Brit heard the voices coming from the room ahead of him, they were male and female voices, possibly more than a few. He walked into the room. which was more well lit than the hallway, and had many exits. He noticed the group at the center of the room, occupying most of the chairs centered around the large coffee table. On the table he recognized the cards, they were the same as he’d found in his mailbox. He drew his from his pocket, and as it seemed the thing to do, he placed it on the table in front of himself preparing to interact with the group. Of course this provoked the appearance of the mysterious older man. He proclaimed that it was almost time to begin, as they were waiting for but one other, who was currently in route. “I know that everyone will make Mr Jacobs feel welcomed, or rather Brit as he is known by his friends,” said the man before vanishing, as way of introduction. The group followed this queue and introduced themselves, though it was mostly Leo who carried the introductions. Brit had a seat, then softly said, “Nice to meet everyone.” After this he resolved to be patient a little longer and see things out.

A sharp whistle could be heard issuing from the last hallway, and everyone soon grew quiet. They were all now waiting in anticipation, not only of the new arrival but also of the moment soon to come, the one which promised answers. Nearly all the cards had been placed on the table and everyone began to remember what they were waiting for. Questions and speculations began to form in their heads, as they analyzed the composition of the group wondering who exactly might be coming forth next.

Thomas Redthorn had been an adventurous boy, fascinated by the legends of his people… the trickster god Coyote, the Skin-Walkers, and the powers of the ancient shamans. Thomas had been drawn to an ancient talisman of his grandfather’s, the man who would sit for hours telling and retelling him the old stories of their people. It was a effigy of the trickster god himself, Coyote. Thomas decided to take the talisman, which his grandfather had always insisted was too powerful for Thomas to touch. As soon as he had placed it around his neck, the talisman set Thomas on a vision quest. Or at least that’s how Thomas interpreted the events that were unfolding before him, as he was spirited away.

Thomas flew to a place he had never been, a cave in the dessert mountains. When he arrived he’d become a coyote. As Thomas searched the caves he caught a scent, the scent of man, where it should not be. Thomas, the coyote, followed the scent to a chamber at the rear of the caverns interior. In this Cavern he found two things, a card resting atop a stone, and a door. The door was framed and hinged, but seemed to lead to nowhere, standing out of place not only in the cave but in the middle of it. Thomas reached for the card finding himself to be a boy again. It held only a single phrase, two words joined as one, WyldCards… Thomas had no clothes to place the card in, he was naked, but felt he should hold on to it. With his other hand, he reached for the door to open it. He didn’t understand it, but he knew that such things could lead to truths he was not yet aware of. Or so this is what his grandfather had taught him about vision quests. Inside, he saw the corridor, yet it only existed from the interior of the door frame. He walked around it once, before he entered.

It was a young boy who appeared before them, naked as a jay. He seemed to be of Native American descent. No one had any clothes to offer him, but he did not seem to be conscious of his indecency, or perhaps he lacked shame and modesty. Liza sat up, looked at the boy, and then stood to walk towards him. This was nearly as shocking as the boy’s arrival. The girl who had hid in the shadows, afraid to approach them, took hold of the boys open hand and brought him over… after speaking with him briefly.

“Hi, I’m… Elizabeth, but call me Liza please. So what’s your name?” she asked.

“Thomas,” he stated softly, not sure if she was some type of spirit. The girl was perhaps roughly his age, within a few years at least. He wasn’t certain what to make of her, or what to do next, but he took her hand certain that he would soon find out. It was shaking just a little, as if it was the first time she had ever taken someone by the hand, but she didn’t seem as if she noticed it.

Liza had never taken charge before, she was nervous with anticipation of completing this task that she had set for herself. She didn’t really know why she had done it, other than that the boy appeared lost and confused, standing before them exposed and innocent. Perhaps he even seemed to her a kindred spirit. However, where she was fearful Thomas was bold and adventurous. Curiosity called the boy just as it cowed Liza, but she only knew what her eyes saw, a boy unencumbered and looking for answers… a boy with nothing to hide.

As they approached the group, the boy wondered who the other spirits might be. Did they have names, would they introduce themselves as she had done, should he? Liza soon answered these questions for him.

“This is… my friend, Thomas,” she said. Her first, no, second friend ever, she realized as she looked over to Arra to begin her introductions. After she’d made everyone acquainted, she pointed to the open space on the table and stated, “We were waiting for you.”

Thomas looked at the card in his right hand, Liza was still holding his left, though he didn’t believe she was conscious of it. Was this the way spirits normally behaved,  he thought. He’d decided to place the card on the table and find out what they had been waiting for, exactly…