Guardians by Design - Land

Departure

The Guardians, joined by Festelda, congregated near the Landing Room the following morning. Spring was in full swing, and the Designer had deemed the group ‘prepared’ to embark on their journey. Brenloru had apologized profusely to Festelda for his harsh words during their assembly with the Designer; regarding the fate of the badger. She was quick to forgive the moose, as she now had bigger issues than insubordination clouding her mind.

Reblex stood near a corner wearing a grim expression. While Brenloru had Dahj distracted in consultation regarding various combinations of medicinal herbs, Festelda approached the troubled ram.

“You know we need to do this,” she said lowly.

Reblex nodded, holding his tongue as he watched the moose fumble for flora within his pouch. Brenloru had months to perfect his craft, yet none of the residents trusted him to properly patch up a mere laceration.

“I know your judgement is clouded by what we discovered on that mountain,” Festelda mumbled to the ram. “But this is could dictate the future of herbivores.”

“Which is exactly why I’m participating…” Reblex muttered in return. “As if I have anything else to occupy my time.”

“Just… Watch the anger, okay? Unless absolutely necessary, it doesn’t help our cause. And don’t mention our trip to anyone… It could cause a drastic shift in motivation for the others,” she said.

Dahj handed a handful of mixed plants back to Brenloru with a nod that lacked assurance. Partially decomposed and smelling of rot, they offered insignificant aide. He turned to the pair and beckoned them towards the Landing room.

***

Dahj stumbled on damp soil after using the root transportation system to leave the Cedar Homestead. After spending months underground, dawn’s sunlight made him squint immediately. Fresh mountain air bit the insides of his nostrils and filled his lungs as he took a deep breath and straightened his posture. It felt wonderful after the musty, stale cave air.

Scanning the tree-littered valley below filled him with mixed emotions. What had once home now felt like dangerous territory to roam. He felt like prey, constantly exuding a potent scent of blood throughout the very fields he had spent most his life. It was an odd experience to be traversing this land without a herd in tow. Despite his improved physical form, and blessings of the land, he felt powerless, and thus vulnerable.

The moment everyone had exited the tree, the party ducked their heads and moved east as quickly and quietly as possible, headed for the nearest tree line and brush cover. Reblex tailed behind, over-embellishing difficulties with his new posture.

“Okay back there, ram?” Brenloru called sarcastically. Chilled air whistled through his nostrils from a raise rate of breathing.

“Yeah, just, first time back on soil, you know?” he lied, awkwardly stumbling over rocks and roots in a feigned attempt to gain reliable control over his footing. “So, what’s first?”

“Well, the plan is to head directly towards the area of fables the Designer described. We should be able to check a few places off our list there,” Dahj whispered back, keeping his posture low. His hunched back almost felt more comfortable in this position. A posture more familiar to him.

Brenloru led, frantically scanning the horizon with vibrant blue eyes for any signs of movement from a predator. Inhaling deeply through his long snout, he analyzed scents traveling downwind, but didn’t detect anything. He, too, was still getting used to the exposure of fresh forest air. The pleasure of it was slightly intoxicating, distracting him from the task at hand.

“The cave I suggested is a little out of the way,” Brenloru said over his shoulder. “We will visit it last, on our way back home.”

Dahj made eye contact and nodded in agreement.

Exposed granite rocks streaked in white jutted out of the soil, surrounded by rigid sagebrush. The first wave of blue, white, purple and yellow wildflowers was triumphantly scattered throughout the gradual hillside, solidifying the feeling of spring. Festelda quickly picked a forget-me-not and tucked it behind her ear as she scurried behind the Guardians.

***

Traveling south east as quickly, and inconspicuously as possible during daylight hours, the Guardians covered as much ground as their bodies would allow, infrequently communicating and seldomly taking breaks. Eventually, the sky burned red as the sun set behind the western mountain range. Brenloru declared they would stop in the current forest as their first resting place. Dahj grazed briefly, never looking directly down at his food. Even while chewing, his eyes darted back and forth, examining one hundred and eighty degrees in front of him.

Festelda carried a handful of nuts and seeds, popping one in her mouth at a time as she casually inspected the base of the trees surrounding them, forget-me-not drooping near her forehead. Many of the trees had patches of mosses soaked in rainwater climbing up their rough bark. Beads of water collected at the end of tiny sprouts within the moss before dripping to the soil below. Lichen spotted various large rocks. Although colorful, the plant resembled a patchy skin infection – quickly spreading with the intention of blanketing the boulders entirely.

Festelda stopped dead in her tracks when a series of thin vines that sprawled across the forest floor caught her attention. The vines climbed the bark of surrounding trees and wove over rocks. Leaves in groups of three sprouted along the sprawling vines.

“Guys, here. Check this out,” Festelda said. “This, is poison ivy.”

