Guardian of Elements

Chapter 8 - Part of a family

Kate was the first who woke up in the morning. She was used to sleeping just for several hours and to be active during day and night alike. She went outside silently and basked in the warmth of the first morning sunrays. Although the night wasn't as cold as some nights back in her forest, the tree couldn't keep any warmth inside. At one moment, she even had to conjure a small flame to keep her warm. However, the caracal family seemed to be used to this.

Now with ease, she found a green patch of grass, dug a hole and made water pour into it. As she was drinking, she noticed Fellas, who came to her side.

"Um... So, how was the night?" she asked Kate.

"Well, cold. I guess your fur isolates better than mine."

"Hm, probably." Fellas seemed to be shy. "So, what are you planning to do?"

"I don't know yet. I have to meet the Guardian of Wisdom, but I don't know how, if not through those caverns."

Fellas swallowed, as if she was unsure about what she was about to say.

"Listen. Tonight, thanks to you, I decided that it's time for me and my children to take up the Path, to help them prove themselves and to earn their name. You could join us and meet Him too. And having a Guardian with us wouldn't hurt either."

"You reconsidered it? But I thought you said that it's a family matter, and I don't even live here."

Fellas looked at her with honesty in her eyes.

"As for me, it's a matter of trust."

"That's... flattering. But as you pointed out, I am a Guardian, and I should help you to complete a trial of another Guardian? Wouldn't that be cheating?"

"I don't think so. You want to see Him, right? Then you must prove yourself, too. And besides, I think He never presumed that another Guardian would try to complete the trial. Maybe it'll be the first time He won't know what to say," she laughed.

After a fast breakfast, they woke up the cubs. Fellas lined them up and told them they were about to go to the Guardian of Wisdom to earn their names. The children were very happy, but their mother was worried.

They went to the hole near the tree together and Fellas uncovered the cavern's entrance. She nodded at Kate and they went inside.

It took them some time to get used to the dark, but soon, all four cats could see just fine. They found themselves in a long passage, leading far underground. Fellas was in the front and Kate was bringing up the rear, never before so nervous. As they were descending, the cubs stopped their chatter, and she overheard Fellas, saying: "I've done it once, I can do it again."

After about fifteen minutes, they reached the corridor's end. There, an unbelievable view welcomed them. A gigantic underground labyrinth was spanning across a cave with a rupture in the ceiling, giving it a shady gray look. The maze wasn't made by walls, it looked more like natural cavern system from which someone removed the top. The party gathered at a platform overlooking the entire maze. From above, they could see all the topless caves, running around like worms' tunnels through solid gray stone. There were many other platforms around the mile-wide round cave, with paths leading to other trees.

"That's... not what I was expecting..." Fellas sounded helpless.

Kate, on the other hand, was amazed by its size.

"We could spend hours in that!"

"I was expecting challenges and riddles, but this... I don't see any meaning in wandering around in a maze just to get lost."

"Well, there's probably more to it, you didn't get your name by getting lost." Kate was trying to memorize the labyrinth from above, but it was simply too big.

"What shall we do?" asked Fellas.

"We can start by finding the goal from up here. Because I don't see anything tangible to try to get to."

"I doubt it's that easy. You must show wit and cunning and patience. That's probably the goal here. All right." She headed to a ramp leading down into the labyrinth. "Everyone, eyes open and stay together."

And with that, they entered the maze.