The Guardian Below
The creature stepped into the light that was coming through the cracks high above.
Aria forgot how to breathe.
The creature was enormous. It was bigger than any house Aria had ever seen. Its body looked like a wolf's. That is where the similarity ended.
The creature's white fur shone like moonlight on fresh snow.
There were symbols under its coat that glowed with every slow heartbeat.
The creature had antler-like horns that curved backward from its head.
These horns were covered with living vines and tiny white blossoms that somehow survived beneath the mountain.
Aria looked at the creature's eyes. They were not the eyes of a predator. They were very old.
Older than the fortress.
Older than the forest.
Older than memory itself.
The beast lowered its head and
