Gaia

Chapter 5 Guardian of the Portal

As they reached the clearing Shay sat up a little straighter so she could see a little further up ahead. Sir Damien noticed her curiosity and smiled in her direction. As they slowed to a stop in the middle of the field, Shay noticed movement from the tree line that surrounded the field. Shay squinted her eyes and looked again closer and all of a sudden she could see a giant form standing there looking around the tree straight at them! She let out a scream and Sir Damien quickly reached over and put his finger to her lips. Wide-eyed, she slowly turned her head towards him as he quietly said "thats our guardian". She looked at him like he was out of his mind and raised her eyebrows "guardian?!" He pulled his finger away from her lips gently and nodded slowly, "yes, OUR guardian, he is there to make sure we are able to pass through the portal to my realm safely. No harm will come to us". She turned her head slowly back over to where the "guardian" was standing. He looked like a giant pile of moss at first but shaped like an enormous creature, his eyes had a soft green glow to them, and he looked strong. She definitely didn't want to tango with him and was glad he was on their side.

Shay’s breath came quicker as her pulse raced, the weight of the moment pressing down on her. She could feel the power of the portal, the energy that coursed through her veins as if it were beckoning her to take the final step. Just as she was about to cross the threshold, she remembered the guardian—the colossal figure that had been watching over them.

Standing just beside the portal, the moss-covered guardian now extended one massive hand toward her. His hand was like a vast, ancient tree trunk—barked and weathered, but still full of strength. His eyes glowed softly, the green light pulsing like the heart of the forest itself. There was a quiet, knowing power in him—he was more than just a protector. He was the keeper of the path between realms.

For a moment, Shay stood frozen, unsure. She could feel the pull of the portal, but the guardian’s presence gave her pause. His gaze was steady, unblinking, and full of ancient wisdom. The low hum of the portal softened in his presence, as though it recognized him as its true master.

The guardian’s voice, deep and resonant, boomed through the air, though it felt like his words were in her mind, not in her ears. "This is the passage," he intoned, his voice carrying the weight of time itself. "You are not alone, little one. Trust in the path, and trust in me. I will guide you through."

Shay swallowed, feeling both comforted and overwhelmed. There was a strange serenity in the guardian’s presence, an understanding that went beyond words. Without another thought, she stepped forward, extending her own hand toward his.

The moment her hand met his, a surge of warmth and power coursed through her, filling her with a strength she had never known. The world around her seemed to shift, the air growing thick with magic. She could feel the guardian’s touch, not just in her hand, but all around her, as if he were anchoring her to this realm, holding her steady as the boundaries between worlds began to blur.

With a slow and deliberate movement, the guardian guided her gently forward, his massive hand wrapping securely around hers. His fingers were warm and firm, steady as the earth itself, and as they passed through the portal together, Shay could feel the ancient stones of the gateway shift, like the earth itself was welcoming them.

The world beyond the portal shimmered, and for a fleeting moment, Shay thought she saw flashes of far-off places, glimpses of different realms and distant lands. The light around her swirled and twisted, but the guardian’s grip was unwavering, leading her through the chaotic passage with a calm certainty. It felt as if time had no meaning here—she was suspended between the past and future, a moment caught in the eternal flow of the universe.

As they passed fully through the portal, the intense light softened, and the swirling magic faded into a soft glow. Shay took a deep breath as she found herself standing on solid ground once more. She looked around, her heart pounding in her chest. The landscape was unlike anything she had seen before—a vast, mist-covered plain that stretched out into the distance. The air was thick with the scent of unfamiliar flowers, and the sky above them was a deep violet, dotted with strange stars that twinkled like jewels.

The guardian released her hand gently, his massive form towering above her. He bowed his head slightly, his green eyes glowing softly, filled with an ancient kindness. "You are safe now," he rumbled. "The path ahead is yours to walk, but remember this: the portal will always be here, a way back when the time is right."

Shay nodded, still in awe of the giant being who had helped guide her through this ancient passage. She glanced around at the strange new world that lay before her, a sense of wonder and curiosity filling her. This was only the beginning of a journey she never could have imagined. With Shiloh by her side and the guardian now fading into the mist, she felt a new resolve take root within her.

This was her path now, and no matter where it led, she was ready to face it.