Gate: Nine of Wands

I passed through the vision gate and found myself on a path under the full moon. To my right, there was a pack of wolves, howling and running near to the path, but not touching it. Their snarls and growls echoed in the darkness and observing shadows. To my left, I heard a skittering sound which revealed itself to be a swarm of scorpions. They also approached the path but did not move upon it, waving their stinging tails in a threatening manner at me and each other. I walked forward beneath the full moon between the gathered predators, safe and protected by the moonlight as I continued my journey.

After some time, a living light came towards me down the path. “Heidi,” a voice called out from its center. “Heidi, don’t stop believing in the journey. I’m here to help you at last.” As the illumination came closer, I saw the light was actually a small, glowing moth. He flew around my head and landed on my shoulder.

“Hello, Moth,” I said. “Thank you for coming to me, I was so lonely out here in the shadows by myself. Who are you and how do you know my name?”

“I am the Moon Moth and was sent from the worlds above to guide you upon the current path,” he replied. “I was given your name so that I could find you but the wolves and scorpions appear to have been given it as well. I hope they haven’t made your journey difficult. I would have appeared sooner but it is quite a ways from the moon and I had to travel far indeed to be here at the present moment. Please forgive my tardiness.”

“Don’t fret about it a moment more,” I said. “If I had known you were coming, I would not have felt so alone. Where are we for I have not traveled this path before.”

“On a path towards the Treasure House of your Imagination,” he said. “I am truly surprised you have not wandered this way before as the Treasure House is a wonder in the Inner Worlds.”

“Well, I’m here now,” I said. “I look forward to experiencing this wondrous place. If it is so prized, why are there monsters on either side of the path leading to it?”

The moth fluttered his feathery wings. “They are figments of your imagination,” he said. “And guardians against those who find themselves upon this path but have been consumed by the fears and sorrows plaguing their spirits. Pay them no mind. They cannot harm you for you understand the nature of your shadow rather than allowing her to steer you.” The moth and I continued forward between the wolves and scorpions, and towards the unknown.

After a short journey, our path ended at a Grecian temple where white pillars rose high into the air under the moonlight. I began to ascend steps to this building but found my way barred by two dark suits of empty armor who were wielding pikes. They crossed their weapons in front of me, effectively closing the entrance to all, myself included.

“No one may enter,” said a deep voice from the temple doorway behind the armored guardians. An enormous frog hopped out of the temple’s shadowy interior and landed between the guards on the steps.

“My name is Heidi. I have come seeking the nature of this place and all who dwell here,” I said. “I understand it is a location of some importance to those who wander the Inner Worlds. What manner of sacrifice is required for entrance? I can’t promise to fulfill such requirements now, but, in the fullness of time, I swear I will honor any obligation demanded for entry.”

The frog suddenly spit out a long, pink tongue and, in one quick motion, consumed the Moon Moth, snatching my friend from where he had been floating upon my shoulder. The moth’s light exploded from the center of the frog and caused his form to change. Now, instead of a frog, a spirit in the shape of a man in a glowing suit of armor stood before me.

“Why did you eat Moth, Frog?” I asked in dismay. “He came for me when I was all alone and I was looking forward to exploring this place with him.”