The Fault in Our Fae

1

The young Guardians stood at attention in groups of nine, listening intently as their Acolyte Guardian detailed their first mission as official Initiate Guardians. They remained unflinching, pelted by icy snowflakes as the wind whipped it around and around them. This is what they had spent the last four years training for--to be one with nature as they learned to read the lands that provided for them and maintain the balances of life. So, amidst the snowstorm, they stood, breathing in air so cold that the tip of Nyx's nose had begun to go numb. A strand of candy pink hair had escaped the braid that hung down her back, swirling distractedly around her face. She resisted the urge to break form and tuck the rogue hair back into place as AG Harmony's voice, amplified with a simple charm, rang out loud and clear across the field so all 36 Initiates could hear.

"Sovereign Isolde Sunshard has entrusted us to retrieve the Solstice Gauntlet from [special place] in preparation of the Tricentennial Ceremony Ritual. The Solstice Gauntlet we seek is a key component for the Solstice Tricentennial Ceremony Ritual, and we play an important role in this ceremony as the Retrievers of the Solstice Gauntlet, and we don't disappoint Sovereign Sunshard, will we Initiates?"

"No, ma'am!"

Nyx's voice mingled with her fellow Initiates in the familiar call and answer.

Acolyte Guardian Harmony Frostwhorl stood atop the trunk of a fallen tree as she addressed her Initiates, not a single strand of icy blue pair out of place from the bun at the nape of her delicate neck, Nyx noticed as she attempted to discretely spit out the rogue hair that had flown right into her mouth. AG Harmony was wrapped in a fur lined cloak that was custom tailored to accommodate the crystalline dragonfly wings that emitted a soft tinkling noise reminiscent of crystal windchimes swaying softly in the breeze with every movement.

"It's a two day ride to [special place], and we must be prepared for whatever challenges lie ahead. We'll be traveling through the Winter Veil Forest today," Harmony continued, "Keep an eye out for the frost gnomes; we've received word that they are particularly aggressive this year and won't hesitate to attack at the slightest implication of threat. Be vigilant, Initiates, you're ready for this."

A shiver ran down Nyx's back and she was uncertain if it was the ring of authority in Harmony's voice, or the chill of the wind that caused it. She rued the day she had been assigned to the Winter Station at Camp Crystalhaven Lake; her, a meadow dryad with summer blood running through her viens, offering a small measure of additional warmth in the frigid winter air.

Harmony's opalescent eyes surveyed the sea of Initiates, ensuring each absorbed the gravity of their mission. A gust of wind swept through the clearing, causing the fallen snow to twirl in a dance of ephemeral flakes. Feathery antenna that extended gracefully from her hairline and were the exact shade of blue as her hair fluttered as she spoke.

"We'll camp at the Northeast bank of Crystalhaven Lake tonight, from there we descend through the mountain pass until we reach the Verdant Fields at the edge of [Summer region city name], which leads us straight to [special place]."

Harmony's voice resonated with determination, cutting through the wintry air, her words hung in the air before settling on the Acolyte Initiates like frost on the branches. Nyx was elated to be visiting the Verdant Fields tomorrow, it had been too long since she'd felt the summer sun on her skin. Her normally mossy green complexion had faded during her time at the Winter Station to the color of weak herbal green tea.

"Dismissed for now, Initiates. Break your fasts, prepare your mounts, and meet at the edge of the forest in an hour. We ride at first light and remember; we carry the chill of winter in our veins, and the warmth of summer in our spirits." The Initiates broke ranks with a whoop that echoed across the field.

------------------------------------------------

Nyx stomped her feet while waiting her turn to fill her plate from the breakfast table. She missed the Summer regions where it was the peak of summer all year round. She missed Lilyshade Patch, the stretch of meadow her parents, Lyra and Aiden Lilyshade, had cultivated when they were ready to settle down and have children. She missed her bloom-mates, the thirteen sister dryads and brother dryn that were born from the same clutch of seedlings. But she especially missed stripping down and stretching out to bask in the rays of the midway sun, allowing her hair to tangle with the soft grasses and delicate white-tipped pink petals of her sister milkweed flowers. The memories tugged at her heart, a reminder of the home she left behind on a quest for purpose.

