After the meeting broke up, Sam drove over and parked near Green Lake Park. He walked slowly down to the lakeside and waited. It didn't take long.
From behind him, a voice said, "Nice of you to come here again, Paul." He hadn't heard her approach, but then again, he never had any other time, either.
He turned and smiled.
"Sarah, you know I don't use that name. Can't you call me Sam at least once?"Sarah Barefoot stood, as she always did, about five feet away from him. Her clothes were natural, very closely resembling the clothes her people had worn for hundreds of years. The amerind woman's eyes twinkled in quiet mirth, but her face remained calm. "The land does not appreciate dishonesty, Paul. You should know this; I've told you often enough. Those who cannot accept the truth of the world--or of themselves--willingly blind themselves to everything around them. But," she paused, surprised, "I see that your eyes are beginning to open. Come, tell me what has brought this about."
The two of them walked slowly around the lake, while Sam told her about waking up in the wilderness, surrounded by strangers, and the adventures he'd had since then. When he mentioned the Club and Lyra's explanation of his abilities, she nodded in understanding. He didn't talk much about his relationship with Lyra since then, but he suspected she guessed most of it. When he'd finished, he turned to her.
"Sarah, one of the others in the group thinks there's something magical happening to him. He asked if I knew anyone who could help him figure out what it is. He's...not an easy person; he used to run with a gang, and probably served some prison time--probably less than he should have, in all honesty. He's damn good at what he does, but I can't predict what he'll do in most situations, other than he seems to revel in taking the most violent way out of any situation. I can't guarantee that meeting him will be safe--but will you?"Sarah tilted her head upwards, breathing out and in slowly, eyes mostly closed. Finally, she looked back at Sam. "The wind has tasted his presence around you; the sky and the earth understand, and they will protect where you cannot. I will meet him." Then she smiled, "Really, Paul, you worry too much. Just give him my comm code and I'll see what I can do."
OOC: Sarah Barefoot spends much of her time in or near the park and is very grounded in the shamanistic traditions of her ancestors, but is actually reasonably connected to the modern world, and enjoys many of the modern conveniences. She prefers native dress, but wears more "normal" clothing regularly. She is honest with herself about these contradictions, so she doesn't suffer from the self-deception that she feels would block her magic (and which she believes has hampered Sam).
Here's what I'd written in my character file about her:
Sarah Barefoot is an Amerind shaman that Sam met during a Run. She's fairly young and attractive, and the two of them have remained in touch. Although Sam has taken her to dinner once or twice, neither is actually interested in dating the other.
Necro, I'll let you take over roleplaying your initiation with her if you want. Just...be gentle, ok?
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