Ell could feel her Contracted’s roiling emotions from where she floated. Her rapidly healing body was submerged in the steaming, bubbling waters of Guardian Mountain, even as her essence drifted peacefully along the Pathways of the One. Ell was able to maintain a multi-level awareness now. A new skill for her, which she practiced daily since Gran Bryl had taught her the technique. She was fully cognizant of her physical body in one dimensional reality, her light body on another, and her Contracted’s whereabouts, all at the same time. She was quite proud of herself. So, it was with both pleasure because of her awareness, and dismay at her Contracted’s emotional state of upheaval, that she awaited Lisle’s arrival. She had no doubt that Lisle would find her easily. Lisle had perfected that skill long ago.
​
Lisle burst into the cavern all out of breath. She slid to a stop beside the pool and threw herself down at Ell’s side. Ell lifted her head, steam wafting up to tickle along her jaw line before it evaporated in the hot, muggy air above the pool. She felt the hot water run in comforting rivulets down her neck. She was so accustomed to the odor of it that she no longer noticed the eggy smell, though from the way Lisle wrinkled her nose as she bent close to Ell’s head, her Contracted was not so immune.

Ell’s heart swelled in her chest as she leaned her head close, bending her neck in what she knew was a graceful pose, and touched Lisle’s forehead with her own. She was aware of the growing beauty of her physical presentation and it pleased her in a distant sort of way. Her light body was so much more real to her and so very much more beautiful, that its physical home didn’t concern Ell particularly. Though she did appreciate how quickly this body was healing.

Ell’s tail thrashed in the water of its volition in response to her Contracted’s volatile emotions. She intentionally opened her heart to receive the vibrational upsurge, and listened as Lisle’s anger and fear, the meeting on the mountainside, and the revelation of Fal’s origins all poured out of her, seemingly on one enraged breath.
 
Ell was concerned for Lisle. She was too serious most of the time. Her young life had been filled with so many demands. Where was the laughter and play that a young human ought to have?

Even as Lisle earnestly put her anger and fears into words, Ell spouted bubbles in the air trying to make her laugh. It didn’t work. Instead Lisle reprimanded her for not listening. Ell tucked her chin down and looked at Lisle with big eyes, a parody of chastened dragonhood, while Lisle continued with her tirade. Then Ell started spouting bubbles again. After that, she flipped upside down in the water and stuck her belly up in the air, waggling her tail, making little waves in the pool. She heard Lisle giggle then, despite what Ell knew was her frustration with her Guardian’s undignified activities. Finally, Lisle gave up with a sharply exhaled breath, and just sat beside Ell, running her fingers over Ell’s brow ridges, a slight smile curving her lips.

Lisle was calm now and Ell had something to show her. She lifted her muzzle and looked Lisle in the eyes. Her Contracted acknowledged the familiar invitation and closing her eyes and holding still as Ell tapped her forehead gently with the tip of her muzzle.

They dove together, deep into the sparkling ocean of the One. Deepest blue-black surrounded them. Pinpoints of light filled Ell’s vision. She saw that Lisle shone beside her, a bright, light azure, and knew that her own dark sapphire shone brighter still, guiding Lisle. They glided along the glimmering web of light together, Ell searching for the one she knew would be there.

Ah, she thought, there he is. She saw his radiant light, greys and blacks transformed to a deep blue now, with darkened edges thinning and transmuting to crystal clarity as he bounced along the pathways. He flitted from one spot to another, playfully dancing, never lingering in any one location.

Ell brought Lisle’s attention to the unusual spark of blue through the intensity of her own focus, and allowed Lisle to recognize just who it was they were watching. Lisle’s light flickered, a rapid pulsation from light to dark to light again, as recognition moved from fear and anger into surprise and then curiosity. 

When she felt Lisle was ready, Ell led the way closer to her brother’s light. She knew he was aware of them now, just as he had been aware of her many other attempts to communicate with him since the attack. His glittering deep light stilled for just a moment. Ell felt a rapid succession of impressions from him. She knew that Lisle would feel them too. Shame, regret, a yearning for forgiveness and an inability to forgive himself. Then, beneath it all, a wondering sense of love and a deep reluctance to allow that vulnerability to express through him. Then he danced away from them, off into the eternal depths of the Pathways, not permitting them to come close.

Ell led Lisle away then. Fal wasn’t ready to allow them any closer, and Ell had something else to show her. She was reluctant to place this weight on Lisle’s already burdened shoulders and yet her Contracted needed to understand.

Ell turned and scanned the web that surrounded them on all sides as they traveled rapidly along the strands. Then she could feel it, beneath them and off to the side, the spreading darkness. It obscured the light of the Pathways, and emitted a stench of overwhelming fear. An ominous storm cloud obliterating the light of the One, leaving only that swirling mass of blackness. It was the Others, those who sought to tip the balance of light toward darkness on Gaea. Those who lusted for control and the power it brought them. They were the reason that Guardians took form on Gaea.

