Chapter Six
The Memories
Rei stood, carefully supervising Garr. "NO! over to the left more."
"Who's left?!"
"MY left!"
"My right?"
"NO, THE LEFT!"
"So my left?"
"NO! NOT THERE!" It was too late. Garr had already placed the last log….in the right place? Rei stared at it for a while.
"How'd you do that? The log isn't big enough to cover the whole hole." Rei scampered down to the log and inspected it carefully. "No FAIR!!! How come you can use magic and I can't?" Rei started mumbling about something to that effect. Garr sat down, tired by the days exertions. "Are you tired!?"
Garr looked up. "Do I look tired?"
"Yeah. How can you be tired? It wasn't that hard!"
"That's because you did all the shouting and none of the work." Garr said looking at the half-tiger. Rei had shot up the past two years. And for some odd reason, he kept in touch with Momo…loving to remind her on how short she was. Or rather, how much taller Rei had grown while she remained almost the same height.
Garr shook his head, smiling at the years. Rei had become a part of the family, more so than if he was born into it. Garr stood up and stretched his wings.
"WATCH OUT! Are you trying to kill me or something!?" Rei now started off on the new subject.
"REI! Shut up." Rei stared at Garr, shocked. "We have to get home. Very quickly." With that, Garr leaned over and picked Rei up. He started flapping his wings. Soon dirt was blowing everywhere but there was no one to see it.
~~~~*~~~~
Ganlon stared at the horizon, willing for the shape of a flying Guardian to appear. Garr could not be late this night. It was too important for him to be late. His future as a Guardian was at stake. Either he would start on the road to mastery and become a full Guardian, probably one of the most powerful ever, or he would stay a young Guardian and never do more than guard Urkan Tapa or Angel Tower.
Slowly, almost so slow that he did not notice it, a dark shape appeared on the horizon. This was what he had been waiting for. He went into the house and set out Garr's formal robe and polished his spear for him.
The time of judgment had come. All he could do was prepare his son.
~~~~*~~~~
Garr landed right beside the pond out back. He set Rei down and then dived in the freezing cold water. The cold water woke up senses dulled with long flying and cleaned the dust off his skin. Garr waded out and grabbed one of the towels kept nearby. Rei watched with a touch of alarm. Garr never went willingly into water unless he was long overdue for a bath, which happened very infrequently. Garr took sponge baths just to avoid large bodies of water.
"What's going on?" Rei asked his concern echoing in his voice.
"Not now, little brother. I have to prepare……to meet the Great Goddess." Garr pushed past Rei and into the house. Rei watched him go confused and forlorn. Suddenly Rei thought of a way to help and raced into the house.
~~~~*~~~~
Dark had fallen and the time of the meeting was close at hand. Guardian Garr and Guardian Ganlon were dressed in the formal robes. The small half- tiger was also dressed in formal robes. The light streamed from the door and silhouetted them. Two guardians on either side of a small person. Those that saw the sight never forgot it. There was an air of duty, an air of destiny, around them. The path was in sight, the choice to be made, The Great Goddess had called and they had answered.
~~~~*~~~~
Garr stood nervously at attention. Rei was standing behind him and his father beside him, but now was the time of testing. He fixed his robe one more time and waited to be admitted to the Patriarch's abode. There neither Rei or Ganlon could follow him.
"Garr?" Garr blinked and looked down at Rei.
"What?"
"That's the third time I said your name…what's going on?" Garr sighed, as he realized Rei knew even less than he did.
"I go to meet my goddess." A short answer would be all that was required, all that there was time for. The assistant came out.
"Guardian Garr the Patriarch is ready." Garr started to go. Rei pulled his spear out of his hand and attached something to it. Rei gave it back to Garr. Garr stared at Rei for a moment more before turning and following the assistant.
~~~~*~~~~
Rei yawned and tried to force his eyes open. He felt himself being lifted up in a pair of strong arms. He yawned again and twisted around until he found a comfortable spot. His eyes were just begging their final descent for the day when the door opened and a strange odor wafted out.
Rei BOLTED upright and clung to his father. Garr came out looking tired but quietly happy.
"I'll take him if you're tired." Garr offered, holding out his arms. Rei shook and clung even tighter to Ganlon. "Or not……" Garr shrugged.
"Can we please go home!? I don't like it here!" Rei begged Ganlon, twisting around to look at his face.
Ganlon looked down at Rei. "Of course." Garr nodded his assent. The three of them made their way back home. Rei climbed into bed that night and dreamt a nightmare worse than any he had ever had. Eventually, he did something he had not done since the first night. He climbed into Garr's bed and fell asleep shivering against his back.
~~~~*~~~~
Early the next day Rei woke up. Yawning, he tried to figure out how he had gotten from his bed to Garr's. He tensed as the memories of last night came flooding back. He whimpered softly and moved closed to Garr's reassuringly large back. Large and strong. Very strong and very safe.
Garr sighed in his sleep and turned over. Rei just looked at him. As usual when Rei did that Garr woke up.
