The world was different. There were new peoples--new gods. Still, there were those old races that remained. Guides, though few, remained--tying them all together, and forging new ties amongst the new gods, new races. Latara took some pleasure in her duties. She knew that her job was important, helping to keep peace among the nations and the pantheons. Latara enjoyed helping the people, all types of people, learn how to make their lives better. The Carpathians were one of the older races. Well established, they needed very little urging to help their human counterparts, or to befriend the mages
Now though, she was on a journey to meet other nearby pantheons, and people. To share a bit of the cultures that she had been charged with nurturing for so very long. This type of journey was unusual for a Guide. In older times, Guides would gather together at the changing of the seasons, in small and large groups, to exchange news, tales and to help each other with trials and tribulations. That was then, and this is now, she reminded herself. The Guides seemed to be disappearing into nothing. There would be nothing left of them, not a new plant, or monument, or home to mark their passing. Not their spirit whispering, merging with another guide, to pass on knowledge, or to ask for help. Even the families were gone. Rumors and speculations abounded, although the most popular seemed to be centered around the new races and gods. Perhaps, as the new gods formed, and came into their own maturity and powers, they killed the Guides somehow, in order to make sure they had worshipers. Or, maybe, the Guides had been absorbed into the new pantheons. Latara didn't know what to think, except that she should be cautious and very aware of every nuance. So far all the pantheons, old and new, that she had visited on this journey had made her feel very welcome. She could detect no evidence of deception. They traded news and stories with her with an openness that was surprising. They didn't attempt to keep her in any specific area, volunteered information before she could ask, and invited her to stay as long as she wished, any time she wished. Because of that she told each of them of the missing Guardians. The pantheons all seemed surprised at the amount of time that had passed since they had seen the Guardian of their lands and people. The Guardians, each had insisted, had been great friends to them, very helpful and wise. The new and old pantheons told Latara of a newer pantheon, the Greeks. The Greek gods and goddesses didn't seem to think of what might happen to the balance of the world--they just did as they liked. Sometimes creating a terrible mess that then had to be cleaned up--there was no way of filling the void left behind. As was what had happened with the Sumerian pantheon. The Greeks, using deception, seduction, betrayal and a guise of friendship had turned the Sumerian pantheon against each other, until only two were left in the world. It was a miracle that the world was still in existence really! And what Apollo had done to his own race--his descendants. Cursing all for the actions of a few.. truly had made Latara ill for a few days. And what his twin sister Artemis had done, just to try to keep a balance.. creating the Dark-Hunters. The intricacies of the loss of the Atlantean pantheon--even though no one was positive if most were dead or in stasis--and how it was all tangled in the web of the Greeks astounded all. The Atlanteans were mostly happy and satisfied with life on their island-continent. They had no real need to look much beyond it. New peoples were welcomed from around the world, and just folded into the society. In comparison, the Greeks seemed greedy, wanting total control. Guardian Lesson number one, learned from before ancient times: Absolute control is impossible to sustain for any period of time. Summer always will give way to Autumn; Autumn to Winter; Winter to Spring and Spring to Summer. One pantheon to control the world? Latara snorted in derision. She didn't need her psychic powers to know that was doomed to fail spectacularly!
Latara took her human form upon approaching the nation of the Greek city-states. Her human form was remarkable only that she was unremarkable in the way of humans. A petite five feet tall, with just enough curves to fit her frame in the right places. Hair that was neither brown, nor red, but a combination of both. Her eyes, like her hair, seemed to be undecided as to their color, green and brown--hazel, the humans called it. Traveling by foot was the best way, she had found, to gage the people (and therefore their gods) around her. Striking up a conversation, or catching snippets of gossip was much easier when the people were not afraid or wary of her. All of that was important before she looked for and found the Greek gods, her ultimate goal. Perhaps after the Greeks, she would see what she could find of the Atlanteans.. Latara could still sense their Kalosis and Katoteros, even if their island-continent was gone. Hopefully, when she returned home, she would find that her charges had fared well without her. There were no Guardians in the lands from the Carpathian Mountains to the Greek borders--except for herself.
