The Guardians of Daldaria

Chapter 5: A Mother's Advice

Black flames erupted, searing through the goo.

Mewl backflipped away as more flames flared along Mialtros's body, shattering her restraints.

A serpent flew from the trees heading directly for her retreating body. Flames spewed from its face plates, roaring forth in a stream that sheared the hillside and road, cutting down the options her body could go.

Its rider leapt atop the jellified mass as they passed, cutting it apart with strokes of her blade.

Crying Mialtros buried her face into the grass, wiping her tears with yellowed stalks.

'Thank you Xiathia. Thank you.'

The woman scooped up some flames, buried her hands in the mess.

“Help Ghirti catch your body! I have words for the demon and to tell them I'll need him alive!"

Mialtros slowly scanned the horizon. Ghirti was driving Mewl into the hillside, slamming him into the dirt with its tail.

The creature was smiling, fangs dripping flames onto its scales.

She started crawling towards them.

Broken bones were a price happily paid for the pain Mewl had caused today.

Xiathia pulled Grandma free, wiping the woman's face clean.

“You'll also die if your body isn't returned to you by sunrise. A bit of haste might be warranted."

Start with that next time! Keeping information hidden was the work of charlatans.

Purring clicks brought her eyes to the serpent. Ghirti held forth her battered body, tail tip wagging rapidly.

She petted Ghirti's scales.

'Thank you. Can you hold…me still for me?'

Snarling rasps. The tail tightened marginally.

Mewl made no move to resist as Mialtros rammed her fist into her own face.

'Some God you turned out to be! I've known murderers with more humanity!'

Mewl popped his jaw and chuckled.

“No more thinking we are a dream?"

A punch to the stomach brought more chuckling.

'Feels real enough to me.'

Mewl patted Ghirti's tail. The serpent slid towards Xiathia.

“A word of caution if you would listen to me. We Gods and Guardians are all broken in some way Mialtros."

Running ahead, Mialtros helped Xiathia scrape slime from Dad's legs. Murmuring under her breath.

'Welcome to Daldaria. Everyone's got problems. Don't mean we can't solve 'em.'

A hand rested on her head. Xiathia looked at the serpent who made several clicking noises.

She frowned, peering slowly between Mialtros and Mewl.

“D**m, no luck reversing the possession?"

More hisses and clicks.

Mewl laid his palms against the serpent.

“Shaking me more will not make me let go of her body Ghirathirial."

Xiathia grabbed Mewl by the nape, lifting him so they stood face to face.

“I turn my back to complete an errand you begged of me, and you flee to wreak havoc on a scale not seen in centuries!? Are you a toddler I must shackle to a leash!?"

Mewl stretched his legs.

“You should know better than anyone Xiathia what would have happened had I not intervened. Or have you forgotten what happened at-"

Mewl's back hit the tree, Xiathia's blade embedding itself into the bark; edge lain against his neck.

“Allow me to tell you what you must not forget. If you ever perform a stunt like this again. Godly law won't protect you. I will make you rue the day you birthed from Arnsal's nape."

Mewl sighed but nodded slowly.

“Alright, alright. I acquiesce to my ill handling of the situation. Does that make you happy?"

The woman hummed, letting Mewl hover while she lifted the elderly Sethelbree matron. She laid her face down on Ghirti's back. Xiathia danced about as she moved to gather Dad in her arms, trying not to step on Mom's limbs.

“We'll bring the Sethelbree's back to their house for treatment before settling on how to deal with things. I made dinner!"

Mialtros felt her lips smile in spite of her feelings.

'You didn't make a mess of the kitchen did you? Ma is particular about the order of things.'

Dad got put on Ghirti's tail. Mom lay at the joint of the serpent's wings.

Xiathia pulled her sword from the tree, easing Mewl down into Ghirti's tail again, sheathing it into her cape in a flash of flame.

“I put everything just as it should be. Your mother will have naught to complain over."

***

Xiathia hadn't been lying. A feast sat on the firepit in the center of the hut, warming on banked coals.

Boiled water. Berry mash in sweet leaves. Hog shanks coated in gravy. Somehow, she'd even cooked up bread, though where she'd got the flour from was a mystery.

