New Vistas

When females joined forces, no male could intrude into their world. Tir'shan studied the trio around the campfire. Talitha was a petite beauty, a delicate flower ribbed with steel. Her mother Sum'ri'san had a tall, angular exterior that hid deep warmth and love, a potent weapon. Willa was, as she seemed, a fighter and a leader with no secrets. Save maybe one that they all share, Tir'shan decided. He rubbed his chin, for he had yet to discern it. The unexpected appearance of Talitha's mother on this journey was the key to the puzzle before him. The older white tigress suddenly held his gaze in warning. Tir'shan looked away. There seemed to be no harm done whatever her reason for materializing. But he did not believe her tale: that a dream told her to find her daughter, and travel with her.

He felt Tygra brush past, a pacing menace. He would not let the matter rest. He needed to know why Sum'ri'san had truly come, but against the combined powers of the females, he would remain in the dark until they saw fit to speak the truth. Tygra broke branches and tossed them on the fire. At least he is keeping busy, Tir'shan mused.

Willa suddenly stood. "They come," the human barked.

"Who!" demanded Tygra.

She softened her speech. "Those who would help."

Forest had surrounded them until it seemed that the trees, one by one, had drawn them into a tight circle. Tygra had dismissed the impression as mere illusion. Whoever moved toward them push hard to get through the living cage.

Tir'shan had expected males. The statuesque warriors that stood before the party were clearly female. Their black skin made a strong contrast to the light, silvery mail and white garments that protected them. It was clear from the narrowing of their eyes that they viewed the males in Talitha's expedition with suspicion. Willa spoke in a quick clipped voice in a language unfamiliar to him. The tallest warrior nodded gravely. She turned on her heels, and took the troop back into the thick collection of trees. "We follow," Willa remarked. "Permission has been granted."

*****

Tygra had been right about illusions, but not in the way he had suggested. As they followed the warriors, the trees dissolved before them. They had been at the edge of the city, and had not known it. The walls were of white marble streaked with black. Smooth sandstone formed the wide boulevards. The females of the city, some light of skin, and some dark, observed them. The road ended before the columns of a stately ivory building. Tir'shan breathed deeply. Whatever fragrance perfumed the air was heady and sweet.

Willa and the warriors urged them into the building, but remained outside. The mystic glimpsed statues hidden in alcoves. A temple, certainly, he decided, for the place had the comfort of the familiar. They walked under an archway, then stopped. A woman, a vision in emerald green, stood on a dais. She gestured for them to move forward. The group stopped before her, another black pillar among the white.

She viewed them keenly, and yielded a cool assessment. That she was the same height as he, Tir'shan quickly marked, and marvelled. That something appeared out of place gnawed at his thoughts until the simple thing revealed itself: she had no eyebrows. Her braided, shoulder-length hair appeared too controlled. He had heard that some humans wore a thing called a "wig". The notion that she could be completely hairless left him with a mixture of emotions that he could not name.

"Talitha," the woman called, her voice a pleasing, velvet wave. The little mystic approached her. The females touched palms. The black womannodded. Something like amusement flickered across her features, a strange response for the serious matter that Talitha had brought before her. She continued, amazingly, in Thunderan. "What you have suffered can be fully remedied." The sigh of relief that came from Tygra was clearly audible. The priestess, for that is the impression that she gave, turned her gaze upon him. "You will stay within the city, but alone. For 30 suns Talitha will reside here with me to be cleansed. Her mother will provide her with additional companionship." The powerful tone of her announcement left the architect speechless, but he managed to nod his assent.

"Good. You will have your own domicile to enjoy during your stay. We have many tomes on architecture that will help you pass the time in your mate's absence. Wait here for Jafar. He will attend to your needs."

How can he read these books, Tir'shan wondered, unless he has a facility for languages equal to Cheetara's.

Before he could consider the matter further, the priestess finally summoned him. "Approach!"

