Guardian of Elements

Chapter 20 - Memories

The first thing Kate saw was herself. But she was different, younger. She realized that this was Andúril's memory and she was looking through her eyes. But more than that, although she couldn't control her actions, it was as if she really was her mother and it was happening right now.

The little Kate in front of her looked very cute and playful, without any flaw or troubling. She realized that those were in fact Andúril's feelings in that moment, and she was experiencing them with her.

Andúril looked to the distance. She was on a small plateau in the north of her lands, overlooking the forest of Elements. It was early night and clouds were gathering on the horizon.

What a symbolic view, she thought. Then she carefully picked up Kate by her neck and carried her back to the valley. She put her on the grass and found the best place where to put her to sleep. She pulled dew from the ground and grass to stay dry and turned the top layer of earth to soft dust. She returned for Kate, but she found her sleeping already. Carefully to not to wake her up, she raised a small patch of earth Kate was lying on and carried her this way back there, then slowly eroded the earth away to drop her on the ground. She lay down next to her and closed her eyes. The image darkened.

"I'm late."

Andúril was running through the night forest, with Kate in her jaws again. She was very close to the place now. With every long jump, she felt more excited but also more afraid. What will the others think about it? Will they judge her? Nevermind, she had to continue.

She was almost at the place where all the Guardians met each year, but she stopped. She put Kate down and then connected with the ground. This image was much clearer than when Kate was attempting it, and she could clearly feel that there were circles of earth she couldn't control. That was where the other Guardians were standing, waiting for her.

"Only five. Raya... Oh no..." Andúril's fears were coming true. So, the Guardian of Hearts wasn't there. The last year, she left them early, terrified when she heard about her breaking the rule. Maybe... No, she was probably just late. Andúril picked Kate up again, who obviously didn't like being carried around this way, and entered the magical place.

There were seven archways around a circular area, leading to the surrounding woods. The one that Andúril came through was made of brown stone, encased in ice and fires were burning on the top of two pillars. Another one was made of two tree trunks, connecting above the ground into one treetop. The next one wasn't physical but made of glowing orange light particles, shimmering in the wind.

Andúril wasn't paying attention to them. She knew they created this place when they were chosen as Guardians. But in the middle, there were her friends, waiting for her.

This was the first time when Kate – real Kate, who was looking through her mother's eyes – saw the remaining Guardians. She immediately recognized Verilion and Tawarthion, and also Lerinth, hidden in behind. The other two were Guardians of Might and Minds, a great, dark brown bear with purple markings on his fur, and a grey wolf with turquoise ones. Through Andúril's mind, Kate knew their names: Morcion and Eriana.

"Andúril, we were... Oh..." The wolf stopped when she saw Kate, hanging in her mother's grip. She put her on the ground carefully.

"Good evening everyone. I'd like to introduce someone. This is Kate."

They all gathered around her to see the little blue kitty, which was a bit scared of the crowd.

"She's adorable," said Eriana in a motherly voice.

Lerinth came closer too.

"At last, I can see her. Kate, you said?" He gently touched her with his paw but pulled back when she got scared.