Jafar and Osis, Kings on earth, and now, Kings at the Rainbow bridge, sat in the Great Hall of the Celestial Castle, plotting strategy for a woods battle. Thus did They pass most of Their days since Their passages to the Summerlands. Master Johannes, as was usual for him, gazed restlessly out one of the windows at the broad green fields that stretched out to the river beyond. His discontented mutters finally penetrated the concentration of the other two men.
"What ho, Johannes?" asked Osis, irritably. "You sound like a bear too early awakened from hibernation, with all your mumblings and grumblings. All has been quiet these last several months. What has you so agitated?" Johannes spun away from the window. "It is true, Sires, that all has been quiet. TOO quiet, if you ask me! I can feel that several of Your hounds have passed from the realms of Man, yet none have appeared before us. I know not what has delayed them. I begin to fear that yet another Pack may be forming." "Another pack?" scoffed Osis. Who would have passed that would have drawn Our hounds to him? Master Gordon is the only one that I can think of, yet Duncan, Velvet, Pat-C and the others have given no sign. Surely they, above all others, would know if he had passed." "No," agreed Johannes, "Master Gordon would still seem to be plaguing the mortal world. Still, something is not right." He gazed somberly at the two kings. "I would ask Your permission to ride into the Shadowlands to investigate." Jafar raised a sardonic eyebrow. "Since when do you ask Our permission for such an expedition, good Master?" He asked. "Since I was dragged back half dead after discovering Coco, Misha and Tasha," retorted Johannes. "Well do You know that I have not since ventured into the Shadowlands. However, I feel most strongly that I must venture forth yet again, in order to discover what is becoming of Your hounds." Osis slapped his gauntlets on his thigh. "Well, We can hardly let you go on such a quest all by yourself, especially after what happened last time, eh Jafar?" he said. "I think We shall have to accompany you, if only to keep you safe." Jafar sighed. "I knew that neither of you could stand the peace and quiet too long," he complained good-naturedly. "I suppose I should be grateful that it is only a matter of a few missing hounds, and not a wayward dragon that calls you forth." Johannes regarded Jafar darkly. "A few missing hounds?" he queried. "A dragon might be easier." It took the three men some little time to prepare for their journey, especially since there was only one horse in the Celestial Stables. Master Johannes waxed bitter over having to leave Beaux behind. "Good Master Johannes, as fine a steed as Beaux may be, he cannot carry three," implored Jafar. "And even if you ask Samira's Jatar to accompany us, that would still leave one afoot. `Tis far better, do you not agree, that We all go unmounted?" Mumbling darkly about the rights of a Veneur to a horse, and complaining of the bunions that had troubled him on earth, Johannes finally agreed. Finally, about mid-afternoon, as time is measured in the Summerlands, the three men were ready and approached the base of the Rainbow Bridge. There they found Carl-Ten, Duncan and Frankie waiting for them. Stroking their heads, Johannes said, "So you feel that it is your duty to accompany us, my friends? I welcome your company, for surely you hounds have more wisdom than either of these coxcombs." And leaving the two kings sputtering behind him, Johannes strode off across the Bridge, followed by the three Greyhounds. ********************************************************* So the three companions journeyed forth through the gray and dismal shades of the Shadowlands, where no creature truly lives, yet `tis populated by the wretched souls�both man and beast�that have not, for whatever reason, found their way across the Rainbow Bridge. They traveled for a space of time...perhaps hours, perhaps days, for time has little meaning here. They were plodding through the forest in a dank, misty rain when they suddenly heard the sound of a woman, screaming in extreme distress. Jafar and Osis unsheathed their swords, and Johannes drew his dagger. The three companions began to run towards the sound, followed closely by their hounds. As they reached a clearing in the forest, they espied a knight in full armour, beating a thin, frail woman with his closed gauntlet. The woman tried in vain to cover her head as the man rained blows upon her. "What! Ho!!" cried Osis, as Jafar screamed "Desist, O Villain!" Johannes, ever the most practical of the three, cried, "GET HIM!" to the three hounds. Duncan sprang to the hunt most eagerly, with Carl- Ten and Frankie fanning out to each side. The mysterious knight took a quick look at the armed men facing him and turned and ran into the forest, closely pursued by the hounds. Osis and Jafar broke off Their pursuit to tend to the sobbing woman who now cowered in the clearing. Jafar knelt beside her and tenderly brushed the hair back from her forehead. "My Ghods....it's Duchess Ann!" exclaimed Osis, as He beheld her face. He fell to His knees beside Jafar. "Your Grace, who was the man who dared abuse you so?" He demanded. Ann raised her wet and bruised eyes. "Your Graces, I suspect You know his identity as well as I," she said. "However, I did not see his face. I cannot tell You truly his name." Osis sighed in frustration. "No, neither did We look upon his face,' He agreed, "although I daresay We know well enough who it was. May he pass over the Bridge in the form of a rabbit for Our hounds' hunting! "Now, good Lady," he continued, "Wilt thou allow us to help you to Our castle, where We may tend your wounds?" Duchess Ann agreed, and as she gained her footing, Duncan reappeared from the forest's edge, a happy grin upon his face and a blood- stained strip of red