The Guardians of Gaia

Chapter Thirty-Six

August

Marshall and Faust teleported back to GOG headquarters on Titan where they could be alone and Marshall could attempt to treat him. With Faust's arm slung over shoulder, Marshall brought him into the kitchen living room area where he knew the first aid kit was.

Marshall lowered Faust down onto the couch before running back over to the kitchen area to find the first aid kit. Faust groaned and clutched his side, his fingers wet and warm. The iron tang of blood in the air was unmistakable.

Marshall pressed some gauze to Faust's side to staunch the flow of blood. Kneeling at Faust's side Marshall realized just then how exhausted he was. His leg muscles were trembling beneath him. Marshall's already moist forehead broke out in a sweat. The deep red fluid soaked through the gauze and kept burbling up through Faust's scales. "Oh man, I don't know what to do. Can't you transform into your human form?" Marshall panicked.

Faust groaned and willed his cells to take human form. They rebelled and did so violently. Every inch of his skin hurt and the wound in his side screamed tenfold. "AHHH!" Faust collapsed back onto the couch in a Skiv heap.

Footsteps sounded from the kitchen. Heart pounding Marshall turned behind him readying himself for the worst, but there was Theo, Otto and Ophelia hurrying over to the pair. Marshall found his vision blurring. Theo hugged him, pressing his warm cheek to Marshall's. The heat of Theo's cheek on his was comforting. Theo's cheek was wet. Marshall was about to tease his brother and ask if he was crying but Theo sniffed and said; "Your dumb hair just got in my eye!"

"We've got to get Faust to his house. Marshall, it's okay to relax now," Ophelia said softly. Marshall didn't have the choice of agreeing with Ophelia. His bones felt like lead, his body gave out before he did.

**

It took a month for the Skiv cure to spread across the globe. Before long the world was free of them. The ocean currents fell back to their regular levels. The black trees withered, the black glass flowers seemed to disappear with the Skivs.

With the Skivs gone, Faust ability to turn into a human returned but didn't come back in full until his side had healed. Nahruo had punctured organs within Faust's body, if hadn't been Skiv he would have died on that ship.

"You're not doing it right!" Marshall hollered at Otto as he poised the tent spoke over the crumpled up heap of tent. Marshall stomped over to Otto and wrestled the spoke away from him. An embarrassed Otto cast a glance at Ophelia. Luckily for him she was busy. She kneeled on the ground with Faust. Both their knees connected with the rough earth as they hammered in the spokes that belonged to their own red and grey tent.

"I'm glad you decided to come along," Faust said to Ophelia. The Guardians decided they would try and enjoy the last month of summer and marked the occasion with a camping trip.

"I hope Northbury doesn't burn down in our absence." Ophelia sat back on her calves and took a deep breath. She sighed releasing a deep lungful of northern Ontario air. The camp ground Marshall picked was much further up north then their little town but the camp ground had charms. There was a clear lake for fishing and swimming, little creeks dotted with waterlilies and the park teemed with wildlife. The campsite Marshall selected was only a five minute walk from the lake, tucked into a shade of pine trees and deciduous trees that gave the area an air of privacy.

"You should be glad I'm listening to you," Faust brushed a stray lock of dark hair out of his eyes. "We need to let go and let the police take care of petty crime. We don't need to prove our usefulness anymore."

Ophelia bit her lip and tasted gloss as she thought. In the background Theo was groaning; "By the time we get this tent up it's going to be time for us to take it down." Otto was looking wistfully in the direction of the lake. "Step aside, imbecile!" Marshall cried.