The arrival

It was a cold starry night. The red body was staring at the dots embeded on the dark atmosphere. She wished not to have that task. It was cold, colder than in the city for sure. Her breath was flowing in front of her mouth. But that was distracting. She had to focus. The times ahead wouldn't be easy. Not only for her, who didn't like children, who didn't like her past, but for the one that was coming it was going to be just as hard.

The smell detected the presence. Before the eyesight, of course. And her sense of hearing wasn't so keen either. But she know that over the edge she would find what she'd been expecting. She waited just a few seconds, hearing female whispers that suggested tears, drowning slowly in the sand. When they stopped and she sensed that the presence had gone, she slowly stepped over the sand dune, her dark claws scratching the grains. When she hit the top of the cliff, she looked at the bottom of it. There it was, a small body, red like flesh. In the horizon she spotted an equine figure looking back, wings wide open as if embracing that last moment, that last sight. Because it'd be the last.

The red Lutari climbed down the dune quickly, grabbing and rapping in a white cloak tainted with red and gold the small body before it'd freeze. She swiftly drove through the endless desert knowing her steps all the way to protect and train the one who'd sometime take her place and rescue a body from the bottom of the dune.

The awakening

The flames enlightened the Temple's room with a shy and sparkling light. The journey had taken a while and Lixa felt the small body cuddling and crying with a fainted voice.

But at home, at least Lixa's home, it was warmer than outside. She put the crying creature on the ground, near a flame, and unfolded the white and red cloak.

She was a bit surprised as she noticed just how small the baby was. She was probably just a few days old. Even though her coat presented a brownish color, Lixa could see how red it was bellow the thin coat. The horn was short and rounded, the pattern was still not very defined. She was for sure too small to talk or even know her name. She was probably too small to understand what had happened. She was probably too small to even remember that moment. It was now Lixa's task to raise that little girl. And try to make it so that she wouldn't suffer for having been abandonned by her parents, just because she was meant for something bigger. Stuck on her tail, Lixa found a small ticket. It was for her to read. And someone else too, maybe.

Please forgive us, dear Neris. We have no choice but to let you go. It's better this way. Maybe it's better you never know. Please, I know that the one with my baby holds this: do as you please, but do what's best for Neris. If it's better that she doesn't know, let it be that way. She will always be our beloved one. Do what you were born to do, Neris.

Lixa didn't know what to think. It was too new for her, it was her first time... It'd be the last one too. She kept the ticket. The day she'd decide what to do with it was far away. And it might never come. She heard a shy moaning and turned to the Uni.

As the little girl opened her tiny blue eyes, crying, Lixa bent down and put the white cloak over her small shivering body again. She then cuddled by her side and the little Uni cuddled back, seeking for warmth.

Lixa wondered if she was going to be able of raising that little thing and make her see the Lutari as a mother...

Growing up

Please please please, Lixa! Let's go out!

The Lutari had a soft heart, even though the rules were strict. If she had started her job afraid of the outcome, she now knew she had won. The toughest age was still ahead, but Neris was going as Lixa directed. No one to distract her. But in the desert... who'd she find?...

If you behave yourself, we'll go and see the Flowers.

YAY! You're awsome, Lixa!!!, the Uni yelled, jumping around happily.

She liked the desert. It was hot, but they wouldn't go out at those times. There was food near the oasis and lots of fruits to eat. Plus there was water. Neris didn't know the reality of the cruel, hot restless desert. She was still too young to fly and take a route for more than five minutes. Nevertheless, Lixa looked at her and could see the Guardian she was shaping.

Now what did I tell you about the Flowers?, Lixa asked with her teaching voice.

No touching, no fooling around..., Neris replied as if looking upset. I remeber, 'kay?

Maybe. But that's how you learn and one day I won't be around to remember you. So don't turn back at me when I'm doing my job, lady!, Lixa said back to Neris. Now let's go.

Neris was used to Lixa. She could be cold when she had to, and kind when she wanted to. While her... she just wanted to have fun for the time being...

They walked out of the Temple Neris knew so well already; the sun was setting down calmly behind a sand dune ahead. Insects and small reptiles were starting to dig up and abandon their burrows to hunt. Lixa passed through them without paying too much attention, while Neris got distracted easily with something more unusal or with more movement. Lixa didn't say anything those times; Neris needed to play. But when things would get serious, she'd need to focus on her task. It might be a good idea to start thinking of that, Lixa thought.

There, the Flowers...

Lixa still loved the perfect pentagon shape they formed, the colors of each of them, the strings of water flowing from their roots. Neris just loved to see their colors and feel their smell. It was a beautiful place to be around, with grass sprouting from the sand and the sun shading the horizon with orange. Neris started pursuing a small bird. Lixa looked back at her and wished she didn't need to be so strict and hurt that little soul that wasn't born from hers but was part of herself already.

Some things I've picked up so far...