"Morning…" He said, still half asleep. Rei just burrowed close, the aftermath of his terror slowly receding. Garr put his arm around Rei. "All is well and as it should be." He smiled down at Rei. Rei looked up at Garr and relaxed. It was true. The sun was shining, the she-demon wasn't here, and the strange scent was gone.
Rei sat up, suddenly hyper. "YEAH!" He bounced out of bed and ran outside. Garr, however, fell back to sleep. And woke up again to a little half-tiger staring at him. "Are you going to sleep all day?"
"I was hoping to………"Garr groaned and reluctantly sat up. Rei just gave him one of his special 'I don't believe you' looks. Reluctantly, Garr got up and moving. Rei ran off to go bother someone else. Most likely, Ganlon or one of the priests. Garr got up and made breakfast and the moment Garr was done Rei came back.
"FOOD! FINALLY!" Rei waited patiently for the food to cool before shoveling it down. Garr watched amused. The day passed as all other days did.
After supper that night Rei got struck by a sudden idea.
"How old is the Patrick?" Garr glanced at his father.
"Umm……not as old as I am." Garr offered. Rei went and curled up on Ganlon's lap. He thought some more.
"Maybe it's been the same Patrick all these years……" Garr looked at Rei.
"I've seen him die at least twice that I remember" Garr said quietly contradicting him. Rei thought some more.
"I'll bet he gets reincarnated! See when the old Patrick dies, the one that takes over…" Garr and Ganlon shut their ears to Rei's incessant chatter. It would be too confusing to listen. "And then…HEY! Are you even listening?" Rei accused.
"Yeah."
"Then what did I just say about three sentences ago?!" Garr thought quickly.
"I don't remember, but I do know that I have to go train now." He said.
"You weren't listening…..oh well. Why do you have to train this late?" Garr looked at his father again.
"Eh…well……it's a special form of training. I train with the Goddess." Rei flinched back unconsciously.
"What's a goddess………" Garr shrugged and left. So Rei turned to pester Ganlon for the answer. The…discussion…lasted most of the night.
~~~~*~~~~
Garr stuck his spear in the ground outside the door and stretched his wings. He was going to be sore tomorrow. Wearily, he opened the door.
"GGGAAARRRRRRR!" Rei came bounding up. All of a sudden, Rei stopped mid- bound. His eyes flew open wide and he began to tremble. Rei gave a small whimper and raced off towards the minor safety of under the bed. Garr stood there in slight shock.
Ganlon stood up looking after Rei. "He reacts strangely to the mention of the Goddess……perhaps he senses her aura on you?"
"Perhaps………but why react so badly?" Ganlon looked at his son. He turned slowly and took a forbidden book off of the shelves. He opened it to a marked page. A picture was on one page text on the other.
"Long years before the Dragon War, some Guardians aided the Goddess in eradicating the Worren race. On the page opposite is the only Worren known to have killed Guardians. He killed Guardian Greai and Guardian Gamore. This Worren went by the name Alaoni. He was reputed to be the instrument of the prophecy. Thus the Honors given to Guardian Gatsero for locating and immobilizing this Worren. The Great Goddess herself executed this evil being."
Garr stared at the picture for a long time. He slowly turned the page. Again another drawing and some text. This time it was of a female.
"Crisenta was the last of the Worrens to die. This amazing fighter managed to evade the Great Goddess for 10 years. Many Guardians were sent to find this elusive Worren. Some were found with their wits missing. When they were found, they had forsaken the Goddess among other maladies. When the Guardians finally found and brought this fugitive to justice, she was found in Cear Xahn. Right beneath the Goddess's citadel. Once again the Great Goddess oversaw the execution of this evil being, also thought to be part of the prophecy."
Garr looked at the drawing and paled. "That's……that's….Cris……" Garr looked at his father, praying to be contradicted, praying that it wasn't the little girl he had known so well, had watched grow into a young woman, and fall in love. He got no such comfort.
Ganlon nodded, knowing how much this would shake Garr's faith. "She was part of the prophecy. Or at least that's what they thought. Now I'm not so sure…it refers to them in such vague terms. The Worren boy…the tempered one… Alaoni and Crisenta" Garr nodded weakly, remembering the temper Cris had inherited from her mother.
"But………this doesn't look like the Cris I know…" Garr protested, trying to find something, anything, that would mean that picture was not Cris, not Crisenta.
"I'm sorry……" Ganlon closed his eyes and bowed his head. He moved to close the book but Garr held on.
"Rei looks so much………so much like Alaoni…but with Cris's eyes……" Garr studied the pictures mentally putting them together and reducing the ages. The picture looked startlingly like Rei.
Garr jumped up and got a piece of paper and a pencil. Slowly he put the paper over the picture of Crisenta and traced her eyes. Next he put it over the picture of Alaoni and traced the rest of the face in. Beneath it he redrew the face to match the age that Rei was now.
