The children leapt to their feet, surrounding Deloren, pelting her with questions, not wanting the story to end.
​
A petite, red-headed girl, popped her thumb out of her mouth just long enough to ask, “What’d Ellisle do afta’ that?”

The child glanced shyly over at another woman who stood across the room, leaning back against the greystone wall of the small space within Guardian Mountain which now served as learning room for the children of the neighboring village. Hands clasped over her abdomen, her hair was corralled into a long braid which draped over one shoulder, ashy brown interwoven with faint streaks of grey. Errant curls escaped about her forehead and wisped at the nape of her neck.

Deloren looked over to where Ellisle was standing and saw her cross her arms firmly over her chest. She knew that the child’s question would bring Ellisle’s memories flooding in. She also knew that Ellisle wouldn’t willingly swim in that river today.

“You know the answer to that Youngling,” said Ellisle, lips twitching upward. Ellisle looked up and winked at Deloren.
The little girl grinned around her thumb and nodded emphatically.

“What’d Terris do when the Guardian’s was all ‘aflamin’? Was he scarert?” A small boy asked, staring up at Deloren with wide black eyes crowned by dark brows almost hidden beneath the ebony waves framing his face.

“He weren’t scarert, Tomlin,” answered a slightly taller and otherwise identical version of the boy, crowding in close beside him. “Terris were brave enough to jump offa’ the mountain to save Ell weren’t he?”

Grimy fingers grasped at Deloren’s tunic, “When they gonna’ sing again, huh? Can I hears it?“

Deloren gently unclasped the childish fingers and held them between her own age-swollen knuckles.

“Yes, Younger, you can hear it, though you may have to wait till the next Ritual of the One.”

“Oh,” she said, eyes cast down, long eyelashes brushing flushed, pink cheeks.

“Gran Bryl! What happened to Gran Bryl?” Another child asked.

Deloren looked at the earnest young face crowding in close to her. She focused on the bright blue eyes and curving mouth that reminded her so of her beloved friend, Bryllint.

Meeting the child’s seriousness with her own she said, “With the Day of Rising their work was done. Gran Bryl and Bryllint are playing now on the Pathways of the One.” The child looked satisfied with that, and dipped her chin in acknowledgment.
 
Another younger, a boy with sparkling brown, mischievous eyes asked, “How’s about Gareth?”

Deloren heard a chuckle from across the room.

“Well you know my Hatchling, just what happened to Gareth,” said Deloren.

“He’s ma’ Farn!”

“Indeed, he is. And your Marn?”

“Marn? Why she’s Mina!”

“And where might you live with your Marn and your Farn, Hatchling?”

“We lives just back ‘a Guardian Mountain,” he said, casting a boneless arm over his shoulder. “In the village. We all lives there,” and he gestured with both arms out wide including all the children in his proprietary response.

A green blur flashed somewhat erratically over the heads of the children, buzzing to land on Ellisle’s shoulder.

“You’re not as young as you once were, Moss. You might slow it down a bit,” said Ellisle, looking askance at the tiny figure plastered to her shoulder, chest heaving.

Not in the least distracted by this, another child piped up, “What about Faltim and Fal? What happened ta’ them?”

“That, my Hatchling is a tale for another time. Off you go now, back to your chores.” Deloren made pushing movements with her hands, herding the children out.

The children scampered, laughing, through the doorway, and Deloren pushed herself slowly to her feet. One corner of her mouth twisted up into a grimace as she said, “These old bones make sure I slow down, and I’ve chores of my own to see to. Remo’s bunions have flared up.”

Ellisle nodded sagely, kissing her fingertips and holding palm out toward Deloren. Deloren smiled, caught the kiss with an outstretched hand and patted her own softly wrinkled cheek, then ambled out the door.

Ellisle! The Pathways are calling. I’m ready to dance! Ell’s words dropped into Ellisle’s mind. It no longer startled her the way it once had. Yet the intimacy of the connection still filled her heart almost to bursting. Her own chores, the endless work of the Eldress, Contracted of Gran Ell, could wait for a little while longer.

Yes, Ell, thought Ellisle. Let’s dance.

The End

Lisle trod behind Ell who led the way to Guardian Cavern. Lisle’s stomach felt jumpy. The little of the morning meal she had been able to force down sat uneasily within. Her earlier excitement had drained away and now she had the desperate thought that maybe they could wait a few more days. She wasn’t ready. How could she be all that Ell would need her to be, Voice and Hands? She was just a younger. The other Contracted were older, at least the ones she had met. They knew more. She didn’t know enough. She didn’t know anything. She was just here because she stumbled on Ell’s egg in the woods. She didn’t belong here. Lisle almost turned around and ran back down the hallway. But Ell moved steadily ahead and Lisle, taking a deep, shuddering breath continued to follow her.

Lisle was nervous, maybe more nervous than she had ever been. But still she felt amusement as she looked ahead and saw the misty steam rising from Ell’s back in the cool air of the tunnel, remnants of her recent preparatory bath. The scent of the delicate floral oil Lisle had used to shine and polish Ell’s scales wafted back to her, calming her.

Looking at her Guardian as they moved along, she was surprised to realize that Ell had grown since their arrival here at the mountain. She now moved with an ease that hadn’t been there before. The awkwardness of the young dragon was gone, replaced with the grace of an adult Guardian. Even from the back, Lisle could see her head and neck held high, bobbing gently with each step. Her wings arching up, and powerful hindquarters swaying from side to side. The young Guardian’s legs had lengthened and now held her considerable bulk well up off the tunnel floor, moving with an easy, measured pace. She held her tail just off the floor, the end curving up and around, forming almost a circle at the tip.

Her scales and ridges shone in the light as they passed each of the many torch sconces placed along the walls. The olive green was deeper than it had been, with touches of buttery yellow showing close in to her body as she moved, an echo of the warm yellow on her belly. The crimson edges of each scale on her sides and back, and the ridges on spine and neck, glittered, gem-like. Lisle spared a glance down at her own finery, proud to remember that she too wore Ell’s beautiful colors. At least this she could enjoy today.

Lisle felt a sharp expansion within her chest and inhaled deeply, the better to take in the overwhelming love that suddenly filled her. It tingled up through her legs and arms and cascaded up her spine as her breath carried it though her body. The sensation was so intense that she had to stop walking and just feel.

She saw Ell stop just ahead of her, and curve that long neck back and around so that she could look at her Contracted. Ell’s jaw dropped open slightly in a Guardian approximation of a grin. An expression that might look alarming to any but the Guardian’s Contracted, but Lisle understood. Her own mouth split in an echoing grin.

Ell moved onward then, slowing as she approached the entrance to Guardian Cavern. She stepped through the greystone archway with Lisle following closely behind. Ell stopped and her tail dropped unexpectedly to the floor. Lisle had to make a fast adjustment in her forward pace and do a little hop to avoid stepping squarely on that vulnerable tip. As it was, she had to catch herself with hands outstretched on Ell’s hindquarters. Ell didn’t seem to notice. She stood perfectly still.

