The Guardian (Closed)

Rain pours through the leaves and branches. The forest green with song. Agis, guardian of this old forest, lies in a meadow of wild flowers as the storm washes over his bare skin. Opening his mouth, tongue extended, he welcomes the cool water as it quenches his need.

Agis was not always the protector of this realm, he was once an elf. His people living in the northern most mountains from here. His life was fulfilling, atleast until one fateful day. Through choices he made and chosen for his immortality, Agis surrendered his soul for a life of solitude amongst the trees and beast.

Everything has a cost. For him, a life of servitude and commitment would grant him the form of any beast to walk the woodlands. In return, Agis sacrificed the one thing he vowed to never give away, his heart. In doing so, he will surrendered himself to the forest, to love only her, forever.

With an oath forged in blood and using the claws of a bear, Agis removed his heart, placing it on the ground before a large oak. He stood by, wounded and bleeding as the roots imprisoned it, never to be seen in his true form again, nature posses that now.

And has, for almost a thousand years now.

Mirela had been walking through the forest gathering herbs when the rain had began. She was a healer from a village bordering the most southern section of the large, ancient wood; and so she often ventured here in search of supplies for her medicines.

Many of the villagers were afraid of the wood and none dared to venture very far into it even when they had to for food or firewood. There were many dark fables about terrifying beasts that wandered within its depths, but she never paid any heed to them, dismissing them as silly superstitions. She kept a small dagger on her to gather her cuttings of plants and she figured that would be enough protections should some animal try to attack, but she had never spotted any creature that might do her harm, just the occasional deer or rabbit when she sometimes stopped to read in a glen or a tree and was quiet enough for them to appear.

She often liked to read, something that the villagers found strange for a young woman of her age and with her beauty. Some even tried to dissuade her from reading too often, insisting that it was not good for her 'delicate' female mind. This was another thing that drew her to the woods. Here it was quiet, peaceful, no one to judge her or think her strange.

With her hooded cloak wrapped around her she had not worried about the rain at first, but as it began to increase and was turning into a storm she realized she better find cover or she would be at risk of her clothes soaking through. She wandered a bit searching for a spot to provide her shelter when off in the distance she spotted a great oak, its trunk and branches much larger than all of the other trees around it. Moving closer she noticed a hollow space near its roots that looked like it might be large enough for her to fit inside and her steps quickened.

Peeking in first to make sure no other creature had made its home there, she began to crawl inside.

As the rain became more intense, Agis decides to seek shelter. Attempting to stand, he feel his joints burst into pain as if fire enveloped his body. His attempt to cry out muted. His muscle tense and flex, twisting his body painfully in directions not possible.

Agis finally succumbs. On his stomach, he assumes the form a green serpent. Blending perfectly with the tall grass in the meadow, Agis moves almost effortlessly over the wet ground.

He nears the large oak, the hollowed trunk he formed for nearly a millennia. His fork shaped tongue hampered in this deluge of rain, does pick up something out of the ordinary. Stopping short of the oak, his head high in the air. The red forked tongue gathering what it can before brushing it over the roof of his mouth.

"Intruder? This deep in the woods?" Agis speaks to himself.

The villagers never venture this deep. He had set the tone for thier fear many generations ago. So who or what could this be. He lowers his head back beneath the grass, camouflaged. He slithers his way into the darkness of his den, the pits under his nostrils light the way.

He stops just inside, the figure curled up inside shivering from the rain. Agis head remains focused, his tongue lashing out for information. He slow draws his thick body into the tree.

"You should not be here" he challenges the figure through the low light, intimidation always being his weapon. "These woods do not belong to you."

The fork at the end moves over Mirela's exposed leg, before darting back. The scent is familiar, one he has tracked many of times through these trees. "What brings you here?"

Mirela had stiffened in response to the sound of the stern and accusing voice. She was currently curled up as far back in the den as she could get, her back to the entrance and her hood raised up over her head to try and block the cool wind that had begun to blow and chilled her rain dampened form. Her eyes darted to the entrance of the den, expecting to see a person standing there...but there was nothing.

For a moment she thought she might have dozed off and had dreamt the voice, but then she felt a brush of something against her leg and heard it speak again.

"What brings you here?"