Ganlon leaned over. "That……looks like Rei…" Garr met Ganlon's eyes over the book. "It would appear…that Rei is the child of Crisenta and Alaoni…"
~~~~*~~~~
Rei shivered uncontrollably. He could hear the low voices of Garr and his father in the other room. Tears leaked out of his eyes and he curled up into a small ball. He slowly fell asleep. And Rei dreamt. He dreamed of many things that night. Of the past and the future. And he understood none of it! He woke up when a heavy footstep sounded next to his head. He stared at Garr's upside down face.
"Garr…………I'm scared." Rei crawled out and onto Garr's lap.
"I know Rei…I know…" Rei hugged Garr tight and wouldn't let go. Rei started crying softly. Garr put his arms around him and stared off into the distance, remembering…………
" NOW where am I?!" Garr asked no one in particular. He had gotten lost (again) and was standing on the outskirts of a village.
" You are in Worent, home of the Worrens." Said a female of the race.
" Can I speak with your leader?" he asked.
" You're looking at her." The woman stated flatly.
" But… You are a female!" Garr said.
" And you are a thick-skulled Guardian. Your point being…?"
Garr looked at her, confused. "But… but…"
"Do you need help or not?! If you do, follow me. If not stay here and feed the monsters." She said sweetly, turning and entering a nearby house. Garr followed her after a moment. "So you do need help. You are obviously lost to be out here."
" …Something like that." She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
" It's beginning to get dark. Unless you want lots of trouble, I recommend that you stay here overnight." A pair of children ran in.
" Mama, Crisenta's trying to kill me!! AGAIN!!!"
" You deserve it, you jerk!!!"
The Worren female sighed. " Now what?" Clearly, this happened before.
"Cray was teasing Marin again! You told him not to, but does he ever listen?! Noooo!" She whirled to face her brother, who stepped back. " You've gotta be the dumbest brother anyone could have!!!!"
"If I promise not to do it ever again, will you stop trying to kill me?"
The girl, Crisenta, considered for a minute and then nodded. Cray scampered out, before he could arouse her wrath again. Her mother looked at her and raised her eyebrows. Crisenta suddenly became aware of Garr. She looked at him curiously, but didn't say anything. Her mother bowed formally to Garr.
" My name is Bianca. I lead this community. This is my younger daughter, Crisenta." The small girl bowed to Garr as well. He nodded at her, smiling faintly. She grinned back. Her mother continued. "In the morning I'll provide you with a map and compass. Crisenta, will you please show the Guardian to the guest house."
"Yes, Mama. If you will please follow me, Guardian," Crisenta walked out the door and lead Garr to the guest house. "Here you are! You have the whole place to yourself… Not many people come this far. Sorry that it's so dark, but the fire place is right over here. You can start a fire if you want. And… What's your name?"
Since the question was so random, it took a bit to sink in. " My name is Garr."
" That's a nice name." She said cheerfully.
~~~~*~~~~
Ganlon walked in the room to check on Rei. All seemed to be well… Rei was clutching Garr like his life depended on it even though he was asleep. But that was just a normal reaction. Garr had fallen asleep holding Rei. Ganlon turned to leave before realizing that Garr had fallen into, not sleep, but some sort of trance. He leaned over and waved his hand in front of Garr's face. No reaction. "Garr? Hello?" Ganlon knew enough not to try to force Garr back, but that didn't stop him from trying just a little. Ganlon settled down to wait.
~~~~*~~~~
Garr stood watching from the outskirts of the crowd. Not that he minded, given his height, but he did wish he could be closer to Cris. He had been living in the village for quite a while now and had gotten to know Crisenta very well. Always around this time of year young boys and girls went through the Time of Testing. Cris, having just turned 13, was eligible for it this year. Garr had practiced with her for days before.
"Crisenta Tsukino. You have passed the Test." Garr held his breath. A strong friendship had sprung up between the Guardian and the Worren. "Crisenta, I present you with the weapon you have earned." A hush settled over the entire crowd as the elder gave Cris a polished bow. The wood gleamed with a hidden power that few in the crowd could see.
Cris went through all of the required rituals with a sudden impatience. All she wanted to do was show the bow to Garr. Thanks to his help, she had risen to Archer. The only one in over a millennia. The only known female archer ever in the history of her people.
"GGAARRRR!" Cris ran up, waving the bow over her head. Garr wisely stood where he was, seeing as if he moved he probably would get his eye poked out. "I DID IT!" Suddenly she looked just a bit malicious. "Cray didn't do so well. He got a big log thing. Serves him right!"
Cris threw her arms …halfway…around Garr and nearly squeezed his life out. She grinned up at him. "Thanks Garr."
Garr tried to get his breath back. "Well if strength was all they were looking at you certainly deserved it." Cris laughed and ran off to show her mom.
~~~~*~~~~
Ganlon looked at the rising sun and back at his son. Still no change. Ganlon got up and cooked breakfast and brought all of it back with him. Back to his vigil over Garr.
