The Wrong Road Part 1 Through 16

The Wrong Road Taken Part 17

At the first sense of something happening, the Gorth leapt to their feet and began scanning the area for any threat.
The look on the salesgirls face when the Gorth began their sentry duty was priceless.

I'm not sure if seeing the Gorth appear to grow to twice their height or the low frequency growl they emitted was the cause of her deciding that anywhere other than where she was standing was a better place to be, but it was enough for her to find an excuse to vacate the front of the store where we were standing.

Tom and Jerry began pacing around, their noses high in the air, searching.
Looking around, I spied the other Gorth ranging around the outside of the pet store.
Each of them on high alert as they scanned the area.

Taking my arm Asahi drew me towards the front door as the girls took up the rear.

"Luke, we need to be somewhere else at the moment, somewhere away from the general population.
We don't want to get outsiders involved in this in case it turns bad.
The last thing we need is to have a battle in plain view of non practitioners."
Asahi said.

With the Gorth as escorts, we made our way towards the city park.
Finding it nearly empty, we returned to the picnic shelter we had been at earlier.
Stepping outside the canopy, Lucretia looked skyward while admonishing our unseen tormentor to show himself/herself.

"I don't know what kind of game you are playing, but don't you think it would be better for all involved if you were to come to us directly rather than creating an avatar to introduce yourself?
If you had wished Luke or any of us harm, you would have done something already, so the question remains, what do you want?
What is your business with Luke?"

While each of our party scanned the area, the Gorth were going crazy running around searching for any threat that may arise.
Although Tom and Jerry stood by my side, the fur on their backs stood tall, and their lips pulled back and teeth exposed in a rather dramatic display.
Once again, the earth began to shake as giant foot prints began marching towards the shelter we occupied.
Whatever it was stopped around twenty feet from the shelter, it's footprints making a rather large impression on the ground ahead of us.
From above the footprints, there came the voice we heard earlier.

"Luke, please understand, I hold no ill will towards your companions, I only wish to have a civil conversation with you.
The outcome of that conversation will determine what is to become of your future and of you.
Who knows, we might become the best of friends, on the other hand..."

Stepping outside of the shelter, I motioned to the Gorth to stay where they were.
I wanted to face this person myself.
If I felt that I needed help or protection, the Gorth should be quite able to defend me and those of our party at least that's my hope.
Raising my head at where I figured the face of the person would be, I raised my voice to be heard over the background noise.

"Hello, would it be possible to have you come here directly rather than me shouting into the sky at some invisible substitute?
I have a lot of questions for you, to begin with, who are you?
What is it you want with me?
Is there something I had done to you that causes you to seek me out in such a mysterious way?
How about this, could you at least tell me your name?
You obviously know who I am, I think it's only fair that I know whom I am addressing."

"OK, Luke, I think that is a fair request.
So in the interest of fair play, you may call me Stanley.
After all, I've known you your entire life, you should at least begin to learn about me.
However, that is a topic that will have to wait until a future time.
I want to leave you with a parting thought, something to ponder.
As I said, I have known you since the day you were conceived.
I have watched as you have grown into a fine young man, someone worthy of the title of practitioner.
As to whether or not you may keep that title, is going to be up to you.
So on that note, I bid you a fond farewell until we meet again."