Back in Taylor's dream, Kweli rummaged around inside the astral hut. "Aha!" shi cried triumphantly.
"What's going on?" asked Taylor.
"I found what I need to give you a quick lesson in spiritual defense," Kweli said. Shi held up a wooden rod. One end was carved to look like a snarling hyena head. The other was carved into the shape of an erect hyena penis. Crescent moon symbols were carved into the handle. "This is my spirit stick. No shaman should be without one. It serves as a conduit for your spiritual power and amplifies it with that of Lady Moon Herself. If you brandish it at a spirit, that spirit will have to submit unless it can overpower your amplified aura. Not an easy thing for any spirit, I promise you."
"How do I make one?" asked Taylor.
"First you carve these patterns into a stick of wood," Kweli answered. "You should use wood from a tree sacred to your area. Western Red Cedar should do the trick for the Pacific Northwest, I think. Yellow Cedar should also be fine. You then soak it in a mixture of your own cum and breast milk. Your own this time. This is for the amplification of your own power you see. Mine should work fine for you this once, but your own will need YOUR essence."
"Got it," Taylor nodded.
"Are you ready to test it?"
"As I'll ever be," Taylor laughed nervously.
"Good," Kweli nodded. "Follow me."
Kweli led Taylor out of the hut and into the dreamscape wilderness. Instead of the savanna from last time, they were in cold forests much like those surrounding Stokerville. "It is here that you face an old enemy," Kweli said solemnly as shi handed Taylor the spirit stick.
Taylor gulped. "You mean...?"
As if in answer, S'alaln slithered out of the trees, hissing evilly. Taylor winced as shi felt his spiritual attack. Shi felt hir balls shrinking and hir mane standing on end as shi panicked.
"Use the spirit stick!" Kweli shouted. "Don't forget to tap into your inner strength!"
Taylor thrust the spirit stick out at S'alaln and closed hir eyes tight, focusing on seeing hirself as a majestic shaman of great power. As shi brandished the spirit stick, S'alaln shuddered and let out an unearthly shriek. He beat a hasty retreat into the underbrush.
Taylor opened hir eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. "Is that it?"
"It is indeed," Kweli grinned. "Well done, Shaman Taylor. You now have the hang of spiritual defense. You should craft your own spirit stick as soon as possible. Now rest and prepare to work on both your spirit stick and the breeder transformation potion in the morning."
Taylor nodded to hir mentor and allowed hirself to sink into a dreamless sleep.