"Jael," Mory started.
"Yes?" Ben answered in a feeble voice. He had managed to find a place to sit under the tree as Mory squats in front of him with its tail behind. The more Ben looked at the creature, the less scarier it became.
"What do you want?" Mory questioned.
"What do you mean?" Ben responded, confused.
"I want you to state clearly what it is you want."
"I..I...," Ben stammered. He knew exactly what he wanted. It was just one thing. He was just desperate to save his mother regardless of the consequences.
"Can my Mama be cured?" Ben whispered looking up at Mory.
"Cured? From the illness? Cured from cancer? You have the power to save anyone, Jael. It's in you." Mory answered, omitting the fact that the one person Jael cannot save with his powers is his mother. She was the sacrifice.
"How? I just want to save her. She's the only person I have in this world. Help me," Ben pleaded.
"Jael, have you ever wondered how your father died?"
"Mama said he went for a trip and got devoured by a wild animal," Ben answered simply, leaving out the accusations of the rest of the world. They believed her Mama killed her father, that was not true.
Mory shook its giant lion head slowly. Ben noticed how its mood seemed to have changed. Mory suddenly had a look of sadness, pity, and helplessness.
"So the person you love most in this world is your mother?" Mory abruptly changed the topic.
"Of course, Mory. Who else do I have?" Ben used Mory's name for the first time.
"I am sorry, Jael. There are things I cannot tell you now, I hope you don't hate me when you finally find out."
"Does it have to do with the powers?" Ben asked, ignoring the part where Mory called him Jael. He had finally accepted to go by whatever name it wanted to call him.
"Yes. You will become so successful. You will get whatever you want. Poverty will be a thing of the past. But....," Mory paused.
"But what?" Ben prodded it to continue.
"It's nothing Jael. Are you sure you want this powers?" Mory asked one last time.
"Yes. I want the powers, Mory," Ben confirmed. He was wondering why Mory seemed to be so hesitant. He did not want to think too much about but had a disturbing feeling which he immediately dismissed. He was sure it had to do with the death of his father, because why else would Mory bring up the man's topic from nowhere. Regardless of whatever Mory was not telling him, in as much as he is able to save his mother, he was going to ignore the 'buts'. Besides Mory said he would become rich and powerful. That was all he ever wanted. Wealth and his mother's recovery.
"Okay Jael, this is going to be very simple. Like I told you before. You already have the powers in you, so all we are going to do is awaken it," Mory stated clearly and Ben nodded at him.
"Now, stand up. Get on your feet."
Ben obeyed instantly almost tripping over his feet but Mory caught him with one of his forelimbs, "Be careful boy."
Ben straightened up and stood directly in front of Mory who still loomed over Ben even while it was squatting. Mory had touched him for the first time and he could still feel the strange goat skin on his left arms. Ben had gotten used to seeing Mory's giant mane move as it talks, it was no longer scary. It was a friend, which was why Ben was comfortable enough to go ask his next question, "Mory, are you a male or a female?"
Mory turned to look at him, surprised that he will ask that kind of question in this moment. Ben could see confusion etch into Mory's face but it didn't seem to be offended by his question.
"You don't have to answer if you don't want to. I was just curious. Let's continue please. I just want to get this over with so that I can finally take her out of this pain."
Mory nodded slowly and said, "Place your forehead on mine and keep your eyes open. Do not close your eyes, no matter how much your are tempted to."
Ben prepared himself mentally, he was going to have to put his head close to that of Mory. He had to reassure himself that it was just Mory, not a wild lion that could chop his head off and feast on the rest of his body - or could he? It was either he died trying to save his mother or fold his arms and allow his mother to die before his eyes. Ben chose the former option as he boldly stepped closer to Mory and placed his forehead on Mory. It felt hairy, Mory's Mane swallowed his face and down to half of his chest. His heart was beating so hard against his chest.
"Remember Jael, keep your eyes open," Ben heard this inside his head. It was as if Mory had taken over his entire body. He kept his eyes open as the light brown color of Mory's mane started to fade into a light bluish color.
"And Jael, I have no gender," Mory said as everything suddenly became blank.