~~~~*~~~~
Slowly, Garr came to be accepted, even respected in the village. He began to have a place in the community, working with the youngsters to prepare them for Ceremony of 13, more commonly called The Time of Testing. He also proved indispensable for his fire magic. Every time a fire went out and couldn't be coaxed back to life, Garr was the one they turned to.
Cris had become like a sister/daughter to him. Everywhere he went, Cris was almost sure to be found. Garr didn't mind, he liked her company. She told all her secrets to him and he to her.
One day Cray, Cris' brother, finally exploded with jealousy. "Cris isn't around to defend you this time now is she? All you are is an overgrown rug with wings!" He glared at Garr, daring Garr to insult him back. Garr was having minor difficultly doing this, due to the fact he was trying not to laugh.
WHOOSH! A tannish yellow blur dropped down on Cray's shoulder. "What did you call him?" whispered a voice close to his ear.
"EEK!" Fortunately Cray knew enough not to move. He also realized that giving an answer would be a BAD idea. A VERY bad idea. Cris sprang from Cray's shoulder to land lightly in front of him.
"That's right…Answering is a bad idea. So is insulting MY friends, especially Garr. Any last requests?" Cris said in a quiet hissing voice. Cray swallowed hard.
"Yes," He squeaked. "Please don't kill me!" he continued his voice, far above its normally low range.
"Too late for that…" Garr placed a hand on Cris' shoulder.
"I don't need to be stood up for. I can take care of this. Besides he's your twin. If you kill him……" Cris growled softly, not wanting to be reminded of anything that could possibly stop her from killing Cray.
Cris broke from Garr's grasp and pushed her arm back. "See you on the other side, dear brother." She let loose. Cray went down like a lump of sand. Fine sand that can't hold any shape to save its life. Cris rubbed the split skin on her knuckles as she stood over her brother's unconscious body.
"Let that be a warning. And if you're going to insult Garr again at least do better than an oversized rug."
~~~~*~~~~
Rei woke up. The first thing he noticed was that Garr hasn't moved. Fine by him! The next was that Daddy was sitting staring at Garr. Rei followed Ganlon's gaze up to Garr's eyes. It looked like Garr was daydreaming.
"Hi Garr!" No answer. "Garr?" Still no answer. Rei turned around saw the food. He fell upon it, his terror of the night before having made him very hungry. When he had finished and Garr still hadn't moved Rei sulked.
"fine then…I'll just go outside and train without you!" Rei stuck out his tongue and went outside, feeling extremely mature.
~~~~*~~~~
Garr woke up to a cold moonlit night. The fire had gone out, but that was not what had awakened him. It was the sound of soft footfalls and a door creaking open and close.
Garr scanned the room with his limited night vision. All was normal except for the dark lump that was Cris. Cris must have gotten up and left. Slowly Garr got up and out of bed. He fumbled around for a piece of straw, anything that might burn. Finally he found what he was looking for. Lighting the incredibly small piece of wood, Garr checked once more for Cris. No sign of her.
Garr eased the door open and blew out the flame. Already, it had lasted longer than most would have. Garr caught a glimpse of a shadow disappearing towards the slow flowing river that ran through the village. He looked up at the moon and took to the air.
Slowly circling the river, Garr found what he sought. A small shape huddled on a rocky outcropping. Garr dipped down silently. He may not be the most graceful on land, but he was simply more at home in the sky.
Cris stared at the calm water. The moon reflected off it making a pathway up to heaven. She jumped as a hand settled on her shoulder.
"Garr! You surprised me. I didn't hear you come up."
"I flew." Garr sat down next to her. She sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing……yet." She closed eyes and started to cry gently.
"Come on, something's wrong. What is it?" Cris wordlessly shook her head. Garr tilted her face up and looked at her. "Cris…you can tell me. What's wrong?"
She stared up at Garr, her closest friend. "You have to promise not to tell anyone. And………you have to promise to leave and never come back." Garr stared at Cris, shocked.
"What do you mean? Never come back?"
"NO! You have to promise me Garr. You have too…" Garr nodded, struck by the intensity in her voice. "I dreamt Garr…I dreamt true. I saw a great war begin. The Worrens were exterminated. All that were left was me and my child. Alaoni's child…I had been running for almost 10 years. I don't know how I knew this, but I did. And …after I hid the child…I was found…I died. And the child…he watched me die. Oh Garr…that poor child." By now, she was sobbing and it was getting hard to understand what she was saying. She took a deep breath and continued. "Garr, you MUST leave. If the Goddess found out that you were friends with me………"she trailed off.
Garr didn't need any further explanation. "But Cris…surely there's some way I can help!?" She shook her head.
"You can help by staying alive. That's all you can do."
Garr started seeing small pieces of memories. Cris waving her bow, Bianca inviting him to stay the night and other half-forgotten memories all came swirling back. The following morning, the light shining on Cris and her fiancé. Cris giving him a hug and singing a song into his ear. A song sung from one heart to another……….
Garr began a final spiral into darkness and into the song.