Lisle moved to the side so she could peer out and around Ell to see what had halted their forward progress.

Her jaw dropped in awe. Ten enormous Guardians lined the circumference of the cavern in a large circle. Each sat in the same upright pose with deepest green-blue and olive-green heads erect on curved necks. Forearms on the ground before them, claws neatly curled under. Long tails gracefully wrapped about their bodies reaching across in front of them and then around the other side, huge wings lay in folds upon their backs. Each one turned golden eyes to stare at Ell and Lisle.

Ten Contracted stood in formal pose in front of the Guardians. Heads up, shoulders back, arms to the side. Each wearing the colors of their Guardian they stared at Ell and Lisle, eyes calm and faces relaxed.

On the ledge at the far side of the Cavern, Lisle saw Terris, a huge smile spread over his face. He lifted one hand, palm out, wiggling his fingers at her in greeting. His greying hair was plastered to his scalp, and it looked as though he’d attempted to shave most of the scraggly beard that usually resided on his face. Just a short tuft was left dangling from his chin, and a bit on his upper lip. Beside him sat Gareth, straight, serious and handsome. He nodded to her and she saw the corners of his lips curve upward.

Lisle’s eyes trailed above her companions and she was astounded to see what must have been a thousand flyer folk clinging to a wall of the cavern, slowly fanning their wings in the sunlight pouring through the crater far above. The light shone off their iridescent wings reflecting tiny rainbows into the cavern. Together with the sparkling of the light off the crystal embedded in the greystone of the walls, the effect was mesmerizing.

Lisle looked for Moss, hoping to catch a glimpse of her friend, and somehow discovered her amidst the myriad folk. Green hair formed a nimbus about her tiny face and her wings beat a more rapid pulse than any of the others.

Tearing her eyes away, Lisle saw the largest of the Guardians, Gran Bryl, elegantly dip her chin toward a space in the circle of Guardians just next to her. Ell, hesitated a moment more, then picked up her tail and paced across the circle to Gran Bryl. Lisle closed the mouth that she realized had hung open throughout her awestruck survey of the scene before her, and nervously picked her way across the cavern behind her Guardian. Whatever was about to happen, there was no turning back now.
 
 

Lisle and Healer Deloren stood in Gareth’s small room where he sat on the side of his cot, looking back and forth between them. Lisle could hardly stand still. She clasped her hands behind her and tried to settle herself down. Deloren was going to teach her the healing technique that she did with her hands. Lisle had seen Deloren use this healing method a number of times and was thrilled to be learning it now.

Her thoughts tumbled over each other in her excitement.  As Ell’s Hand, Lisle would need healing skills to aid those who needed her. She would be like Healer Deloren. Not only that, but as Ell’s Voice, she was learning all that Bryllint could teach her about the Book of One and the history of Gaea and the Guardians. It was all so exciting! Happiness bubbled up inside and Lisle started to bounce up and down on her toes.

Deloren looked at her, her lips curving upward and dimples appearing in her cheeks. Then she turned her attention to Gareth. “Gareth, thank you for agreeing to help with Lisle’s initiation.”

Gareth’s smiled in response. A smile which widened considerably when his attention was caught by the movement of Lisle’s anticipatory bouncing.

“Gareth?” Deloren drew his eyes back to her own. “Remember how I held my hands over your leg and it felt warm?” Deloren demonstrated by holding her hands, palms down, just above his leg.

“I remember. Eased the pain. Made all the difference.”

“Just so. The body utilizes the energy according to it’s need.” Deloren turned to Lisle. “Lisle please hold out your hands, palms up.”

Lisle managed to stop bouncing and did so, looking up at Deloren to see what she would do next. Deloren took several deep breaths. Lisle could feel the stillness that radiated from Deloren. Without conscious intention, Lisle mirrored her and took several deep, calming breaths.

Deloren’s smooth alto filled the room around them. “Thank you my One, for the Blessing of Healing given long ago. Thank you now, for bestowing this Blessing upon your daughter, Lisle, that she may serve as healer for those in need.” Then Deloren lifted a hand and drew a circular pattern with her first finger in the air before her. She made the same motions again, drawing the circles on the palms of each of her own hands. When she was complete, she gently took hold of Lisle’s hands one at a time, and drew the pattern with her finger in the same manner on Lisle’s palms.

Deloren released Lisle’s hands and looked into her eyes. Lisle felt like she dove into a vast lake of sapphirine blue as Deloren’s eyes enfolded her in a loving embrace. Mesmerized Lisle didn’t respond when Deloren instructed her to place her hands in the air just above Gareth’s leg.

Deloren’s lips twitched, and she repeated her instruction. Lisle looked at Gareth shyly, then ducked her head and held her hands above his leg.

“Gareth, would you show Lisle the location of the wound on your leg?”

Gareth pointed to his thigh and Lisle moved her hands over the area he indicated. As she did so, Deloren placed her own hands above Lisle’s, just barely touching the backs of Lisle’s hands. The healer stood quietly, eyes closed. Lisle closed her eyes in response and wondered what would happen. Would she feel anything?  Her question was soon answered as she felt Deloren’s hands rapidly heat up. Lisle could feel her own hands tingling and pulsing with warmth. Deloren moved her hands away. Lisle felt increasing heat now radiate from her own palms. Her hands felt burning hot. Could that be right?

She opened her eyes and looked to Deloren for assurance, even as Lisle still held her hands in position above Gareth’s leg. Deloren smiled and nodded assent.

“That’s warm,” said Gareth. “as warm as Deloren does it, Lisle.”

Lisle looked at her hands, expecting to see them reddened and burned. But they looked perfectly normal, despite the fiery heat that radiated from them.

“The channel is open Lisle, and you can do this on your own now. Practice as often as you can, on yourself and others.”

“C…can I d…d…do this for Ell?”

“Yes, it will be very good for her. And once you and Ell have undergone the Ritual of the One, you will be able to channel this healing energy even more strongly through her, as her Hand.”

Lisle felt the heat leave her hands and she dropped them to her sides and moved away from Gareth.

Gareth looked back and forth between Deloren and Lisle, “Is that all I get today?”

Deloren chuckled, “Now you’re just being greedy. I’ve seen you traipsing all over the tunnels without even a stick for support. You hardly need healing energy anymore.”

Gareth grinned and winked at her. Then he groaned and grabbed at his leg. “Oh, the pain! Ow, it’s terrible!”

“Get on with you.” Deloren cuffed him on the shoulder. “Come on Lisle, we’ve real injuries to attend to.”

“Ta!” Said Gareth to their retreating backs.

Out in the tunnelway Lisle turned to Deloren. “W…we do?”

