Forgotten Guardians

Throughout the night, Miranda’s sleep was disturbed by sounds in the darkness. She awoke with a start, and panic whelmed in her as she stared at the unfamliar surroundings. Slowly her mind became clear, shaking the sleep from herself; she realized that she was in the clearing. She felt something furry next to her leg, looking over she found Wolf lying beside her. Patting his silver fur, she appreciated the extra warmth and the security. She looked over and saw Josan still propped up on a rock across from her. She lay back down and moved closer to Wolf for more comforting safety, falling quickly back asleep.

Miranda was awakened by a gentle shake the next morning. Her eyes lazily cracked opened to see bright morning light and a tall dark silhouette standing over her. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and propped herself up on her elbows. She looked to her side and found Wolf still snuggled up next to her. She ran her fingers through her tangled auburn hair. Wolf lazily stood up and shook the sleep from his fur and wandered off into the woods. Miranda brushed her cloths off and looked to find Josan handing her some food.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t cook it. It’s left over from dinner the other night,” Josan said with smirk.

“What time is it?” Miranda asked still trying to get rid of her drowsiness.

“A little passed dawn. We’ll eat, and then we must move on,” Josan said calmly.

Miranda had no problem with the plan. Growing up on a farm meant the day always started very early. Miranda took the food and ate it gratefully while Josan packed up the camp and spread out the ashes of the fire. Miranda washed her face from her water skin and put her hair in a single braid running down her back. In a few minutes they were up and walking back to the endless road.

A week had passed without any trouble. They walked from dawn to dusk, stopping only to eat and camp when the last rays of light vanished over the horizon. Every night Miranda made the dinner, while Josan made camp. After dinner Josan would teach Miranda swordsmanship, teaching her key points of sword fighting. Josan even sparred with her now and then using sticks; he would show her how to find holes in a opponent’s defenses and how to block her own holes. Josan was amazed how quickly Miranda was improving and how she absorbed everything she was taught. Josan almost never had to repeat himself or show her a maneuver a second time. Miranda also turned out to be a better tracker than himself. She could point out foot prints in the road and could tell what animal had made them and how long ago. She explained she had learned the skill from her father when they went hunting together.

Miranda and Wolf grew closer every night. Miranda would snuggle up to her furry security blanket and fall fast asleep. Even Josan grew accustomed to having Miranda around, she always struck up a conversation while they walked or while they ate their meals. For some reason, Josan could not deny answering her questions. Every time he looked into those clear almond eyes, he would speak without even realizing what he had said anything. It was somewhat annoying, but Josan had to admit it was nice having someone else to talk too.

They stopped one afternoon to take a meal and take a quick break. The three walked off the road into a small woodland cropping. Miranda heard the sound of a small stream near by and started off to fill up the water skins, as Josan gathered wood for a fire. She had reached the stream and filled the water skins and started washing the road dust from her hands and face, when she realized it had been over a week since she had taken a bath. Upon having the thought, she suddenly became revolted by her own smell. She looked back toward the camp site; it was about a quarter of a mile away and trees and brush blocked her view. Then she looked back at the stream, so clear and pure, she could see the pebbles which covered river bed and small trout swimming by. It was so inviting. “Josan won’t mind the delay.” She slipped her clothes off and eagerly waded into the cool stream. She could feel the grime float way from her as if the water was cleansing her soul. She undid her braid and immersed herself in the cool water. She could feel the warm summer breeze caress her, flowing around every curve of her body. She stood awhile letting the sun bathe her exposed flesh. Suddenly, she felt something clinging on her leg. She looked down to see a greenish blob on her thigh. Without thinking she let out a blood curtly scream escaped her lips as she swatted at the thing on her submerged leg. The creature darted away towards the weeds. Miranda’s eyes followed it as it swam away and realized that it was nothing more than a small frog. She burst into a small laugh. A fine warrior she will make, scared by a little frog. She chuckled at herself once more and went back to her bathing.

Josan walked around collecting fire wood began to wonder where Miranda was. She had been gone for quite sometime and he wanted to get back to the road. It shouldn’t have taken this long to fill the water skins, Josan thought. Then he heard a scream rip through the woods. He dropped his bundle of firewood, and darted off towards the scream. He rushed through the woods without a sound, he removed his swords from their sheaths and prepared himself for a fight . What trouble could she be in now? He reached the edge of the tree line, his eyes darted about looking for the struggle, but he found nothing. Finally his eyes fell on the stream. In a instant his knees nearly gave out; there stood Miranda in the middle of the stream completely naked with her back to him. He could not take his eyes away from her. Her wet auburn hair clung to her toned slender back and water glistened off her delicate firm arms.Every moral fiber in his body told hi turn away, but for some reason he could not. He had only been standing there for a second or two when Miranda began to turn around. Panic welled within him, intinct took over reason; he turned and bolted for the cover of the woods. To his surprise, he turned and ran straight into a tree. Due to the sheer force of his embarresment, he hit the trunk knocking himself out. He fell to the ground as his swords dropped from his limp hands.

Conciousness slowly came back. He could only make out a blurry form hovering above him, but could its defintion slipped his mind.” Are you alright?” He heard someone ask with a giggle. Slowly the world came back into focus. Miranda bent over him, with a sly smile spread on her lips. Miranda helped him into a siting position and he noticed she was dressed only in her under garments. Her under tunic, almost transparent, clung to her body in the autnum breeze. He couldn’t stop staring as she inspecting the lump on his head. Small droplets of water roll down her cleavage sending heat ruching through his viens. Josan quickly rolled over, while his face turned scarlet. He took a moment to calm himself before he started to stand. The world whirled about him as he tried to regain his balance. Miranda stepped over to help, but was stopped by Josan’s raised hand.

“Are you alright?” she asked concerned.

“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” Josan said trying to regain his composure.

“What were you doing?” Miranda said trying to sound firm, but failing due to her giggling.

“Sorry, I heard you scream and well...” Josan said with a embarrassed sigh.

“Ooh, a frog just startled me,” Miranda’s turn to be embarrassed.

Josan nodded and headed back to camp nursing the large bump on his head. Miranda watched him walk away through the woods, and out of sight He was acting odder than usaul, what had shaken him so badly. Looking down at her self her answer came quickly. Wrapping her arms around her chest, her face became bright red. She didn’t even think of that, she was in to much of her hurry to notice. Then she laughed out loud, somewhat embarrassed and amused at the same time. Josan’s face had turned red and for the first time she could see that he was human after all. Miranda walked over to the rest of her clothes quickly put them on, and braided her hair again and headed back to camp. When she approached, she saw Josan sitting by a small fire, eating a dried biscuit. He didn’t even look up at her when she sat down opposite of him. They ate their lunch in silence, and then started back on the road. Miranda didn’t mind, she knew Josan was just as embarrassed and didn’t mean to be distant it was just his way. So they walked on silently.