Hey. Kali here.
You know how everyone said the Guardians were so nice and sweet and helpful? Not when it comes to me, apparently! I mean, who would believe such sweet, kind beings could nearly kill a fear spirit for her doing her job?
Yeah. Well, that is exactly what happened. I'm currently undergoing exsanguination in Central Park while humans bustle around me. I reach one hand toward my chest, and it comes away with black blood. I shift my position. Ouch. I think my ribs are broken. Huh. While I wait to go to wherever spirits go once they're permanently dead, would you like to hear the story on how this happened? Well tough, because I'm telling it anyway.
It was just another night for me, sticking hands in some of the streams of golden dream sand to change it to my black nightmare sand. I was so caught up on my work that I didn't even notice the whip till I was falling toward the Earth, five miles below.
I screamed as I fell, for once terror affecting me. My throat was closed up. My head spun, both fear and the fall itself. My whole body was cold. I shut my eyes, dimly aware that I was going to be a grease spot on the pavement.
Not so fast, friend, something laughed. Suddenly, my plummet ceased. I cautiously opened one eye. The wind held me up. I tasted the magic in the wind. Boreas, the North Wind, had rescued me. Feeling much more in control, I looked up at my attacker.
Sandy?
I couldn't believe it. The kind, gentle Guardian of Dreams had just tried to kill me! Was this because I had been making nightmares? But it's my job! How could a Guardian kill anyway? However, shock and horror was quickly replaced by rage. I willed my sand to carry me both forward and away.
Once I was a suitable height, I picked up my staff. It was held in place by black sand ropes. It was beautiful, all ebony with an onyx ball set at the top, held there by black wooden claws. I whirled, and sent a bolt of darkness at Sandman's own cloud. Who needs dreams every night?
Sadly, he dodged the bolt and flung a whip at me. I was too slow, and Sandman's rope snaked around my arm, and he flung me to Earth. This time, the wind didn't catch me.
Do I really need to go into detail about what happened next? No? Good. I'll summarize it. Basically, the rest of the Guardians beat me up in a fight. I'm proud to say, however, that none of them went to Santoff Clausen uninjured.
Anyway, I think it's time. My head's getting fuzzy, I can't think that clearly. My vision keeps fading in and out. I shiver. Is Jack Frost making it cold in summer to spite me?
Faintly, I hear footsteps. Someone's coming. I can see a moving flash, moving flash, of…of… blue. It surprises me to see it come toward me. My…my vision, it's fuzzy. I wonder if the Guardians meant for this…this to happen. Perhaps not.
Suddenly, the splash of blue and black crouches next to me. At close quarters, I can see it's a girl with long white hair. She wears a blue hoodie and black jeans, no shoes. She has pale skin, icy, sharp blue eyes, and dark navy lips. She looks like she froze to death. She's a spirit, like me. She's beautiful.
"Oh, no…"she murmurs. She puts a hand on my stomach, recoiling when it comes away dripping with onyx blood. "What the hell happened to you?"
Somehow, I find the strength to speak. "Gerdians…" my words slurring with the blood in my mouth.
"The Guardians?" the girl asks, and I can hear shock and betrayal in her voice. I try to nod, but my head just slumps.
The girl brushes my matted hair back, and attempts to make me comfortable. "My name is Isolda. You're going to live, okay?" I wonder why she thinks so. Can't she see the blood?
With one deft motion, Isolda scoops me up. She's cold, like Jack Frost. I watch as she pulls out one of North's teleport snow globes. I dimly wonder where she got it. She shakes it, and a portal appears.
I suddenly wonder if Isolda is taking me to the Guardians. I struggle, unmindful of my injuries. Isolda stumbles, trying to carry me. "Shh… It's all right. I'm taking you to some friends of mine, Flint Aden and Apollo Oran. They won't hurt you. Apollo is a skilled healer, he'll have you fine in no time."
Thus reassured, I relax. Isolda is being careful that I'm comfortable and not hurt worse. Suddenly, I remember something I need to tell her.
"Kali," I whisper, not having the strength to raise my voice.
"Kali? Is that your name?" I nod. "Well, hello, Kali. Welcome to my family of misfits, we'll take care of you." And Isolda steps into the light.