Page 42 of Sundowners
“The strongest ofLearners will master the ability of manipulating the energy around them for not only healing, but also for protection. This ability is a gift that we must always respect. We are never to manipulate energy to harm another. Now, you will be paired up to practice. You will attempt to form a deep connection with your partner and find the root of any pain or discomfort they may be experiencing. Our goal is only to identify the pain, do not go any further.”
Leader Lauren paired Muse with Stephen, and I felt her concern. I made sure to position myself where I could see her.
“Learner Creed, you shall work with Learner Mack.”
Mack and I nodded at each other. He was a quiet guy, older. Didn’t talk much, but I never got a negative vibe from him like I did from Stephen. We sat cross-legged in front of each other, our knees touching, and I turned my body so I could sense any discomfort from Muse.
“You may begin,” Leader Lauren directed.
Mack and I made eye contact and then closed our eyes as we’d been taught. I opened my inside eye and watched the colors inside of Mack shift and swirl. Apparently it was different for all of us, but I would often see redness where there was inflammation, as if I were looking at some sort of infrared image.
“Learner Creed, what do you see?” Leader Lauren asked.
“Mack, your left knee is bothering you. You injured it recently?”
I heard him clear his throat. “Uh, yes. I fell on the steps last night.”
“Learner Mack, did you not report this injury to a Guardian?”
“No, Leader Lauren. I didn’t consider it to be serious—”
“But Learner Mack, there is never a need to experience pain as long as we are a community. Now, Learner Creed, would you like to try to heal the injury?”
I was startled. I knew I could do it. I’d been practicing with a tree, and even with Muse a bit when we had an ounce of free time. I didn’t know if this was a test, however.
I opened my eyes. “Yes, Leader Lauren.” I looked to Mack. “Do I have your permission, Learner Mack?”
His lip twitched as if he wanted to smile, and I felt a rush of heat from him.
Oh.
“Yes. Please.”
I did smile as I closed my eyes. He made it very clear that I had permission to do more than heal him.
But for now, I focused on his left knee. First I collected as much energy from my surroundings as I could, and then I directed it toward those red swaths of pulsing light. I saw my infusion of healing energy in a warm golden hue as it worked its way in to surround the red, and eventually the red was displaced until it was no more.
I heard Mack suck in a breath. Worried I’d hurt him, I opened my eyes but he was smiling. He ran his hand over his knee and laughed.
“You did it,” he whispered to me, and then he reached out and squeezed my hand. “Thank you.”
“Blessed be,” I murmured. His joy and lust combined to give me a helluva rush.I could do this all day.When he didn’t shy away with those feelings, I began to wonder if he planned to do anything about it—
“Stop it!”
Muse’s voice rang out through the grove of redwoods, and I saw her scramble away from Stephen.
“Learner Muse?”
Muse gazed around and her cheeks reddened under the scrutiny of our cohort.
“My apologies, Leader Lauren. May I be excused?”
Leader Lauren gave Stephen a hard look and nodded at Muse. “Learners, you are dismissed. Except Learner Stephen.”
We all stood and walked toward the path in a single line. I took Muse’s hand and pulled her close to me. As soon as we were out of sight of the clearing, I pulled her with me into the bushes.
“What happened?”
