Chapter 10

 Here it is folks, the final chapter (?) of book 1.  Now if I could just get my muse back then I would love to be able to get some more written.  Please enjoy, and I welcome feedback and ignore flames. :)

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-=Ravenwolf Magick School=-
-=Book 1: The Gathering=-
-=Chapter 10=-

From Previous Chapter (Adams perspective):

I smiled at him, “Can I pick who I want to be my guardian?” I asked with a bit of hesitation, I was finally starting to see a way to make what Dale and I had been talking about for months actually happen.

“Did you have someone in mind?” Mr. Dowlin asked me.

“Yes sir, my big brother Dale. Well, he’s not REALLY my brother, but he has been like one for me for some time now. In fact he has been more like a dad to me then my own father has. We’ve never met, but because of legal reasons we were making plans for us to finally get together when I turn 18, but now it looks like that may be able to happen a LOT sooner. I know he loves me and worries about me. He has also said that if something ever happened and my dad kicked me out that he would take me in, but NOT if I ran away.”

Mr. Dowlin smiled at me, “Ok, do you know how to get in touch with him and we’ll see what we can do.”

“Yes SIR, I sure do, I just need to get to a computer and get on the internet.” I said excitedly, finally starting to see a way that my life could turn around and that I could finally be happy.

And now the continuation….

-=Adams Perspective=-

I was finally relaxed and semi happy as I lay in my bed in my dorm room. I was able to talk to Dale and let him know what had happened. He actually started to freak out a bit on me until I told him that I was safe. Mr. Dowlin had me give him his phone number and asked him to call which he did. What really surprised me was that he had even hired Dale to come in and administer the schools computer network and web presence. I still could not believe that we would finally be together.

Mr. Dowlin also did not seem to have too much trouble with getting my dad to sign me away. I was kind of hurt that my own parents didn’t want me, though I was not totally surprised by it. Between my parents and my two sisters they had been making my life a living hell for a couple of years now. I had been depressed to the point that I actually tried to kill myself once and would have tried again if it had not been for Dale. In fact, Dale had done more to help me then my shrink had.

As I lay here thinking about everything that I had been told by Dann and Robin, I came to a realization that what they were doing was very similar to what this group of boys were doing in a story that Dale had recommended to me. In this story this group of boys down in Florida where going around saving kids that were in trouble. It was a rather interesting story because it contained elements of several different genre’s. The group had members of Backstreet Boys, N’Sync, as well as the characters from the original Star Trek series. It seemed that the United Federation of Planets had created a law that was called the “Safe Haven Act” that was designed to save kids from bad situations, and this was what these boys were using to do this. And the group was HUGE! Even having smaller groups taking care of things in Australia and on the west coast. I had actually been enjoying the story and was wondering when they would be adding more sub-groups on the other continents. Maybe I should see if any of the other guys here had read it, and if not they might want to since what they are doing is so similar to what was happening in the story. I was actually finding myself wishing that the story was true, but it was just a work of fiction by some very talented writers.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on my door, “Come in.” I said.

Dann opened the door and walked in, “How you doing Adam? Feeling any better now?”

“Yeah,” I smiled at him, “I don’t know what I would have done if you guys hadn’t shown up when you did. I’ve been able to get in touch with my friends and let them know I’m alright, and Mr. Dowlin has even hired my ‘big brother’ so we will finally be able to be together.”

“That’s what I was coming to tell you about, Dale should be here in about an hour. Mr. Dowlin sent the schools plane down to Alabama to pick him up. As soon as the plane lands, the helicopter will bring him here to the school.”

“Wouldn’t it have been faster to just have Bobby go down and bring him back?” I asked him.

Dann smiled at me, “Yes, it would have been faster, but Bobby has to be able to have a mental picture of where he’s going in order for him to go there.”

“Then how did you guys get to Buffalo?”

“Once I was able to get a lock on you with my powers, Robin was able to see through your eyes and transfer the images over to Bobby. It sounds a lot more complicated then it actually is.” He said with a slight chuckle.

I thought about it for a moment before saying that I understood.

“It’s about dinner time, are you hungry?” Dann asked me.

“Famished.” I said.

Dann led me downstairs to the dinning room, which was almost filled with students, faculty, and staff. The buffet line was impressive; they had just about anything you could possibly want to eat on it. We filled our plates and walked over to a table that had several students I already knew as well as several that I did not recognize yet. Once were seated Dann began the introductions to the others that were sitting at the table.

“Adam, you’ve already met Ryan, Chase, Robin, and Bobby. These other three are Mark, Suzy, and Rachel. Mark and Suzy do not have any active powers, at least none that have shown themselves yet though Mark is really good with numerology and is our group’s math wiz. Rachel has the power of premonition and is the one that alerted us to your situation. Guys, this is Adam, he’s a shapeshifter, or at least will be as soon as his powers go active.”

I looked at Rachel, “Then I guess you are the one I really owe my thanks to.”

“It was nothing,” she said, “I’m just glad we were able to get to you in time and help you. Are they going to have you take the finals with us next week?”

