Hai~ I'm updating again. c:
Chapter 4
Droplets trickled down her palm, a small smile covered the her lips as she looked down at the fountain before her. She brought her hand back to the water and let the tips of her fingers graze the cool liquid, drawing odd patterns that twisted and turned with every flick of her wrist.
Behind her, a woman lightly pressed her lips and fingers to a flute that she held in her palms. "Be careful, sweetheart." She called, slightly pulling away to speak before she continued; her instrument releasing a soft and calming melody that traveled through their ears.
The girl, only a small child, looked back at the woman with a grin. "I will, Momma." She chirped happily then turned away, bringing her attention back to the water before her. She caught sight of something and jumped up from her spot to run around to the other side of the fountain, falling to her knees as she came to a halt against the concrete that bordered the water.
With one hand, she pulled her ebony locks of curly hair back and with the other, reached for the vibrantly colored water lily that floated only inches away from her grasp.
The thing was scooped up into her palm and she placed both of her hands together as she looked intently down at it. Her fingers gently stroked the petals as she turned it in her grasp. It's colors were beautiful, vibrant against the pale color of her skin. She looked at the plant in amazement, a smile coming to her lips as she brought it closer to her face to inspect it better.
"Beautiful, isn't it? Although, I see someone who is much prettier..."
She jumped, surprised to hear the voice coming from only inches behind her. As she spun around, she caught the glint of an army uniform and instantly cried out in joy at the sight. "Poppa!"
Letting the lily fall back to the water, she turned and wrapped her arms tightly around her father's waist; the man she had not seen in over two months now. Tears threatened to fall from her eyes as she hugged him even tighter.
The man grinned and pulled her up into his arms, chuckling slightly at the astonished and overjoyed expression on her face. "How are you, my little flower? Have you been behaving?" His golden eyes traveled to the woman, his wife, and she gave him a knowing look as she placed the flute down and strolled over to the both of them. His lips turned up in a wide smile as he waited for his daughter's answer.
"Don't I always, General?" The child replied, giving him her best innocent expression that was ruined by the mischievous grin that adorned her lips as she clutched to him.
The man rolled his eyes, turning to the woman as she stopped beside him. She placed her hand against his cheek before giving him a soft kiss on his lips. "I've missed you." She murmured softly, to which the girl pretended to gag violently.
"Gross!" She moaned, burying her head against her father's shoulder. His familiar scent comforted her, a mix of odd spices and something she had never seen before but knew well on his person. Her small fingers gripped at her cream colored sleeves that were completely soaked as she clenched her tiny fists against his uniform.
His lips pressed softly against her temple. "Then don't look." He murmured jokingly, pressing his lips against her ear so she could hear him clearly.
The girl hit his chest with her fist, pulling away and sticking her tongue out. "Bleh." She replied loudly. Her eyes lit up as she looked around excitedly. "Did you bring her?" She exclaimed, almost jumping out of his grasp. His strong hold on her kept the child in place.
He nodded softly, his golden eyes meeting her own bright and dazzling orbs. "Out in the stables, my dear."
The woman gave the child a worried look as her daughter glanced at her pleadingly. "You haven't eaten yet, Gaia. Wait until after lunch, please."
The girl pouted, looking as if she would being crying at any moment. The dark haired man cracked as he took notice of her heartbroken expression. "One ride wouldn't hurt." He assured the woman as he set the child back on the ground.
"Kozmotis, we've talked abo..." The woman began, only to be interrupted by tugging at her husband's sleeve. They both looked down at the little girl.
"Come on then, Poppa!" She whined, practically jumping up and down on her spot as she urged him to follow her to the stables.
"Just one ride, okay?" He gave the woman an apologetic look before letting the girl lead him away from the fountain and towards the stables.
The child quickly turned back to her father, grinning. "I'll race you!"
Before he had a chance to reply, she took off in a sprint; her small legs carrying her past the bushes and tiled floor that covered the garden. He glanced back, noticing his wife smiling at the sight and returned the smile with his own heartfelt one.
Seconds later, he spun around and chased after his daughter. "No fair!" He called out, sprinting after her. "You're cheating."
Kozmotis grinned, followed the sounds of giggles that sprouted from Gaia's lips as she kept running.
The winter spirit huffed. He'd contemplated sneaking off, leaving Mother Nature alone as she slept. She'd be alright for a few moments without supervision, right?
