(no subject)

Nothing.


Darkness.


Then...

Something. Tara was aware of nothing but herself. Of not being where she had been. Of somewhere unknown.

"Where am I?"

A voice in the darkness. Melifluous, gentle, knowing.

"Welcome, thrice-blessed Tara, to the threshold of a new life."

She tried to curl up, protect herself somehow from this voice that she heard and didn't hear.

"I feel...strange."

"Soma, the nectar of the Gods, has been mingled with your blood. The strangeness will soon pass."

"What's happening to me?"

"Don't be afraid, Tara. I will be with you soon. But before that, a few friends wish to meet you."

A child, a small girl. An older woman. A woman her age. A young man. A crone. All shadowy and indistinct.

"HELLO, TARA."

The child drew her attention, she was familiar.

"Who are you?"

"WE ARE TARA.
TARA AS YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN".
	"TARA AS YOU WERE. "
		"TARA AS YOU ARE NOT. "
			"TARA AS YOU DREAM OF BEING."
				"TARA AS YOU'LL NEVER BE. "

"I'm dreaming."

	"NO"
			"YOU'RE CHANGING"
				"AS WE DID. OR MIGHT HAVE."

"What?"

		"THIS IS WHERE OUR TARAS MEET."
			"AND WE CAME HERE TO SAY GOODBYE. AND HELLO."
				"AND THANK YOUR FOR HAVING BEEN WITH US. FOR HAVING BEEN US."
			"AND TO SAY -- WE'LL SEE YOU SOON, TARA-THAT-IS."
				"WHEN YOU JOIN US IN THE REALM OF IF."
		"It is time."
"THE ROAD AHEAD WILL BE DIFFICULT, AND DANGEROUS. "
				"LIVES AND LOVES WILL BE LOST AND FOUND. "
	"FAITH WILL BE CHALLENGED, AND DESTINIES ALTERED."
		"GOOD LUCK, TARA-THAT-IS."
			"WE MUST LEAVE YOU NOW."
	"PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF."
				"THE GODDESS APPROACHES."

And out of the murky darkness, a woman, wreathed in flame, descended.

"Greetings, Tara. My name is Isana, and this is where your true journey begins."