I looked at her with a mildly panicked look on my face, “Finals?”

Dann smacked her lightly in the back of the head, “Way to go girl, now you have him freaking out again.” He looked at me and smiled, “Relax bud, they will more than likely just treat them as a placement test type thing to see where you are. This year we all had General Math, English, American History, Computers, and Wood Shop. Have you had any of those already at your previous school?”

“Yeah, all except Wood Shop. I’m actually pretty good in the others.”

“Then you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. You can probably take the Wood Shop over the summer so you will be caught up with the rest of us when school starts back in the fall.”

“What do you guys do in the Wood Shop?” I asked no one in particular.

“We learn basic wood working, and about the different magickal and natural properties of the various woods.” Mark said, “Our final for that class will be to make our own wands.”

“Wow,” I said, “I never thought about wood as having magickal properties. Was it a hard class?”

“Nah,” Ryan said, “Chase here is the one that had the most problem with it,” he said giving a chase a friendly jab in the arm, “He kept setting whatever he was working on on fire.” He said with a laugh which got some giggles from the girls and chuckles from the boys.

“HEY,” Chase said in defense, “It wasn’t my fault; I just didn’t have full control over my powers yet.” And he even had a smile on his as he said it.

We ate and talked for some time, I even mentioned the story to them that Dale had recommended to me and they seemed very interested in it. “What the address?” Robin asked. “I don’t remember, We’ll have to wait until Dale gets here and get it from him.” I told him.

About that time I felt a pair of hands on my shoulders, “Did someone mention my name?” I turned around and squealed, “DALE!!!!!” as I launched myself into his arms and hug him tightly with tears coming to my eyes.

Dale hugged me tightly, “Hey kiddo, how you doing?”

I was so choked up with emotion that I could hardly talk, “I’m doing good, much better though now that we are finally together.” I managed to get out.

“Me too little bro, me too.” He managed to say through a lot of emotion.

We held on to each other for several minutes before we let go, “So,” he said, “who are your friends here?”

I smiled at him and then introduced him to the others at the table.

Dale smiled at everyone, “It’s so good to meet you all, and I want to thank you for saving my little brother here,” he said, giving my shoulder a firm squeeze, “I was really starting to worry about him since I had not heard from him in a couple of months.”

“We were happy to help Mr. Benson. After all it is what we have been charged with doing.” Dann said.

Dale smiled, “First of all Dann, the name is Dale. Mr. Benson is my father.” He said with a chuckle. “Second you make it sound like you are part of Clan Short of Vulcan.”

“Adam was just telling us about those stories but he couldn’t remember the address for them.” Robin said.

Dale chuckled, “Not surprising since there are actually several address for the various stories that make up the Clan Short Universe. The best bet is to do like I do and just keep up with the message forums that the authors all have in common. In fact you can also talk to the main characters in the various stories. You can find the forums at: http://www.jeffsfortboard.us and then just monitor them. The authors always post on there when they put out a new chapter.”

“Did you say you could talk to the people in the stories? So are you saying that it’s real?” Rachel asked.

“Oh yeah, it’s real alright. And they are doing a wonderful job too. In fact, their new AI Division Headquarters is not to far away from here.” Dale said smiling at her.

“But Starfleet does not really exist.” Mark said, “It’s just something made up for television.”

“No, Starfleet is real. In fact I used to be a member of Starfleet. I was the operations officer on the USS Wernher von Braun.” Dale said.

“Wow!” they all said with a sense of awe.

“You never told me that.” I said accusingly.

“Well son, there are probably a few things I haven’t told you yet, but now that we are together we have all the time in the world to learn all about those things.”

I felt a great sense of joy well up within me when he called me son. A feeling like that was how things were supposed to be and should have been all along. I felt like a part of me that had been missing was finally found. “You don’t know how good it makes me feel to hear you call me that,” I said, “Dad.”

“I could explain it to him if you like,” Dann said, “You’re broadcasting it so much that any empathy on the continent could sense it.” He chuckled.

“You’re right Dann,” Dale told him, “I can feel it too. And if I weren’t shielding my feelings you would feel that I share in his feelings.”

Dann looked at Dale with surprise, “You mean you’re an empath too?”

“Oh yeah, I’ve just had a lot longer to learn how to shield myself so that I don’t effect other empaths around me and so that I don’t pick up the stray emotions of others unless I want to.”

“Cool, can you teach me how to do that?” Dann asked, “I get a little overwhelmed sometimes from all the stray emotions floating around this place.”

“Sure, we can see what we can do.” Dale said. I was so proud of my new dad for always wanting to help others; this was just one more reason why I wanted to be like him when I grow up.

“Dad, can I ask you something since it’s getting kind of late?”

“Sure kiddo, you can ask me anything you want.” He said giving my shoulder another squeeze.

I looked at my shoes as I softly asked, “Can I sleep with you tonight? I really need to cuddle with someone.”

“Look me,” he said turning me towards him and putting both hands on my shoulders, “I love you Adam. You were my baby brother first, and now my son. You are welcome to come snuggle with me anytime you need to.”