“No, but we can’t let him think he’s our only one, now can we? Besides we’ve gathering to do.”

“G….gathering!” Lisle skipped ahead down the tunnel to get her pack and waved at her teacher as Deloren took a different turn to pick up her gathering supplies.

“Meet you at the Mouth,” said Deloren.

Having grabbed her pack and a warm outer layer, Lisle raced out the tunnelway and waited at the entrance leading to Guardian Cavern for Healer Deloren. She shivered as the early morning chill seeped through even the outer layer she had pulled on, and gazed out over the mountainside, out to the horizon, way off in the misty distance. Lisle felt her gut tingling in a happy way. This morning is filled with wonderful things, she thought, as she took a deep breath of the fresh morning air. First the initiation and now we’re to hunt medicinal herbs for making a healing balm for Ell. Deloren told her yesterday that dragon skin required the healing herbs that grew in the grey stone outcroppings surrounding the base of Guardian Mountain. It was best to harvest the herbs in the early morning. That’s where they were going now.

Lisle clasped her arms, slapping her hands against her upper arms, and walked from one side of the tunnel and back again. A fall chill was in the air this morning, marking the time for the Ritual of the One almost upon them. She felt her stomach give a lurch. She had so much to learn and so little time to learn it.

Deloren sauntered along the tunnel toward her, a smile playing about her lips. “Ready Lisle?”

Her calm, friendly manner put Lisle right at ease, and she skipped up to Deloren, abandoning worry. As they walked out together into the early morning mist, Lisle saw the sun, a flat, white disk that would soon burn off the mists leaving the day so bright she’d need the hat she had stuffed into her pack.  As she skipped along beside Deloren, Lisle’s thoughts ranged ahead to where they would gather the herbs. Then they would take them back to the kitchen to make into balm for Ell. Perhaps Terris would have something nice for them to munch on while they worked.

A familiar, loud buzzing caught her attention and she looked at her shoulder knowing she would see Moss settling onto her accustomed seat atop her pack.

“D..Day of the One M…Moss.”  

Moss reached up an arm, burnished spring bright green by the strengthening sun and patted Lisle’s neck.

“Thank you for joining us Moss. You’ve a sharp eye for the herbs and we’ll welcome your help,” said Deloren.

Moss chittered in response, her sharp-chinned face looking forward eagerly.

They settled into a rhythm, hiking down the stony mountain path and Lisle’s mind filled with thoughts about healing herbs, and making them into poultices, balms and teas. She thought about how she was now initiated into energy healing and how she could help Ell and others who might need her. A new feeling arose within her. It started slowly in her heart, a gradual expansion and a growing excitement. Maybe she was more than she had been. Maybe she was someone who could make a difference.

Lisle raced to the cave of the healing pool, knowing Ell was there. She caught the edge of the rough stone entry with her extended hand, catapulting herself into the room. “Ell! Ell!” Ell lifted her shining head, steaming water dripping from narrow, scaled jaws, even as the rest of her reclined in the sulphurous waters, her eyes half-closed in relaxation. Lisle knelt at the side of the pool and threw tanned young arms about Ell’s slender neck, hugging her close. Then in a trembling, sweet voice, she sang to Ell of her amazing discovery, making up the tune as she went along. The words flowed, bubbling joyously out of her like the bubbling pool before her. She felt Ell’s love surround her and leaned against her, resting her head against the heat of Ell’s nape.

She didn’t know how long they stayed like that. Ell seemed to be content to stay with her as long as she chose, but her knees started to get sore and she released her hold and stood up abruptly. Ell blinked lazy, golden eyes at her.

Lisle needed to move. The excitement wouldn’t let her be still any longer. She bent over and kissed Ell’s nose, then turned and skipped out into the hallway. Her feet took her in the direction of the kitchen, maybe Terris was there.

Moss flitted up the tunnel toward her, chittering musically.

“Day of the One Moss!” Sang Lisle.

Moss turned and winged beside her as Lisle kept skipping, not stopping for conversation.

She heard voices from the kitchen even before she reached the doorway. Gareth was there. She heard his low rumble and an answering guffaw from Terris. Lisle happily skipped into their midst to see an aproned Terris up to his elbows in flour and sticky dough, while Gareth lounged against the side of the table, gesturing with his hands, obviously illustrating some tale he was telling Terris.

Moss zipped to Terris’ shoulder and looked with interest at the bread dough.

“Now you wait up there, Moss. It ain’t baked yet and you’ll jess get yerself all stuck up like last time,” Terris said around a laugh.

Gareth chuckled and looked up at Lisle as she skidded to a stop. “You look pleased with yourself.”

Lisle grinned, took a deep breath and sang, “I’m to be Ell’s Hands and Voice, and I can do it just about fine!”

Gareth tilted his head, eyes smiling. “Why you can at that.”

Terris gave the beige lump before him a resounding slap. “Well Younger! I see you gots a new way of oratin’. We’ll be expectin’ some good stories out a’ you.”

Lisle’s head jerked back and she blinked her eyes rapidly. She took several deep breaths and relaxed as a feeling of determination welled up inside.  She would be Ell’s Voice.
 
*****
Gran Bryl would have laughed if her dragon body could have done such a thing. It didn’t matter, she long ago came to accept the limitations of the physical. It didn’t limit her enjoyment. She felt Ell’s happiness as if it were her own, and reveled in it. Then she thought back to her son bouncing delightedly along the Pathways of the One. Thank you my One, for your countless blessings. What she hoped and prayed for, had happened. Fal had come back to the One. Ell’s sacrifice made that possible. Gran Bryl sent a heartfelt thought of gratitude to her youngest, as she felt hope awaken within her.

The Gran Eldress adjusted her great bulk to better expose her aching hind joints to the warm shaft of sunlight flowing through the cavern opening high above her, and her thoughts took another turn. It is time. Ell is almost fully healed. Her abilities as a Guardian have grown tremendously. Even with the little training that I’ve been able to give her in her recovery, she is showing great promise.  

The sun gradually moved, the slanting warmth shifting and Gran Bryl moved her hips and tail with a heaving effort to follow it. Her thoughts shifted with the sun.  Ell’s Contracted, is unsure of herself, fearful of her new responsibilities. Yet, Gran Bryl knew that Lisle longed with all her heart to be Voice and Hands for Ell. That was enough. Lisle needed more training before she would be ready to go out into the world as a Voice of the One. I will make sure she gets what she needs. Gran Bryl took a deep, trembling  breath, feeling the sun-warmed air stirring the dampened fires inside her. 

