Diane Rapp's Blog: She's a Mystery and Science Fiction Writer! - Posts Tagged "telepathy"

Has your dog ever stared into your eyes unblinking, focused so intently that you’re sure he (or she) is trying to tell you something important? Kriegen used to do that. Sometimes he’d add a chin lift to emphasize the message. The easiest way he got through to me was the “stare-shift.” He’d get my attention by staring, and then he’d shift his gaze to his dog bowl or the kitchen and quickly shift back to me. Sometimes it took several stare-shifts to make me understand. He said, “Feed me you fool.” Finally the message came through my dense human mind but we communicated. He was a very patient dog but trained me eventually.
I asked the question: What if dogs are telepathic and we stupid humans just can’t hear what they’re saying? The idea nagged me until I made it true. What? I can’t wave a magic wand and make dogs telepathic. As an author I can do just that.
My computer is my magic wand. I imagined a whole world (Drako) where dogs (in the form of wolves) are a telepathic species waiting for dumb humans to hear them mind-speak. When telepathic humans finally arrive from space, the wolves communicate. Cool. My wish was granted.
What is sapience anyway? The dictionary defines the word as “wise, or attempting to appear wise or (chiefly in science fiction) intelligent. Science fiction writers often use the word sentient to mean the same thing, although the dictionary defines sentient as “able to perceive or feel things.” The definition could apply to animals, but are all animals intelligent and self-aware? Animal lovers would say “yes.”
How can humans tell whether a species is intelligent? Communication is a sign of intelligence; building things, using tools, and forming societies are other signs of intelligence. When I watch Animal Planet I see many examples of intelligence on planet Earth: Monkeys and gorillas use sign language; dolphins and whales travel in groups and cooperate with each other; and wolves form packs to hunt and raise their young together. Animals don’t built skyscrapers or computers, but humans didn’t accomplish those mile markers for thousands of years.
I believe Kriegen was very intelligent. He trained his humans to take him places, keep him in a warm house, and feed him on demand. Why invent an automobile or build a house when humans can do it for you? Cats must be intelligent because humans serve them without always getting loyalty or affection as a reward.
The “wolves of Drako” exhibit another sign of intelligence. They preserve and learn from an ancestral history. Humans did the same thing, using an oral history for centuries, until they learned to write. The wolves on Drako don’t write their history. Wolves “host” the minds of their ancestors and get information as needed, like a living computer. The ancestors are better than a computer; they provide real-time counseling to living wolves from actual experience. Smart.
A telepathic society with a means of preserving their history by hosting minds should be considered a form of advanced intelligence. No wonder the wolves don’t believe humans are intelligent.
When we lost Kriegen (over a year ago) we grieved for the loss of our friend. Now he lives in our memories, photos, videos, and as an intelligent wolf on the planet Drako. He’s my hero. When I want to visit him I send my mind to Drako and we talk. Did he teach me to “host” him?

Donovan meets the wolf, Kriegen, for the first time:

It was not a wolf of earthly variety but Donovan’s mind labeled the creature a “wolf” in honor of the animal it most resembled. The lean well-muscled canine body looked similar to its cousin. The head looked long and narrow with alert golden eyes and pricked ears that shifted with each new sound. The eyes displayed an intelligent depth of expression.

He noticed a marked difference between this wolf and its earthly cousin. The creature stood on its hind legs, easily the height of a healthy grizzly bear. Although it was more slender than a bear, its muscled limbs looked formidable. With almost scientific detachment, Donovan noticed elongated front paws as the wolf extracted a deadly blade from a sheath strapped to its rib cage, a challenge on any world.

Donovan met the wolf’s steady gaze, his thoughts racing. An intelligent species, this wolf looked ready to fight. What rotten luck! I wish I could communicate. How can I avoid bloodshed?

“Greetings friend,” he said in a nervous croak.

The sound caused the animal to shift its stance. Donovan thought he saw curiosity in the alert eyes. If any creature on this world had the right to be called king, this regal animal was the one.

We accept acknowledgment of our superiority and spare your life.

The message formed inside Donovan’s head, not in words, but mental impressions that he translated into words.

The wolf sheathed his blade and “spoke” again. We are Kriegen, leader of the Forest Guardians. The wolf lowered his body to all fours.

Donovan sat—a fortunate choice as he later learned—since a standing position offered challenge. To avoid battle a weaker creature observed a subservient posture.

Be sure to visit the following links to read excerpts from other authors in Books-a-Fire. www.booksafire.com

Calinda B http://blog.calindab.com/?p=1421

J. Heather Leigh http://jheatherleigh.blogspot.com/p/b...

Charles Dougherty http://www.clrdougherty.com/p/excerpt...

Tami Kidd http://www.tamikidd.com/?page_id=5

Jennifer Donohoe http://wp.me/p2zxAX-4Q

Reb MacRath www.rebmacrath.blogspot.com