Pushing back her hood to see better in the dim light, she peered down in confusion next to her legs where the voice had seemed to come from, her eyes growing wide with shock when she found, not a person, but a great green snake with scales the same color as the forest meadow grasses looking back at her, his large body blocking the exit.

"You... you can speak?" she gasped out in surprise.

Agis coils closer to her, what remained of his body slithering inside the den. His large bulk now blocking the wind and rain, shutting off what dim light remained. A young woman? Truly there are others. There always is.

"I asked, what brings you here?" Curling against her body.

He feels her trembling. However is doesn't sense much fear. He is bewildered. Does he not scare her? Agis moves his body against hers, the sun he had absorbed through the day, radiates from his green scales.

"Where are the others? The men? Worriors?" His tone tracing silent with a hiss.

Agis finds himself conflicted. His attempts, if you want to call them that, to scare this young lady, were weak at best. She was far more surprised, he felt, when she realized he spoke than of him being a large snake. He feels the cold, rain beated temperature taking it's toll on him as well.

Through necessity or compassion, Agis tucks his head deep within his coils. His sharp teeth scaring his scaly body as he forces himself through another change. His body bulks, thick black fur replacing the scale green suit of armor.

His jaw relaxes, easing it's death grip of his flesh. With a grand puff of air, seen easily within the cold air and deep growl, his transformation is complete. The large bear, unable to stand inside the hollowed den, lays beside her. His body exhausted from the torment of forcing this morphing upon it. The thick fur covering his body now insulates the two from the weather.

In a rather calm, tired voice, Agis looks up at Mirela with his light blue eyes "Are you not afraid? Do I not scare you?"

Mirela had watched silently as the snake had moved against her. Having such a large and potentially dangerous creature so close to her was of course frightening, but at the moment her fascination and astonishment at encountering this obviously magical being was overshadowing her fear. Perhaps she was still in shock, for she could scarcely believe what was happening to her now was real.

She could feel the warmth of the sun radiating from his scales as they brushed against her, and in her wonder she found herself wanting to reach out and touch them, but restrained herself. The snake coiled in on itself and what happened next took her completely by surprise, making her gasp aloud in response. Where once had lain the great, green snake, now a bear stretched out beside her! What kind of creature was this that it could change its form at will?!

The size of the beast's body blocked the entrance to the hollow, her means of escape, but this also meant that the wind and the rain were blocked from her as well. Its thick, warm fur brushed against the side of her body closest to it, and slowly she felt her shivering from the dampness and cold begin to ease. He spoke again and she could not help but notice the calm, tired tone to his voice. Looking down at the him she was surprised to find pale, icy blue eyes looking back at her.. nothing like the brown hue that a bear's eyes should be.

"Do I need to be afraid of you?" she asked quietly in response to his question as she held his gaze.

Laying calmly as he was, it didn't seem like planned to attack or do her harm. In fact, with his questions of men and warriors it almost seemed like he might be worried about her and her intentions.

"I came alone," she explained, "I am a healer from the village south of here and often come to the forest to gather herbs for my medicines. See?..."

She reached to the satchel by her side and opened the top flap so that he may peer inside and see what she had gathered that day before the rains began.

"I.. I'm sorry if I intruded upon your home. I only thought to get out of the rain."

Do I need to be afraid of you?

Her question bewildered Agis, yet it calmed him. He had never come actoss a human that was not afraid. Typically their fear drove them to flee. On occasion, they would fight.

"If you were smart would be" he mutters, more to himself than to Mirela.

"I am a healer from the village south of here and often come to the forest to gather herbs for my medicines. See?..."

His head tilts to the side as he examines her answer. "A healer?" a hint of a chuckle in his question. "You look like no healer I've ever seen in my time."

He sniffs, examining her carry. The familiar sceants of roots and herbs. It is difficult to wrap his mind atound her being a healer. She is not not old and far from repulsive.

"I.. I'm sorry if I intruded upon your home. I only thought to get out of the rain."

"Storms here can be rather brutal" searching for his words.

Agis has not conversed directly with someone else in...he can not remember how long. He looks deeply into her eyes, "You may wait out the storm, then you must leave."

His large head looks out the den. His eyes attentive to his surroundings. The sounds of thunder and howling winds outside, Agis turns and starts to exit. He is well aware of the attention his guest posses.