The Memories
Rei stood, carefully supervising Garr. "NO! over to the left more."
"Who's left?!"
"MY left!"
"My right?"
"NO, THE LEFT!"
"So my left?"
"NO! NOT THERE!" It was too late. Garr had already placed the last log….in the right place? Rei stared at it for a while.
"How'd you do that? The log isn't big enough to cover the whole hole." Rei scampered down to the log and inspected it carefully. "No FAIR!!! How come you can use magic and I can't?" Rei started mumbling about something to that effect. Garr sat down, tired by the days exertions. "Are you tired!?"
Garr looked up. "Do I look tired?"
"Yeah. How can you be tired? It wasn't that hard!"
"That's because you did all the shouting and none of the work." Garr said looking at the half-tiger. Rei had shot up the past two years. And for some odd reason, he kept in touch with Momo…loving to remind her on how short she was. Or rather, how much taller Rei had grown while she remained almost the same height.
Garr shook his head, smiling at the years. Rei had become a part of the family, more so than if he was born into it. Garr stood up and stretched his wings.
"WATCH OUT! Are you trying to kill me or something!?" Rei now started off on the new subject.
"REI! Shut up." Rei stared at Garr, shocked. "We have to get home. Very quickly." With that, Garr leaned over and picked Rei up. He started flapping his wings. Soon dirt was blowing everywhere but there was no one to see it.
~~~~*~~~~
Ganlon stared at the horizon, willing for the shape of a flying Guardian to appear. Garr could not be late this night. It was too important for him to be late. His future as a Guardian was at stake. Either he would start on the road to mastery and become a full Guardian, probably one of the most powerful ever, or he would stay a young Guardian and never do more than guard Urkan Tapa or Angel Tower.
Slowly, almost so slow that he did not notice it, a dark shape appeared on the horizon. This was what he had been waiting for. He went into the house and set out Garr's formal robe and polished his spear for him.
The time of judgment had come. All he could do was prepare his son.
~~~~*~~~~
Garr landed right beside the pond out back. He set Rei down and then dived in the freezing cold water. The cold water woke up senses dulled with long flying and cleaned the dust off his skin. Garr waded out and grabbed one of the towels kept nearby. Rei watched with a touch of alarm. Garr never went willingly into water unless he was long overdue for a bath, which happened very infrequently. Garr took sponge baths just to avoid large bodies of water.
"What's going on?" Rei asked his concern echoing in his voice.
"Not now, little brother. I have to prepare……to meet the Great Goddess." Garr pushed past Rei and into the house. Rei watched him go confused and forlorn. Suddenly Rei thought of a way to help and raced into the house.
~~~~*~~~~
Dark had fallen and the time of the meeting was close at hand. Guardian Garr and Guardian Ganlon were dressed in the formal robes. The small half- tiger was also dressed in formal robes. The light streamed from the door and silhouetted them. Two guardians on either side of a small person. Those that saw the sight never forgot it. There was an air of duty, an air of destiny, around them. The path was in sight, the choice to be made, The Great Goddess had called and they had answered.
~~~~*~~~~
Garr stood nervously at attention. Rei was standing behind him and his father beside him, but now was the time of testing. He fixed his robe one more time and waited to be admitted to the Patriarch's abode. There neither Rei or Ganlon could follow him.
"Garr?" Garr blinked and looked down at Rei.
"What?"
"That's the third time I said your name…what's going on?" Garr sighed, as he realized Rei knew even less than he did.
"I go to meet my goddess." A short answer would be all that was required, all that there was time for. The assistant came out.
"Guardian Garr the Patriarch is ready." Garr started to go. Rei pulled his spear out of his hand and attached something to it. Rei gave it back to Garr. Garr stared at Rei for a moment more before turning and following the assistant.
~~~~*~~~~
Rei yawned and tried to force his eyes open. He felt himself being lifted up in a pair of strong arms. He yawned again and twisted around until he found a comfortable spot. His eyes were just begging their final descent for the day when the door opened and a strange odor wafted out.
Rei BOLTED upright and clung to his father. Garr came out looking tired but quietly happy.
"I'll take him if you're tired." Garr offered, holding out his arms. Rei shook and clung even tighter to Ganlon. "Or not……" Garr shrugged.
"Can we please go home!? I don't like it here!" Rei begged Ganlon, twisting around to look at his face.
Ganlon looked down at Rei. "Of course." Garr nodded his assent. The three of them made their way back home. Rei climbed into bed that night and dreamt a nightmare worse than any he had ever had. Eventually, he did something he had not done since the first night. He climbed into Garr's bed and fell asleep shivering against his back.
~~~~*~~~~
Early the next day Rei woke up. Yawning, he tried to figure out how he had gotten from his bed to Garr's. He tensed as the memories of last night came flooding back. He whimpered softly and moved closed to Garr's reassuringly large back. Large and strong. Very strong and very safe.
Garr sighed in his sleep and turned over. Rei just looked at him. As usual when Rei did that Garr woke up.
