Guardian of Elements

Prologue

"We have to go! It's out of control, we cannot protect humans from the plague. There's nothing we can do anymore."

Two animals were sitting on the edge of a high cliff that was overlooking a village shrouded in the night. One was a bear, ferocious looking and angry. The other one was a stag, standing tall and majestic, however he too, was uneasy. They both had markings of different patterns on their fur and a gem of the same color, tied to their chests by collars.

"You are getting ahead of yourself, Guardian of Might," said the stag. "Let's wait the for the other Guardians. They might have found something. This doesn't have to be a disaster."

"Doesn't have to be? It already is, Guardian of Nature! Look down, what does it look like?" shouted the bear – Guardian of Might – with desperation in his voice.

The village far below them was in chaos. Fires were burning against the dark sky and people were running around with no visible purpose. Many houses were already turned to ash. Those still standing were ablaze, and no one was trying to put out the fires. Some villagers were running away, being chased by others with shovels, pitchforks and hoes. But all of them were twisted, their veins black and skin pale.

"Don't loose faith," the Guardian of Nature told him. "We... Ah, Guardian of Souls, you're back!"

A third animal joined them. From the forest behind them, a big, orange, cheetah-like creature appeared. Just like the other two, it had patterns on its coat and a gem in the socket of its collar. Its walk was hesitant and its expression sad.

"So? How are things down there?" asked the bear, impatient.

"Just as they seem to be from here," replied the Guardian of Souls. "Chaos, fire, violence. Humans there have lost all goodness in them. Their souls are twisted, corrupted. Even I cannot purify them."

"And where is the Guardian of Minds? She went down there with you, has she found anything?" the stag asked him.

"I don't know. Last time I saw her, she was running away as if all horrors of this world were chasing her." He was talking in a faraway voice, his tail and head bent down.

"Damn that wolf, her personality is just as grey as her fur. Has she abandoned us?" The bear was getting more and more pent up.

After a while, a fourth animal made its way to them. A great eagle landed on the ridge. As it folded its wings, the patterns on them briefly glistened in the moonlight.

"So? What have you seen, Guardian of Wisdom?" asked the stag.

"There is no trace of the betrayer," said the golden eagle. "She fled after doing this. I don't understand. Why would she? Why would the Guardian of Hearts take away love from humans?"

"Why? She's given herself into darkness, you witnessed that with us moments ago!" said the bear-resembling Guardian. "Everything is upside down and there's truly nothing we can do. Our powers are equal, and even together, we cannot defeat the Guardian of Hearts. And if this... plague of hers is spreading, the entire humanity is in danger. We must return to our homes and try to protect them. I'll go down there and... do what's necessary."

"But what about her?" asked the eagle, turning around and pointing at bushes at the edge of the surrounding forest.

"Her? It doesn't matter now, it's over, Guardian of Wisdom! The only thing we can do is try to slow down the plague that the Guardian of Hearts unleashed."

"I'll take care of her," the big stag said with resolution.

"You, Guardian of Nature?" asked the eagle, obviously surprised.

"The former Guardian of Elements gave her life, her home and even her gem to her to protect her. She saw something in her even you can't see, Guardian of Wisdom. I'll make sure that sacrifice is not in vain," said the stag, as he walked towards the bushes.

There, a small blue cat was sleeping in grass, with a blue, shining gem on her neck.