Dylan Peterson and the Angels of Fire

The Great Protector

The rays of gold and red shone brightly on the horizon, the sign of an ending. Tomorrow Dylan Peterson would start his senior year in high school. He sat on a stump atop a hill overlooking his family’s property. It was here Dylan often sought out solitude. Having six younger brothers meant there were no quiet places to be found inside the house. 

 His attention was diverted by a car kicking up a cloud of dust down the street. As the vehicle neared, he recognized it as the McGowan’s Escalade. They traveled through Europe most of the summer.  Dylan figured he ought to return their keys, as Mrs. McGowan had paid him to take care of their cat and water the plants in their absence. 

Dylan hopped off the stump and headed down the hill. He made his way down to the front and through the gate. The first one out of the SUV was Alvin. His Egyptian complexion and golden eyes were a trait that made him and his family unique in this town. He shuffled his too-large feet across the grass as he ran straight to Dylan’s house, giving him a hurried wave as he passed by.

“Figures,” Dylan muttered to himself. He should’ve known the first thing Alvin would do when he got home would be to tell Dylan’s little brother, Tyler, everything about his summer abroad.

 “Hey, welcome home! How was the trip?” Dylan called out to Mr. and Mrs. McGowan, as they started to unload some luggage.

Mrs. McGowan turned to look at him. Her exhaustion was evident through her kind smile. “Aw, Dylan… It’s good to see you. It was wonderful! I’m sure the kids will tell you all about it. How’d housesitting go?”

“Good… Your cat is still alive, so are most of your plants. After performing CPR on the Boston fern, I had to call it.” Dylan handed Mrs. McGowan her key. 

“Aren’t you the one for jokes,” she said with a chuckle. 

“Dude, that was terrible,” Roger piped in. 

Roger was a couple of years older than Dylan and starting his sophomore year at the University of Idaho, where both his parents worked. 

The two boys shook hands. “Roger, good to see you. You’re looking nice and tan!”

Roger released his grip and ran his hand through his dark brown hair. “Yeah, the summer in southern Europe will do that to you. Hey, want to help me with these bags?”

“Sure.”

Dylan grabbed a couple of suitcases, and they both headed inside. 

“You should go to Spain sometime,” Roger continued, as they dropped the luggage in their oversized greatroom. “It was awesome! We were in Pamplona for the running of the bulls. Mom wouldn’t let me anywhere near the streets, but we got to watch from a rooftop. Man, it was the best part of the entire vacation. I am so going back there on my own to run with the bulls one day!”

Dylan shook his head and grinned. “I’ll leave the running away from crazed beasts to you. I’d like to make it through life without taking a horn to the backside, thank you.”

“Hey, that one was almost funny.” Roger playfully punched Dylan.

Dylan punched him back a little harder. “Home for five minutes and I’ve already had enough of you!”

Before Roger could retaliate a stern, yet beautifully melodic voice interrupted their banter. “Boys, there is a lot more stuff to bring into the house. Why don’t you make yourselves useful?”

Dylan turned to see Naomi. His jaw dropped. He couldn’t believe it. The last time he saw her, she had braces in a mouth that was much too large for her face, and she had the worst acne. Now, wow! She looked like a woman! A gorgeous, enchanting woman.

At that moment, Dylan realized he was staring. Embarrassed, he quickly looked away, but not before Naomi saw him gawking at her. She blushed, and the added color in her face sent a heat wave through his body. Naomi grabbed one of the suitcases Dylan had laid on the floor and hurried into her bedroom. He couldn’t help but watch her as she left. The subtle curves of her body, the tawny golden tan of her muscular legs…it all made some primordial part within him roar to life.

“Dude, that’s my sister!” Roger said, bringing Dylan out of his stupor.

Mortified, Dylan quickly excused himself and went home. 

That night he couldn’t help but think about Naomi, and how both of them would be graduating in about nine months. Dylan wanted to go to college somewhere far away, anything to get away from here. He wondered if Naomi would be staying in town and attending the University of Idaho. It would certainly be the easy choice for her.

Later that night, just before bed, Dylan’s mom started storytelling. He always loved listening to his mom’s stories, so he settled into a beanbag chair and listened.