Tir'shan matched Talitha's movements, and hoped he gave no offense. The woman's long black fingers and palms tickled the fur on his hands. A current of electricity went through him. They were suddenly alone in a place of deep woods and low light. The trickling of a brook patterned the air with natural music. *Your request, mystic?*

*I thought you knew all,* he answered abruptly.

Laughter echoed in his mind and on the wind. *That is true, but I wish to hear it from you, so that permission may be given for my assistance.*

It was a matter he had not spoken of, but one that had troubled him. *I wish the gift of fertility. I want to sire cubs. Although my offspring would be mystics, like me, and thus be a great help to the people, I wish the experience of fatherhood for myself.*

*It may not be mine to give, but I shall ask on your behalf.* The words left much unsaid, for she knew more than she told.

The scene returned to normal. She had not offered the promise of success to him. She indicated attendants, black women clothed in blue robes with strands of shell beads adorning their oddly long, golden-collared necks. "They will take you to your abode. Rest from your labors and worries for awhile. They will see to your needs."

The mystic nodded, and backed away. That he was given to the care of females, and not males, intrigued him.

"I am Ayasha. In my domain, all is spring and summer, and there is no want. Ask for whatever you need." She turned and disappeared into the dark recesses of the chamber. The tigresses followed reverently behind.

*****

Tir'shan sank down into a pool heated by an underground spring. The women in blue had brought him food, and left him to his own devices for two suns. A shift had occurred in his body. It had been a long time since he had known genuine relaxation. He poured some wine into a red goblet. The liquid added to his genuine contentment. A gentle breeze carried the odd sound over strong garden walls: females laughing, flute music, and a melody of other pleasing tones.

His eyelids became heavy. The leaves on the trees rustled. He straightened up. Ayasha floated over him, then drifted down by his side.

She offered her hand, and he accepted her help, rising smoothly from the pool, the sun glistening off his wet, white and brown fur. The woman sighed. "I am sorry. I cannot help you directly. The Goddess has other plans for you."

Ayasha spoke with sincerity, so Tir'shan found no need for doubt. He glanced back at the pool. At least he could rest for a few suns more.

"But you can help me."

That such a being of power would require his assistance surprised him. "How?"

"With enough trust not to know the favor or the outcome."

There was a lonely, sad tone in her voice that he could not ignore. "I am bound to my people's need, as a healer. As long as that need can still be met, I will help you."

"Your Goddess would give her blessing to this endeavor, for such beings see all patterns through all the illusions of time. The gift that you can give to me must be given in absolute freedom."

"Then let it be so."

She gestured for him to follow. A twisting path in the garden took them to an area paved with smooth, indigo stones. The tiles formed a simple spiral. Ayasha held his hand and led him to the Center. They were suddenly surrounded by sky and cloud. Tir'shan knew no fear of falling. "Take me into you heart," Ayasha pleaded.

The mystic drew her close, and kissed her. The priestess dissolved into a violet light that saturated his being, and raised his energy to a single point of ecstasy that reverberated through the dimensions. For an instant he disappeared into everything.

With a gasp Tir'shan found himself once again in the pool, quite alone.

*****

He didn't notice the change immediately. It was only after he had stuffed himself with the midday meal brought by his attendants that he felt the difference in his muscles. As the sun crossed the sky, and slid to the west, he watched the swelling of his abdomen with wonder and horror. At twilight he settled himself in a chair by the fireplace in the comfortable cottage that was his dwelling. He had devoured the dinner the handmaidens had brought him with equal rapacity. He doubted if he could stand, so huge had he become.

A flutter rippled his tremendous form. He had tried to use his mystic powers to uncover the mysterious invader in his body, but his power would not flow. Bloated and stranded, Tir'shan counted the minutes, and wondered if he should pray for a solution to his dilemma.

A sudden breeze woke him from his stupor, and Ayasha stood before him once more. "Reach into yourself, and bring her forth," she said with a smile.