A deep groan rumbled through her chest as she had the thought, not for the first time, that even when Ell and Lisle underwent the Ritual of the One, it would not be enough. She felt that rising seedling of hope within her shiver.  With Ell and Lisle, the Guardians and their Contracted’s would make eleven pairs, not enough to tip the balance of Gaea to the light and allow the Day of Rising. The shadow of the Others grew in the Pathways. Soon, the Guardians would not be able to hold the darkness back and it would swallow Gaea whole. Then it would move on to the next world and the next after that. Already the insidious influence of the Others spread among the humans of Gaea as greed, anger, fear and jealousy forced the humans apart, creating divisions in their communities and their families.  It lured the humans out of the light and into darkness, away from the One.

The Great Council of the One placed the Guardians on Gaea to hold the light and prevent that from happening. But without the twelfth Guardian and his Contracted they would fail. Gaea would be lost, and they would have to start over again, in new bodies, on another world. A shiver ran the length of Gran Bryl’s spine at the thought. Show me the way, my One, she prayed. Show me how to bring Fal back to us, back to your service. 

Lisle swung her legs off a ledge of grey rock where she sat at the mouth of the tunnel leading into Guardian Mountain. She stared out at aqua blue sky stretching out over the tops of pine and scrub brush dotting the mountainside. It was an inspiring view, but Lisle felt anything but inspired. She hadn’t wanted to stay out on the mountainside after meeting Tim and thinking about that Guardian. It left her with a distinctly uneasy feeling in her stomach.  Yet she wasn’t ready to face anyone else. Her emotions were still raw from Gareth’s angry rejection of her and her fears for him.

Her thoughts slipped back to that meeting on the mountainside. The boy seemed nice enough, but that dark Guardian was out there. Somewhere close enough that Tim came walking up the side of the mountain. She searched the sky before her looking for black wings against the blue, but saw nothing. She was not reassured. Could Tim be that Guardian’s Contracted? If that was true, what did it say about Tim? She hadn’t felt any malice from him, just the opposite. But how could she really know? She couldn’t, but she did know someone who might. Lisle leapt down lightly and traced her way back into the mountain to find her own Guardian.

Coming up the hallway she saw a slowly moving figure at the far end. Getting a little closer she was surprised to realize it was Gareth. He held onto the wall with one hand, pushing himself along and using a crutch under his other arm. In this way he made halting progress toward her. Closer now, he looked up at her and stopped, lifting his hand from the wall in a tentative wave. Relief at seeing him up and moving warred with her anger and hurt. Lisle took a deep breath and huffed it out, then walked up to him. She looked him in the eye. As so often before the words stuck in her throat and she said nothing.  

He held her eyes with his, then shrugged his shoulders and looked down, “I’ve been a fool Lisle, thinking only of myself. I know. I’m sorry. What matters is that you and Ell, Terris and Moss all reached Guardian Mountain.” He hesitated, then looked up at her, “How are they?”

Lisle stared at him, one side of her mouth curled in exasperation. “T…Terris and Moss are g…good. E…Ell is g…g…getting better.” She stared at him. “Y…You?”

“I’ll get better now. You’ll see.”

Lisle nodded, mouth pursed, then stepped around him and continued down the hall. She knew he was watching her go, hoping for some sign from her that she forgave him. She could feel his eyes on her back. Lisle had already forgiven him, she was so relieved for his change of heart, but she wasn’t ready to give him what he hoped for just yet. Let him stew for a bit.

She had others things to do, she needed to find Ell.

*****
Healer Deloren entered the small room that was Gareth’s, wrappings and balm held in her hands. The same as she had every day since Gareth and the others came to Guardian Mountain. Only now there was a difference. The corners of her mouth twitched upward as she thought of Gareth. He was improving rapidly. His lanky figure was a common sight now, determinedly exercising his leg, walking up and down the many tunnelways throughout Guardian Mountain. His recovery was so rapid that Deloren could only watch with amazement.

She entered his room to find him sitting up on his cot, wrapped leg extended before him while the other rested, knee bent, foot on the floor. A clutter of wood shavings covered his lap, pale white curls scattered over the cot and the floor beneath him. He looked up at her, his hands stilled. One hand held a small knife. The other, a wooden object, that he quickly hid behind his back. Deloren ignored his actions, so like a younger caught doing something he shouldn’t. Obviously, he didn’t want her to know what he was working on, although the evidence of it was all around him.

Without preamble she entered and began to unwrap his leg. She was glad to see that the wound now healed cleanly. Deloren looked up at Gareth. “Looking better. It was a near thing. That arrow penetrated the bone.” She could leave off the wrapping today. The leg no longer needed it and the air would do it good.

Gareth smiled. “You’ve tended me well, Deloren.” A mischievous gleam lit his eyes which crinkled at the corners.  “I do seem to be a target for every stray arrow that comes my way. So, I may need your tending again.”

Deloren chuckled half-heartedly, inwardly cringing. He had not been the easiest patient to work with. “For now, you’re well enough so you no longer need my help. I’ll be off to see about those that do.” Deloren turned to leave.

“Wait. I’ve made you something.”

Deloren turned back, curiosity arguing with her desire to get on to her next patient. Gareth stuck out his hand toward her. On his palm rested a miniature Guardian. At least she thought that’s what it was. It was a bit misshapen. The body was squat, with evidence of a tail curled about it, and there was a short neck with an over-sized head perched atop.

“It’s your Guardian, Loren.” Gareth tilted his head, pulled his hand back and peered at the figure seated there. “At least that’s what it’s supposed to be.” He stuck his hand out again still looking at it critically. “It’s the best I could do.” Then he looked her in the eyes. “I know I didn’t make it easy for you. I’m sorry. I am grateful for your care.”

Deloren smiled and inclined her head, accepting his offering for the peace token it was.

Then she left him to return the unused wrapping to the stores. She mused upon Gareth’s sudden recovery after so long not healing. She had seen it before. A person who should have healed and didn’t. No matter the care of her tending, nor the healing prayers of the Guardians, if a person didn’t want to heal, they sickened. A person’s will is a powerful thing, thought Deloren. I’m glad that one decided to heal.
​
Deloren arrived at the stores and replaced the still fresh wrappings. There was another whom she must tend to, a kitchen attendant laid low by a sick of the seasonal variety. She knew what was needed to ensure a rapid recovery and gathered the herbs from the cupboard. Thoughts of Gareth’s recovery stored away, as she had just stored the unused wrappings, the Healer moved off to tend the one who now needed her.
 

​Lisle reached to hold Ell’s head with both hands and leaned down to kiss the smooth, scaled muzzle. Ell gazed lovingly at her, gold eyes soft, then turned and floated to the other side of the pool, paddling with her great, hind legs on the rocky bottom. Lisle watched her, admiring the graceful curve of carmine tipped spinal ridges and tail snaking through the water. Then she resolutely walked back to Gareth’s tiny room.

​Standing outside the curtained doorway she announced herself and pushed the curtain aside. A small amount of light from the torches in the hallway shone on Gareth’s back. He lay in the shadows, just as before, shoulders hunched within his much-rumpled tunic, bandaged leg resting bent kneed, his face turned to the wall. He said nothing.