“Long ago, back when much of the world still believed in multiple gods, there was a great war. The forces of Life and Death clashed. Death was a collector of souls, and there was no soul Death valued more than that of a human’s,” Catherine Peterson started in a well-practiced storytelling voice, as her sons listened with rapt attention.

“Overcome by greed, Death released minions on the human population,” she continued. “There was great c*****e. Death was mighty pleased as the number of souls in the Halls of Misery increased tenfold. 

“However, the humans weren't without protection, and Death's plans were soon threatened. The agents of Life set out to restore the balance. They were more powerful than that of Death's minions, but they knew the minions were without number for they were infinite.”

Catherine paused and gave a knowing smile to her sons as they stared at her with curious expressions. She took a small sip of her hot chocolate before continuing.

“Caught in a stalemate that could last for eternity, one of Life's agents marched straight to the gates of Hell. It was a battle that was said to have shaken the very foundations of the Earth. Every living thing felt the rumble beneath its feet. In the end, the agent of Life crashed through the gates and demanded an audience with Death. Death, impressed with the agent's efforts, agreed and invited him into the Death House. 

“It was there negotiations started. Two moons passed before an agreement was made. It was decided that Life would do its part to increase the population of mankind expanentially. Death would keep its minions away from the world above, and the higher number of living humans would eventually increase the number of deaths… leading to more souls in the underworld.”

She smiled again and leaned back in her chair. “Death was pleased with this deal. Though it would take many generations, Death was immortal. Time meant very little to immortals, so Death sunk back into the chasm from which it came awaiting the human souls promised to him.”

Dylan glanced at his brothers. Their eyes were wide as they listened to their mother speak.

“Life was less pleased with the cost of this deal. The increased human population meant an unbalance. Other life forms would have to die to make room. Entire ecosystems put into jeopardy. But Life feared the unknown consequences most of all…The unknown was a great Abyss, dark and more terrible than death. Life knew that this unbalance could potentially lead to oblivion.” 

At this, Catherine rose from her seat, a signal for the boys to head to bed. 

There was something eerie about his mom’s stories. Now, at the age of seventeen, he realized just how unfit they were for children.

After his mom finished, she gave each of her six sons a kiss and a hug and ushered them to bed. Jared, who was only a year younger, thought he was too cool to listen to their mother's stories and was already in the room he shared with Dylan. 

Exhausted, but eager for what tomorrow would bring, Dylan quickly got changed and was fell asleep, but not before thinking of Naomi’s beautiful face one last time.

The next morning, Dylan awoke to a loud buzzing. 

“Turn that stupid thing off!” Jared moaned as he rolled over.

Dylan got up and turned off his alarm. 

“Morning, Mom,” Dylan yawned out as he walked into the kitchen moments later.

“Oh, Dylan, I meant to come to tell you before you got out of bed. School is canceled today. A major pipe burst in the boys’ bathroom, so they had to shut down the water to the whole school. I guess you’ll be starting school tomorrow instead.”

“What rotten luck,” Tyler muttered, as he walked in the kitchen, showered, dressed and ready to impress.

Dylan rolled his eyes. “Weirdo, missing a whole day of school is a good thing!” He poured himself a bowl of cereal and sat at the counter. 

“I can’t start high school by missing the first day!” Tyler said, joining him.

Shaking his head, Dylan spoke through a mouthful of Chex. “You won’t miss anything. They’ll just start tomorrow and tack on an extra day during winter break. No big deal.”

“Good.”

Dylan looked incredulously at his brother. “How could that possibly be a good thing? You can miss one day of school. It won’t ruin your dream of one day becoming President of the United States.”

Tyler shrugged. “Why take any chances?”

After breakfast, Dylan returned to his spot atop the hill. He looked down at his gangly body… somewhat pathetic looking, like it was too stretched out, yet he was barely six feet tall. His disheveled dark-blond hair was similar to his six brothers. Unlike them, Dylan was the only one to inherit his mother’s brilliant blue eyes. She’d always told him, “The eyes are the windows to the soul, and your clear, colorful eyes mean you’re destined to be a great man, Dylan." 

