A Dreamer's Fiction (Ongoing)

The Guardian

    I found myself in the middle of a dark and musty alleyway. I was completely, and utterly, alone. There was nothing, and no one. The sun had just set, and it was getting dark. All that filled my senses was the faint sound of dripping water from a building's pipeline, and the annoying buzzing of a fly that wouldn't leave me alone. I clutched my backpack tightly, and swatted the fly away. Seriously, there's an infinite amount of places that it could've chosen to land, but NOO, it had to chose to occupy the space on my face. I swatted it away insistently, but the fly was stubborn, and didn't seem to want to give up it's precious spot on my nose. I slowly raised my hand... then slapped the spot of my face that the fly was on... and missed. Frustration boiled up within me as I clenched my fists. I held myself back, however. What good would it do to loose control over a fly? To keep slapping would only mean to keep hurting myself.

I soon noticed a different sound, like a low rumbling. No... it was a growl. I immediately tensed, and strained my ears to see where it was coming from. I recognized this growl. Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit! It couldn't be, could it? My heart began to race as dread and anticipation filled me. I looked in the direction of the dumpster, where the sound had came from, but saw nothing. Unlike every character in a horror film, I walked away from it, slowly. I struggled to keep my heavy breathing steady as I backed away, and my heart almost stopped when I saw a huge dark figure step out from behind the dumpster. I tried to back up again as it stalked menacingly towards me on it's four legs, and found my back already hard-pressed against a building. It's foul breath reached my lungs from across the alleyway, and it's big red eyes transfixed on mine, never looking away. I could feel it's hatred, it's anger. It was stronger than anything I could've ever felt before. Shit... a Guardian.

"P-please, don't hurt me..." I whimpered. I didn't expect my plead to do any good... After all, I had deeply wronged it. You never wronged a Guardian. They were the ones who watched over the world. They emanated strength, and virtue. You hardly ever saw one... So when you did, it was usually for something big. I gulped, terrified, knowing exactly what I had done. The wolf pup I had accidentally run over on the highway... It must've been her's. She emanated strength, motherhood, and rage at the fact I had harmed her child. The words came out of my mouth whether or not I thought it would help. "I'm sorry."

It didn't say anything, just stalked me with it's gaze. I didn't know what to do, I was terrified stiff. Even if I did manage to find the strength and courage to move, run, I could never outrun the ginormous grey wolf that was standing inches from my face. I suddenly realized with a start that I had been staring directly into it's eyes this whole time, and quickly looked away, not wanting it to feel like I was challenging it. No, not it... Her. Finally, she spoke. A low angry growl shook the earth around me. No words were necessary for her message to be understood perfectly.

'You are alive only because I allow you too. Never disturb me or my family again.'

I couldn't say anything in response. I was shaking so badly I thought I would pass out. I silently cursed myself for not being able to keep still. My stomach churned in knots, and thought that if I opened my mouth, I would say something wrong. Then, panic began to rise in my throat as the she-wolf turned away. She was leaving. Good. But why do I feel bad? What am I missing?

"W-Wait!" I shouted after her.

She froze, and turned back to look at me. The horrible knotted sensation returned to my stomach.

'What?' She seemed to ask, in a loud, menacing booming voice in my head.

A long moment passed before I finally managed to bring myself to speaking.

"I'm sorry." The phrase came out of my mouth in a feeble and trembling voice for a second time. I tried to say more, I wanted to say more, but I just couldn't bring myself to. It wouldn't come out. I was already scared on the brink of passing out, and I just couldn't bring myself to say more. The wolf didn't do or say anything. Only stared back at me with her huge round eyes. I couldn't help it, I began to sob quietly. My eyes filled with tears as I shut them tightly, clasping my arms tightly around myself, in an attempt to keep myself together. "I buried him, by the river. I planted a redwood tree over the spot he's in. You'll find it."

I dared a peek at her face and saw that she was wearing an emotionally concealed look, as if she was judging me. Finally, she leaped onto the building behind me, making me flinch in fright as I thought she had decided to attack, and turned back to look at me one last time. I was being spared by a Guardian. I was indebted to her now... As if hearing my thoughts, she spoke once more:

"If there is ever a way for you to repay me, I shall come find you."
At this, she left. Leaving me alone in the alleyway.

~Finished: October 25th, 2021~