Lisle hooked the curtain open. Then she took her courage in hand and faced Gareth squarely, hand on her hips, legs spread wide. She glared at his back and took a deep breath, “G…Gareth, e…enough. Y…you can’t j…just d…die. You’re d…doing n…nothing to h…h…” She stamped her foot on the floor in her frustration to get the words out, “help yourself. D…Delorin s…says you’re g…going to l…l…lose your leg i…if y…you don’t try t…to get well.”

Feeling exhausted from the effort of pushing so many words out, Lisle felt frustration and fear engulf her. Her eyes watered up, and she tightened her lips as if that might hold in the tears.

Gareth turned slowly over, grimacing with the pain from his inflamed and swollen leg.

“What do you care what happens to me? I let everyone down.”

Eyebrows pinching, mouth turned down in frustration, Lisle watched Gareth.

“I couldn’t do my job. I couldn’t protect anyone.” Gareth’s eyes fell to the floor. “You don’t understand. I’ve always been strong. I’ve always been the leader. I was the one everyone looked up to. I wish I’d never met that Guardian…” His voice trailed off. He closed his eyes and lay back.

Heat flooded Lisle’s cheeks. A tear overflowed, running down the side of her face and she brushed it away impatiently. How dare he lay there and let himself die just because he felt sorry for himself? 

“You, you self-important, puffed-up, strutting, ground flier! You let yourself get sicker and sicker just because you weren’t the one to save Ell?”

Gareth looked up at her, a shocked expression on his face.

“Just because things worked out the way they did and Terris was able to save Ell, you feel like it shoulda’ been you? What about the rest of us, all worried sick about you?”

Lisle stomped about the tiny room, arms flailing at the air.

As she ranted, color came back into Gareth’s pale face. What could have been a smile began to play about his cracked, dry lips as his eyes tracked her movements.

“I don’t care that you weren’t the one who jumped off that cliff. I’m glad you weren’t. It was awful seeing Terris…” Lisle gulped back a sob that threatened and more words poured out of her mouth. “But you aren’t thinking about that are you? No! No, you’re just thinking about how you aren’t the big protector saving Ell every time there’s trouble! You’re just thinking about yourself!”

Gareth’s dark eyes narrowed, hardened. The corners of his mouth turned down. Gritting his teeth, he pushed himself to a sitting position, back braced against the wall.

The motion caught Lisle’s attention and she stopped her tirade. Scuffling her feet, color suffusing cheeks already pink with agitation, she looked down, away from Gareth.
​
 “Get out.”

Lisle froze, mouth slightly open, eyes wide, then she turned and ran from the room.

Gareth’s eyelids fluttered shut, and he leaned his head back against the wall.

You’re pathetic Gareth, he thought. Now you’re scaring little girls. What is the matter with you?

His thoughts took a darker turn.  I’m nothing, nobody, that’s what. Nothing matters anymore. It’s that Guardian’s fault. If only I hadn’t found her that day in the woods.

Gareth knew there was something wrong with the logic of this line of thought. It didn’t  really make sense. It wasn’t the Guardian’s fault. He thought. It wasn’t even my fault. Things happened the way they did and it was lucky for all of us that Terris and Moss were there.  Gareth’s eyes blinked open. The dark thoughts that had been gripping him now seemed a little ridiculous.

I’m better than this. He thought. So, maybe I wasn’t the big protector like I wanted to be. Maybe I don’t have to be the one everyone looks up to all the time. The thought brought an unexpected sense of relief. His felt his lips curve upward. With a self-deprecating laugh, he shook his head.  Lisle’s right. I’ve been doing nothing but feeling sorry for myself. He resolved to do better. He owed Lisle an apology, but first he’d have to get back on his feet.

Setting his jaw against the pain he knew would follow, he pushed himself upright and stood on one leg, hand braced against the rough rock of the wall. Red streaks of lightning pain shot out from the wound in his thigh, almost overwhelming him. He grabbed at the wall to support himself and then reached out blindly, grasping for the crutch which Healer Delorin had left for him near his pallet, and which he had ignored up until this point. Then taking a deep, steadying breath, he hobbled one painful step forward and then another. Slowly, he made his way out of the shadowed space behind him. The light of the hallway glinted at him from countless sparkling facets in the walls, and he squinted against the brightness. Leaning heavily on his crutch, he made his way slowly down the hall to find Lisle.

The gloom of the stone-walled space in which Gareth lay, suited him. He was deep inside Guardian Mountain, the twists and turns of the tunnels leading to this small cave were confused in his mind. He had no idea how he would get out. That is, if he had any desire to get out, which he didn’t. His only desire was to lie here and suffer. He deserved it. He was a failure as a protector. The only thing he had ever really cared about in his life and he had failed miserably. He turned his face toward the wall and saw only grey stone, flecked with black. Perfect, he thought.
​
Gareth heard scuffing footsteps enter through the cave opening at his back. He recognized the light steps as the Healer Deoren, who visited each day to change the wraps on Gareth’s leg and tend his wound. Gareth knew his leg wasn’t healing as it should. He heard the inhalations of distress and softly voiced exclamations as Deoren unwrapped his leg, inadvertently jostling the painful appendage and causing him excruciating pain. Gareth gritted his teeth and bore through it.  

He didn’t know what the healer looked like. He never turned over or engaged her in any way. He listlessly tolerated her ministrations and waited for her to go away. But he couldn’t avoid her voice, low, melodious and calming. Deoren chatted as she worked. Over the days she had told Gareth all about Guardian Mountain, and how it was honeycombed with openings small and large, housing the Guardian’s Contracteds, as well as an enormous community of Flier Folk. She waxed eloquent about her own Guardian, Del, going on and on about how beautiful, wise and brave he was. She more than once made the point that Gareth should get well so he could get up and view the wonders of Guardian Mountain for himself.

The chatter only served to drive Gareth deeper within himself. He didn’t want to hear about the other’s in Guardian Mountain. He didn’t care about the wonders of the light- filled spaces . He especially didn’t want to hear about her brave Guardian. They all deserved to be here. He didn’t, lying abed, wounded even before the fighting began.

His mind looped back over familiar, painful territory. Three times Ell was in terrible danger, three times it was Terris or Moss who saved her. How was that even possible? Tiny Moss? And how about Terris? When Gareth first met Terris he was a cowardly, greedy little man, hoarding food like a tree climber. Then he changed. Gareth had to admit to himself that Terris had changed. So much so that Gareth considered him to be a friend, a man Gareth respected and trusted. Terris has done better protecting Ell than I have. I’d choose him at my back any day.

A dark, provoking voice insinuated itself into his thoughts, slithering and cold. Would Terris choose you to guard his back? Would Lisle? How about Ell or Moss? Why would they? You’d just get yourself shot and be useless to them. You are pathetic, a useless worm of a man.  

