The Ancient Guardians

The Ancient Guardians (Chapter 22)

THE ANCIENT GUARDIANS

Chapter 22

It wasn't dark, as it should be. Everything was brightened by fire. Fire everywhere. I watched as the flames dissipated to reveal the path of hot coals. I could barely sense the space of my body, yet I felt less out of place, as if I was closely connected to the flames. I steadily walked down the familiar path for what seemed like forever, enjoying it because my steps felt like they marched on clouds rather than hot coals. Suddenly I stopped, waiting for the light to appear. A beating pulse reverberated in the path and I finally saw the light growing in the distance. It grew until it shone like a great neon sign a few blocks away, then it pulsed again. I kept waiting, thinking to myself “What is that?” but I couldn’t ask it out loud for some reason. So I waited as it pulsed harder every time, like a giant heart about to explode…               

I woke up and opened my eyes to see myself ablaze again. The flames were more intense than last time, dancing on before my eyes. And what’s more is that they didn’t die down by themselves; I had to put them out myself. It seemed like the more I had that dream, the less I wanted it to end, yet I still couldn’t figure out WHY I kept having that dream. In any case, the after effects were really getting freaky. It IS just a dream though… I think. Soon enough Clint appeared at my door, right on schedule. I answered him before he said anything; “Yeah yeah, I know; I never fail.”               

“Right.” He simply said. He then proceeded to waiting for us outside.               

I stepped slowly out of my bed of coals and started to get dressed. I slipped on my tunic and tied the belt, then took out a flame from the fireplace and made it take the form of a toast while I took my claws from the shelf with my other hand. I ate my flame-toast as I headed outside and met Marla who was also on her way there. Her hair was still wet, but I could barely make out the difference of it being dry anymore. “So how was YOUR night?” I asked her.               

“You know, I’ve never really been a fan of water beds, but this one is starting to make me change my mind.” She answered. “You look like you haven’t slept at all; your eyes are completely red.” She giggled slightly.               

“Hahaha, very funny. Actually I just had a weird dream.” We kept walking as we talked.               

“The good kind of weird or the bad kind of weird?” She asked.               

“It’s hard to say… it didn’t really make any sense.”               

“Most dreams tend to be like that, Alex.”               

We reached the entrance and the stairs leading out of it. “I’ll be forgetting it soon anyway.” I told her, gesturing for her to climb. “Ladies first.”               

She looked at me with her clear blue eyes which looked like two crystallized drops of water. “I had always thought that a courteous and gentleman-like guy would feel too cheesy,” she then took out her heavenly smile on me, “but I kind of like it.” With that she turned around and started to climb outside.               

I ate the last of my flame-toast and followed her outside into the morning sun where we met our companions, who were both waiting for us.               

Clint greeted us from afar. “Good morning you two! Beautiful day, isn’t it?”               

We went to sit with them in preparation for our meditation. “It IS nicer than usual.” Marla replied.