The Stories We Keep Secret

[losthunter]

Hunter has received a few phone calls after completing his memorial to Kendra, and getting the opportunity to display the artwork in his dimension. His goal of finding the other people who might have had Kendra affect their lives had been successful. And now he is ready to go speak to them personally.

But first, he didn't want to go alone. And at the same time, he didn't want those he was meeting to know that he didn't trust them. So he called Faris to join him in the adventure. Hopefully he would be able to put more of Kendra's memory to peace by doing this.

Comments

[losthunter]

"We have to go to Vegas to meet with Rachel. But that is one nice thing about having a PINpoint." Hunter pulls it out to activate another portal.

The bright lights and sounds of Vegas might be a little overwhelming to Faris. It is a lot louder than New York is.

[bed]

[poetwarrior]

It is certainly a big change, and Faris has to take several moments to adjust. It's easy to see the glare of the blinding light through Hunter's clothing, and of course the noise is chaotic and confusing. But a K'da poet-warrior must be adaptive, and he focuses on the heartbeat of his host to center himself.

[losthunter]

Hunter follows his directions until he gets to a beauty salon. Unlike the other people that he had visited, this place is a lot more public. But the person he is meeting is currently working, finishing an unique hair style for one of her clients.

It is a little bit of a wait until Rachel is free, and guides Hunter to a back room where they can talk privately.

She doesn't have an actual copy of his painting, but pulls out a news article on his art exhibit. "So you know Khelzie. I am so glad to meet someone else who knows her. I thought I was the only one."

"No. There is actually a few of us who had our lives touched by her influence. But I knew her as Kendra."

"Interesting." Rachel takes a sip of water. "I was struggling with the fact that my adoptive parents had kept me isolated from the rest of the world. And everything I was told and learned was adapted to keep me fearful of exploring other places, or meeting other people."

"Khelzie was one of the first people I had met, when I ventured out on my own the first time. She really supported me, when I was not certain of what to expect. And she introduced me to the man who is now my husband."

"It sounds like you had met her at the right time." Hunter observes.

"Yeah... and then she just supported my dream of being a hair stylist. And also gave me the magical touch, so I can make beautiful hair creations."

[poetwarrior]

The theory about the witch's gender presentation is proven wrong, which is something of a pity, but not terribly disappointing or surprising. Faris takes note of yet another name used that begins with the same sound in this human language, something that has remained consistent thus far. And once again, Khelzie's gift to this woman led her to find a lifemate.

[losthunter]

"And was there any goodbye between Khelzie and yourself?" Hunter asks.

"No. My shop got busy with new clients. And the last thing she told me was to keep on styling and enjoying my life."

The bell of the shop rings, signalling another client for Rachel to go see. "Speaking of which... I should go."

"Here. Take my card. Just in case you want to stay in contact."

After leaving the hair studio, Hunter walks down the streets, until he can reach a place to activate his PINpoint and get somewhere quieter.

"That makes three..." He comments.

[poetwarrior]

"Yes," Faris agrees. "There are common experiences thus far, chiefly that of finding a mate with the help of the oracle. However, it may be significant that in each case, she also departed unexpectedly with no farewell."

[losthunter]

"It is important for your hosts to find a mate? Or are they more adaptable, like humans, and each one decides if it is important to them or not?" Hunter asks, mostly to distract himself from the one common thread.

[poetwarrior]

Faris can tell that Hunter is uncomfortable with the conclusion, though he doesn't entirely understand it. That Kendra allowed Hunter to meet her several times after her interference with his life is significant, and may indicate that Hunter is special in some way.

But he respects his host's wishes, and doesn't mind sharing details of the culture in which he was raised. "A lifemate is highly desired by the Shontine who are host to K'da. Such hosts value commitment to others, as evidenced by willingness to bond with one of my people. Such bonds are typically only broken upon the death of one party, and lifemates are typically the same. Those who do not host K'da often aspire to find their lifemates, but it is not desired by all."

[losthunter]

Hunter is concerned that he had his chance to be with his 'lifemate', and that it is gone now. And perhaps it could have been Kendra. Or an aspect of her.

He does have very close feelings for someone else in his life. But he also knows that a higher level of commitment is not a priority for that person.

"I have always been a bit of a romantic. A part of me still hopes for that level of commitment and connection with someone."

[poetwarrior]

Faris pauses a moment. "Do you not believe that such a person exists for you?"

[losthunter]

"My belief is being questioned a lot right now."