The voice chilled him to the bone, and a feeling of horror shuddered through Gareth’s body. The inner voice had a creeping quality, entwining itself into his awareness so cleverly that Gareth never suspected the thoughts were not his own.

Mind wandering, Gareth remembered his childhood and growing into a young man. He had never had reason to question his abilities. He led and others followed. That’s just the way it was for him. As a boy, the other children looked up to him. They sought to earn his friendship and respect. He had never questioned the fact that he didn’t have to earn their respect. It came naturally.  

But not anymore, said the voice, turning his attention away from the memories of self-respect as if they had never happened.

No, thought Gareth. Not anymore. How can I face Terris or worse, Lisle or Ell, even Moss? What must they think of me, always wounded, useless? I am pathetic.

It’s that Guardian’s fault. She thinks she’s so special. She’s not.

The idea stunned Gareth. It appealed to him, even as his logical mind objected. Maybe it was the Guardian’s fault, he thought. He’d never have been shot if not for her. He’d have been sitting in a tavern with Lur, enjoying himself. Then he’d never have felt this pain.

It’s her fault. She’s to blame.

Yes, thought Gareth. It’s her fault. Anger sparked, burning away at the grey folds of depression wrapped about him.

The following day, Healer Deoren found Gareth in the same position she always found him in, lying on his side, back to the door, staring at the greystone wall. He had been withdrawn and sullen ever since they brought him in. She unwrapped Gareth’s leg, noting the sudden grimace of pain on his face. He surprised her by turning his head and staring at her, dark eyes hard. He said nothing, his eyes piercing her.
 
Deoren didn’t like the looks of those eyes and she didn’t like the looks of Gareth’s leg. The area around the wound was hot and reddened, swollen, obviously painful. The wound itself oozed a yellowish fluid, the edges white, un-healing. No, she didn’t like the looks of this at all. Deoren looked back at Gareth’s face. The man still stared at her. Unnerved, Deoren checked her own inner responses, an integral part of her healing practice. She felt a creeping sensation, something revolting spreading within him. It felt like infection, but none she’d ever encountered before. It worried her considerably.

She rewrapped Gareth’s leg with fresh herbs and bandaging, her increasing anxiety driving her to work as quickly as she could. She didn’t want to be there any longer than she had to. There was something wrong here and she needed to find out what.  She left Gareth’s bedside deeply concerned for the young man. What was preventing him from healing? What was that awful creeping sensation she felt inside him?

Deoren looked up and noted gratefully, the carefully tended lanterns hanging at regular intervals along the passageway deep with Guardian Mountain. The light reflected back from the walls in countless tiny sparkles. So beautiful, she thought, then shook her head and sighed deeply as her thoughts strayed back to the angry, young man she’d just left. Dispiritedly, she traced the long, familiar route to the Cavern. There, she would immerse herself in the loving wisdom of her Guardian, Del. Maybe together they could find an answer.

Lisle, and the kind woman she now knew as Healer Delorin, made their way down the mountain path accompanied by a clatter of flyer folk in the air above them. The thought crossed Lisle’s mind that clatter was exactly the right name for the whirring, noisy flock hovering overhead. She glanced over at Delorin, glad for the healer’s solid bulk between herself and the sheer drop-off where the edge of the path met nothing but sky. She had had enough of that view on the way up, and her legs were shaky from her exertions both physical and emotional over the past several hours. As her mind returned to what lay ahead, her gut constricted painfully and her breath caught in her throat. Worry over her companions, especially Ell, turned into a monologue of ‘what if’s’ in her mind.

Half-sliding down the gravelly path, stones rasping underfoot creating miniature rock slides, they arrived back with Lisle's companions. Lisle skidded to Ell’s side as the whispering cloud of flyers above them, divided, the majority streaking to Ell, and others continuing to Terris who slumped beside the Guardian.

Lisle was relieved to see that Ell was awake. She lay prone upon the path, in the same position as when they’d left, but her eyes were open now. Her wounds oozing a sluggish, deep crimson.

Delorin quickly checked Ell, Terris and then Gareth, before returning to Ell. When Ell lifted her head weakly and looked at Delorin, then looked pointedly at Terris, Delorin admonished her. “They’ll do for now. You’re the one in need.” Ell subsided with a deep groan and laid her head back down.

Several of the flyer folk alighted on Gareth’s injured leg. “Tend to Ell and Terris you,” and he tried to wave them away. They lifted off, hovering briefly, then landed again. He dropped his hand limply and looked away, the corners of his mouth tilting down and a crease deepening between his brows.

With Ell and Terris in many good hands, large and small, Lisle sank down beside Gareth. She stared at the arrow protruding from his leg, wincing at the pain she knew it caused him, and thought that she really should do something about it. Glancing up at his face she saw that his cheeks burned red even as the rest of his face was pale and sweaty. He held his face turned away, lips pressed tightly in a hard, straight line and eyes staring intensely at the ground. Lisle felt a wave of emotion emanating from him, but was sure she was mistaken. What does he have to be ashamed of? 

Nervous now, afraid of the pain she would cause him, she reached with trembling hands for the shaft of the arrow.

“I’ll take care of that Young One,” said Delorin looking over her shoulder at Lisle. “Just make him comfortable and I’ll be there shortly.”

“I’m alright, Lisle. Stop fussing,” said Gareth, looking at her with hard eyes.

“I’m n…not f…f…fussing,” said Lisle, stung by the anger she felt beneath his words. She dropped her hands and scrambled up and away from him. “Can I h...h...help it if y…you always end up looking like a q…q…quill climber?”

Gareth jerked his face away, his cheeks staining a deeper red, and was silent.

Lisle looked at him, lips pursed in frustration, then she shrugged. If he didn’t want help, she wouldn’t give it to him. She’d tend to Ell and Terris. As she moved down the path toward her Guardian a small contingent of three flyers supporting a fourth, injured flyer between them, landed gently beside Ell.

“Moss!” Lisle was elated to see her friend and relieved to have something else to think about besides Gareth. She stepped quickly over to the little group and knelt down. Moss pushed herself upright carefully with the aid of the flyers supporting her. One of her wings hung, bent at an uncomfortable looking angle. The rest of her seemed unharmed.

“M…Moss, you…you’re alright!”

Moss smiled up at her, an expression more like a grimace, and nodded her head. Tendrils of moss green hair straggled about her  sharp-chinned face. Her tunic hung limply on her shoulders. She held herself upright with one tiny arm braced against her companion, and gestured delicately with the other arm toward Ell.

“Ell’s g…going to b…be al…alright,” said Lisle as she followed the direction of Moss’s gesture with her eyes. “I h…hope,” she whispered.
  
With Delorin’s efficient aid, and whatever it was that the flyer folk did, it wasn’t long before Ell was able to stand. Terris too, woke, and after a few disoriented minutes, stood up beside Ell.