Standing at the exit, he looks back at Mirela "And forget what you have learned here."

As the beast's eyes stared deeply into her own Mirela could feel her heart beating hard within her chest, not entirely certain if he would be accepting of her answers for who she was and what she was doing there in what she presumed now to be his home. For the moment her wonder at encountering such a creature might be overshadowing her fear of having such a large and powerful beast so close by, but that did not mean that she was so senseless as to be unaware of the danger that could become of her if he suddenly decided she posed a threat or wished to do her harm.

"You may wait out the storm, then you must leave."

She breathed a sigh of relief and watched as he turned towards the exit, confused as to why he now appeared to be leaving. Even with his fur to provide protection, surely he did not want to be out in the wind and rains either. She froze as he turned and looked back at her, his pale blue eyes looking into her darker blue ones again. Once more she was struck by how out of place they looked upon his bear face. Then he spoke again.

"And forget what you have learned here."

Forget? Forget that there is a magical beast living in the forest that can talk and change its shape at will?!

"I don't know if I can..." she answered honestly, her eyes still looking into his own, "Though if you're worried that I might tell someone in the village about you, I won't. They'd only think me crazy if I did."

She gave a bit of a self depreciating laugh.

"Maybe I am. Maybe they were right and all of my reading has finally damaged my mind."

Agis stood at the entrance, the furious wind whipping through the tall timber. Her words rolling inside his head over and over.

Maybe I am. Maybe they were right and all of my reading has finally damaged my mind

Agis stares distantly from the hallow, known fulling how she must feel. "The outcast, the oddity" he says to no one, but himself out loud. He steps out, into the storm, disappearing through the curtain of water.

Moments later Agis returns. A large branch full of berries hung from his mouth. Placing at Mirela's feet, he settles back down on the dirt. His bulky frame blocking the entrance and in turn the wind and rain. He looks in her direction, before looking down. Her hair and outfit drenched from the onslaught of water.

Agis moves a little closer, placing his wet, but warm fur against her body, shielding her from the weather.

"You're soak. You will get I'll if you do not warm yourself" his head lays at her feet, his body pressed to her back. He feels conflict inside himself. He knows his oath, yet his compassion for this human stranger fills him.

"I was once...much like yourself" he says, staring into the rotting hull of their shelter. "Eat" he noses the branch in her direction more. "Eat."

"The outcast, the oddity"

Mirela's head cocked to the side in confusion as she watched the beast. He didn't seem to be speaking to her yet his words mirrored her thoughts exactly. How did he know that this was how her village viewed her? Could he read minds as well as shape shift? She opened her mouth to ask him as such, but before she could get the words out he was already gone, disappearing out into the storm.

She thought perhaps he had gone for good, but was surprised when he returned just moments later with a berry filled branch in his mouth, setting it down at her feet before looking her over and then moving closer to press his warm fur against her and shield her from the wet and cold. She was even more surprised when he encouraged her to warm herself against him and eat the berries he had brought. Had he not seemed so eager for her to leave just moments before? Though it was his cryptic remark that he had once been like her that surprised and confused her most of all.

Hesitantly she reached up and untied the hooded cape from around her neck, removing the sodden cloth from around her shoulders and setting it aside so that the warmth of his body could better reach her. Reaching for the branch she picked a handful of the berries from it and then leaned back, slowly settling in against him. She was admittedly a bit nervous at first, but gradually began to relax against his warmth.

"What do you mean that you were once like me?" she asked as she began to eat the berries, unable to help but voice her curiosities.

His eyes heavy from the day, Agis layed inside his hollow tree. He can feel as Mirela leans into him and begins eating the berries.

"What do you mean that you were once like me?"

His large head rises as he yawns. His large teeth seem to stretch with his jaws, before shaking his head and resting it on the ground.

"I was cast from my village, awhile ago. For not conforming to what others held in high regard." He answers, staring through the hole in the tree. Remembering what he once was, what he once had.

Agis was a no body back in the woodlen kingdom of Valherra. His father was a carpenter, building homes for the kindom's poor. Kind of ironic really, the son of a wood worker tasked with the protection of the forest. He grew up normal. Learning the trade from his father until one day his world crashed down on top of him. Love was his undoing. Not love it's self, but rather who he chose to love.

