The Guardian Chapter 1: The Forest
A home, a sanctuary. The Forest is called by many names, but for me, it's more like a prison. I am BigZ, protector of the forest, slave to my own world. The Forest is my blessing, giving me a home, keeping me safe from the unknown, and it's my curse, plaguing me with pain and suffering and an eternity within its boundaries. It's not a bad life, just one I didn't choose. I'm bound to this world; it's all I know. To protect and to keep peace, a job that shall never end. I walk around and protect the weak. I am order. Today was no different.
I walked through The Forest like any other day, greeted the geries as I was passing through the Mellow Forest. I stopped inside one of the villages to see how they had been doing lately. I was greeted by bright colors and smiles all around. The geries were always happy. They were the ones that brightened every day for me. To know that nothing here could bring them down gave me the confidence that made me feel like I too will find something that will always make me happy. They invited me to dinner as usual, and just like every other time, I couldn't deny.
The geries had always been interesting creatures. They were goblin like beings filled only with pure joy and purity. They had never committed an act of negativity other accidently stepping on someone's toe or bumping into someone, but even on those occasions they immediately apologize and try to make up for it. They were clean joyous beings, the most enjoyable of the four clans. They bore green skins and hearts of gold made only for caring and helping. I often found a tribe or two around me when fixing any damages to The Forest. Anytime I would try to repay them, all they would say is, "Stop by once in a while," with that same smile I have grown to love.
Dinner was filled with high quality meat and mead. It was delicious as always. I looked around at them and just felt a joy in my own heart. It's contagious; I can't help it. Not only did their smiles make my day, but their food was excellent. Just another reason I looked forward to coming by the gerie inhabited villages. The funny thing is that in every village, the food was equally as amazing. It's like they were all programmed to understand the art of cooking and preparing food. After the incredible meal, I bid them thanks and I was off again. I only had one more forest to go through for the day before returning home.
My time with the geries may be the happiest I have here in The Forest, but I'm never fully happy. There's always emptiness inside me. Perhaps it's because I'm alone here. There are plenty of creatures but none of them are like me or could ever understand. Never in my years have I have ever lived, not once had I met another creature like me. Not once was there one being how had ever looked even slightly the same as me. I felt painfully alone, but I never let that get in the way of my duty, to protect The Forest and its inhabitants. What about me though? Who's there for me? I let a sigh as I answered that same question again. I'm there for me.
It was at this time that I entered the Charred Forest. It was evident from the trees of pure crystal and the beautiful stones and gems that were scattered on the ground as far as the eye can see. Once upon a time, the Charred Forest was the Life Forest, but one day, one of the lyluion's fire spells went out of control and burned their entire forest. So, in response to this tragedy, all the lyluions gathered together and, by combining all their magic, created all the crystals, stones, and gems out of thin air. Ever since then their forest has been known as the Charred Forest.
As I walked nothing seemed out of the ordinary, well by lyluion standards that is. All of that changed though when suddenly I saw a figure in the distance. It was standing on top of one of the higher crystal trees. It was taller than any creature he had ever seen. Then, suddenly, the creature leaned back, arms held outward. He started falling downward, hurtling toward the ground. At the height it would be death for certain. I started running to catch it, but even I knew I wouldn't make it in time, but just before the strange creature was going to make contact with the ground, he vanished.