Delorin moved to tend Gareth and he waved his hand at her as if to shoo her away. She stood in front of him and closed her eyes. Then she overlapped her hands on her chest and took several slow, deep breaths. When she opened her eyes, she put her hands on her hips and just stood there, staring at him. He relented, ungraciously gesturing toward his leg. Gareth made no sound, even as the color drained from his face when Delorin wrenched the arrow from his leg and bandaged him carefully. Gareth looked briefly at her then, and lifted his chin in thanks. Delorin acknowledged that with a head bob of her own.

With Gareth standing, bandaged leg held up, leaning on his bow, the companions began to move slowly up the path with a cloud of hovering flyer folk over them, and Delorin walking behind.

Moss was lifted into the air by her staunch flyer companions once again and joined the hovering clatter.

Lisle moved up beside Terris and Ell. “Th..that was the b…bravest thing I e…ever saw. T…Terris y...you saved us.” Then she looked at Ell, her eyes filling with tears.  “Ell y…you saved T…Terris. I th…thought I was g…going to lose you b…b..both.” Hot tears overflowed, rolling down her cheeks.

Terris patted her awkwardly on the shoulder and said nothing. He looked at her, his lips compressed, twitching back and forth as if not knowing quite what to do with themselves. Color suffused his cheeks and neck and he blinked rapidly, looking away.

The clatter of flyer folk moved like one being back up toward Guardian Cavern, quickly disappearing from sight, carrying Moss away with them.

Ell, once again led the way, though much more slowly this time. Her movements were stiff and looked painful. Lisle followed close behind, walking beside Terris, his hand on her shoulder. She felt his weight as he leaned upon her, and was glad he at least allowed her to support him.

Gareth waved away Delorin’s offer of an arm to lean upon, growling, “Tend those as needs you.”
​
Together again, wounded, hurting and now silent, the companions aided by Delorin, trudged up Guardian Mountain toward the Cavern, each sunk in their own thoughts.
 

​Lisle felt tears tickle along her cheeks and drip from her chin as she stood up and eased her back. She had been staunching the flow of blood from Ell’s many wounds as best she knew how with only her small tunic as a cloth. She looked now at Ell as her Guardian lay stomach down on the ground. Her long neck stretched out before her and her jaw rested on the rocky earth beneath her, her wings were splayed unnaturally. Ell’s eyes were closed, and she seemed to be sleeping or unconscious. Lisle wasn’t sure which and it scared her.

Ell was covered with wounds, deep gouges on her sides, bite punctures along her spine, and scratches all over her neck. If not for her scaly hide Lisle was sure she would not have survived the attack. Lisle had managed to stop most of the bleeding, though the wounds looked raw and open, still weeping red on the deepest gouges along Ell’s abdomen.

“T…Terris, uh…uh…I  st…st…stopped the bl…bleeding.” Lisle looked over at Terris to discover him slumped over sideways, his head tilted at an uncomfortable angle, eyes closed. She had been so focused on tending Ell that she hadn’t seen how badly injured he was.

What do I do? She thought frantically, Ell and Terris needed more tending than she knew how to give them. Maybe someone at Guardian Cavern can help? She was reluctant to leave her companions. They would be alone and injured, defenseless. What if that awful Guardian came back? But there was nothing for it, she had to go.

“I’ll guh…get h…help, Ell.” Ell’s eyelids flickered slightly. Lisle thought Ell had heard her; she hoped so.

Lisle made Terris as comfortable as she could by repositioning his head. She touched Ell’s jaw gently and leaned over to give her a feather-light kiss. Then she took off at a run up the path toward Guardian Cavern.

To her vast relief she soon met Gareth hobbling down the path towards her, using his bow as a crutch. She was so happy to see him alive and upright she ran at him and threw her arms around him, almost knocking him over.

“Easy there, Lisle.” Gareth grit his teeth as she jostled his leg, but he hugged her back with one arm. “I’m glad to see you too. Where‘re the others?”

Stumbling over her words, Lisle gave him a shortened version of all that had happened.

“I’ll get down there and stay with ‘em. If that big Guardian comes back, I’ll… well, I’ll keep it busy.”

Lisle shuddered at the thought of that enormous, dark Guardian, and an injured Gareth trying to hold it off. The sooner she got to the cavern and got help, the better.

Then she had an awful thought. What if Ell’s attacker had come from Guardian Cavern? Would she be running right into it’s jaws? It had flown off in another direction entirely. Maybe it hadn’t come from the Cavern at all. She desperately hoped that was true. All their lives depended on it, because she had no other way to get help but to continue on to Guardian Cavern.

Her stomach in knots she waved at Gareth limply, and was about to start up the mountain again when she realized that Moss wasn’t with him.

“Gareth, wh…where’s M…Moss?”

“Moss? She went with Terris up the cliff. She’s not with him?”

Lisle shook her head, no. Feeling more frantic than ever, she turned and continued her headlong rush up the mountain, pinning her hopes on finding help for her companions.

Her race up Guardian Mountain felt like it took hours, though in fact it was much less. Still, she was exhausted by the time she stood at the entrance of the tunnel which she thought might lead into Guardian Cavern. Having only seen the mountain from above in her vision with Ell, she had no way of knowing if this was the right entrance.

Lisle looked into the perfect oval of the opening. As she stepped inside, the rough stone of the tunnel stretched overhead in a ropy formation. The surface reminded her of the cheese Mina sometimes purchased on market day in town, though the color was considerably darker. She walked in, sunlight stretched into the tunnel for a short distance and then the light in the tunnel got dimmer the further she moved from the entrance. I wish Mina was here, she thought, as the dark surrounded her. Mina would know what to do right now. Even more Lisle wished she had brought a torch. She hadn’t thought, there was so much light in her vision. Yet, the tunnel just got darker and darker as she walked deeper into the mountain.

Soon it was so dark that she reached up with her fingers to feel if her eyes were actually open. She couldn’t see anything, not even her fingers right in front of her eyes. Her imagination went wild, picturing that huge, dark Guardian looming before her, many toothed jaws waiting to grab her. Still, she forced herself to put one foot in front of the other and kept moving. With one hand on the wall of the tunnel she had some measure of the space around her. The tunnel wall proceeded straight ahead, inclining slightly. She didn’t know what else to do but follow it, wrestling with the vivid scenes of terror in her mind and hoping it would lead her to the cavern she had seen so clearly in her vision.

Gradually, she realized that up ahead she was able to see the oval of the tunnel outlined in the faintest sparkling of light. With intense relief she moved along faster, though she still kept one hand on the guiding wall of the tunnel. Faster and faster still, as the shimmering light guided her, she began to trot. The light grew brighter until looking down the tunnel she could see a complete circle of light. It shone out reflecting bright sparkles from the walls and ceiling of the passageway. She ran faster, letting go of the wall and making for the bright circle ahead with a feeling of desperation as if the dark behind might grab her and pull her back.