His eyes grow heavier by the moment. He begin to drift off. "Get some rest. Tomorrow I'll escort you to the edge of the forest."

His eys close gently, the world around him dark with only the sound of wind and rain. "Agis by the way."

"I was cast from my village, awhile ago. For not conforming to what others held in high regard."

Mirela was taken aback by the beast's words, her hand freezing and lowering the berry she'd been about to eat as she turned and stared at him in surprise. He had lived in a village?! But that would mean that he was not truly a beast then. Was he a sorcerer? Cursed by one? Where was his village? How long ago had it been?

So many questions flooded her mind, but she could see that his eyes were closing as he was already beginning to fall asleep. She held her tongue for the time being, as hard as it was to do so. He was tired, and she didn't want to repay his hospitality by pestering him. Besides, if he was going to escort her to the edge of the forest then there would be time for her questions later as they walked together.

"Agis..." she tested the name out on her tongue softly to herself.

"I am Mirela," she replied, giving him her name in return as he drifted off.

His eyes now shut she watched him curiously, wondering about who this person was and how exactly he had come to be here living as a beast deep within the forest. He said he'd been cast out, but for what exactly? He'd shown her such kindness despite her apparent intrusion this evening it was hard for her to imagine that he'd done something worthy of such a punishment.

Thinking him asleep, she shifted closer and slowly reached out her hand towards the base of his neck. It was surreal to be lying next to such a large animal peacefully and she was unable to help her curiosity as she softly ran her hand over the dense, warm fur; burying her fingers within it and marveling at the feel.

Agis lays theres, eyes closed but unable to sleep. Her gentle hands through his thick fur kept his mind active. No one has touched him in such a very long time. His breath deep on the exhale as a puff of dirt flies.

"Does what you see frighten you, Mirela?" he asked in reference to his current form. "I could choose another."

It was difficult for him to admit that. What if she chose what he was unable to provide, his true form.

He rolls to his side, her soft fingers through his fur mesmerizing him. He has so many questions and so much to share. But in his head he knows it is impossible. They do not fit into what others see as normal.

"You have never ventured this far into the firest before. I would know, I would have smelled..." His voice trails off a moment, "your scent before"

"Does what you see frighten you, Mirela? I could choose another."

Mirela felt a blush of embarrassment bloom in her fair cheeks when Agis spoke, realizing that he'd not been sleeping yet as she'd supposed and that he'd caught her petting his fur. Her hand paused but then as he rolled to the side he did not seem to mind her touch, and so she continued softly.

"No, you do not need to.. it is not so frightening now," she answered him, pausing a moment before she admitted with a slightly sheepish smile, "Actually.. it is a little thrilling. After all, how many people can say that they've had the opportunity to pet a live bear."

She slowly trailed her hand down his side, her fingers exploring the slightly finer and softer fur of his belly.

"I was needing a particular herb to make a medicine for one of the villagers in town, but the grove closest to the village didn't have enough, so I ventured deeper into the forest today to try and find more, and..."

She paused for a moment then, her blush deepening a bit as she realized something else he'd said.

"My scent?"

"Everyone has a defining scent, if you know how to distinguish it. Some are much more pleasant than other" his eyes look up at her.

"If they threat you like an oddity, why do you continue to help them?" He lifts his head, looking into her face. "You think they appreciate what you do, solely for them?"

Agis finds it difficult to understand why humans, and elves as well, continue to sacrifice themselves and their time for others. He did not always think this way, but given the circumstances in which he was exiled, he has never placed himself in that situation since.

With a deep breath, his eyes close softly before opening once more. Truly some scents are much more appealing than others. The large nostrils on the end of his snout open wide, gathering as much of her as he could. He brushes his nose between her hair and neck, inhaling before a long exhale. He long brown hair flowing outward through is breath. He leans back once again, looking out through the opening.

"What herb do search for?" Agis ask in and uneasy voice.

Mirela grew still as Agis raised his great bear head in front of her own, struggling for a moment as her natural instincts told her she should back away and be afraid of such a dangerous beast's face being so close to her own. She forced herself to push them aside however and remain where she was as he leaned forward, reminding herself that Agis had not given her any reason to fear him thus far despite his appearance. She felt the brush of his nose brushing beneath her hair, a shiver running down her spine as the hot breath of his exhale blew against her neck and through her dark curls before he leaned back again.

