Max Adventures: Elemental Guardians Episode 4: Protector Of The Wilds

Chapter 4: Gaia's little secret

The group arrived at this treehouse and a hut below it. Like the village, the treehouse and hut were decorated for the festival. A white she wolf was up at the tree house, decorating.

"Hey, mom! Look who I found!"

Timber's voice called out loudly as she glanced down to see him and the tigers down below. "Is that who  I think it is? Max! It's been forever!" She called back excited as she slid down the ladder to the ground and walked up to greet them.

"Guys. This is Gaia. Timber's mom and a healer in our village" Max introduced her as she walked up to give a kiss on her son's cheek. Daria had long white hair with part of it braid on top of her hair and a braid with colorful beads as well as part of her hair held as a ponytail. She had brown caramel eyes too.

Her attire consisted off green bandages around her chest with this blue sari like fabric from her right shoulder down to her waist with leaf designs, dark green pants, and open toe brown shoes. Her tail had a brown string with blue bead around it. She had red and white feather earrings, a bracelet, choker with purple flower on it, arm bands, red and brown fingerless gloves and a leaf necklace around her neck too.

She smiled at them with her hands on her hips as Timber smiled at his mom. "Hey Gaia. It's been a long time" Max said, glad to see her. "Yes it has. So what brings you to my den? Need healing again?" She teased him as Max smiled at her sheepishly, rubbing the back of his mane. As a cub, whenever he hurt himself from something stupid, Gaia would heal. She was the best healer in the village.

"No, actually heh. My friends and I here are on a mission. To find the Guardian of Nature, Alghazal" Max explained, and Gaia's ears perked up, surprised. Timber, too, as he looked a little concerned and gently held his choker, his finger rubbing on the charm, worried.

"The guardian. Interesting. Maybe we can help" she offered them calmly as she turned to her son. "Timber lead our friends in and treat them something nice. I'll go put away those herbs you bought me" she told him as he nodded her. "Sure thing" he told her, handing her the herbs and leading his friends inside.

But what they were completely unaware was that Alghazal and the mysterious knight were watching, high above from the trees. Alghazal smiled at the young wolf until he disappeared inside. His green eyes moved to Gaia, putting the herbs away, his smile getting bigger as he jumped down.

Her ears perked up at the sound, but her nose caught the scent of someone she recognized as she smiled, recognizing who it was. "Look who's back home. My champion of the jungle" Gaia said flirtatiously as she turned around, approaching him.

"Gaia. You're looking as beautiful as a newly blossomed lotus" he complimented her lovingly as she stood close in front of him with her hands on her hips. "Thank you. And I see you have learned to lightened up more, Longhorn" she told told him teasingly, making him chuckle.

As a guardian, Alghazal had to be respected. But when it came to his favorite wolf, his closest friend, his wife, he was ok with it. "Well, that's because someone taught me how to lighten up" he teased her back. But for a moment, the two smiled at eachother warmly and lovingly as Gaia wrapped her arms around his neck, and Alghazal wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her into a kiss. It had been too long for them both.

They broke the kiss, staring into eachothers' eyes as Gaia held his face. "I missed you" he told her warmly, glad to be holding her again. "I missed you too. But you didn't come here for a reunion" she told him, the last part serious. His smile fell, knowing she would suspect something.

"Timber's friend, Max is looking for you. Why is that?" She asked him as they reluctantly parted. "I know. Earlier, they were attacked by a shadow mage name Apachi. He's looking for the amulets from each guardian. And their heirs" he explained to her, the last part made her eyes widen.

She held her necklace, a bit nervous as she thought of their son's wellbeing. Timber. "What does this mage want with our pup?" She asked him, worried. Alghazal hated seeing his free spirited wolf like this. However, he couldn't stay here too long or he would risk endangering her and his heir of the amulet.

He gently held lifted her face up to look at him. "I'll explained everything tonight. When everyone's asleep. And bring Timber with you" he explained to her, brushing his thumb against her cheek to assure her everything will be alright. "Ok" she told him, both of them leaning their forehead against eachother. Alghazal placed a soft kiss on her forehead before he left, using his nature magic to teleport him out of here while Gaia headed back inside.