The Horse Kid and the Moon Dragon

Same World, Same Problems

After Maya had gone outside for a minute and came back. She replaced her shaman robes with her casual clothing and took off the mask. It seemed she was prepared for something like this. I wanted to rush out but she held out her hand to tell me to stop. Only after looking around did she allow me to. I didn't want to spend a moment any longer in that basement, I sprinted out and saw myself in...the middle of nowhere. They managed to drag me all the way out of the suburbs.

I turned back, it was just some basement in the middle of a fenced-off area. All of the houses nearby were empty, with no cars, save for Mom's. It was the perfect place to do such things.

But I still had to ask. "I don't understand, I thought the world was magical?"

"It is, but the world is still as same as it had always been. Both good and bad." she said.

"Oh...that makes sense." though I didn't admit it, monster trafficking sounds like a cool job.

"Still, I can't be there for you forever. Now that you know this...other side of yourself, you must learn how to take care of yourself."

I tensed up and looked around as if I was a cornered rat looking for a way to escape. "But why?"

"A shaman's duty extends far beyond family." she said, her voice solemn and sad.

I immediately remembered. There were times where she would be absent for a long time. I even remember getting so angry her for missing some of my birthdays or important events. I wanted to be mad at her, but...with a different side of the world hanging in the balance, I couldn't find the anger to blame her.

"I...see. When do we start?"

"Tomorrow, on our girl's night out."

...

...

Mom had told me that I didn't need to bring anything in particular. Cara had come along, straight to our house this time since I was now part of the group. They had brought their shaman robes...I had my jeans and shirt. I basically looked like the time traveler of the three of us. I checked the time, we had been traveling for an hour. The sun was beginning to set on the horizon and we were still on the road.

"Are we there yet?" I asked.

"Almost." said Cara. "There's a reason why we're going so far out."

After another fifteen minutes, we had slowed down and started following a dirt road. There was a clearing with two huts made out of branches and sticks. In the center was a smoldering campfire, surrounded by rocks.

"This is it?" I was a bit disappointed.

"Yeah. Shamans prefer to be as far from cities as possible when performing magic." Cara opened the door as humid air sucked the coldness in the car. "Connection with spirits are much clearer in the wilds."

I groan from the cliche that was the shamanistic connection to the wilds. It did make sense, but gosh was it overdone. "Okay, that makes sense. So...you're going to help me learn how to do magic?"

"No." Cara quipped.

"...what? Why?" I was really confused.

"Magic can only be performed by humans who are gifted with an affinity for it. Like your mother, who was apprenticed by her mother, and so on." said Cara.

"What about you?" I asked. "What made you so special?"

"I...wouldn't call it being special." her face darkened quite a bit as she went over to start a fire in the center.

I suddenly remembered about the incomplete cat that sat on her shoulder. "The cat..."

"Was a spirit that chose me." she finished lighting the campfire. "Before I had taken your mother's training, I was constantly sick with symptoms that made no sense. My parents were constantly afraid I would die at any moment. Until...your mother heard about me."