She blinked at him in surprise for a moment as he drew back and looked out the opening of the hollow, realizing that he'd been breathing in her scent. Was this a normal bear-like behavior? She wasn't certain.

"What herb do search for?"

Doing her best to ignore the heat returning to her cheeks, she reached for her bag and pulled out one of the few pieces she'd been able to gather thus far.

"This one," she said, holding it out for his inspection, "Do you know where I might find more?"

As he looked it over she continued.

"The people of the village can be rather closed-minded about things, but they are not completely bad," she insisted in their defense, "Besides, they usually pay or barter with me for my services."

She gave a little shrug.

"If nothing else, helping them with my medicines and tonics makes it so that they have to at least tolerate me.. even if they do think me a little strange."

She gave a little rueful laugh.

"Wouldn't want them suddenly thinking me a witch and casting me out..."

She paused, realizing what she'd just said and hoping she had not offended him.

"I- I'm so sorry, Agis" she began, her tone somber and sincere as she gazed at him, "Is.. is that why your village cast you out.. because of your magic?"

"This one, Do you know where I might find more?"

Agis examines the herb, trying hard not to use his nose. Lucky for him, he knows these herbs well. Choosing to listen instead of interrupting Mirela, Agis keeps the location to himself. At least for the time being.

It's difficult for him to relate to her exact reasons for feeling strange and out of place with her own people. His reasons were much more personal, more of his iwn choosing.

A deep hallow laugh rumbles from his chest as his body shook. "Witch?"

"Is.. is that why your village cast you out.. because of your magic?"

"Magic?" He looks her over, no one truely knows his story. "This is no magic, nor witchcraft." He takes a deep breath. "I was once something else. I come from Valherra, north of here in the mountains. Long time ago, I was once an Elf. "

"We were denied what we desired the most due to status. Something neither of us concerned ourselves with." Agis looks stares into the darkness of the tree. "Anyway I, ran, escaped that prison."

"I found myself alone, in a world I knew nothing about. One day, the forest talked to me. I assumed I had gone crazy. We struck a deal, Mother Nature and I. I provide her with protection from those who seek to harm this old forest. In return, she has provided me with the means to do just that."

Agis looks down at the dirt. A solemn look on his face. "But her gift comes at a cost"

He perks his head up, changing the subject. "I know those herbs. I will take you when the storm passes."

Mirela listened carefully as Agis shared his story with her, though when he had finished she found that she had more questions than answers again.

Valherra? Had she not heard of that place somewhere before in an old story or song? It was a real place then? And he was not a sorcerer as she had thought, but an elf! Though she was still confused as to why he'd been cast out from his village. Who was the 'we' he spoke of, and exactly was the 'cost' of his abilities?

She could not help but notice his obvious change of subject however. As puzzled as she was by what he had shared with her, she did not think it her place to pry when he did not seem to want to discuss it with her further.

"Alright," she agreed with a nod as she placed the herbs back in her bag and slowly leaned back against him again to keep warm as the wind and rain continued outside the tree.

"Thank you, Agis."

Agis wakes, having dosed off during the storm. Suddenly remembering his guest, Agis looks over and sees Mirela napping as well. He gets to his feet and steps outside the tree. The weather has improved and clouds cleared. Large beams if sun strikes the ground as he looks upward to the sky.

The forrest is calm and quiet. This is odd to him, guven the presence of the human woman. Agis walks the immediate perimeter before returning to the hallow. He could not help but think how his appearance must frighten her.

Before stepping back inside the hallow tree, Agis chooses a form less intimidating, a fox. Stepping back inside, the soft white and grey fur frames his face. He sits, head turned slightly, watching as she sleeps.

He small nose sniffs her neck, before he licks her cheek gently, attempting to wake her.

"Mirela" he speaks. "The rain has stopped." His ice blue eyes looking down on her.

Mirela shifts slightly in her sleep, beginning to wake as she hears someone calling her name. She stirs and gives a little stretch, her blue dress and long dark hair dry now but a little rumpled from her nap within the tree.

Slowly she opens her eyes, a look of confusion filling their sleep hazed depths for a moment at first as she finds the face of a grey and white fox looking down on her. Then her gaze focuses in on his ice blue eyes and her sleepy mind clears, the memories of where she was and the mysterious elf that she had met returning to her.