"Morning…" He said, still half asleep. Rei just burrowed close, the aftermath of his terror slowly receding. Garr put his arm around Rei. "All is well and as it should be." He smiled down at Rei. Rei looked up at Garr and relaxed. It was true. The sun was shining, the she-demon wasn't here, and the strange scent was gone.
Rei sat up, suddenly hyper. "YEAH!" He bounced out of bed and ran outside. Garr, however, fell back to sleep. And woke up again to a little half-tiger staring at him. "Are you going to sleep all day?"
"I was hoping to………"Garr groaned and reluctantly sat up. Rei just gave him one of his special 'I don't believe you' looks. Reluctantly, Garr got up and moving. Rei ran off to go bother someone else. Most likely, Ganlon or one of the priests. Garr got up and made breakfast and the moment Garr was done Rei came back.
"FOOD! FINALLY!" Rei waited patiently for the food to cool before shoveling it down. Garr watched amused. The day passed as all other days did.
After supper that night Rei got struck by a sudden idea.
"How old is the Patrick?" Garr glanced at his father.
"Umm……not as old as I am." Garr offered. Rei went and curled up on Ganlon's lap. He thought some more.
"Maybe it's been the same Patrick all these years……" Garr looked at Rei.
"I've seen him die at least twice that I remember" Garr said quietly contradicting him. Rei thought some more.
"I'll bet he gets reincarnated! See when the old Patrick dies, the one that takes over…" Garr and Ganlon shut their ears to Rei's incessant chatter. It would be too confusing to listen. "And then…HEY! Are you even listening?" Rei accused.
"Yeah."
"Then what did I just say about three sentences ago?!" Garr thought quickly.
"I don't remember, but I do know that I have to go train now." He said.
"You weren't listening…..oh well. Why do you have to train this late?" Garr looked at his father again.
"Eh…well……it's a special form of training. I train with the Goddess." Rei flinched back unconsciously.
"What's a goddess………" Garr shrugged and left. So Rei turned to pester Ganlon for the answer. The…discussion…lasted most of the night.
~~~~*~~~~
Garr stuck his spear in the ground outside the door and stretched his wings. He was going to be sore tomorrow. Wearily, he opened the door.
"GGGAAARRRRRRR!" Rei came bounding up. All of a sudden, Rei stopped mid- bound. His eyes flew open wide and he began to tremble. Rei gave a small whimper and raced off towards the minor safety of under the bed. Garr stood there in slight shock.
Ganlon stood up looking after Rei. "He reacts strangely to the mention of the Goddess……perhaps he senses her aura on you?"
"Perhaps………but why react so badly?" Ganlon looked at his son. He turned slowly and took a forbidden book off of the shelves. He opened it to a marked page. A picture was on one page text on the other.
"Long years before the Dragon War, some Guardians aided the Goddess in eradicating the Worren race. On the page opposite is the only Worren known to have killed Guardians. He killed Guardian Greai and Guardian Gamore. This Worren went by the name Alaoni. He was reputed to be the instrument of the prophecy. Thus the Honors given to Guardian Gatsero for locating and immobilizing this Worren. The Great Goddess herself executed this evil being."
Garr stared at the picture for a long time. He slowly turned the page. Again another drawing and some text. This time it was of a female.
"Crisenta was the last of the Worrens to die. This amazing fighter managed to evade the Great Goddess for 10 years. Many Guardians were sent to find this elusive Worren. Some were found with their wits missing. When they were found, they had forsaken the Goddess among other maladies. When the Guardians finally found and brought this fugitive to justice, she was found in Cear Xahn. Right beneath the Goddess's citadel. Once again the Great Goddess oversaw the execution of this evil being, also thought to be part of the prophecy."
Garr looked at the drawing and paled. "That's……that's….Cris……" Garr looked at his father, praying to be contradicted, praying that it wasn't the little girl he had known so well, had watched grow into a young woman, and fall in love. He got no such comfort.
Ganlon nodded, knowing how much this would shake Garr's faith. "She was part of the prophecy. Or at least that's what they thought. Now I'm not so sure…it refers to them in such vague terms. The Worren boy…the tempered one… Alaoni and Crisenta" Garr nodded weakly, remembering the temper Cris had inherited from her mother.
"But………this doesn't look like the Cris I know…" Garr protested, trying to find something, anything, that would mean that picture was not Cris, not Crisenta.
"I'm sorry……" Ganlon closed his eyes and bowed his head. He moved to close the book but Garr held on.
"Rei looks so much………so much like Alaoni…but with Cris's eyes……" Garr studied the pictures mentally putting them together and reducing the ages. The picture looked startlingly like Rei.
Garr jumped up and got a piece of paper and a pencil. Slowly he put the paper over the picture of Crisenta and traced her eyes. Next he put it over the picture of Alaoni and traced the rest of the face in. Beneath it he redrew the face to match the age that Rei was now.
