It can’t be postponed, can’t be avoided. Mary and Doro must face off. Mary tries to send the Patternists away, but she’s too late. She does not anticipate surviving. And yet, and yet. Can the power of the many confront the power of the one? We are invited, as always, to urgent questions. Have you learned to fight while in the battle? How could we bring our opposition into our pattern? What is the cost of freedom? You can support Octavia’s Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on Twitter @oparables, and on Instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

Mary tries to obey Doro, she does. But sometimes obedient intent isn't enough. Pausing the pattern is killing her. The showdown is inescapable. The patternists, once reluctant and resentful, refuse to leave Mary’s side. We are invited, again, to pressing questions. Have you met someone afraid of your power? Do you understand your power, individually? Collectively? What size pattern sustains you, what can you hold? You can support Octavia’s Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

The original pattern members - the first family - spread out, then draw close. Mary and Karl unshield, meld, lose control, find themselves. They decide to have a baby, despite the Patternists struggling around children. But Doro is still seeking to control the Pattern, and the tension between him and Mary comes clear. For us, in our world, these questions of control and transition are urgent - and for Mary, too. You can support Octavia’s Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

A beast of a chapter. Two years have passed. The pattern is enormous, and still growing. Mary continues to weave and transition latents. She has taken over towns, and their non-telepathic residents - the patternists control the “mutes,” and use them as slaves. Doro is confident he can still control Mary, and all those in her pattern. But Emma is not as sure. You can support Octavia’s Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

After Mary’s show of force, the group cooperates - for the most part. But the biggest surprise is Clay, a life-long latent, who is now in transition. As Mary begins to bring other latents into the pattern, Doro feels his breeding project slipping out of his control. He watches “with carefully concealed emotions of suspicion and envy.” You can support Octavia’s Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

Mary calls a meeting of the pattern members. Emotions are high: resignation, resentment, fear and anger. Some try to challenge Mary, and learn quickly just how much control over them she has. She is coming into her power, and likes it.   You can support Octavia’s Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

The telepaths in Mary's web begin to arrive. They try her, full of resentment, looking for weakness. The first to arrive finds it, but Mary learns fast. She studies the others before they arrive, and their shields can't keep her out. And despite themselves, the telepaths she has woven begin to see the benefit in what she has done. You can support Octavia’s Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

We go deep with Mary and Doro. We learn of Doro's childhood, millennia ago, and the years after he came into his power. We learn more of his breeding programs, and his hungers. And we learn of Mary's power, as she feels into the shape of the pattern.  You can support Octavia’s Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

We meet the other members of the pattern - children of Doro, varied, powerful, damaged, dangerous. Mary's tether hits them like a bolt of lightning, a command they cannot resist, but do resent. Angry and confused, they each begin their journey to California.    You can support Octavia’s Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.

Mary is in her transition, a perilous time. Others with her strength have not survived. Karl rushes home to support her - aid she rejects, at first. But as her transition peaks, she pulls his mind to hers. And then, she can't let him go. The pattern has begun.   You can support Octavia’s Parables on Patreon - we are ad-free and independent, and your support helps us stay that way. We appreciate you! Transcripts are at readingoctavia.com, and you can follow us on twitter @oparables, and on instagram (finally!) at @oparables.