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If you read the story please take a moment to leave a comment below. It would mean the world to me as the writer.

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The toll of the old bell echoed around the church grounds, and spooked a few pigeons from their perch on the modest structure. The doors opened and allowed the small crowd of furs to exit into the early afternoon sun filling the parking lot. Voices of conversation went back and forth as different topics ranging from what they’d just heard to what would be for lunch flowed as they dispersed.

“Thank you for coming. God be with you. Remember to always be kind to others. The doors are always open here at Beacon’s Light.” came a polite voice from the white furred bunny in a religious habit standing at the door with a bow. The nun’s ears flopped forward with her head motion and rested on her shoulders after she righted herself before the sound of familiar heavy footsteps approached behind her. “The congregation seems to be getting smaller and smaller over time Father Briar.” she lamented with a sigh.

“Smaller true, but still here. New joiners are slow, but they haven’t stopped. Remember that not everyone is born into Lumipath like you were Sister Gabrielle. Most in the world don’t actively believe that it’s real, and have to experience something to push them to it. Much like the other sisters.” said the old bear priest as he came to a stop next to her watching the leaving crowd.

“I know.” she replied as she adjusted the glasses perched on her small muzzle in front of her blue eyes before she spoke again. “Speaking of whom, where are the others?” she asked curiously.

“Sister Colette is prepping the beacon in the attic. It may be a silly gimmick, but it’s ours just the same.” chuckled the priest to himself of the lighthouse like rotating light in the attic of the church. “Sister Diane is getting started in the kitchen for this evening. Though not many believe in Lumipath, there is no shortage of those in need of our help.” he continued.

Sister Gabrielle nodded at his words. “Shall I go help Sister Diane with dinner then?” she asked.

“I’m sure she would appreciate it. Thank you.” he answered. With a nod of her head she turned to walk back into the church as a new set of footsteps approached the entrance steps.

“H-Hi. Are you the priest here?” asked a shaky male voice.

“I am. It seems you’ve missed today’s sermon. My name is Father Briar. What can I do for you my child?” asked the bear warmly as he turned to see a young skunk male standing there.

“I…I don’t know. I don’t even know if anything can be done for me right now.” said the newcomer. His hands were shaking, and his eyes showed fear.

“No matter what you’ve done; you can always ask for forgiveness. Do you need a confessional? It’s typically supposed to be anonymous, but it’s always available.” offered the priest with a scratch of his chin as he took in the skunk’s demeanor.

“N-No. It’s not what I’ve done. But what I’m afraid I might do.” he replied enigmatically.

“Well before you do anything drastic why not come inside? Talk to me for a bit. Perhaps I can give you some guidance.” said the bear next.

“Y-Yes. I think I’d like that. I don’t want to be alone right now.” said the skunk with a sigh.

“There is soup being prepared as we speak. Perhaps a warm meal will help as well.” said Father Briar as the young skunk stepped into the church and the door closed behind him.

**

The repeated sound of dull thuds echoed around the kitchen as Sister Diane’s hand rose and fell. A look of relaxed concentration showed in her green eyes as she went about her task. Sister Gabrielle entered the kitchen to find the white tail doe chopping celery on the counter. The two large pots next to her on the stove were already bubbling quietly. “I have to say. Preparing dinner has been a lot easier since you joined Sister Diane.” said the bunny as she watched her fellow nun work.

“What can I say? I enjoy it. Who knows? Had I not been guided here I may have looked into being a chef.” replied Sister Diane as she poured half of the chopped celery into one pot, and the other half into the second.

“Do you need any help?” asked Sister Gabrielle curiously.

“Grab the carrots from the fridge. I need to chop those next. Feel free to take one for yourself if you’re hungry.” replied Sister Diane.

“That’s slightly racist, but I’ll let it slide as I could use a snack.” chuckled the bunny as she grabbed the bundle of carrots.

“Thanks. I’ll handle these if you want to get started prepping the onions for chopping.” offered the doe as she placed the first carrot on the cutting board.

The sound of rhythmic chopping resumed underscored by the munching noise of Sister Gabrielle eating the carrot she kept. “You mentioned that you were guided here. I know you’ve told Father Briar about it, but I confess a curiosity myself. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.” asked the white bunny.

“Not much to tell really. I was accepted into med school, but nothing ever went in my favor. Not in a mundane ‘coincidences’ way, but more…supernatural. Despite prep and my best efforts I was consistently late to class due to circumstances out of my control. My books and other materials were constantly being destroyed or damaged. It seemed the universe itself was out to get me. I’m sure you know of the Infernal Scribes.” started Sister Diane.

“I do. They’re the opposite of the Holy Scribes. Fallen angels that write negative effects and outcomes into the universe and into the lives of those that live in it.” replied Sister Gabrielle as she peeled onions and listened.

“Well up till then I hadn’t heard of them. Faced with imminent failure I dropped out of med-school, but the misfortune followed me. Nothing was going my way, and it didn’t seem like anything I did made a difference. I was desperate, and near my wits end. I wanted answers, and so I did what any good nerd would do. I researched.” started Sister Diane as she tossed the cut carrots into the first pot and picked up the remaining carrots to continue. “I followed information online of furs that had similar experiences to mine, and came across writings about the Infernal Scribes and their goal to spread misfortune and woe. I figured they must be connected. My research led me to Lumipath. Though of course I didn’t believe it at first; some claimed that they’d counteracted their curse through the religion. Lo and behold after reaching out to the church and praying on it the curse was lifted, and things turned around for me. I decided it was a shame more people didn’t believe in or even know about Lumipath, and so here I am now.” explained the doe.

