A Guardian 's Vow (Open Novella Contest 2021)

Chapter 12

Tyrris and I slid to a stop, huffing and puffing. Kaliden landed, his wings bringing the cold air from the sky with them, helping to cool me down from the run.

Aiden slid off of the drake's back, stumbling as he hit the ground, his legs clearly stiff from the long day's flight. We all were tired and stiff, but excited to be home.

"This is the place?" Aiden asked, looking at the cave entrance that we stood at. "You guys live in a cave?"

"I would be happy with that, but no," Kaliden said. "Don't let the appearance deceive you. Not everything is as it seems."

"I'm beginning to figure that out," the boy muttered, stretching his muscles.

"I can feel the others," I breathed. I closed my eyes, enjoying the feeling of being so close to home, to everyone else. I opened my eyes before walking forward, heading into the cave.

It smelled musty as I travelled down, but the underlying scents of my family mixed in with the moist air. I could hear Kaliden's claws ticking on the stone as he followed me into the tunnel. The cool air was refreshing, cooling me off even more from our run. The temperature down here wasn't at the forefront of my mind as I continued forward, joy rising in me with every step. The more I moved forward, the closer I was to home, the closer to my family. I felt the distance shrinking, my feathers, fur and bones all feeling it too. And just when the tunnel seemed to go on forever, light peaked in from the other side, lighting the exit.

The light was warm and soft against my eyes, warming my face as I stepped out onto the carpet of grass, looking towards the other Guardians who had made this hidden place their new home.

"Woah," Aiden gasped. This place was as stunning as ever. The plants bloomed with brighter colours, filling the clearing with a welcoming glow. The sun was warmer here, and the air purer. Creatures lounged around, some chatting, others walking with friends. A shadow flew over us as a griffin glided in the sky above, free from the threat of being hunted. "This... this is incredible."

"Welcome to my home," I said, looking at the awe-struck boy. Tyrris stepped up beside me, his pelt brushing up against my own. I leaned against him.

Kaliden towered over all of us, his eyes joyful, as he had returned home. "It looks like the other place," he muttered, voice filled with emotion.

"I guess we're all just too attached to the previous place to forget it entirely," A familiar voice said. All of us turned to Eliseaya. "Glad to see you all made it back safely."

The immortal woman looked like she had for the past hundred years; youthful, stunningly beautiful, and as kind hearted as ever. Her long dress swept the grass floor, swaying around her bare feet.

"It's been too long," I said, moving over to the Guardians' leader. Eliseaya moved forward the same time I did. I bent my head down, touching her forehead with mine as we greeted one another. Her hands came up to my face, cupping it as we embraced. Her touch was calming, just as I had remembered it.

"I thought we had lost you," Eliseaya muttered into my fur. We backed up from each other.

"There's a lot I have to tell you," I said. "But later." Eliseaya nodded her head, smiling at me.

"Glad to see you made it Kaliden," Eliseaya said, turning her attention to the drake. "It's a relief to know that there are still others out there to be found."

"I don't know how many more; those hunters are getting really quite thorough," Kaliden grumbled. Eliseaya let out a sigh. I sensed the defeat that she felt, and couldn't help but agree.

"On the positive side, it's not only us they're hunting," Tyrris said. "They've managed to take down quite a few of the dark creatures. The whole time I was out there, I only came across one wendigo; that's how we ran into each other."

"Why was a wendigo going after one of us?" Eliseaya asked. She answered her own question as she laid her eyes upon Aiden, hiding near Kaliden. "Oh," was all she said.

"This is Aiden," I said. "He saved my life, twice." Eliseaya's head snapped up to meet my eyes, shocked at the comment. "We can trust him, I promise."

"You brought a human here?" A familiar voice growled. I suppressed a sigh of annoyance as I turned to face the griffin, who had just landed.

"He can be trusted, Adrastea," I said. The griffin looked at me, her yellow eyes narrowed and suspicious. "I wouldn't have brought him here otherwise."

Adrastea's eyes flashed to Aiden, full of suspicion. The griffin was one of the Guardians who found that they could no longer trust any humans. Adrastea in particular was one that I didn't want Aiden meeting.

"Adrastea," Eliseaya said firmly, stepping in. "Takaiya knows what she's doing. She trusts Aiden, and I trust her judgement."

Aiden's eyes lit up as joy sparked across his face. Adrastea grumbled but backed away, listening to Eliseaya.

"Tyrris, why don't you give Aiden and Kaliden a tour of the camp?"

Tyrris nodded his head, sensing that Eliseaya wanted to speak to me privately.

"Come on," he said, jerking his head to signal Kaliden and Aiden to follow him. Kaliden padded after the felico, Aiden following only after casting a weary look towards Adrastea and receiving an assuring nod from me. The griffin watched him leave, her eyes following him. I could see the mistrust in them.

"Takaiya, come. Walk with me."

I rose to follow the leader of the Guardians, only for Adrastea to step into my path.

"Don't think for a minute that you can trust him," she hissed into my ear.

"You don't know him like I do," I snarled back, my voice hushed.

"I don't have to; I can see it in his eyes. He will betray us, just like all the others. Just you wait and see. And when he does, don't say I didn't warn you."