Tooth, on hearing the loud grinding of the rock rubbing together on the door's way up, joined us in the newly formed entranceway, a short passage separating us from what lay beyond.
The light grey walls, softly glowing with phosphorescent lichen, circled lazily around a large pool of softly moving water, gurgling as it passed over submerged rocks. Six trees stood on the glowing raised edges of the water, aligning perfectly with the six entrances to the cavern. The ceiling rose into a cathedral inspired dome high above our heads, creating a vast space in the heart of the mountain.
Tooth gasped as she stood beside me in the opening to the cave. "Is that tree completely made of water?"
I smirked, entering the familiar room as I replied. "Yes. Each tree is made completely out of the element it represents." I reached out, brushing one of the smokeless fire leaves with my finger.
The tree warmed at my touch, the blossoms turning blue around the edges.
"Step back." I warned the guardians and began walking clockwise around the pool.
"Earth." I muttered, skimming the stone tree with my outstretched fingers.
"Air." The ghostly white tree allowed my fingers to completely pass through the condensed mist that formed the trunk, held together with magic.
"Ice." This tree I barely tapped with my thumb, melting the leaf on contact, and frost burning the tip of my finger.
"Water." Again, my hand passed through the watery tree, bringing away droplets of water on my skin as I moved on.
"Plant." A vine that had been wrapped loosely around the tree snaked out and twirled around my wrist, a thin green film coating my skin as I pulled softly away.
"Fire." I said quietly as I stopped in front of the flame tree.
On cue, the entire tree roared up as a bonfire and the others vanished, some sinking down into the ground, others splashing down into the pool, and one dissipating into the air.
As the final tendrils of flames evaporated around the ceiling, the room went dark, lit only by the soft lichen on the walls.
Hesitantly, I took a step towards the pool, and thousands of fireflies rose out of the calm waters, casting patterns of lights on the walls. They began floating around the room randomly, filling every crevice with soft, flickering candlelight.
I knelt on the very edge of the pool, bowing my head to stare into the dark water after motioning for the Guardians to join me. They did, kneeling silently beside me.
"This is what I am trying to protect from Kronos." I breathed eventually. "The heart of the Mother, of nature itself."
"It's so beautiful." Tooth murmured, eyes wide.
"And so fragile." I replied.
YOU ARE READING
Rise of The Guardians 2: Just Like Fire
FanfictionWhat will happen to the Guardians when an intruder appears at the Pole wielding a strange new fire power and bringing dire news? Will they unite to defeat evil, or will they succumb to their petty squabbling and lead to their own inevitable demise? ...