Days of travel amongst the Greek city-states turned into weeks. Every where she went she saw and felt evidence of the Guardian Talalo, but no sense of of his living self.
Finally, on top of a mountain, outside of Sparta, Latara found Talalo. He lay as if asleep, surrounded by old men. Priests of the Progenitoi, she thought. She spoke quietly, as she had materialized in her Guardian form, silently out of the air. "Talalo, my friend. Greetings of the world. I bring news, and hope that you can share some with me."
The men turned as one, dressed in priestly, yet simple robes. "Another Old One!" Someone whispered in surprise and awe. The eldest amongst them stepped forward and lowered his hooded cowl from his head and knelt on the stone floor. "My Lady! His Lordship, your friend, Talalo has been in this manner for many months now. We have tried our mortal methods, and appealed to the Elder Gods and Goddess, but we are unsuccessful. We fear he walks in the Spirit World, having followed a the path of the Great Tree."
Latara said nothing to the priests, and they made way for her as she approached her friend on the pallet that had been made up on the altar. Sending her spirit outside her body, becoming a healing ball of only love, energy, and light, she entered his body and examined him closely. The body was dead, a shell simply tying a part of him to the mortal realm. There was nothing to do for the body, dead is dead. Talalo's soul, that was another story. She followed the path he had made, down the Great Tree, and found him lounging in the crook of a branch, about halfway down.
Talalo reached out to Latara, his spirit hands engulfing her own. As they touched he spoke. "Little friend, I knew you'd come."
"Many of our people have disappeared, Talalo. The world is changing, we all can feel it. I am on a journey of discovery for knowledge and wisdom. What can you share?"
"Too much to tell you. Merge your mind with mine, and we shall exchange our news."
The merge took just a few moments, and left Latara gasping for air. Talalo himself was disquieted. "So, it begins, sweet one. I fear you will suffer much loneliness in the coming years."
"Talalo, isn't' there anything that can be done to help prevent, or perhaps mitigate the coming damage and danger?"
He looked at her carefully. "Prevent fully? No. But to lessen? Perhaps so. What, you will have to discover for yourself and the world, my time here is nearly up. Before I go on, a gift." Talalo reached into his spirit chest and pulled forth a brilliant gem. Each Guardian's individual gifts were kept in this Spirit Gem, and were normally only one color--a color unique to that Guardian. This Gem, however was multicolored and multifaceted. Showing that Talalo was truly a powerful Guardian--perhaps equal to a God.
Latara's eyes widened. "Talalo! NO! You will need your powers for the coming struggles. I came to free you!"
Talalo smiled gently. "Latara, you came here to free me, and you have. I am now free to go to my rest with the rest of our kin whom have gone before. This," he indicated the Spirit Gem, "contains all the gifts of all the Guardians whom have passed this way, during this time of turbulence. Each of us has waited here, till the next came, until one came that had not been stamped out of existence. You," he emphasized earnestly, "we all waited for you." With that he placed the Spirit Gem into her chest. Immediately she could feel her own Gem moving towards the new one, absorbing it, becoming one with it. Talalo leaned down and kissed each of her cheeks, and then her forehead before he turned and proceeded down the Great Tree, not looking back.
Latara made her own way up the Tree, and emerged from her trance to find that almost a full day had passed. Only two of the priests stayed with her and Talalo's body. Swaying in weariness, she didn't meet their eyes as she stood. "He has traveled the path of the Great Tree of Life and Death." With a single thought she melded his body with the marble of the altar--so that he would be remembered always, in stone. "Remember his teachings. Be mindful, always of greed and other destructive powers that will throw you out of balance with the world around you. Tell your Spartans to welcome Atlanteans into your city. Apollites too, will have a great gift for your society. The refuge given to them will be rewarded over time. Sparta will need sons, and the Atlanteans are strong, smart, healthy. Both can fight with their head, and their heart, if in different ways." She turned from the marble face of her long time friend, and looked at the priests directly in the eyes. "If any of my kind come looking, for him or others like him, tell them only that Latara returned to her lands to prepare. They should do the same."