Ganlon leaned over. "That……looks like Rei…" Garr met Ganlon's eyes over the book. "It would appear…that Rei is the child of Crisenta and Alaoni…"
~~~~*~~~~
Rei shivered uncontrollably. He could hear the low voices of Garr and his father in the other room. Tears leaked out of his eyes and he curled up into a small ball. He slowly fell asleep. And Rei dreamt. He dreamed of many things that night. Of the past and the future. And he understood none of it! He woke up when a heavy footstep sounded next to his head. He stared at Garr's upside down face.
"Garr…………I'm scared." Rei crawled out and onto Garr's lap.
"I know Rei…I know…" Rei hugged Garr tight and wouldn't let go. Rei started crying softly. Garr put his arms around him and stared off into the distance, remembering…………
" NOW where am I?!" Garr asked no one in particular. He had gotten lost (again) and was standing on the outskirts of a village.
" You are in Worent, home of the Worrens." Said a female of the race.
" Can I speak with your leader?" he asked.
" You're looking at her." The woman stated flatly.
" But… You are a female!" Garr said.
" And you are a thick-skulled Guardian. Your point being…?"
Garr looked at her, confused. "But… but…"
"Do you need help or not?! If you do, follow me. If not stay here and feed the monsters." She said sweetly, turning and entering a nearby house. Garr followed her after a moment. "So you do need help. You are obviously lost to be out here."
" …Something like that." She rolled her eyes and shook her head.
" It's beginning to get dark. Unless you want lots of trouble, I recommend that you stay here overnight." A pair of children ran in.
" Mama, Crisenta's trying to kill me!! AGAIN!!!"
" You deserve it, you jerk!!!"
The Worren female sighed. " Now what?" Clearly, this happened before.
"Cray was teasing Marin again! You told him not to, but does he ever listen?! Noooo!" She whirled to face her brother, who stepped back. " You've gotta be the dumbest brother anyone could have!!!!"
"If I promise not to do it ever again, will you stop trying to kill me?"
The girl, Crisenta, considered for a minute and then nodded. Cray scampered out, before he could arouse her wrath again. Her mother looked at her and raised her eyebrows. Crisenta suddenly became aware of Garr. She looked at him curiously, but didn't say anything. Her mother bowed formally to Garr.
" My name is Bianca. I lead this community. This is my younger daughter, Crisenta." The small girl bowed to Garr as well. He nodded at her, smiling faintly. She grinned back. Her mother continued. "In the morning I'll provide you with a map and compass. Crisenta, will you please show the Guardian to the guest house."
"Yes, Mama. If you will please follow me, Guardian," Crisenta walked out the door and lead Garr to the guest house. "Here you are! You have the whole place to yourself… Not many people come this far. Sorry that it's so dark, but the fire place is right over here. You can start a fire if you want. And… What's your name?"
Since the question was so random, it took a bit to sink in. " My name is Garr."
" That's a nice name." She said cheerfully.
~~~~*~~~~
Ganlon walked in the room to check on Rei. All seemed to be well… Rei was clutching Garr like his life depended on it even though he was asleep. But that was just a normal reaction. Garr had fallen asleep holding Rei. Ganlon turned to leave before realizing that Garr had fallen into, not sleep, but some sort of trance. He leaned over and waved his hand in front of Garr's face. No reaction. "Garr? Hello?" Ganlon knew enough not to try to force Garr back, but that didn't stop him from trying just a little. Ganlon settled down to wait.
~~~~*~~~~
Garr stood watching from the outskirts of the crowd. Not that he minded, given his height, but he did wish he could be closer to Cris. He had been living in the village for quite a while now and had gotten to know Crisenta very well. Always around this time of year young boys and girls went through the Time of Testing. Cris, having just turned 13, was eligible for it this year. Garr had practiced with her for days before.
"Crisenta Tsukino. You have passed the Test." Garr held his breath. A strong friendship had sprung up between the Guardian and the Worren. "Crisenta, I present you with the weapon you have earned." A hush settled over the entire crowd as the elder gave Cris a polished bow. The wood gleamed with a hidden power that few in the crowd could see.
Cris went through all of the required rituals with a sudden impatience. All she wanted to do was show the bow to Garr. Thanks to his help, she had risen to Archer. The only one in over a millennia. The only known female archer ever in the history of her people.
"GGAARRRR!" Cris ran up, waving the bow over her head. Garr wisely stood where he was, seeing as if he moved he probably would get his eye poked out. "I DID IT!" Suddenly she looked just a bit malicious. "Cray didn't do so well. He got a big log thing. Serves him right!"
Cris threw her arms …halfway…around Garr and nearly squeezed his life out. She grinned up at him. "Thanks Garr."
Garr tried to get his breath back. "Well if strength was all they were looking at you certainly deserved it." Cris laughed and ran off to show her mom.
~~~~*~~~~
Ganlon looked at the rising sun and back at his son. Still no change. Ganlon got up and cooked breakfast and brought all of it back with him. Back to his vigil over Garr.