"Agis," she greets him, smiling slightly and wondering at his changed form, "You are a fox now?"

One of her hands reaches up to feel the soft fur of his cheek.

"How many creatures can you change in to?"

Agis tilts his head to her palm. Her touch is warm and gentle, even through the fur. "All I suppose." Having never really thought about it. "I thought you may like something less intimidating for our walk today."

Agis knew where the herb she sought was. It's a fair distance away, and not carrying so much weight would make it easier on him.

"Our walk to the herbs of course." He says, walking back to the entrance. Come, it's a long walk."

Agis sets out in a northerly direction. His white and grey coloring easily seen through the green grass. He comes upon the trail he seeks as he turns his head, looking back at Mirela. He walks the path, just a few steps ahead, making their way trough the tall trees.

An hour or so up the winding trail a with a loud constant roar, a tall waterfall comes into view. The rocks below breaking the water up before it settles into a large pool. He guides them down the face of the cliff, a path he has taken many times. At the waters edge, he drinks from the cold run off of the falls.

"Drink, it's fine." He encourages her. "We still have a ways to travel."

Mirela was careful of her steps as she and Agis made their way down the path to the water's edge. By his sureness of steps she could tell that he had obviously traveled this way many times before.

When they reached the edge she gazed up at the beauty of the tall waterfall in wonder as he drank. At his encouragement she knelt down and joined him, cupping her hands and filling them with the cool clear water and then bringing it to her lips for a long, refreshing drink and then breathed a sigh as she gazed up at the falls once more.

"It's so beautiful," she commented with a smile, "I had no idea this was even here..."

She gazed back down at him again.

"How long have you lived in this forest?"

Agis stares into the cool water, watching as the ripples distort his image. "Since this forrest was young and only the saplings decorated the lands." He paws at the water.

Fish swim below the surface as Agis' mind remembers. "I'm as old as this forrest, older than all living things that dwell within it." He turns looking up into Mirela's eyes. "Many seasons ago, I had to flee my home, because...well, just because. I ran for days, weeks even before I found myself not far from here. I was tattered and bruised, barely alive." He takes a deep breath before returning his gaze to the pool of water. "I was then approached by the mother of this forrest with a proposition. At the time, her offer saved my life. So, in return for my loyalty as protector of this land, she offered me protection as well. Protection from those who sought my demise."

He shakes his head, attempting to clear his unpleasant past from his thoughts. "You know, when human settlers descended on this forrest, they lacked respect for her, and almost abolishing her completely." Trying to adjust the subject away from him. "But the forrest can be cruel. You see, her protection required my utmost commitment to her. Thus, the forms you have witnessed. Both her gift and prison. Unfortunately a prison I will soon be unable to escape."

He takes a deep breath "So, I must choose a form." He hops to his feet and looks at Mirela. "This isn't bad, kind of whimpy though" he chuckles referring to the small frame of the fox, in an attempt to lighten his mood. "Come, we still have a little further to go."

Mirela watched Agis, here eyes widening with surprise as he explained how old he was and how long he had been living within the forest. She listening intently as he explained more of his tale to her, her eyes meeting his pale blue ones before he turned them away again and continued.

When he finished and hopped to his feet, she remained kneeling upon the grass, concern filling her eyes as she looked at him despite his chuckling and attempt to lighten the mood by redirecting the subject to their journey. She'd told herself before not to pry, that it was not her place to ask questions that he did not seem to want to answer, but she simply could not help herself this time.

"What do you mean the forms that you take are a prison you will be unable to escape?" She asked, her tone filled with worry for him, "Are you not able to turn back into your old self then?"

"I was once young and carefree." Agis started as the both began to walk the trail. "Although not a privileged life as most humans see elves, but we need blacksmiths and farmers also."

The continue their walk as the sun rises high in the blue sky. "I've been like this for so long, not sure what my true identity is anymore. But I do know one thing, at the mark of a millennium, I will no longer be allowed to change my form and must live amongst the forrest the rest of my days."

Agis looses himself in the now, walking the narrow dirt path with Mirela. "Something I have learned over my years, there certain forces that should not be taken lighly, nor should they be denied." He looks up at Mirela, her cloths soiled from the events of the last few hours. "Tell me, have you ever been in love?"