and white material hanging from his teeth. "Good dog! What a fine hound!" Johannes praised. "At least you got a piece of the dastard! I could wish you had brought me his....ummmmm", Johannes broke off, and looked abashedly at Ann. "Never mind, Master Johannes, I think I know what you meant...and I heartily concur," she said shakily. They made their way slowly back through the Shadowlands towards the Rainbow Bridge. As they went, they were rejoined by Carl-Ten and Frankie, who both looked aggrieved at Duncan's success. Partway back, Carl-Ten suddenly dashed off into the forest and began a joyous barking. "Your Majesties, Your Grace, have I Your permission to see what my hound has found?" asked Johannes. With their agreement, Johannes approached the thicket where Carl-Ten was joyously baying. Since his Greyhound's demeanour signified no danger, Johannes plunged into the center of the thicket. There he found a small fawn Greyhound laying on the ground. Placing his hand on her head, he closed his eyes and concentrated. "Crista....a fine Meridian hound," he said, "It's time and past time that you joined your friends at the Bridge." With that, Johannes tenderly�oh, so tenderly�picked Crista up. "`Tis a small enough weight you are, my little love" he assured her. "You have traveled far enough already. Rest now, and I will see you the rest of the way home." Crista heaved a large sigh and relaxed into Johannes' strong arms. Just as they came to the banks of the river that flowed under the Rainbow Bridge, Frankie gave a yelp of great joy and ran off downstream. Ann placed a restraining hand on Jafar's arm. "My Lord," she said, "I feel that there is someone here I should greet before I pass over. Do you mind?" "Of course not!" replied Jafar, "for have I not had this duty before? Wait here," He implored. "I will bring her to you." Jafar followed Frankie downstream, and returned in short order with another black Greyhound, this one with ears that were ragged and tattered. "Ears!" cried Ann in recognition. "Oh, how my brother must despair, to have lost both you and Frankie! I know the Horde and I parted ways on earth, but will you not join us here until Nina comes for you?" "Yes, Ears, please do join us," Jafar seconded. "For Frankie has been lonely, and I know he would want your company." Ears slowly wagged her tail in agreement, and so the little group made their way across the Rainbow Bridge, to where the entire Celestial Pack awaited. On the far side, Osis addressed the assembled hounds. "O hounds of the Celestial Pack, He intoned, "wilt thou greet thy newest Packmates?" And one by one, as Osis called their names, did the hounds of the Celestial Pack come forward to greet Crista and Ears: "Aces High, of Midrealm" "Aiden, of Calontir" "A-Me-Go, of Midrealm" "Ariel, of Meridies" "Belle, of Ansteorra" "Belle, of Midrealm" "Bernie, of Meridies" "Blackout, of Atlantia" "Bo, of Midrealm" "Brodie, of Atlantia" "Browning, of Meridies" "By Choice, of Meridies" "Carl-Ten, of Meridies" "Chris, of Meridies" "Colt, of Meridies" "Cutie, of An Tir" "Damon Fox, of Meridies" "Digger, of Trimaris" "Dixie, of Meridies" "Duncan, of Midrealm" "Emily, of Atlantia" "Erromani, of AEthelmearc" "Et Cetera, of Meridies" "Frankie, of Midrealm" "General, of Midrealm" "Gryphon, of Midrealm" "Harmony, of Meridies" "John Moore, of Meridies" "Keavy, of An Tir" "Lookin, of Trimaris" "Lucy, of Calontir" "Madeline, of Artemesia" "Magic, of Meridies" "Missy, of Meridies" "Muskrat, of Meridies" "Myra, of Ansteorra" "Pat-C, of Midrealm" "Pattycake, of Atlantia" "Pest, of Artemesia" "Ripley, of An Tir" "Ross, of Meridies" "Scooter, of Meridies" "Seeger Rock, of Meridies" "Sha-Kar, of Ansteorra" "Sheba, of AEthelmearc" "Sissy-B, of Midrealm" "Splash, of Meridies" "Storm, of Meridies" "Streaker, of Ansteorra" "Stumah, of AEthelmearc" "Sugar Sweety, of Meridies" "Sunni, of An Tir" "Swift, of Midrealm" "Tasha, of Midrealm" "Tucker, of Meridies" "Velvet, of Midrealm" "Zima, of Ansteorra". As Zima, the last hound, came forward and touched noses with Ears and Crista, the illnesses which had weakened them on earth vanished, and they stood again as strong and proud as they had ever been in their prime. Osis looked at them and smiled. "That's better," he said. "Now, I notice there's a new rabbit in yon fields. I think he could use some chasing!" And with a joyous roo, the entire Celestial Pack took off at a dead run across the field in pursuit of the latest rabbit arrival. "And what of me?" demanded Ann, her damaged heart beginning to once again beat strongly. "Am I, too, to spend the rest of eternity chasing bunnies?" Jafar and Osis looked at each other, seemingly reluctant to speak. "Your Grace," said Johannes, "I may speak above my station, but I, for one, tire of finding armour strewn throughout the gallery, and dirty smallclothes in the garderobe. Might we prevail upon you to join us here in the Castle?" Osis and Jafar looked at each other for a long moment. "Yes, dear Lady, please do join Us," entreated Jafar. "For We did dearly love Our Queens on earth, and have sadly missed the sound of a female voice since We have passed." Ann looked at Them for a long moment, tapping one dainty foot. "I suppose I can tolerate Your company," she agreed, "as long as we get a few things straight. I don't do laundry, I don't do windows, and You WILL help me plant a garden." And HOWL O hounds!! Howl unto the Heavens as you have never howled before, for a Duchess hath brought Ears and Crista to join you! Howl mightily for all the sorrowing friends they have left behind on earth as they go to prepare a place for us at the Gods' Great Table. THL Samira Umm' al Harith, CE March 30, A.S. XXXIX ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Has someone you know been affected by illness or disease? 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