~~~~*~~~~
Slowly, Garr came to be accepted, even respected in the village. He began to have a place in the community, working with the youngsters to prepare them for Ceremony of 13, more commonly called The Time of Testing. He also proved indispensable for his fire magic. Every time a fire went out and couldn't be coaxed back to life, Garr was the one they turned to.
Cris had become like a sister/daughter to him. Everywhere he went, Cris was almost sure to be found. Garr didn't mind, he liked her company. She told all her secrets to him and he to her.
One day Cray, Cris' brother, finally exploded with jealousy. "Cris isn't around to defend you this time now is she? All you are is an overgrown rug with wings!" He glared at Garr, daring Garr to insult him back. Garr was having minor difficultly doing this, due to the fact he was trying not to laugh.
WHOOSH! A tannish yellow blur dropped down on Cray's shoulder. "What did you call him?" whispered a voice close to his ear.
"EEK!" Fortunately Cray knew enough not to move. He also realized that giving an answer would be a BAD idea. A VERY bad idea. Cris sprang from Cray's shoulder to land lightly in front of him.
"That's right…Answering is a bad idea. So is insulting MY friends, especially Garr. Any last requests?" Cris said in a quiet hissing voice. Cray swallowed hard.
"Yes," He squeaked. "Please don't kill me!" he continued his voice, far above its normally low range.
"Too late for that…" Garr placed a hand on Cris' shoulder.
"I don't need to be stood up for. I can take care of this. Besides he's your twin. If you kill him……" Cris growled softly, not wanting to be reminded of anything that could possibly stop her from killing Cray.
Cris broke from Garr's grasp and pushed her arm back. "See you on the other side, dear brother." She let loose. Cray went down like a lump of sand. Fine sand that can't hold any shape to save its life. Cris rubbed the split skin on her knuckles as she stood over her brother's unconscious body.
"Let that be a warning. And if you're going to insult Garr again at least do better than an oversized rug."
~~~~*~~~~
Rei woke up. The first thing he noticed was that Garr hasn't moved. Fine by him! The next was that Daddy was sitting staring at Garr. Rei followed Ganlon's gaze up to Garr's eyes. It looked like Garr was daydreaming.
"Hi Garr!" No answer. "Garr?" Still no answer. Rei turned around saw the food. He fell upon it, his terror of the night before having made him very hungry. When he had finished and Garr still hadn't moved Rei sulked.
"fine then…I'll just go outside and train without you!" Rei stuck out his tongue and went outside, feeling extremely mature.
~~~~*~~~~
Garr woke up to a cold moonlit night. The fire had gone out, but that was not what had awakened him. It was the sound of soft footfalls and a door creaking open and close.
Garr scanned the room with his limited night vision. All was normal except for the dark lump that was Cris. Cris must have gotten up and left. Slowly Garr got up and out of bed. He fumbled around for a piece of straw, anything that might burn. Finally he found what he was looking for. Lighting the incredibly small piece of wood, Garr checked once more for Cris. No sign of her.
Garr eased the door open and blew out the flame. Already, it had lasted longer than most would have. Garr caught a glimpse of a shadow disappearing towards the slow flowing river that ran through the village. He looked up at the moon and took to the air.
Slowly circling the river, Garr found what he sought. A small shape huddled on a rocky outcropping. Garr dipped down silently. He may not be the most graceful on land, but he was simply more at home in the sky.
Cris stared at the calm water. The moon reflected off it making a pathway up to heaven. She jumped as a hand settled on her shoulder.
"Garr! You surprised me. I didn't hear you come up."
"I flew." Garr sat down next to her. She sighed and leaned her head against his shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing……yet." She closed eyes and started to cry gently.
"Come on, something's wrong. What is it?" Cris wordlessly shook her head. Garr tilted her face up and looked at her. "Cris…you can tell me. What's wrong?"
She stared up at Garr, her closest friend. "You have to promise not to tell anyone. And………you have to promise to leave and never come back." Garr stared at Cris, shocked.
"What do you mean? Never come back?"
"NO! You have to promise me Garr. You have too…" Garr nodded, struck by the intensity in her voice. "I dreamt Garr…I dreamt true. I saw a great war begin. The Worrens were exterminated. All that were left was me and my child. Alaoni's child…I had been running for almost 10 years. I don't know how I knew this, but I did. And …after I hid the child…I was found…I died. And the child…he watched me die. Oh Garr…that poor child." By now, she was sobbing and it was getting hard to understand what she was saying. She took a deep breath and continued. "Garr, you MUST leave. If the Goddess found out that you were friends with me………"she trailed off.
Garr didn't need any further explanation. "But Cris…surely there's some way I can help!?" She shook her head.
"You can help by staying alive. That's all you can do."
Garr started seeing small pieces of memories. Cris waving her bow, Bianca inviting him to stay the night and other half-forgotten memories all came swirling back. The following morning, the light shining on Cris and her fiancé. Cris giving him a hug and singing a song into his ear. A song sung from one heart to another……….
Garr began a final spiral into darkness and into the song.