He didn’t share his mother’s high expectations, however.

Tomorrow he’d start his senior year in high school, and after that… well, he’d just have to wait to see. Dylan gazed in the distance at downtown Moscow, Idaho, and then over to Moscow Mountain behind him. The best part about this spot wasn’t just the beautiful view but the trees surrounding the hill, ensuring his privacy. He was alone. Just how he liked it.

His thoughts returned to Naomi… he still couldn’t get over what a beauty she’d blossomed into over the summer.

“Like an angel from heaven,” he murmured.

 “Funny you should mention angels,” came a voice from behind him.

Dylan jumped and spun around. But there was no one there.

The wind around him picked up nearly blowing him off his feet. All the leaves in the vicinity flew together into a spiraling tornado of red, green, and gold. The sun burst out from behind a cloud and hit the ground with blinding light. Dylan shielded his eyes. The next moment the brightness faded. Dylan looked up to find that the fall leaves had turned into a luscious emerald color, and blossoms sprouted as if it were spring. 

Out of all, the green came a creature, beautiful and majestic. It was humanoid…but it was so much more than a human... It was as if the being absorbed all of the fall colors and radiated it from its vibrant, colorful skin. Its body appeared both as fluid as water, yet as hard as a rock.

Dylan stood frozen. He looked at its face, which seemed very human, and he could tell that this was a benevolent being. It was smiling at him—its eyes were positively mesmerizing. The irises were a dazzling mixture of all the colors of the earth swirling in constant slow circles around a forest-green pupil. They were far brighter than Dylan had ever seen on any human. 

The being spoke in a gentle voice. “Dylan Peterson, we meet at last! I am called Ki, the Great Protector of Life. I guard all that is living on this great earth.”

“What are you?” Dylan asked, his eyes wide. 

“I am Ki, for that is what I am called. I was created with life. My purpose is to protect, nurture, and ensure the continuance of life on Earth. To put it in a way, you can better understand, I am essentially Mother Nature, or Father Nature if you will. ” He smiled. “I can see all things that live. I exist outside of place and time. For this is what I am, the Great Protector.” 

“How did you turn the leaves green and put them back on the tree?” Dylan gazed around him, still in awe.

Ki smiled wider. “I merely reversed their process of life for a short time. After I leave, this place will return to its normal state. Life must be allowed to continue its cycle.  They are born, they grow, they multiply, they deteriorate, and they eventually die. Death is a necessary part of the process. Old makes way for the new. Never feel sad for the dying. It is the job of the protectors not just to guard the living, but to safeguard the entire cycle.”

Dylan tilted his head. “Wait… did you say ‘the protectors,’ as in there are more of you?”

“No, there is only one of me, but there are many protectors who assist me. They are the purest of souls. They are the Guardian Angels of Life.”

Dylan shifted on his feet. “Like angels from heaven?” 

Ki shook his head. “Guardian angels are born human. I chose them because of their pure hearts and love of life. They can be immortal if they wish, existing outside of the circle of life. They can also choose to serve as mortal Guardians. Either way, they are given powers to perform miracles.” 

“Miracles?”

“Guardians look like any other human, but they are very different. They have the gift of, what you would call, a ‘green thumb.’ They are incredibly skilled at ensuring the strengthening life well beyond that of a simple farmer. They even have powers over the elements to alter the weather to assist the life they watch over. Unlike me, Guardians can only be at one place at a given time, but they can move fast. They must be quick. How else would they care for the vast world left under their care?”

“You say that all things must die, yet you indicate that Guardians don’t die…” Dylan began.

“Ah, yes, I was getting to that part. It all has to do with the circle of life. I was created in the circle of life, just as all living things must start. After my creation, I was removed from the cycle and now exist in immortality. I am perfectly alive, but I cannot die. Immortality allows me to carry out my sacred duty for all eternity. 

“Were you born human?”

“Oh, no.” Ki caressed a nearby tree as if to a lover. “I am far more ancient than the human race.”

“So, you are very different from the Guardians?” Dylan had no idea where this was going.

