Fate of the Forest (A KaoEarth Story)

Four: Boun

Boun eyed the stranger warily. He knew who Kao was: Earth had been in love with him for years. But he had never met him face to face and he wasn't sure what to think. He had always watched Kao from a distance and now, up close, he could see why Earth had fallen for him. Boun had to admit Kao was very striking for a mortal human. His dark hair fell across his broad forehead and his nose matched his sharp jawline. He watched the 5 Elementals with curious eyes that were so dark, they were almost black.

Boun didn't think Kao was a threat; he was more worried about Kao's reaction to them. It was a lot of information for a mortal brain to process. But he was relieved when Kao took a deep breath and nodded his head as if deciding something.

"Okay," Kao said, letting that deep breath out. "I think I understand. You guys are a really important part of keeping this world in balance."

Boun was shocked. He didn't think this human would take everything in so quickly. He was curious, but didn't question anything in disbelief. He seemed to be very open minded. Boun liked him.

Kao stood up suddenly which made the dark figure in front of Boun slide a protective arm in front of Boun and pull him behind him. Boun smiled down at his lover and placed a reassuring hand on Prem's arm. "It's alright. There's nothing to be afraid of. We can trust Kao."

Prem looked back and forth from Boun to Kao, eying him suspiciously but lowered his arm. Boun knew Prem would never let down his guard, though. He took his job as the High Elemental's personal Guardian very seriously. But Boun could see see it in Prem's eyes that he was only worried about him. Prem may seem nonchalant about their relationship at times, but Boun knew Prem loved him deeply.

Boun never thought he would fall in love with one of his Guardians, but it had happened. Boun had been drawn to him from the beginning. Prem could be stubborn at times and silly when he wanted to be, but oh, how Boun loved him.

The five of them had been together for longer than he could remember and they were a family. The Meadow was a source for all Elemental energy and Boun and the Guardians had a duty to protect it and the surrounding forest. But it was getting harder and harder every day as he could feel the Elemental energy of the forest fading.

There were rumors that a Spirit of Darkness had emerged, one of the Elements the High Elemental had no power over. He didn't want to believe it, but the other Elementals he and Prem had just met with had showed him signs that some of the other forests had started to lose their energy as well, as if being absorbed by a black hole. Boun needed the Spirit of Light to help reverse the effects; the other Element he had no control over.

There was only one problem: a Spirit of Light had yet to emerge.

The Spirit of Light could amplify the powers of any of the Elements, which could restore the energy of all the elemental sources. Which also meant the Spirit of Light could be used by the Spirit of Darkness to wreak more havoc.

So make that two problems.

Boun had to find the Spirit of Light before Darkness did. Everything he ever cared for depended on it.

But that was all something he didn't need to burden Kao with while he was here.

Boun turned back to their guest and bowed deeply and Kao returned the wai.

"Welcome to the Meadow, Kao. As you probably know, I am Boun, the High Elemental. This is Prem, the Spirit of Air. And you already know Earth, Ohm and Fluke. You are more than welcome here. We all have known you for a while because of Earth."

"Why because of Earth?" Kao said, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion and Boun realized he must have said something he shouldn't have.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Earth turn bright red and Boun smirked. Apparently Earth hadn't gotten that far in his explanations before he and Prem arrived.

"Because Earth used to watch over you when you played here as a child," Boun recovered to save Earth any more embarrassment.

Earth would tell Kao he loved him in his own time.