"Oh, it's not that cold, Nyxie," Kael Frostclaw laughed as he poked her ribs.

"Says the frostling dog boy," Nyx grumbled at him but couldn't keep the grin off her face for long, "Isn't this great? We got assigned to our first mission together!"

"Ahem, frostling fox boy, thankyouverymuch," Kael corrected her, his nose upturned in faux aristocracy as they both grabbed plates to pile fluffy scrambled eggs, sausage links that burst with stabbed with fork prongs, and slices of toast with an array of fruit jams.

The Frostclaws were the esteemed leaders of the Winter Kitsune Clan, presiding over influential Kitsune families known for their masterful craftsmanship and deep connections to the winter magic that coursed through the land. Nyx had met Kael in her 2nd year of Apprentice Guardian training, where she had shown a surprising affinity for coaxing life from the frozen ground. While most focused on mastering winter spells and ice manipulation, Nyx found herself uniquely attuned to the dormant life within the winter landscape. With a gentle touch, she could encourage the growth of resilient winter flora, summoning blooms and greenery amidst the snow-covered terrain. It was a Winter skill unlike any other, a testament to the harmonious blend of her meadow dryad origins with the chill of the Winter regions.

Kael, on the other hand, didn't seem to have a lick of artistic talent, but his prowess lay in the swift and agile control he had over winter elements. Much to his parents dismay, who were master jewelers specializing in forging delicately intricate jewelry using only the highest quality Winter diamonds, Kael could conjure gusts of winter wind at his command, weave through snowstorms with unmatched agility in his fox form, and navigate treacherous terrains effortlessly, a talent that proved invaluable on the Apprentice Guardian training missions.

"C'mon, let's go sit with the Frosty twins," Kael nodded toward a pair of identical twin Frostnymphs, Aurora and Celeste. They mirrored each other in every way, from their opaline white skin adorned with pearlescent vine patterns that resembling frozen lace to the cascades of their slate-blue hair swaying in the breeze as if perpetually underwater. Even their mismatched eyes, one with a pure white iris and the other a striking amber; the two gazed back at each other across the table in perfect harmony.

The twins unsettled Nyx a little, but moved to sit next to Aurora while Kael settled next to Celeste in a cacophony of utensils clanking against his standard issue Summer copper dishes. The foursome were a common site among their peers, having graduated from the same Apprentice Guarding class three months ago and assigned to the same scheduled Initiate Guardian mission to retrieve the Solstice Gauntlet. They ate quickly in companionable silence, not wanting to waste what little time they had left before they needed to be on their mounts and ready to ride.

------------------------------------------------

Nyx met Kael at the edge of the forest, ambling up next to him on her mount, a sweet-tempered fiad'ear that went by the name of Mollyana, with her mission gear neatly packed in their roll packs that hung from her saddle. Kael was riding Draig, who was expressing his displeasure of being woken before first light by grinding his teeth against the bit of his reins. Aurora and Celeste were lined up on their own mounts in their group of nine on the other side of the clearing from Nyx and Kael. AG Harmony was astride a massive elk'nar steed with a pelt the color of roasted marshmallows, his translucent antlers glittered in the morning fog like shards of frozen moonlight, each prong ending in wickedly sharp points.

They rode hard for the first leg of their journey, across the frozen plains of [Winter region] to the edge of the Winter Veil Forest.

***

[In an effort to keep the plot moving, here's a condensed version of my ideas for their journey] Ride across plains - nothing too exciting to report. Describe the landscape, maybe a history lesson can go here. Quick pitstop at the edge of the Forest before riding in pairs following ancient paths. As they camp for lunch at a stream in the Forest, where something maybe happens? When they are almost out of the Forest, they are ambushed by the frost gnomes. Magic stuff should happen here. AG Harmony arrives by flying from the front of the group to help fight off the gnomes, and tells her Initiates to move move move and reconvene at the clearing just beyond the exit of the forest.

AG Harmony arrives at the clearing where her Initiates are anxiously waiting, they take time to wind down from the gnome attack before moving on with their journey. They reach their campsite at Lake Crystalhaven behind schedule, and have to make camp in the dark.

