mountain and noticed it flowed behind a large outcropping and found a small cave. Too small for Khoth to go in with me. I looked at him searching for confidence. He just waved his hand for me to get on with it!

So, still feeling no fear, but anxious, I carefully stepped into the flow of magic and followed to a literal geyser of magic flowing up out of a small opening in the cavern floor. Beside it, could only be well, tea cups, made seemingly from the rocks, but so thin it looked like porcelain. My mother had one porcelain plate she had gotten from her mother. I touched one and found it to break away from the surface at my touch. I gathered up my bravery, and reached out to touch the geyser of magic with the tip of my finger. I was not prepared for what happened.

I was swept away in some sort of vision. I seemed to be soring above Dhurga, like flying on Khoth earlier, but so much faster. The terrain we had just traveled sped by. The mountain peak sped past. (this had to be what surfing was like in the books I had read) Then I saw looming above were huge storm clouds thundering and rolling, sending lightning, raging wind and either snow or ice, swirling up a valley. Then the vision zoomed out. I saw that our path would have taken us right into the storm. The vision zoomed in on the mountain peak again and I found myself racing down the geyser of magic into a cavern overflowing with magic current as the current set me on my feet, I turned around to face… well, a face. The eyes were as tall as me and seemed to be made of liquid crystal with a light, or glow, from behind, and the color swirled but seemed to be blues and purples and greens. The mouth was smiling. Words filled my mind, the mouth didn’t move but the face seemed to incline.

I am Dhurga. Thank you for answering my call. Had you and Khoth continued on your path, you would have been caught in the storm. And, I wanted to meet you. I have waited long for you and your people to come. We have much work to do, you and I. You are strong, Katlin. You are talented with abilities you will need to survive and help others survive. I can’t always call you out of the path of a storm. You must learn from your dragon bond, Khoth. Trust him. He will teach you to use your skills and the magic surrounding us. At times, if I may, I would call you to a place such as the one in the mountain peak to communicate more directly..

“Um, sure.”

You will need all of your courage to face a world so different from your first home. Keep in mind, I know you will succeed, only you must learn this for yourself. Before you go, please drink from the fountain, it will speed your skills. I will return you now, tell Khoth, thank you for me.

I flowed back to the mountain peak in the current of magic. I used a stone cup beside the fountain, Since the magic flowed upward, I turned the cup upside down to fill the cup. I took a sip. Whoa! What a wonderful feeling, I felt it flow through me. I started to run out and let Khoth know about everything. and collapsed at the entrance of the cave