She burst out into a large opening. The intensity of the light was too bright for her dark-adjusted eyes and she squinted her lids almost shut against the glare. As her eyes slowly adjusted, she opened them wider and was able to make out a huge cavern, with walls covered in twinkling light. It curved up to a domed ceiling ending in a bright, circular opening at the top. She could see a veil of sunlit green leaves partially covering the opening. The total effect of the cavern was stunning. This was the cavern of her vision, the one that Ell had shown her.

As her eyes traveled back down, she was startled to realize that there was an enormous Guardian, lying prone on a shelf of rock at the far side of the cavern. Lisle breathed out a sigh of relief to see that it was not the dark Guardian. This Guardian was colored like Ell, with slight variations in the shadings of olive, yellow and red. It held it’s runner-like head high on a long, sinuous neck and stared at her fixedly. As Lisle took in this startling sight, she was aware of movement from all around the cavern. Other, smaller Guardians were lifting their heads, turning graceful necks towards her. Ten pairs of golden eyes looked at her, unblinking.

One help me, thought Lisle. She had to trust they would help her. Her knees felt wobbly. Gasping in a halting breath she took a tentative step into the cavern. Then, without allowing herself to think about what she was doing, she sprinted forward, right up to the biggest Guardian.

“Y…You’ve got to help us. Ell and Terris are hurt, so’s Gareth. I  d…d…don’t know where Moss is.”

Lisle was young and frantic enough not to realize that this Guardian might have no idea who she and her companions were. Tears rolled down Lisle’s cheeks as she looked up into the huge Guardian’s eyes. “We n…need…” Lisle knuckled her eyes to stop the betraying flow. “We need help!”

Lisle stared upwards. She had the strange sensation of falling up and into the Guardian’s golden orbs. The Guardian seemed to understand. Lisle knew suddenly and without doubt that everything was going to be alright and felt her knees go weak again, this time with relief.

As she started to sag, she felt strong, sure hands supporting her at the elbows. A woman had arrived and now stood at her side.
“You’ll be alright now, young one,” the woman said, quietly.

Lisle could feel her nurturing energy, so much like Mina’s. She allowed herself to lean toward her, resting in her strong hands.
A cloud of flyer folk lifted off from every corner of the cavern and swirled in an enormous, colorful tornado of clattering wings over Lisle’s head.

“Can you lead us to your companions?” Asked the woman.

Lisle’s lips curved upward. “Y…yes, b...bless the One,”  she said, eyes closing as she sagged against the woman. 

Ell moved as rapidly as her awkward gait could carry her, and idly wished, not for the first time, to be able to take to the air. Movement in the sky was pure grace for her, not the way it was here on this steep mountainside. Her claws scrabbled at the surface of the stony ground as she climbed higher.
​
The path she and Lisle traversed curved upward toward Guardian Cavern, angling back and forth as the incline steepened. Mountain winds, no longer the gentle valley breeze, pushed steadily at her from behind as if hurrying her along. Her legs felt strong beneath her, muscles powering her body upward, and she was grateful for that small blessing. The remainder of her was so tired, but they had to keep moving.

A gut-wrenching image of Gareth leapt to mind. They had left him in pain and alone, an arrow protruding from his thigh. Her stomach squeezed tight at the thought and it was all she could do not to turn around and go back for him.  Then she heard Lisle’s footsteps crunching over the gravelly surface behind her. She refocused her mind on the fact that Lisle was there and safe for now. That had to be enough.

Ell’s senses were on high alert, stretched to their utmost, making her feel twitchy and irritable. The sudden sound of clattering stones above them made her stop short, looking upward. She felt Lisle’s small hands pushing hard on her back end.

“Huh…hurry Ell.” The promise of cover under an overhang loomed up ahead of them.

Movement to the side caught her eye and her head whipped about as if under its own volition. She looked out into open air where the mountainside dropped off steeply beside the path. There she saw Terris and another man grappling as they fell, and heard Lisle scream, “Terris!” from behind her.

Without conscious thought Ell launched herself from the path and plummeted after the tangling, falling bodies. She kept her wings tucked, neck outstretched, diving after the doomed men.  

Ell felt herself moving faster than she ever had before. She had the sensation of being in a tunnel of wind, holding perfectly still as the air whistled past her. Instinct told her that her wings would snap if she opened them at this speed. She hurtled downward, not daring to slow her descent lest she miss Terris and the other man, the one that had been hunting them.

Almost upon them she reached desperately with both legs, talons extended wide. She grabbed at the tangle of men just touching a flailing arm with one talon, before they tumbled away.

Shrieking with desperation, she angled her body over and reached again. This time she was able to grab hold. She clenched her talons hard, but not too hard. One let me do this without injuring them.

Now the three of them fell together.

Not knowing what else to do, Ell risked opening her wings just a little to control their descent. The weight was terrible and she had a sudden vision of the delicate bones in her wings snapping apart, before they all fell to their deaths.
*****
The Hunter was prepared to die. His body, though, still sought survival, grasping onto the small man as if that might keep him alive. Even as they plummeted downward, the air rushing past him, inside he felt calm, accepting of the inevitable, relieved even.

It was with a shock then that he heard a terrible shriek, and felt the impact of huge claws grabbing onto them both.

Startled, he looked up to see the enormous, scaled legs and body of the Guardian above him. He had never been this close to the creature. Powerful muscles rippled under the olive-green scales on its hindquarters, just edged in a deep, blood red. Bright yellow stretched in smooth bands across its stomach and chest. With a clarity of focus brought on by imminent death, he was struck again by how beautiful the Guardian was, even from this unusual vantage point.

He stared, amazed, as it started to open its great wings, the edges of which flapped wildly in the rushing air. Their descent slowed just a little.

It was trying to stop their fall.   

The Hunter watched the Guardian struggling to fly. Clearly it was not strong enough to lift their combined weight, yet it did not let go. All three of them were tumbling in the air now, the mountainside rushing up toward them.

Would the Guardian die with them?

He realized that he could not, would not allow that to happen. He felt pain like lightening in his chest, sharp cracks streaking from sternum to neck. Emotions flooded in along with memories of his mother.

Memories he had long ago buried deep within a heart closed to all caring. His mother holding him as he cried. His mother standing up for him against his father, once again taking the beating intended for his young self. Then him, sobbing, holding her battered and lifeless body, suddenly alone in a terrifying world.

The Hunter couldn’t allow the Guardian to die for him, not like this, not the way his mother had. He was desperate to release himself. Forcing his hands and legs to let go of their hold on the small man, he ripped free from where the Guardian’s enormous claws held him. 

Looking upward as he fell away, he saw the Guardian look down at him. Still clutching the small man in her claws, she slowed their descent with wings now fully extended.
​
The Hunter relaxed then and gave himself to the winds.