The Search for Life

Chapter 3

Leota chugged down the water that her body cried out so desperately for. Behind her was a forest of flames, each one fed by the volcanic rock on which the Fire Kingdom was built. It was alright, though, that fires as tall as trees raged on because she had come prepared. Leota hadn't left home without stealing military grade technology that cast a full body suit of protection over her. It was weightless and radiated out from a thin wrist band that she wore, but it was certainly effective. Even as she chugged the steaming lake, the water cooled to room temperature by the time it hit her lips.

As she finished her last sip, she wiped her mouth and gazed down at the water before her. Her golden chopped hair and amber eyes twinkled with the light of the world that burned around her, but still she looked lifeless. What had she said back there? She wondered. Screw what she had said about saying things she regretted past dusk, she messed up all day every day.

Leota sat back on the bank and hugged her knees to her chest. Despite her regret, it was suspicious that he had been following her. What had her fabled rival been up to? Though there were many likely answers, she soon realized none of them mattered. She didn't really care if he was spying on her or even if he was into her, she had enjoyed the company. Her entire life, she'd been sequestered off like some kind of mystic or oracle and she was done with it. She didn't want to be treated like a god; she wanted to be treated like a person. And Life had given her that. And Teki had given her that. She'd take petty arguments and little insults over worship any day.

He'd been so quick to leave, too. Maybe he was looking for an excuse to leave, she thought. Maybe he was into her, and after jumping to one to many conclusions about the nature of her affection for Life, he had decided to leave. Maybe he saw the portrait of someone dodging their title and it scared him enough to make him return. Maybe, even without using her powers, she had hurt him.

That thought scared her the most. She had quit being Guardian to help people, no matter who they were, so if Teki had left because she hurt him enough... Tears came to her eyes. More tears. She couldn't go through this again. She couldn't bear the responsibility of one more injury. She felt her power built up inside of her and it needed release. Clutching her fists tight, she hunched over and cried onto the forest floor and for the first time since she left, she broke her promise.

Power surged out of her and manifested into a latent pair of wings. They glowed softly like the moon and spanned twice her body length. They were a crystal white that was patterned with rainbows like a waterfall on a sunny day. They were beautiful. They were hers. And she hated them.

But she needed to be herself for just a moment. She needed to be fully herself just long enough to remember who she was so she could remember who and what to reject. Leota felt the earth's pull and she succumbed to it. She laid on her chest and closed her eyes as her wings filled the air. For a moment, she was almost at peace.

It wasn't to last. "Whoa!" Came a voice from the fiery forest, and immediately she concealed her wings and stood to face whoever had caught her in her shame. She turned, lights still dancing in her eyes as she met a fire. The fire took on a humanoid figure with arms and legs and a torso and a head, though she knew how much more they could be if they desired. They were a bright glowing orange the color of the sunsets she had seen in the desert and they looked very interested in her. "You're the Guardian, aren't you?!" They called, very excited. Leota wasn't convinced their interest was beneficial.

As much as she resisted it, she remembered what Teki had told her about the People Kingdom and the Fire Kingdom. Of course she had always wanted to see the kingdom made of plasma, but perhaps being taken hostage would put a damper on her other world-traveling plans. "Uh..." she started, still frozen where she stood. What was the right answer, here? The fire had clearly seen her, though if the tensions between the Kingdoms were as high as she knew they were, her position could spell danger. She didn't think they'd buy her quitting story, either.