Atomic Redwood Revamped

 

Chapter 23: “Julius and being Wiccan”

 

“Why didn’t you tell me about Julius?” Jacques asked once they were back inside the house.

 

“At the point in time when you and your siblings came into the picture here, Julius was staying as a wolf until he was needed.” Julius answered.

 

“Why stay a wolf?” Tempest asked.

 

“I always had to hide who I was, hide myself. Once I started shape shifting I found a freedom that came with it. I had always been fascinated with wolves and lycons and once mother died I decided to just stay as a wolf. I took all the wolf lifestyles to a point that if Julian wasn’t here, I’d forget that I wasn’t really a wolf.” Julius answered with great difficulty.

 

  “Why did you always attack me when I’d come here?” Jacques asked.

 

“After how Desari did Julian, I didn’t trust anyone else who came around, it wasn’t personal to you or anything.” Julius answered.

 

“How come you two basically have the same name?” Gregori asked.

 

“It was our mother. She wanted both of us named after her, her name was Jillian.” Julius answered.

 

“Can’t you defeat him?” Tempest asked.

 

“No, besides shape shifting, I can’t do anything else but the basics, and you need more than basics to defeat him.” Julius answered.

 

“Why can’t you do more?” Jacques asked.

 

“I just simply don’t have enough power.” Julius answered.

 

“Please understand guys that Julius isn’t really a fighter, he’s more of a… well, wolf.” Julian explained.

 

“If you will change, I can show you all I know. The other stuff I’m afraid you need to learn yourself.” Julius spoke.

 

Tempest materialized her an outfit on. “You’re a fast learner, didn’t you just learn that last night?” Gregori asked. She shook her head yes.

 

“Very well, the first basic of Wicca is feelings. The first thing to always remember is always trust a feeling. Wicca blood is so in touch with nature that nature will send you warnings, when others are coming, even when they are farther away than a vampire or lycon can feel with. This is how you knew Gregori was good, nature told you.” Julius explained.

 

“So its like how vampires feel things.” Tempest responded.

 

“No it isn’t. Vampires are warned by what they smell or hear, wiccan’s are told by nature, its like you feel it in your bones.” Julius answered.

 

“Next is energy. You can tap into the energy around you and use it for basically anything. To do this can be as natural as breathing but not until you have mastered it. Now, to master it you need to focus. Julian I need the dojo. Follow me Tempest and I’ll teach you the most time consuming thing a Wiccan can do.” Julius explained.

 

Everyone followed Julius to the dojo in silence. Once there, Julius went to the middle of the room and sat down, crossing his legs under him. “Join me Tempest.” 

 

Tempest went and sat down in front of him just as he had sit.

 

“Have you heard of meditation?” Julius asked. She shook her head yes. “Good. Close your eyes and clear your mind, feel everything yet nothing. Just take everything in around you. Guys this is going to take some time so go hunt.”

 

“Hunt?” Jacques asked.

 

“Sorry still thinking like a wolf.” Julius explained.

 

The others left after a while but she didn’t even register it in anyway. The whole experience was surprisingly calming compared to her month of training and it was very welcoming.

 

It wasn’t until half the night had gone before Julius brought Tempest back from her meditated state. “How do you feel?” Julius asked.

 

Tempest opened her eyes. “I feel wonderful, almost as if I slept for days.”

 

Julius smiled. “Good, remember to do that every other night.”

 

“Can I ask one more question before we go on?” Tempest asked.

 

“Of course.” Julius answered.

 

“When you are a wolf, can you be out into the sun?” Tempest asked.

 

“Yes I can. At the beginning it would hurt my eyes some, but as I gradually went into the sun longer and longer, my eyes stopped burning. Being a wolf protects me in ways that being a vampire can not.” Julius answered, kind of hoarse.

 

“Are you okay?” Tempest asked.

 

“Yes. My vocal cords just are not use to talking.” Julius answered.

 

“I know I said just one question but I have one more. What do you eat?” Tempest asked.

 

Julius smiled. “You really don’t want to know. Just know I’m a wolf but there are times where Julian gives me food. My wolf side doesn’t agree with much human food though… Especially cooked.”

 

Tempest made a face. “You’re right I don’t want to know…”

 

“Before we start on another thing how about you come up to the kitchen, I have food done. You too Julius, don’t worry its something I know you can eat.” Julian spoke from the doorway.

 

Once they made it to the kitchen Tempest could smell chicken. “Chicken agrees with you?”

 

“Yes strangely enough. Its one of the few things that do. I believe its French chicken, right?” Julius asked.

 

“Yes Julius, you are correct. There’s also mashed potatoes and green beans.” Julian responded.

 

They all sat down, including Gregori. “I never had chicken like this, what is it?” Tempest asked.

 

“It’s those French fried onions crushed up for the breading. They are what are normally put on green-bean casserole.” Julian explained with a smile.

 

While eating Julius explained a little bit more of the Wiccan ways… “The Wiccan beliefs are very simple really. We are all a part of nature, NOT masters over it. Therefore if we harm anything in nature, we are harming ourselves. We have complete respect for everything in nature and see it as sacred and magical. Accepting complete responsibility for our actions.” 

 

“So karma then?” Tempest asked.

 

“Yes karma, in fact the law of three, also reincarnation and the belief that one’s passing is a temporary state. Magic is everything in spirit and can sometimes result into physical form.” Julius explained.

 

“What does physical form mean exactly?” Tempest asked.

 

“It means some can bring back the dead for certain things, but only the most powerful can.” Julius answered.

 

“Like my mother’s family.” Tempest responded.

 

“Yes, possibly. It would explain why he wanted you dead. The dead has much power on the living.” Julius explained. “I will put all of this in a Grimoire or book of shadows for you, which you can add to it.”

 

“Thank you Julius.” Tempest spoke.

 

“It’s no problem.” Julius smiled. “After we finish I’ll make you the grimier and teach you the Wiccan rede.”

 

After they were done Julius went to work on picturing the Grimoire with everything she would be needing plus room to grow. Once it was done he materialized a plain medium sized black book with a blank face.

 

As he handed it to her, she noticed it had no cover art. “Why is it blank?”

 

Julius smiled. “Once you have studied the Grimoire and thought about it, you can decide what the cover should look like, making it your own.”

 

“Awe thank you Julius, that’s sweet and kind.” Tempest responded with a smile. She looked at the book itself before she materialized a bright green ribbon for it as a book mark. The ribbon wasn’t anything fancy, just a see through material. She made sure it was big enough to be attached to the back inside cover but reach the front page and still have a good amount sticking out and going ever the front. Once she was satisfied, she opened the book to the inside cover…

 

On the inside cover in Celtic American writing it said… ‘This Grimoire belongs to Tempest Daratranzoff Scarletti Savage, So mote it be!’ She started to tear up.

 

“What’s wrong?” Julius asked.

 

“Nothing…my name… You had my name represent ALL of my family… Tempest Daratranzoff  Scarletti Savage… Thank you.” Tempest answered, giving a surprised Julius a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

 

“Um… its no problem… I just thought of all of the last names that belong to you and it was put on there. Where does the Daratranzoff come from?” Julius responded once she let him go.

 

“It’s my adopted parents name… So you didn’t have to know it for it to be on there?” She asked.

 

“No not if you think clearly enough. I just thought it should reflect on all of you.” Julius answered with a smile.

 

 

 

 

 

*In this chapter you will learn some of my beliefs in Wicca and more about my Wiccan religion.*