The three Guardians approached the tree, Dahj still occasionally glancing over his shoulder.

“It’s what I use for my paralysis potion,” she continued, using a long branch to delicately lift one of the leaves from a safe distance. “Oils excreted from the leaves cause extreme irritation to the skin, even in small doses. However, when concentrated, it can completely debilitate a large animal on contact, or even kill if consumed.”

“Great, so, you wanna grab some before we move on tomorrow?” Reblex asked dismissively.

“I mean, sure, but…” her lower jaw fell open as she looked around. The dominating presence of the vine over the forest floor filled her with dread.

“I had no idea it was spreading this quickly,” Festelda continued, paralyzed though she had yet to touch the plant. “This is an invasive species, created by the queen of the carnivores. It was a malicious project of hers after she and the Designer had parted ways. It is meant to spread quickly, blanketing and strangling native species. I thought I would be able to harvest and utilize small patches of it I found on our journey, but I am shocked to find that it has managed to spread on this scale.”

“So, how do we get rid of the stuff?” Dahj asked.

“Well, experimenting with various oils and leaves I have collected over time, I have developed a counter toxin.” She rummaged through a pouch at her side. “However, I haven’t been able to test it on such an intricate vine network yet. If I can locate the roots…” Tiptoeing to safe areas between the woven vines, she followed the largest ones to multiple locations of main roots. Keeping her eyes fixed on the exact spot, she procured a small vial from her waist pouch made of woven, dried grasses.

“This should do it,” she said, sprinkling a fine powder over vines that led to a root mass.

Almost instantaneously, the leaves of the toxic plant withered, and the vines retreated from their encroachment up the nearest tree. Leaves curled and turned black before disintegrating into the ground the network had spread across. Returning to the earth, the plant’s resources were recycled back into the soil to be used for something more deserving of life.

“It will take a little time to finish it off, but I’m glad to see positive results. These strangling plants have no place here,” Festelda claimed as the vines withered and died with a light rustle.

Showing cautious confidence, she tucked the vials containing the counter toxin back into her hip pouches. Reblex kicked dead, shriveled vines to the side, exposing moist soil below that had not seen the light of day in some time.

Dahj, Brenloru, and Reblex each picked different places against rocks or trees to bed for the night, allowing leaves and roots to blanket them. They each blended in with their surroundings as they were covered completely. Festelda took advantage of a separate ivy plant to harvest oils from before scurrying up a tree to sleep for the night.

***

Dahj awoke the next morning just as the sun’s rays were peeking over the eastern mountain range. An odd dream, a chilling reminder of the past Dahj was having just before waking lingered over his conscious mind. He gazed at the furthest mountain range, eyes flicking from peak to base of each of the studious rock formations. They stood wide and proud, each frigid peak capped in snow.

He had recalled the details of this dream multiple times throughout winter, but could just barely decipher the details, and was unsure of its significance. The voices and laughter of a group of red dogs rang through his head. He could remember their faces, but not their names. Why do I keep thinking about these calves? Are they individuals I am meant to seek out? he thought. Pine branches above him rustled in the morning air, releasing needles that fell and littered the soil around him, mimicking the sound of rain.

The imagery of the field he scanned, along with the smell of chilled morning air was slowly jogging his memory. A strong gust carrying pollen from various plants danced over the valley. Elks bugled for a mate from a distant ridge. These traits of the land were helping to retrieve memories buried deep within his subconscious. Memories that could be quite valuable in tracking down descendants of his herd, should they finally surface.

Dahj remembered spring mornings of his past life; when he would head to a nearby field accompanied by a group of red dogs for the purpose of instruction in self-defense. Demonstrations generally included head swinging, charging, and kicking with the hind legs. Anxiety clutched him and he struggled to determine why these moments in time should be memorable, and possibly revisited.

All but Dahj were able to sleep through the night undisturbed after returning to the wilderness for the first time. Their respective ‘bedding’ retreated, back into the soil as each rose to face the day. Those that slept in the soil dusted themselves off while Festelda stretched and yawned from the branches above, then gathered her personal items before climbing down.

The group gathered various fresh spring berries and nutritious leaves to fuel another dawn-to-dusk journey across unfamiliar land towards the fabled super volcano. Dahj took note of animals indigenous to the region he passed through. Their reactions to the group were generally the same; deer and elk would perk up their heads, keeping unwavering eye contact from a safe distance. Squirrels would scurry up trees, and small rodents would retreat to safe hiding places, assuming danger was imminent. The Guardians were quite a unique pack, after all. No other living creature was currently able to walk upright and swing their front arms as they moved, much less carry tools and pouches.

At this point they could rely only on the current position of the sun for direction. Should clouds move through, or the sky become overcast, they could become completely lost in this foreign territory.

