As Leo started to walk towards the entrance, two huge bears emerged from the cave. They came out of running and got stood up on their back legs. They started growling loudly, enough to paralyze even the experienced hunters out of fear.
Leo was looking straight into their eyes and was wondering what he had to do next.
Chapter 5
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Snow was the constant companion of the ground here on the Snow mountain. During the days of early spring patches of land would melt, making way for the sun to help the seeds to grow into the crops. Fruits, vegetables and all sorts of edible food would be the harvested by the villagers.
The hot spring water coming from the Summer Mountain would run close the surface on certain areas causing the snow to melt. There were two big patches of land where hot spring water runs so close that its sound would be almost audible. One was the village center where celebration for the newborn children would have been held today and the other was the sacred ground of the protectors. Humans would not be allowed to enter, visit or watch the yearly gathering of the protectors.
When they assembled the most powerful them all, which was usually Saber would stay on guard both to protect the villagers and also prevent them coming close the gathering. The second in command would bring the Amulet of Courage and Crown of Wisdom to the center of the circular ground. Protectors would always from half circle and leave the other part of the ground unoccupied.
Once a year at this gathering they would allow change shape and assume other animal forms. They were free to choose whatever animal they like to be although with each shape they would inherit strength and weakness of that animal. And none of them would have equal abilities even if they would choose to be the same animal. They also free to keep their existing form if they wish, however there was a time limit for how long they could keep that form. As humans were not aware of the ceremony, they would think Protectors were regular animals.
As the sun went down the cleanup up effort ceased in the village. Saber was sleeping, although feeling better with the help of the other Protectors. The twin boys and their mothers were placed in the guest house of the village as the newborns would considered as guest coming from other Spring of Youth until they were six months old. Once they pasted that milestone they would be blessed and put under the guard of their own Protectors. Now Taber was gone, and they were two boys instead of one and the Crown of Wisdom was missing.
As the time passed the night got darker and darker. Martha started to get worried as not only the Protectors are too weak to defend the village, but also her husband and son were still absent from the village.
Chapter 6
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Maria was having difficulties sleeping. Her eyes were swallowed to a point that she could not cry anymore. She was feeling sad and uneasy as if the Riders would return any moment and would hurt everybody and every Protector she cared for. She called for her mother. But Martha was deep in her own thoughts and worries. After a couple more tries, Maria decided to get up and curl up next to her mother. Her warmth comforted Maria. Martha squeezed her as if she was a little kitten, kissed her on the head.
“Ma, I am very scared” murmured Maria.”Where is Pa and Martin? Shouldn’t they be back by now?”
“Shh, go back to sleep, ” said Martha. “You do not need to worry about them. Your father is a wise man, he knows what needs to be done”.
“But I cannot sleep, and I cannot even cry anymore. I feel very unhappy Ma”.
Maria was not alone in her feelings, Martha was anxious too. She has to go check on the newborns along with the other women in the village. There was no sound coming from the guest house. With the ordeal the babies and their mother went through, no doubt they were exhausted. That was one of the explanation she could think of. There could be hundred others.
But lying on her bed with her daughter and making up of horror stories was not her thing. She planned to get up as early as possible and pay them the visit. For now Martha was hugging Maria to slow down Maria’s heartbeat to slow down, as she knew it would also make her relaxed, making both of them slowly go to sleep.
Chapter 7
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Riders were gathering strength over the last few years. They were growing in numbers. The speed and agility they have in the air is unmatched by any protectors. Being the lesser protectors at the dawn of time, they fought side by side with Protectors to save the humans in countless occasions.
They knew Protector’s strength,wisdom,power. But they also knew their weaknesses.
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