The Forest Guardian

Chapter 24

"I-..."

It had been my turn to trail of, looking away and not answering. That was before Emight ran away, leaving me confused and feeling somewhat stranded on the path. I had tried to yell after him, but I didn't really expect him to come back.

He didn't, so my assuming had been right.

So, here I sit.

Stranded, left without a single thought. I think I'm going through some kind of suppressed heartbreak.

I actually thought that he was over me not telling him. Didn't he see that I was fine with having him around for once? That I took the fact that Lucy told him for me, and turned it into something somewhat good?

That I actually liked when he was around?

Not that I compleatly have forgot what his father did to Lucy, but I've come to my sences and realised that it wasn't Luke's fault.

All that, which for me is kind of a big deal to accept, he just left.

Like it was nothing. Like I hadn't put an effort into it.

I wonder what made him leave so urgently. I don't think I said something bad or anything.

I sigh. Maybe this mate thing isn't worth it. Sure, parts of it are fun, but it often leaves me confused or even depressed.

I shake my head. Screw it! I'm tired of this. I'm leaving this as it is. Not putting anymore effort in it. Nothing more. I'm so done with, sick and tired even, of this bond.

I'm leaving it as it is. If Luke haven't given up yet, he'll have to work for it. I'm so done.

"Don't give him up."

I turn on the spot, mentally scolding myself for not paying attention to my surroundings, just to face one of the old boar males. His brown skin is covered in short black hair, and his great tusks are full of scratches and scars, as himself. He has a power radiating of his, like many of the Alphas around here have. He's as big as a small bear, probably double the size if Lucy.

"What?" I ask, dumdfounded, not expecting him to be here. At all.

"You heard me. Don't give him up. He's young and stupid. He doesn't know what he's doing. Let him suffer for a day, then go fetch him. Don't totally throw the idea of you two together down the rabbit hole."

I blink repeatedly.

"What's your name?" I ask, still trying to process what he just said.

"I'm Theodore miss Guardian." he answers politely. His big ears flicker a little.

"Theodore, is it okay if I call you Granpa?" I ask, even if it's completely of topic.

The boar looks a little confused. "Why would miss Guardian want that?"

"I... You remind me of someone, who passed away, and-... it's stupid, forget I ever asked."

"No Miss, of course you can call me Granpa." the old boar insists.

A wolfy smile plays on my lips.

"Thank you, Granpa." I say and walk up to him, looking down on him slightly as I'm still in werewolf-form.

"Any time Miss." Grandpa answers. We say our goddbye's and walk our separate ways.

I trot away a little in awe, almost stumbling on my own paws.

That boar remind me so much of my own Granpa. The one who was married to the other Forest Guardian, my Grandmother.

He is definitely one of my rolemodels.

He was such a wonderful person.

He always had something clever to say, always butted in with his opinion. Always doing it his way even if it was wrong. He was a really stubborn fella, but I loved him and praised him.

Grandma died on my 16th birthday. It's a thing with guardian powers. When the new one arrives and is mature enough to take on the work, the old one loses her own powers.

Grandma was really old, so when the powers disappeard, she left with it.

Sad but true.

This means that reproducing takes you closer to death, since you're stuck with your life until your grandkid is mature enough.

I've thought about this a lot. If I really want to have kids, since I'll have to die in the process. But still. I have to have a kid who can have children that can protect the forest.

I never got to see my grandmother, since she got sick the moment I entered this earth. My mother said that Grandma got sick long before I came, but I don't really belive her.

That's when Grandpa came into to picture.

"When your older you'll understand why Grandma can't visit you."

I have yet to wait to understand what he was talking about.

I've doubted many times that I'll ever understand and I still don't know what he meant.

I've yet to understand.

This is another thing I don't think Luke would get, even if I tried to explain to him. Especially when he can't seem to understand that I have legit reasons to keep my secret from him.

I suddenly feel myself shifting, before I enter my house.

I didn't know I got home, but apparently I did.

"Hi honey!"

I put on my best fake smile, since my head still tries to sort things out, and greet my parents.

"Hi mum! Hi dad!" I smile at them. My voice comes out weirdly, but I just go with it.

"We were about to eat, since you weren't home we assumed that you were at a friends house." My father smiles up at me from his chair at our kitchen table.

I nod.

"Yeah, I was at a friend's house. I'm not hungry though, so I'll just go to bed early I think." I say, as Lucy's words ring through my mind.

Don't get yourself tangled in your own web if lies more than necessary.

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A/N:

One of my absolute favourite chapters. I just love Grandpa.

Anyway, I shouldn't set as easy vote-locks as the one before, like, it hasn't even been a day yet and it's smashed.

Next one will have to be way more difficult.

So. Feedback is always appreciated, even if it's constructive.

Oh, and you peeps are awesome, if I forgot to tell you before.

'till next time.

//siggeisthedog