He didn't leave though, knowing exactly how it was that the guardians would react to him ditching the woman. No, instead he opted to draw frost on the window as he not-so-patiently waited for her to wake up.
After a while though, even the frost got boring and by that point he had gotten up to pace the small room. That was when the dream sand above her head had begun to call to his attention.
He took notice of the figures above her head, seeing the way they formed an old memory and this seemed like nothing he'd seen before. No unicorns, no fairies, no magical creatures, or extinct animals; just a memory. So Jack stopped pacing and started paying attention to the three small figures above the woman's head.
One of them was a child, a little girl whose dress lifted and spun in the air as she twirled around the second figure; a tall slender man who Jack could only assume was her father. And then there was the last figure, a horse that seemed to be the cause of the child's excitement.
The Guardian of Fun watched as the girl was picked up by the man and set on the animal's back. The man seem to say something before she took his hand and beckoned him closer. He did so, and got on the horse with her.
There was a change in the sleeping woman's breathing as she continued to relive the memory.
She moved slightly as her dream seemed to break free from her mind, the creature galloped and started sprinting all around the room. Jack could only laugh in amazement as the creature floated around him with the two smaller being on top. Golden trees formed wherever the horse came close to and it successfully managed to dodge every single one of them.
His astonishment did not end when he saw the creature come to a stop above the woman's head once more. The man got off first then she jumped into his arms, causing him to be thrown back and fall with her on top of him; they both laughed silently as they enjoyed their time together. He told her something else and the girl nodded in agreement, standing up and helping him to his feet before they both began to walk away from the horse.
Then all of a sudden, everything changed.
Their cheerful figures were enveloped in darkness, the golden sand quickly turned black. Jack watched in horror as they were torn apart and the scenery changed. One more figure was added to the mix, and the child was enveloped in her father's arms - her head buried in his chest - as the new figure rested inches away from them.
The guardian could barely make out the form of the woman as she lay unmoving. The stallion stood beside the two other figures, its head resting on the man's shoulders as they stared down at the scene the child looked away from.
And again, the images changed as the little girl stood alone and watched as her father rode away and away until she could not see him. She figure fell to her knees as she sobbed silently and Jack took notice of the way Gaia had begun to breathe heavily as her nightmares continued, her fingers clutching the sheets beneath her and a strangled sound escaping her lips.
The winter spirit took no time in rushing over and waking her up. He gripped her shoulder, shoving it frantically. "Nature, wake up! Wake up!" He saw the nightmare fade into something else then. The girl, now looking slightly older than the last time, sat down while the horse stood at her side; in front of her stood two large tombstones stared down at her.
Everything faded and the sand dispersed as the woman's eyes snapped open and she quickly sat up, struggling to catch her breath as she frantically looked around with wild eyes. "N-no... no..." She stopped, her eyes settling on Jack and confusion mixed in with her fear "W-what...?"
"Are you okay?" Jack asked, his hand still on her shoulder as he looked at her.
Her hand moved up and shoved his arm away roughly. "Don't touch me!"
Jack stepped back, raising his hands up in front of him as he waited for her to catch her breath. He retrieved his staff from beside the window as he leaned against its edge, glancing at her with a mix of fear and confusion. "You were having a nightmare." He whispered softly but she could hear him clearly.
"That is none of your business." She snapped, running her fingers through her hair as she quickly moved to sit at the edge of the bed. Her fists clenched as she leaned forward and shut her eyes tightly. "I'm sorry, I just... I need to get out of here."
Jack sighed before moving towards the door. "Sorry but I have to tell the others you're awake."
"No." She quickly replied, standing up and moving to block him from leaving. "I do not want them so see me like this. I-I need someplace to clear my head, only for a few moments."
The winter spirit wasn't convinced. He moved to open the door again but was once again blocked by Mother Nature.
"Please." Gaia whispered, her eyes pleading with him.
Jack begins to protest, imagining just how the others would react to knowing he let her leave without a second though. But the look in her eyes, the way she looked so confused and terrified, made him realize that what he had witnessed her dreaming was her past. And memories like those could never stop being painful to a person, not even an immortal.
So he forced himself to smile and realized that when the guardians figured out she was gone, he didn't have to stick around to get lectured. "Come on, you're not leaving my sight and I know just the place to clear your head."
I must go now, but review please! :D