The descent through the mountainpass is quick, and before long they reach their destination of the Verdant Fields. I'm not sure about this leg of the journey, but they eventually arrive at [special place] where Winter and Summer come together in one geographic location. This location is where the Solstice Guantlet is, a beautiful piece of jewelry meant to wrap around the wearer's forearm with a ring attached with delicate chains. The metals of the gauntlet are forged from Summer gold and adorned with Winter diamonds to represent the unity of the two regions that make up the continent of Soltice. Everyone dismounts, and the Initiates form a half circle around the gauntlet.

***

Nyx stood shoulder to shoulder with Kael as they watched AG Harmony approach the Soltice Guantlet. It was nestled in a swath of color shifting velvet that shimmered between a fiery red and a frosty blue depending on how the light hit the lucsious fabric. Nyx's breathing was shallow in anticipation of the final step of the Retrival Ritual, when AG Harmony lifts the Solstice Guantlet from it's resting place for the first time in 300 years. The 36 Initiates completed the circle around the gauntlet's resting place, joining hands with their neighbors while the first and last Initiate held the honor of placing their palms against the carving of the gauntlet's alter, which held a half circle of Winter diamond and Summer gold inset around the exterior of the alter (this is clunky,).

A zing of power pulses through the hands of the Initiates as the moment both palms were flush against the alter, making Nyx and several others gasp in surprise. AG Harmony's hands hovered over the gauntlet, the only sign of nervousness was the slight fluttering of her wings as they softly sang in crystalline tones. With a look to her left and right to meet the eyes of the Initiates completing the circle, Harmony steeled herself and picked up the gauntlet in one swift motion. Everyone was silent as they held their collective breaths, their hearts beating wildly in their ears as they waited for AG Harmony to step away from the alter. The moment she steps away and the Initiates remove their hands from the alter, the [special place] rings out in a burst of noise as everyone whoops with joy and exchange adrenaline laced embraces with their friends and fellow Guardians. AG Harmony places the gauntlet in the specially crafted box that had been handed down generations for this rare event to take place, and everyone exits the [special place] to camp for the night.

Nyx goes through the motions of making up her camp and joining the others for dinner in a fog of her adrenaline crash, and before she knows it, she's lying on her back in the Verdant Fields staring at the stars above her as her peers were snoring and shifting in their sleep. With one hand behind her head, she absentmindedly played with blades of grass at her side with her other hand, breathing deeply as the familiar scent of the sweet Summer air that held sunsoaked memories of home settled over her and almost lulls her to sleep. Sleepily, Nyx sits up and looks around her. In the luminous light of the Summer moon, she's surprised to find she's alone in the Verdant Fields. But, something is wrong. It takes her a moment before she realizes in horror that the once supple grass of the field was now brown, dry and dead. She lifts a hand to her mouth as she spies dead flutterwings scattered across the crumbling soil, their usually emerald green wings were mottled with a sickening shade of gray that seemed to dissolve the delicate membrane. Nyx is suddenly standing in front of Aurora and Celeste, their hands clasped tightly as they stared at her with their oddly colored gaze. Together, they pointed behind Nyx, then disappeared before her eyes. She slowly turns around and is at the edge of a cliff face overlooking Solstice, except this was not her Solstice. The Winter regions were hauntingly empty and devoid of life, while the Summer regions were engulfed in flames. The fire raged against a bitterly cold blizzard where the two regions met at the [special place].

Nyx shot up with a choked gasp and frantically looked around her where her fellow Initiates still lay in heaps across the once again thriving Verdant Fields. She breathed a sigh of relief as she realized it had just been a horribly vivid nightmare, and was about to lay back down when she caught a glint of light from the corner of her eye. About ten feet to her right, Aurora and Celeste were sitting up from their bundle of blankets, the moonlight reflecting off the glow of their matching amber eyes as they stared straight at Nyx before blinking and breaking the spell. Slowly, Nyx turned away from the twins and settled back to the ground for a fitful night of sleep filled with confusing dreams surrounding glowing amber eyes.