Guardian of Elements

Chapter 26 - Guardian of Elements

So was Kate. She had missed her friend very much, but she hoped they could meet again under better circumstances.

"Thank you. You have no idea what adventures I've been through these last days. I must tell you so much, but first, I have to help you now." She did her best to shake off the scary experience she just went through.

"Help me? You've come here to help me?"

"Yes, I was with the Guardian of Souls and we saw the smoke. I just had to go here and help you. I'll tell you everything, but now we have to save your forest."

Tawarthion was amazed. Was this really the same Kate he left some time ago? She had changed. She had... grown up.

"Come on! Where is the fire?" asked Kate hastily. He came back together.

"In the southeastern part of the forest. The animals fleeing from there told me that it's still contained in a valley. Apparently, humans created a village there in my absence and something went out of control two days ago."

"Fine then, let's go!" Kate was eager to not waste any more time.

"Kate, wait. It's already out of control. I tried to block the fire, but it just keeps spreading, it's too big now. I... I don't know if there's anything we can do."

She turned to him.

"Don't give up. We are Guardians. We'll think of something, right?"

He raised his head and looked at her.

"Right." And they ran into the dawning woods.

Although Kate was trying to be resilient, she had doubts. Sure, she had power over fire, but to be able to extinguish it without missing a single flame... She had to think of something, for Tawarthion's sake.

She could already smell the smoke when a stampede of boars blocked their way. Tawarthion stopped one of them and asked it something briefly. The boar responded by a scared squeak, and then joined the others.

"It's bad. The fire has almost gotten out of the valley. Quickly," he told Kate.

Then, they saw the first burning trees. Kate was able to fend off several flames which were too close, but she knew that wasn't a solution. They continued further into the burning woods, until they arrived at a large round area of burned down forest. There was nothing to catch fire there anymore and there was just gray, ashy desolation, surrounded by low hills. Kate knew she couldn't let that happen to the entire forest.

"Tawarthion, is there a big mass of water anywhere nearby?"

"Behind those hills is the southeastern sea coast, but I doubt you will be able to get enough water here in time," he replied.

"We will see about that. You just make sure to get as many animals out of here as possible," she said in a resilient voice and without waiting for response, she ran away, to one of the hills.

When she climbed up, she had the entire valley in front of her. Ashy wasteland, dozens of meters wide, with ruins of a village in the middle, and the border of fire, slowly making progress further into the woods. The morning Sun was shining on her back, and behind her was just endless sea. She closed her eyes. For Tawarthion.

She reached deep into her chest and her markings came to life, seeping with pure energy, flowing out of her body. The ocean behind her swirled, and then, an enormous water orb slowly rose out of it.

Tawarthion was just helping a strange, horse-like creature to overcome its fear and get out of the fire's reach, when the Sun rose. He looked to the east and realized with amazement that it wasn't the Sun what was shining down on the valley. It was Kate. And from behind her, a water bubble, wide as the entire scorched area, was rising. He couldn't believe his eyes.

When the gigantic ball of water was above the hills, Kate began to move it forward. It slowly floated above the valley. When it was centered, she released her hold of it. The water ball lost shape and fell on the valley, instantly putting out any smoldering fires that were still there. The amount of water would easily fill the entire valley to the top of the surrounding hills, but they were able to contain the water mass, and therefore it created a huge flood wave, which began to make its way out of the valley.

Tawarthion realized what Kate had done when he saw the wave, higher than some treetops. He barely had time to raise a vine shield around him and the horse. Luckily, it withstood the pressure as the water stormed through the pass, putting out any flames that were in its way. When it was out of the pass, it lost its energy and the water spilled into the forest.

Tawarthion climbed to Kate. She was breathing heavily but standing strong above the forest she had saved.

"Do you remember what I told you when I left?" he asked.

She looked at him.

"That when you'll become as strong as your mother, I will be standing by your side."