"Very nice to meet you Tala." I said in my mind. I looked around, the forest was getting warm rays of the sun. "How do we go about this?" I asked glancing at the rising sun in the distance of trees.
"We adapt," Tala said with a seriousness.
"Adapt?" The question heavy on my tongue when I opened my eyes to see the ceiling of my house. Along with the four walls and pictures of family long since gone.
"Yes adapt, is the very first lesson we must learn as a team." I heard her pause a moment. "But, also tell your soul mate what has happened." She stressed this. I rolled over to see Red still asleep. I heard Tala almost purr though was more of a hum when I looked at him. "Oh he is bigger then I remember," she cooed.
"Bigger then you remember?" I asked.
"Yes, several lifetimes ago, you and I were together in the woods. We ran the forest as a true wolf. He was a warrior, wounded and barely alive." Tala started, as if being called I could see the scenes flash before me...
"He was just as wooly as he was now, though his form not as thick. He was still red haired, and full warrior status. Scars littered his body and face. Battle worn and wounded he had dragged himself inside the cave I was residing. My first reaction was to kill him, apon getting close it was the smell that stopped me. It called somewhere in my soul. This soul meeting was not meant to be. Nor this lifetime but his scent told me who he was. I could do no more for him then bring meat, and lay next to him to keep him warm. I did the best I could. He was gone, one day I came back with food. He scent was colder and his form gone. I went back to doing the things wolves did normally. I learned much during that time to read our Mother. She gave me pups and a pack I started. I lived a while longer then most. Ancient I felt, hoping I would have one more whiff of that man. Alas this was a learning lifetime not one for the soul contract." Tala's words carried pictures. Those pictures showed me this same man many years ago still the steadfast warrior. Fighting for life and against life in the same breath. How many times has he been this warrior I wondered.
"Every lifetime he has been a warrior. There has been no change save one, this life he was granted a soul contract with you." Tala said solemnly.
"You mean he has not known love in any life before this one?" I asked, my heart ached for him.
"No, neither has your source save one that came very much by surprise to us all. He was from the south, a wolf of no connection to Leto. You and him bonded, but alas his time was short nor could it make his heart keep beating once he had sealed his path." Again I seen pictures in my mind. Tears built in my eyes blurring my vision.
"So I too, never had a love like this?" I asked Tala.
"The surprise one, was created with something very specific in mind. That first was an introduction. There will be another introduction to. This warrior has grown tired of this plane. He asked for this to be his last." Tala added a bit of whine to the end as it hurt her too.
"What does that mean?" I felt the catch in my throat, I knew but just couldn't voice the words.
"That if he chooses this will be his last life and the last time your souls will meet on this plane." My heart constricted. Why? I knew why I just couldn't stop the pain that grabbed and bit at my heart.
"We still need to tell him, all the bits that have transpired. He will understand. He knows how close you are with Our Mother." Tala gave me a sense of feeling. An anticipation for what was ahead in this life. "We have a great adventure ahead of us, there will be many firsts. Don't dwell on the current. Things can change in the blink of an eye." She hummed sending a warmth through me that was very comforting.