The logical part of his brain recoiled, but the mystic part knew that she spoke the truth. How the matter was to be accomplished, he considered a problem for the gods. He placed his hands on his abdomen, and pushed downward. They vanished smoothly into his body, and met with a tough leathery shell. He grabbed the capsule, and drew it up and out of his body. There was a flash of pain, but the hurt subsided quickly. The egg held his complete attention. A slight indentation ran around its perimeter. He gently pulled at the weak point. A tiny, furry being slept curled inside. He hated to disturb her, but knew that he must. Setting the egg down on his knees, he cradled the white tigress, and set her free. The stalk by which she was attached to the capsule shriveled quickly and without blood. Having attended many births, the lack of blood was the primary oddity that struck the mystic. His daughter began to wail in hunger. Strange the thinking of the gods, he mused. They have granted my request in their own manner.

"She will need your energy until she can manufacture her own," Ayasha remarked.

Without hesitation Tir'shan poured violet light into his cub. The mysteries would be slowly revealed.

*****

Three more suns had passed, but he had barely slept. Time had brought change to his daughter. Nourished by his energy, she had transformed from a helpless cub to a young female on the verge of fertility. Now she paced, expectation driving her. "When will Ayasha come?"

"When she wills."

"I want my name."

"No need to demand," Tir'shan cajoled. His beautiful offspring frowned, and with uncomfortable amusement, he recognized the tight set of her mouth as his own. "Is that all you want?" he asked gingerly.

"My name will tell me everything I need to know."

The youngster already had some knowledge, but not wisdom. His daughter would be Ayasha's replacement should she choose it. In the final passing of power, the priestess would return to the time stream. But that was her desire after these many seasons: to know life beyond the walls, and one day, to embrace death.

If his daughter refused, the Guardianship of the temple would fade, and all would pass from the world. His daughter would experience fertility, and never know the power Ayasha had known. He hated swords with two edges, and hoped she chose with her heart, not her mind, whatever her destiny.

A light breeze came into the garden. Ayasha. The tall woman no longer floated, but rather walked into the enclosure. Some of her power had already faded into her daughter, but she still had much to command. She gestured to a grove of oaks, and they followed her. Despite his daughter's bluster, she walked quietly and with respect for her mother.

They stopped by a stone pool carved with intricate runes. "Enter, my daughter," Ayasha commanded. The youngster did as charged. The water in the pool turned gold and crackled with an energy that outlined the young tigress. She gasped as the power flowed into her. It flowed out in rainbow hues. The weight of Guardian history now rested on his daughter's shoulders, and it was a story of which he still had little knowledge. Her dark brown eyes dilated. All color became hot white, a burning star.

Ayasha said quietly, "Do you accept the burden?"

There was no hesitation. His daughter was mountain strong. "Yes!" she declared.

Ayasha raised her arms. He could never describe the color of the light that rose from her, and entered his daughter. "Choose your name!"

Now, at the moment of triumph, his daughter faltered. More than one name fought to be voiced from her lips. She struggled in the light with a ferocity he feared would incinerate her. Then she spoke a word unfamiliar to his ears, and yet, clearly her name. "Cenatua!" Thunder and lighting crackled above. The sky darkened further, until she shouted again, "Autumn!" Her name had two parts, not one, and the latter demanded acknowledgment. The sky cleared. His daughter dropped into the water.

Father and mother raced to her side, and brought her from the pool. The light of power radiated from her. Tir'shan stepped back. Cenatua would not need him.

*****

Tir'shan sat by a stream bank. Ayasha's tall shadow fell over him. In the suns that followed, her power had faded, but not to the nothingness she had expected. A ember remained within her. "You need not fear for me, Felinari," she said affectionately. "My sacrifices have not left me helpless." The woman looked across the water. "There is still much to learn and enjoy."

A path curved away from the stream. In a moment she would walk away, and vanish from his life. All that would remain would be the memory of her soft, dark flesh brushing against his fur in celebration of his daughter's passage, and the continuance of life and traditions. He had no desire to see her leave, so he watched the ripples in the water, studying the quick, darting motions of tiny golden fish. "Be well, Ayasha."

She had soft footfalls, and soon, they were gone.