The edge of Darkness loomed, eating the daylight with slow and sure completeness. It passed painlessly over me, removing the last bit of light from my skin, leaving a cool feeling of the evening air. Sighing, I settled deeper into the large root structure of the Panone tree, it’s silver canopy far overhead. Time to go to work.
I stilled my body, my breathing, waiting patiently. Quietly tensing muscles as they stiffened, the stars wheeled slowly across the sky on their fiery chariots, and still I waited. When the Star of Mez appeared hours later, I heard the click of leaf on branch, somewhere off to my right. I opened my eye slowly, and tuned my ears to the source of the sound slowly, trying to mask the movement.
Figures moved through the night, more felt than seen. I counted three of them, from the sound. I turned my body ever slowly, feeling the fires climbing high within. My hearts began their rhythmic pounding, and I wondered how those beings failed to hear such a noise. Closer they came. As they reached the base of the tree, I leapt, bringing all my fires into play.
Three slashes and they were down, smoldering. Oh, that horrible taste and smell! I paused a moment, feeling the sickness of recently committed death pass through me. Remembering my duty, I buried the bodies away from the path, taking care to leave no evidence of their passage. The edge of Darkness was again approaching as I finished my duty, and I turned to make my homeward. I met DayGuard on the trip, and we nodded silent greeting as we plodded on our way.
Reaching the village, I altered my path from home, and entered Sanctuary. Kneeling down before the Sphere, letting the glow bring my fires within up to their normal strength, as given me by the Goddess. I enjoyed her favor, and undertook my NightGuard duty seriously, perhaps that is why I was of The Chosen. Rising, I continued on home, passing others without, who bowed before me in reverence as One of The Chosen. Reaching home, I climbed upon the stone, and took my place.
As the sun shown upon me, I felt the stone embracing me, and I watched in stillness as another Day went by….
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