Silence settled in the cave after everyone present partook of the strange potion. All she could hear was the crinkling of coals in the freshly doused fire, and the unsteady rhythm of her own broken heart. A red flamed candle on the grotesque altar of the maestro was the only source of light. Its crimson hue reflected in the eyes of her feline family like a ring of demons surrounding Pifore.

It smelled worse than it tasted, thankfully. But that was still one of the most harrowing mouthfuls Pifore-titu ever had to swallow. Not as bad as rotten meat, but this was bad in other ways. Like the way the taste lingered in her mouth and threatened to make her throw up if she focused her attention on it.

Maybe I should puke? Thought Pifore.

That would get it out of her before she was cursed or something bad happened. She would just pretend. If she could put on her mask one final time to get through this night, Pifore would flee to the North as soon as possible.

Pifore-titu really hoped Raella found her father and went home before these Lower World assassins went after them. She feared that Grandmother was expecting their family to fight this Wolf God alongside these men. The words she used seemed to imply that was part of the deal, but from what Pifore had seen of the Beast, she knew that was suicide.

But the bones said he would die…

Pifore’s heart broke a little bit more for Raella. She didn’t know anything about them, or even if this “Wolf God” was a good person; but she could sympathize with losing a parent. Pifore had been through it twice, and she still missed them terribly.

Then she heard her sister, Marigold, retching the brew back into her bowl on the other side of the cave. Her human “partner” made a frustrated grunt, stood up slowly, and approached the maestro. The maestro ladled more of the inky liquid into a fresh bowl and handed it to the man. The man returned to his seat with the fresh serving, and with an iron grip on the back of Marigold’s neck, forced her to drink again. Wisteria watched impassively.

In, out, then in again… yuck! I have to keep what I have in my stomach down… at least for a while.

Pifore was starting to make an educated guess as to what these Lower World assassins had dosed them with. During her training as a [Realm Guardian], Grelki had regaled Pifore with stories about the sacred plant teacher, Ayahuasca.

She was the daughter of Tobacco, and the Queen of the Forest. Of all Earthly medicines with the power to transform the body, mind, and Spirit; Grandmother Ayahuasca was supreme.

Long before humans discovered bronze or steel, the wise ones of the South American jungle had been learning from this peerless teacher. For thirty-thousand years at least, she has blessed the Earth with her perfect wisdom, boundless compassion, and miraculous healing. And after thirty-thousand years of study, those who had dedicated their lives to her service for generations said: “there is no bottom to her depths.”

Grelki also warned that, like the moon (and her own Grandmother), Ayahuasca had many faces. She could present herself as both a gentle healer or a terrifying teacher, depending on the circumstance. To stand before the Grandmother was to surrender completely to the unknown. Grelki said it was like dying, “but in a good way.”

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Similar to Tea, there were many kinds of Ayahuasca, and its character could change depending on the methods used to cultivate and concoct the sacred medicine, as well as the prayers and songs that were used during the process. Many other plants, such as Chacruna (Psychotria viridis) were often added, but Grelki said that his master poured “vine only,” as excessive visions were often a distraction for the mind that took attention away from the heart.

Grelki had said he knew of at least three varieties; Red Ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis muricata), Yellow Ayahuasca (Banisteriopsis caapi), and Black Ayahuasca (Alicia anisopetala). Grelki didn’t know much about the differences between Red and Yellow, but he said that Black Ayahuasca (while not evil by itself) was the variety preferred in the practice of Dark Sorcery and Witchcraft in the Amazon Jungle.

Pifore was certain that Black Ayahuasca was at work in her body right now, especially after remembering one other thing Grelki had mentioned.

Long ago, Ayahuasca was used in the jungle for hunting and war. Tribesmen would drink before going into battle, as it would deepen their intuition and connection to the forest, allowing themselves to better track their prey, and give them courage and Spiritual power to overcome their foes.

Pifores stomach was beginning to whirl and churn as she contemplated the consequences of accepting this Ayahuasca into her being. She could feel it taking effect. In fact, Pifore had felt it before it had even touched her tongue. This slowly creeping feeling–a build up of energy. She first noticed it when Jihe had pointed it out to her. It was when he mentioned the Shamanic Journey that he was on. Once Pifore-titu had promised Grandmother Wisteria to obey her, it had become much stronger.

Pifore’s wandering mind was brought back to attention when the maestro began to shake a fan of woven leaves. She could feel the sound inside her.

fwish fwish fwish fwish fwish

The energy built, and it seemed as if the fan itself were commanding the strange Chi that permeated the space to move.

fwish fwish fwish fwish fwish fwish

The tempo increased, and so did the energy. Her sight was changing, shifting slightly in small ways that were impossible to describe. As if her normal senses were an optical illusion, and now that she had seen through “the trick” her brain no longer interpreted information in that other way.

fwishfwishfwishfwishfwishfwishfwish

Then the maestro began to sing an eerie song. The first word from his lips shattered the world around Pifore into a mosaic of hyper-dimensional colors.

Oh?

Oh…

Oh!

Oh no.

Ummmmmm?

What?

Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh!

Oh-kaaaay…

Thers devnitly Chagrooonah innnnnn thisss…

Pifore-titu deduced as she spun through a four dimensional tube towards the center of the Earth.