***

Eventually, they came across a twelve-point bull elk that didn’t immediately flee at the sight of them. Dahj approached the old bull at a slow pace, hands exposed.

“Where are you from?” the bull inquired, voice shaking. Each point of his rack curved aimlessly, as if undecided on a set direction to grow. Two points had even weaved themselves around each other. The rack seemed as old as the bull himself, each year failing to shed from his broad head.

“I am not a predator. I am just lost and seek your guidance,” Dahj said in a low voice, keeping the palms of his hands exposed to avoid appearing threatening.

“Predators have been more and more abundant in this area. Why should I assist you?” the elk asked as he gazed at Dahj with his one usable eye. His other was covered in a thick, white cataract.

“I myself am bison. My friends behind me are moose, ram, and raccoon. We feed off the land. Not flesh. You are not an appropriate meal for us,” Dahj replied confidently. He looked the bull up and down, finding it odd that he would be traveling alone. He seemed to be an easy meal… Slow, overweight, blind. He pitied the animal, but now was not the time to adopt stragglers. There must have been some reason that this creature was able to thrive for so long.

The elk relaxed, believing the bison’s statement.

“We seek a place of power – one only spoken of in fables. Where boiling water shoots from the ground and life is abundant.” Dahj’s voice deepened. “It is critical we find this place in order to push back the threat of the predators. Can you direct us there?”

“Ah… the land of yellow rocks. The only place I know of to find such a stone. Yes, it is a place of wonders. I have raised generations there…” said the bull, raspy voice trailing off as he turned his focus towards the distance. “You are headed in the right direction. Remain on this migration trail until you reach the settlement of the cursed prairie dogs. From there, you are not far.”

“Cursed… prairie dogs? Yellow rocks? What are you on about old bull?” Reblex asked with an irritated scoff.

“Reb!” Festelda scolded as she punched him in the leg.

“He’s crazy! Look at him. Probably doesn’t know where he is!” Reblex pushed her tiny fist away, defending himself from a second assault.

The elk turned his clouded eyes on Reblex. “Heh. calm yourself young one. You show your emotions easily. You are the ones that approached me, after all. I am simply trying to help.”

Dahj turned back to the elk to apologize, but his words stuck in his throat at the sight of the elk’s legs. Knobby and slightly bowed, each limb had sturdy hooves at the end. On the side, however, appeared to be a finger growing where dew claws should be. Merely a stub, it hung worthlessly, covered in short fur.

The size and shape resembled one of the Designer’s haphazard projects. Perhaps this elk was… unknowingly another generation of attempted Guardians. He had failed at developing the necessary physical attributes, thus left to aimlessly wander the endless plains without a purpose. At least he had been gifted with an extended lifespan.

“Thank you for your time, bull.” Dahj held his hand up, palm exposed to Reblex with the intention of silencing him.

“Hmm. Good luck, I suppose. It is a tragedy to harbor the desire to find something, yet never truly knowing where to start. I know the feeling all too well, strange one.” The elk nodded slowly and continued down the game trail, wavering slightly on his bowed legs. Dahj choked up, feeling pity for the elk on his purposeless path. But, judging by the elk’s age, perhaps his path was best when created by himself, and not a designer. Ignorance was bliss.

“Reb… watch it,” Festelda hissed under her breath.

“What was that about?” Brenloru asked, once the bull was out of earshot.

“Sorry I just… Sometimes my temper gets away from me.” Reblex squeezed his eyes shut and huffed heavily. “I didn’t really ask for this. I want to assist you, but… I mean, I don’t have any friends. Any family. They have all been gone now for who-knows how long. I must have a reason for being here – a purpose. This has all just happened so fast…”

Festelda clenched nervously from behind the ram. Her eyes darted between the back of the Reblex’s head to Dahj and Brenloru’s facial expressions, searching for a reaction. Fighting the urge to offer support, she allowed him to finish his train of thought.

Dahj approached him and firmly grabbed one of his horns. “Reb,” he said sternly. “That has happened to all of us. I cannot even remember how I originally fell, or how many generations have passed since the one I belonged to. We are all confused, but we all know why we are here. We demonstrated exceptional leadership.”

Reblex made eye contact with him and snorted out of modesty.

“Deep down, the most important thing to us is the land – and the land chose us.” Dahj pulled on the horn he was holding, forcefully turning Reblex’s head towards the southeast. “Now. Our priority – the only thing we need to focus on, is completing our journey.”

Reblex agreed, then turned to Festelda. They made eye contact and he nodded at her, reassuringly.

Festelda subtly let out a sigh of relief as the group continued down the game trail. Grasses were matted down from hoof traffic of large herds that had used it to migrate north for spring. Dahj scanned the side of the trail for rigid, encroaching branches that may have caught tufts of bison pelt as they passed through.