“Yes, but Guardians are very much the same. After a human transforms into an angel, if they wish, they can move out of that circle and join me in immortality.” As if reading Dylan’s mind, he added, “Don’t worry, though…Guardians are indeed still living. They are not the undead you encounter in your video games. Nor are they the divine creatures with wings and halos such as the ones you see on your televisions. They are simply good-hearted people.”

“So… These other Guardians you speak of aren’t actually angels?” Dylan asked. 

Ki laughed. “I guess not according to your understanding of them, but that is what they've been called from the beginning.”

“This all seems to be unbelievable,” Dylan stated.

“Yes, it can come as a shock at first,” Ki agreed.

“Wait, what does any of this have to do with me?” Dylan asked.

“I have come to you today to ask you to join in the ranks of the angels,” Ki continued. “I’m sure you’ve noticed there is a great deal of unrest everywhere. Wars are raging in all corners of the world, life on this planet is suffering, and there is the event you call ‘global warming.’ This is all due to the fact that the angels are at war.” 

“Why would you want me to help?” If Dylan hadn’t seen Ki appear from out of nowhere, he’d think this was all a colossal joke orchestrated by one of his annoying brothers. 

“There is a darkness that is threatening to conquer all life. It has seeded itself into the hearts of men, and it continues to flourish as it tries to take hold of all things found on this green Earth. It must be stopped at all costs. 

“Yeah, but why me?” Dylan repeated. 

 “I have looked into your eyes. I have studied your very soul. I have judged your heart, young Dylan Peterson, and it is good. You are worthy to rise as an angel protector. Before you make your decision, you must know that as an angel, your responsibility is to protect life. Normally, this means directly caring for the life around you, but occasionally, it means stopping the darkness from consuming it. So now the choice is yours. Will you take the oath to be a protector of life?”

Even though he was utterly overwhelmed, Dylan knew in his heart what he needed to do. He now knew that his whole life had led him to this one decision—he was meant to be an angel. That decision was made, but there were other things Dylan was less sure of… Eternal life would be a great sacrifice, watching everyone he knew eventually die while he never aged, never able to live a regular life again… Dylan didn’t know what he wanted to do. He had so much more of his life that he wanted to live first.

“You don’t have to make that decision today,” Ki said, seeming to sense his thoughts.

 From that, Dylan had his answer. “Great Ki, I will join you in the protection of life, but I am not yet ready to become immortal.”

Ki’s smile spread from ear to ear. “That is truly excellent, my boy. You will, of course, have the freedom to choose to live in or out of the circle of life whenever you want. Just remember, you can only exit the circle of life one time. Once you have become a part of the circle again, there is no going back.”

Dylan nodded. “I understand… but how will I know what to do?”

“Use your instincts,” Ki replied. “You will find your angelic instincts to be far greater than your human ones. Your transformation will seem subtle. In roughly two months’ time, you will be a protector. When you have reached this stage, another angel will find you. They will educate you on our ways, teach you the secrets of our order, and prepare you to fight. I will also send more senior angels to help you become a powerful weapon against the darkness.”

“Wow, how many angels are there?”

“A good number. You will partner up with another protector from this area. Together the two of you will be charged with the guardianship of this region. You will watch over all living things, from the great Rocky Mountains to the Pacific. Your boundaries do not extend to the northern parts of Canada and Alaska or go as far south as the large redwoods in California or the deserts of Nevada. Other angels watch over those areas. A clearer understanding of your perimeter will come to you in time, along with your other angelic instincts. Until we meet again, young angel…” 

With that, Ki disappeared.

The green leaves on the trees turned back to their vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows and fell to the forest floor once more. The area looked precisely as it had before he showed up, just like he said it would. 

Dylan stood there for a while. Somehow he managed to keep calm. He just had a supernatural experience! There was so much to think about. His brain hurt. Now Ki was gone. He wasn’t so sure that becoming an angel was the right thing to do. In his presence, it was the only answer, but the weight of the responsibility hung heavily over him. How could he take on such a task? He was just a kid trying to get through high school. 

Dylan didn’t remember the hike home or the rest of the day for that matter. He wondered if it all was a dream. It certainly seemed insane. Earlier, it felt so real, but how could it be? He couldn’t be an angel, could he? He didn’t feel any different. Although Ki did mention that it would be a slow process. Dylan wondered just how long before he started to notice a change, or if he’d feel any changes at all.