Lisle’s small light moved close to Ell’s own, as if hiding from that awful blackness. Ell could see dark tendrils drifting in their direction and she didn’t linger. She wanted only to show Lisle the reality of what they faced. Then, with her intent, she moved them both swiftly away, gliding along the shining strands of the One, back to the light.

Lisle looked over her shoulder longingly in the direction she knew would lead to her Guardian. She would have to wait to tell Ell of her experience on the mountainside. Resolutely, she turned her head forward even as her feet continued to follow Bryllint. Gran Bryl’s Contracted had accosted Lisle in the tunnelway on her way to find Ell. Her abrupt, “Follow me,” allowed no possibility of argument from Lisle. It was well past midday and their accustomed time for teaching, so Lisle shrugged and followed her to the teaching room.

Once settled in her usual seat, Lisle was quickly caught up in listening to Bryllint’s resonant voice as it filled the room. She enjoyed watching Bryllint draw in the air with her hands as she illustrated her teaching.  Bryllint’s energy was such that she paced the greystone floor from one side of the teaching space to the other, her enthusiasm spilling over into Lisle.

Lisle wondered that she could keep up that level of energy, as old as she must be. She didn’t know how old, but the lines on Bryllint’s face told of many changes lived. The soft grey of the hair framing her face, confirmed it. Even so, when Bryllint taught she practically bounced around the room.

Lisle focused her wandering thoughts and listened to Bryllint. She was talking about a Guardian and her Contracted, saying they were two aspects of the same soul. Lisle blinked her eyes. She was astounded by this idea. How could she possibly be good enough to share a soul with Ell? Lisle wanted to object, and yet a tiny voice inside said, wait. So, Lisle held her mind still for a moment as Bryllint explained further.

She said that Guardian’s hold the high-level energy needed to balance light and dark for their Mother world, Gaea. Lisle’s mind hared off again, musing on the fact that she had always thought of their home as Mother. That was what was taught in the Book of One. It was the way Ma-Marn had spoken of their world, sitting at her loom before the fire during the cold of winter, with Mina and Lisle curled up in blankets on the floor beside her, listening. But Ma-Marn had never spoken the name, Gaea. Nor had she taught that Mother home was a being, just as Lisle herself was. Yet that was what Bryllint was saying right now. Well, maybe not a person like Lisle, but so much more than grey rock, trees and dirt. Gaea was alive.

Lisle felt excitement surge through her at this thought. She knew deep within that it was true. Hadn’t she felt that aliveness all around her? Hadn’t Gaea’s music comforted her when she wept? Lisle could hear that music even now. She knew Gaea, though she had never known her name.

“Lisle?”

Lisle snapped her eyes back to Bryllint, who gazed at her with amusement as she stood before her, hands on her hips. Then her hands leapt up to gesture again and she continued. “As I was saying, Guardian’s hold the balance of light and dark for our Mother, Gaea. There must be at least twelve Guardians to hold the balance, never less. In the past there were many more. But the Guardian wars….”

Bryllint’s voice ran down, bright, black-brown eyes dimmed, and her face fell as she suddenly looked old, cheeks sagging downward. She sank down on the floor in front of Lisle and looked down at her hands. Her voice hushed and she spoke in a whisper, the words almost too terrible to say aloud.  “Guardian killing Guardian.”

Lisle’s brow furrowed. “Wh…Why?”

Bryllint heaved a deep breath in and sighed it out. She lifted her head, her eyes shining and wet. “The Others.”

Lisle studied Bryllint’s face as if she could read the answer there in the wrinkles at the corners of her mouth and eyes, the gleam of light on tear-filled eyes.

Bryllint continued, her voice low, seemingly reluctant to say the words. “They hide in the dark of the Pathways, insatiable in their desire for power and control. They have no bodies in which to live in this world. They are powerless, so they insinuate themselves into the thoughts of humans and even Guardians. Worst is that their words sound like our own thoughts, thoughts of fear, hatred, anger, greed and jealousy.”

Lisle was struck with understanding. “Th..The Dark G…G…Guardian?”

“Yes. There's no doubt he is a victim of their manipulations.”

Uncharacteristically, Bryllint was silent after that, looking again at her hands, studying work worn palms.

Lisle waited. She could feel Bryllint’s need to work through what she needed to say.

Bryllint took a deep breath,  still staring at her hands, then held them out towards Lisle. “I carried his egg in my hands, just as I did Ell’s.” She swallowed with a gulping sound, and the tears fell now, running down into the furrows of Bryllint’s cheeks. She made no move to brush them away. Her hands dropped into her lap. “He was Bryll’s own, even as Ell is.”

Lisle was shocked, horrified. Her breath came in short gasps. It was too terrible to absorb.

“He tried to k…kill his own f…family?”

Bryllint took a deep breath and nodded as she exhaled. “He didn’t know that the thoughts which goaded him into such a crime were not his own. He didn’t understand that he served their dark purpose.”

“How could he?” Lisle leapt to her feet and ran from the room. She felt like she might explode with rage if she stayed, her anger bubbling up and spewing out like the fire mountains in the Book of One. Her feet flew unerringly down the tunnelway, carrying her straight to Ell.