Sister Gabrielle listened to her fellow nun’s story with rapt attention. Her parents were a former priest and nun respectively. It always fascinated her to hear the testimonies of those who unlike herself weren’t born into the religion, and were instead guided to it. “I’m glad that you’re here now Sister Diane. We’re lucky to have you in our ranks.” she said sincerely. “Sister Diane is a bright mind. She could be anything she set her mind to. Yet here she is dedicating her life to making other’s lives better, or helping to pull them out of bad situations they may find themselves in. Whether it’s by their own hands, or by the hands of those unseen who play a part in how our lives shape up each and every day.” she continued in thought as the prep work for dinner went on.

**

Light humming could be heard in the attic of the church. A lithe canine figure in a habit moved around covered objects and other stored things as she moved to the center of the large space. The poodle had white fur, and purple puffs on the tips of her ears and tail as well as around her wrists and ankles. Her humming was interrupted by a small sneeze that caused her floppy ears to whip around head suddenly. “So much dust up here.” she thought to herself as her purple eyes roved the various things in the attic until she came across what she was looking for, an oil can. She picked the tool up and listened to the liquid sloshing within as she turned to continue her task.

The large cylinder in the middle of the room demanded her attention next. The “beacon” of Beacon’s Light needed to be oiled frequently, and today was her day to do it. There was a rhythmic beeping sound coming from the machine. Slow and steady. It was the alert that it wouldn’t work again until it was oiled. The beeping sound reminded her of something else each time she heard it; something from her not so distant past.

“Don’t worry Colette. The doctors are going to do their best to make mommy better.” came a familiar voice in the poodle’s mind. It was her father. The beeping of the EKG machine in the background was a constant sound she’d become accustomed to hearing since her mother took ill what seemed like many years ago now. Hospital to hospital, and specialist to specialist her family had gone in the hopes of finding a cure for whatever ailed her.

A wistful sigh flowed from Sister Colette as she noted the sheets covering various furniture and objects stored around her in the attic. They reminded her of the hospital bed sheets draped over her mother. How she wished something would help her, anything. Her father was running out of money to fund treatments. And though he tried to not show it she could see the toll it was all taking on him. She could also see how weak her mother was becoming. Worry was affecting her as well. She was spending less time hanging out with her friends, or going to parties. She tried to spend as much time as she could with her mother, or helping her father look for new treatments for her. She would do anything to see her mother recover; for her to be healthy again.

She and her father turned to the church of Lumipath. It wasn’t anything she believed in actively. But they had tried everything else. The priest of that church had been nice. He prayed with the family for her mother to recover. Colette noted the nuns that worked and lived in the church with the priest. She vowed that if her mother could be made healthy again that she would join their ranks and help spread the word of this religion. It was a desperate plea. Something she had expected to fall on deaf uncaring ears. But to her surprise her mother began to recover soon after the visit to the church. Slowly at first, but it wasn’t too long before she was fully recovered.

Sister Colette smiled to herself as she administered the oil to the rotating track of the beacon. The memory of her parents happily embracing was still fresh in her mind. It always warmed her heart to think of them. Her parents were surprised when she informed them of her vow, but despite how wild she was growing up they knew that Colette was a girl of her word, and supported her decision. She still wasn’t sure she fully believed that it was a miracle that her mother had recovered, but she couldn’t ignore the possibility. And in the off chance she owed that debt to a higher power; what kind of fool would she be to go back on her word? In any case the church did help people. That was something tangible she could see, and that at the very least she could get behind.

With the rotator oiled and primed she set the old machine to begin its routine in four hours time when the sun would be starting to set. Her task now done she moved to go back downstairs. Perhaps she would tend to her garden this afternoon since the church sermon was over.

**

The air was quiet between the old bear and the young skunk as they sat next to each other on the pew. The younger male had just finished telling Father Briar what was bothering him, and it was obvious from the look on the priest’s face that he had a right to be worried.

“So let me get this straight Keith. Over the past month you’ve been visited at night by an unknown entity when you are trying to sleep.” he repeated.

“Yes. At first I thought it was one of those…sleep paralysis demons people talk about. You know tricks of your mind while you’re half asleep. Even my friends dismissed it when I told them about it. But last night…I don’t think it was a trick of my mind. I…spoke…Something I didn’t do myself, but it was my voice, and within it I heard something else; another voice. It said ‘I’m going to have such fun with you.’ And then it laughed. It scared me.” explained the skunk male looking at his shaking hands.

“I see. You’re right to be scared. It sounds like you’ve been possessed. The fact that you were able to come here is a miracle in itself. We don’t know how much time you have until it takes you over, but we should try to exorcise you as quickly as we can.” said Father Briar as he looked around the room. He spotted Sister Colette coming into the room and called to her quickly. “Sister Colette. We have an emergency. Grab the exorcism bag and meet me in the Meditation Room.” he ordered quickly.

“What? Me? But wouldn’t Sister Gabrielle be better to…”

“There’s no time. It’s an emergency. The bag is in my office. Please get it for me.” repeated the old bear.

“Y-Yes Father Briar.” said Sister Colette.

“And Keith; you come with me. I only pray we’re not too late.” he said to the skunk male after. A notion that brought a hard swallow and a nod of the young male’s head.

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If you read the story please take a moment to leave a comment below. It would mean the world to me as the writer.

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Here we are introduced to the residents of Beacon's Light. A church of Lumipath located in Wolfwood. The priest that oversees the church and delivers sermons is Father Briar, an old bear with a warm heart and a welcoming personality. The three nuns that live and maintain the church are Sisters Gabrielle, Diane, and Colette. I hope this short serves to introduce them all. Their ref pics (The Nuns at least) have been posted in my scraps for *Goes to check* almost a year and a half now. Oy. Anyway I hope you enjoyed it, and are looking forward to more with the Nuns.