Even though his encounter with Ki dominated his thoughts, his mind occasionally slipped to Naomi. Not that it mattered anymore. He seriously doubted that angels were allowed to date. Now that he thought about it, he didn’t know anything about the angels. Ki practically told him nothing. All he had to go on was that in roughly two months’ time, another angel would approach him and hopefully explain much more than Ki did. 

Later that evening, he flopped down on his bed and stared at the ceiling. “Am I just losing my mind? Did I imagine the whole thing?” he wondered.

Just then, Jared walked into their room, pulling lip balm out of his pocket. “You’re not talking to yourself again, are you?” he asked.

“You caught me, but you know what Mom says… ‘It’s fine if you talk to yourself. You’re only crazy if you start talking back.’” 

Jared chuckled. “Yeah, well, even if you were crazy, you’d still be her favorite.”

Dylan rolled his eyes. It was true. He never understood why his mother favored him over his brothers. In his opinion, Tyler was the clear winner. That kid had his name on Yale, Harvard, or some other Ivy League school; he might even be President someday. He definitely had the potential for it.

“How was your date with Hannah?” Dylan asked, changing the subject. “If you can call making out on her couch a date.”

“It was pretty good.” Jared smiled smugly. “The kissing is always good!”

The two boys fell silent while Jared finished getting ready for bed. Dylan thought about Naomi. He wondered if he would ever work up the courage to ask her out. The problem was they’d known each other for so long, so he was stuck pretty far into the friend zone. He could never get a girl as hot as her anyway.

Dylan shook off the thought. He looked over at his brother, who’d yanked off his shirt before climbing into bed. Jared was tanner than Dylan, and despite being younger, was also taller and more muscular. After spending most of the summer wakeboarding at Lake Coeur D’Alene with Hannah on her boat, Jared now looked better than ever. Good thing he already had a girlfriend. Otherwise, Naomi might—

 “So, Hannah and I broke up today,” Jared said, as if on cue.

Dylan groaned inwardly. Figures! “I thought you said your night was good?”

 “It was good. After we broke up, we kept making out for the rest of the night.” Jared grinned.

Dylan rolled his eyes. “Why’d you break up then?” 

“We both realized we were getting a little too serious, and neither of us was ready for a commitment.” 

“So you used Hannah for her boat, and when summer was over, and the fun was gone you ditched her?” Dylan said, only half-joking.

Jared frowned. “I did say it was a mutual agreement, didn’t I?” He looked genuinely hurt by Dylan’s comment, but Dylan didn’t care, as he reached over and switched off the lights.

 “I did feel a little guilty on my way home, but then I saw Naomi stretching after a run. Have you seen her since she got back? Man, she sure has changed.” Jared let out a low whistle. “Looks like I’ll be going after the new hottest girl in school.”

It’s a good thing it was dark—Dylan would’ve never been able to hide his fury otherwise. He was tired of being overshadowed by his little brother. His new crush on Naomi was just one more thing added onto a vast pile that served as a constant reminder of his shortcomings that his brother didn’t share. 

“Is it weird that I'm attracted to rich girls? I mean, it’s not that I mean to go after them or anything, but it’s funny how all the rich girls tend to be super hot. You know what I’m saying?” 

Dylan wished his brother would just shut up. “They might have some money, but they aren’t that rich. They have to raise seven kids just like Mom and Dad do,” he said as if explaining to a kindergartener. 

 “They managed to afford a summer-long trip to Europe, so I am sure they are better off than we are,” Jared said. 

 “Mom and Dad do all right for being a fire chief and a captain.  But when it comes to feeding seven kids…” Dylan trailed off.

“Still, wouldn’t it be nice to travel like that? I mean, it’s been four years since we drove to Yellowstone National Park. Even then, we only went because of your constant begging and the fact Mom can never say no to her blue-eyed boy if she can help it.”

“Yeah… well, what can I say?”

With that, Dylan drew his blankets up a little higher, as he turned away from his brother. His thoughts shifted to his encounter with Ki as he drifted off to sleep.