"Three times I have heard of these other people finding someone who 'gets' them. Who is connected to them. And in each case, once they had found that person, Kendra's aspect, had disappeared from their life."

"Kendra only recently disappeared from mine."

"And I wonder, if that means, if I found that person."

[poetwarrior]

Faris has sympathy for Hunter's emotional turmoil, but he also thinks that Hunter may be missing something. "The odds of encountering one single, specific person are astronomical, and most beings encounter a person that fulfills their requirements in a lifemate. Therefore, it seems unlikely that there is only one possible lifemate for a given person. If you have somehow missed a potential mate, there is no need to believe that such an opportunity is lost forever."

[losthunter]

"Maybe there is a lot I am missing..."

"There is one other common theme. All of them were in an abusive or negative relationship at their home, before Kendra's aspect entered their lives."

"And... when I think of my situation... it was actually Lindy who had that challenge more than myself. My dad might have expected a lot from me. But he never raised a hand against me."

[poetwarrior]

"Every individual is unique," Faris agrees. "Though the others needed assistance to elevate their positions in life, your situation is not entirely comparable. Therefore, the end results are not necessarily required to be the same."

[losthunter]

"I'm glad you were able to come along." It helps to have someone to talk through some ideas and concerns. To be open and honest with.

"The next person on my list is a Sawyer. He lives in Canada, so it will be a cross-border journey. In a fashion." The PINpoint will help with the journey.

[poetwarrior]

"Your planet is intriguing," Faris says. "Though the time spent at each location is brief, there are distinct energies to each. Have you been to this Canada?"

[losthunter]

"No. I haven't. So this will be interesting."

The PINpoint takes them to a small suburb, close to the larger city of Toronto. The homes on the street are all residential. In the distance, one can see the large skyscrapers of Toronto itself.

Hunter goes to the door and knocks. Sawyer answers, wearing only shorts, as the day is hot. He smiles upon seeing Hunter and lets him in.

"I am so glad you are here."

"Thank you for inviting me." It is sort of nice that so far no one has questioned how Hunter can afford visiting all these people. They have all assumed that he took a plane, or other method of travel.

"I saw a TV report on your art exhibit. And I recognized one of your drawings, in a fashion. While you drew a young girl, the Katherine I knew was much older. She was living in a senior home," Sawyer explained.

"A senior home?" This is the first time that Hunter had heard of Kendra taking on an aspect of a much older age.

"I was working there part-time, trying to balance paying the rent, and also trying to raise funds for an organization I work for. She really believed in me. She believed that I could be more than just a janitor."

[poetwarrior]

Faris isn't familiar with the term 'senior' for an elderly person, nor the word 'janitor,' so he just listens and tries to figure it out in context. Thus far, it does seem like there are common themes to each story. Positive encouragement, and personal involvement. The K'da can tell that each person so far thinks of her fondly, as well.

[losthunter]

"So what happened to Katherine?" Hunter asked.

"One day she just wasn't at the senior home anymore. I assumed that she passed..." Sawyer pauses, as if remembering her memory. "It was around that time that I got my promotion, and had new faith in myself to start my own cleaning business."

"That is how I met my girlfriend, who I am dating." Sawyer smiles. "I am planning to propose to her tonight."

"Congratulations."

"Thanks. I have a few more things to prepare for... is there anything else that you wanted to know?"

"No. Thank you for your time." Hunter left the house. He waits until he is down the street, until speaking to Faris. "Well, that was interesting."

[poetwarrior]

"It was," Faris agrees. He's figured out what a janitor may be, but he didn't understand all of it. "What is a senior home?"

[losthunter]

"It is a large facility that homes senior, our elderly. Some of them are unable to care for themselves anymore and need constant care."

"From the sounds of it, Sawyer was responsible for janitorial work at a senior home. When Kendra took on an aspect of an elderly person."

[poetwarrior]

The K'da considers that. "Sawyer's story does not indicate an obvious influence through magic," he muses. "Unless this promotion was somehow her gift to him." He's not as experienced with magic as Hunter is, however, so he's more than open to the idea that he's missing something.

[losthunter]

"He spoke about how her faith in him had helped changed things. It could be that he is not ready to talk about whatever magic was left in his life... and that was the best way for him to explain himself."

[poetwarrior]

"Quite possible," Faris agrees. "Not all are willing to speak of private matters so freely."

[losthunter]

"Sawyer did mention that he too found someone special in his life. And it ties into what the others had found, themselves."

Hunter looks at his notes. "Two more people to visit."

"I want to visit Arianna next. She also lives in Canada. In Prince Edward Island..." He explains.