I put my arms around his neck and hugged him tight, “I love you too dad; and I am so happy that you agreed to take me in.”

“I told you before that if those people that CLAIMED to be your parents kicked you out that you would be very welcome to live with me. And now, thanks to Mr. Redfern, it is now a reality.”

I looked around and saw Mr. Redfern and Mr. Dowlin sitting at a table at the end of the hall talking to Dann’s dads. “Will you excuse me for a moment?” I asked as I left the group and headed towards their table.

They saw me walk up and smiled at me, “What can we do for you Mr. Michaels?” Mr. Dowlin asked me.

I walked around the table and with a total lack of shame I gave him and Mr. Redfern both big hugs, “I don’t think there is anything else you possibly COULD do to help me. You two have given me the greatest gift that anyone possibly ever could. I don’t know how I will ever be able to repay you or thank you enough for everything you have done for me today.” I said trying to hold back the tears of gratitude.

Mr. Redfern and Mr. Dowlin looked at each other and smiled before Mr. Dowlin said, “The best way is just for you to do the best you can and always help those that need help whenever and wherever you can.”

“You can count on it.” I said before giving them each another hug and heading back to my dad and friends.

As soon as I got back to my friend a bright light appeared next to our table and a beautiful woman appeared. She was surrounded in a bright light that filled the hall. “Hecate.” Dann said.

She looked at our group with a loving smile on her face, “You have all done well this day, the core circle is now complete. Adam you will have domain of water and all things liquid. You have all started on a path of aiding others and I am proud of all of you. Continue down this path and great things will happen for you.”

“Are you an angel?” I asked her.

“In some faiths I am considered an angle, while in others I am referred to as a goddess. Same beings, different names.” She said smiling at me.

“I was taught that there was only one God and many angles. Was I taught wrong?” I asked her.

“Not totally dear one. There is one Supreme Being who is known by many names. The Catholic teachings that you were brought up in has changed some of our names and titles, but we are all still the same. I will tell you that you are not the only children that he has working to help other children in need. He has another one of us by the name of Saint Mikey of Urbandale, Protector of Gay and Abandoned Youth. He is working primarily with a group down in Florida, and you may not have much or any contact with them, though I do not see it totally unlikely. There may be a time when you will have need of their assistance and insight since they have been doing the same thing you will be doing for a lot longer now. Should your paths cross just remember that you are all brothers and sisters working toward the same goal. That goal being: to help other children and to bring the love to this world that it is so desperately in need of. One more thing before I have to leave. There is a project under way to open another school like this out on the west coast, they will also have a group like yourselves working out there towards the same goal. You will more than likely have a lot more contact with them then you will with Clan Short in Florida. But like I said, you are all still brothers and sisters and should treat other with the same love and respect that you expect for yourselves. In fact, if you remember to treat everyone you meet like that then you can never go wrong. I must take my leave of you know, remember that if you should need me, then all you have to do is call on me.” With that said she vanished just as quickly as she had appeared.

I looked a Dale and saw that he was just as surprised as I was about what she said. “Wow,” he said, “I guess those stories aren’t fiction after all. From what she just said it sounds more like they are logs of what those boys have been doing down there and around the world.”

“Yeah,” I agreed, “but what did she mean that I would have dominion over water and liquids?” I asked.

“That means that you will be able to control and manipulate liquids in much the same way as Chase manipulates fire and heat, and the way that can control objects.” Dann said, “Don’t worry; you’ll get trained in all that here as well as your ability to shape-shift as soon as that power becomes active.”

“Well boys and girls, it’s getting late, and we’ve all had a long and eventful day,” dad said, “I don’t know about you all but I’m tired and think I’m going head downstairs to my apartment. Are you coming Adam?”

“Yeah dad, I’ll see you guys at breakfast.” I said to the group and followed my new dad downstairs to his new apartment for some serious bonding time and snuggling.

-=End Chapter 10=-
-=End Book  1=-

Authors Note:

Well that does it for book one. It looks like the kids will have plenty of adventures ahead of them. This also completes their first year at Ravenwolf’s. What adventures await them in their remaining 4 years at the school is yet to be seen. And what of what Hecate told them about a new school on the west coast? That is an idea that another writer friend of mine has and is thinking about doing, so we will just have to wait and see. I do not currently have intentions of doing an actual tie in with the Clan Short Universe, but have left it open to the possibility.

Saint Mikey of Urbandale, Protector of Gay and Abandoned Youth, as well as Clan Short of Vulcan are creations of ACFan, and no claims to his character are made.

I hope that you have enjoyed my work on this story, and now open the universe up to other writers that would like to expand on it. I am thinking about doing like they have done over at Clan Short Productions and creating a database of all my notes and information about the characters here and others that have not been seen yet so that other writers will have something to work from. I will probably do it in a wiki format so that each author can add to the information about this universe. In the meantime, if you would like to write a story in this universe just send me an email at: dallas.vinson@gmail.com and I will send you my story notes.

Well, that does it for me for this story, or at least this part. I am going to try to get some work done on my other 2 stories if I can.