Heroes and Wolves [book 1]

Chapter two

Layla

Three lines of light appear in the clear, blue sky. Anything at that height is blurred and  unrecognisable but I know what these lines are. They aren't planes or birds but three people known as the Guardian angels, protectors of Lakeintown which is where I live, technically although its not marked on the map while the many tall skyscrapers and bustling shops and restaurants where friends and family meet are a focal point. The Spire is the tallest skyscraper and one of the most recognisable buildings in Lakeintown. It's on nearly every postcard and advertisement for the city after the Guardians. 

Now, the people of Lakeintown have an absolute fascination for the Guardian angels but I simply do not. I admire their work at keeping the city safe and have read about them as the local library has a gigantic section devoted to them and I was lucky enough to nab a book from those shelves as they are so popular but I'm not one to fantasise about being saved by them and I don't explode into screams of awe from seeing them. Yes, I look up to them but not as an idol. I look up to them because they can fly. Broad white wings keep them up at ridiculous heights and they swoop and soar at speeds that defy every science. Although, I am curious about what they do so I occasionally watch their fights in the city, which is what I'm planning to do now. I draw them too which puts value to these journeys since I sell my drawings. This has become one of the main ways I get money for food, water, clothes or more supplies for my shack. 

Heading into my shack, I pick up a drawing from the floor and pin it back on the wall next to the hundreds of others that help to keep the plain, boring wood of the shack from sight. Newspaper clippings are in amongst my sketches too, having collected them over time as a somewhat hobby to tame my boredom and curiosity as I study the articles and circle words that interest me. It's hard to find any niche stories as the Guardian's every move is documented to a high and rather nosey standard. 

Passing the mound of books in the corner; The Guardians, Wolves of our Time, Supernatural Beings and Fighting Styles to name a few. It's not like I don't already know how to fight. I can hold my own in one, I just read this to sharpen my approach. The wolves' book on the other hand sparked my interest because that animal has been appearing near my shack once or twice per month. A wolf! I've sketched it from afar, sometimes even from the top of my shack just to be that extra careful but even though their grey upright ears, sharp teeth and pointed muzzle define what it is, their grey long fur and lovely piercing blue eyes make me forget the fear I should feel when in the presence of this wild animal. For all the times it's visited me, not once have I heard a growl or seen an attempt to harm me. 

I always know when the wolf is near because there are rustles and scratches on tree bark. I could almost go as far to say that it's worked out a pattern to get my attention. I mean it works and whenever I hear them, I look out to the place where the wolf always appears and it's there. Intelligent blue eyes look at me as they stand still and strong. Then it skitters off further into the forest, leaving me perplexed and awed at the same time until it shows up again. 

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Grabbing my backpack near my hammock, I fill it with leftovers from lunch, a water bottle and my sketchbook. I have drawn one of the Guardians but spent most of my time trying not to fall from the tree that was used for a vantage point, so it's a pretty rough sketch of their bulky, grey armour and nothing more. 

Everyone knows what one of the Guardian angels looks like, just not their name. I don't know how this happened but one day, his face was plastered over every news outlet and it was like that for months. My drawing isn't much but if it was found, the news of this city would go to great lengths to manipulate it just to bulk up the size of their articles. It is ridiculous that Lakeintown news is like this. Articles begin to line with the truth but as you keep reading, facts get exaggerated dramatically. There was a time when the Guardians saved a family from a building that was at risk of collapsing. The article started with the Guardians taking them to safety which was fine until you read the rest that stated that the building was also on fire and the Guardians had to save the family from the twenty-seventh floor. It's completely bonkers and yet the newspapers are sold out every day.