Mialtros felt sorry she couldn't find the appetite to eat anything.

Dad and Grandma were still in their beds. They hadn't roused since being pulled free of the goo.

At least the farm had been resurrected. It wasn't perfect, but it was a far cry better than the wreck it'd been in this morning.

Hands steered her away from the beds, sitting her next to her mother.

Mewl was hard at work, bandaging the woman's foot under the watchful eyes. She'd come to about the river bend. Nearly took Mewl's head off before Xiathia had stepped in. Explaining things as much as she could.

The cat God had offered to help her mother, saying he'd felt terribly about trapping her.

Mialtros didn't think he felt too bad about it at all, considering he still didn't give her body back.

Now their savior took a seat. With her cloak pulled back so she could eat, Mialtros could see she the woman wore black pants and a button up shirt.

Grabbing a piece of meat, Xiathia smiled.

“Do not fret Mialtros. They will live. Their bodies should recover with rest and time. For all his talk, Mewl kept from doing the deed as long as possible."

Xiathia had…worked incredibly hard on the meal…it would be a shame not to eat…

She prodded Mewl.

'I'll finish bandaging Ma. You eat.'

She kept watching until Mewl had taken two of everything. The disgruntled cat-human taking tiny bites steadily.

Mialtros's body had already been bandaged.

A decent amount of bruising, a raging headache, and a twisted ankle, according to Mewl, was the only damage.

Ghirti had been gentle with its banging.

Mom finished her sweet leaf just as the bandages started moving. She tapped her fingers on the table.

“Can…Mialtros hear me?"

Xiathia reached for a hunk of bread.

“Aye. Your daughter can hear, feel, and see everything ma'am. She's sitting right next to you."

Mom turned to her, waved her hands around. Mialtros pressed her head into them, nuzzling gently. She passed through them, causing her Mom's eyebrow to raise at the gooseflesh she raised on the woman's skin.

Mom rolled her eyes, smiled, then ran her hands down Mialtros's face; gently cupping her cheeks.

“Lor....You sure went and got yourself into a ripe heap of trouble this time hmm? What's your Pa and Granny gonna think when I tell 'em about this?"

Mialtros shrugged, wrapping bandages around Mom's hands. The woman tweaked her nose softly when she finished.

“I'd like to make a lecture about taking deals you don't know the half of, drag you out of this mess, and set you to cleaning hog pens for the next decade. But…I know I ain't about to have you break your obligations neither. That's what this…Guardian…thing is ain't it Xiathia?"

More nods around bites of meat.

“It is a solemn oath that lasts for eternity. She'll be well cared for if that is your worry."

Mom hid a yawn behind her sleeve.

“I ain't got a list long enough to count my worries darling. I'm holding to you to protect my girl, you hear me?"

Xiathia lifted her cup towards Mom.

“I swear, I will do everything in my power to keep her safe ma'am."

Mom's hands found Mialtros's after some fumbling.

“I'm scared for you Mia. Just," another yawn, Mom's head sinking forward slightly, “don't get too big…for your britches…and remember…the Sethelbree…way."

She settled deeper in her seat, eyes closing.

“My, pardon me. I just...can't seem to.....keep my eyes....open any longer. A quick…cat-nap....is all...I'll need. Keep...on…eating."

She fell asleep soon after. Mialtros's soul-body flopped long before the urge to sleep took her. She curled up on her mother's lap.

Mewl sighed softly, curling into the floor in the same position.

“Of course you laced the food with sleeping powder. And you called my actions questionable. Just carry me gently would you?"

Warm arms scooped Mialtros and Mewl up. The rhythm of the woman's walk was soothing. Their eyes closed.

Xiathia locked the hut door.

“Sleep well Sethelbree's. May the Gods and Guardians protect you."

Outside, Ghirti slid down the roofing, fluffing its wings. One by one, its bones snapped apart revealing a pool of mirrored flames.

Mialtros and her soul were placed inside. Ghirti's ribs clattered back in place as they melted away.

The serpent flew towards the moon, Xiathia perched atop its spine.