#guardianoffaith

Once, a long time ago, there was a nomadic tribe of storytellers. It was their job to carry the treasures of belief throughout the land, and they took their duties seriously. Their kind was revered for a long time as saviors of the stories, and the kingdom. But this is another tale.

Since the beginning, the children of this tribe, who grew up much more different than most, had a guardian. And it was her job to protect the children, and teach them how to survive on stories and rainwater. How to live off of believing. For an long, long time, she did just that.

But a time came in the kingdom when her people were no longer welcome. When they were cast out. It seemed innocent at first, but quickly grew ugly. The guardian, to eager to keep traditions, told her tribe to stay put. That things would return to normal. They did not.

So one morning there came a time when the kingdom made its final attack. The last fight in a winning battle. The tribe fought back, but they were not meant to fight military forces. They were only bards. The guardian joined, but she could only do so much to the monsters. Finally, she fell.

When she awoke, there was nothing left. They were all gone and dead. There was nothing left for the guardian of the once-nomads. Her people were gone. But in the distance, under the wreckage, she saw one unburnt piece of paper. She tugged it out and held it up to find it was a drawing of a shining city, filled with impossible things drawn by her latest and last charge, Thomas. The Frivolous City… So the nomad dropped her newly given name, and took up her destination. She was going to find the city of impossible things, and her people, too.

I was born in a city hidden under the moon, at the base of the mountain. I was fed on the love of my friends, and drank from the water that raced by my home. I am not very noticeable, nor have I ever wished to be. In my little house on the edge of the city, I was happy.

“But that did not mean I was not wanting. Because every night I looked to the sky, and watched the stars. My mother had told me about them- How they would have glorious balls in the sky, and how they would sometimes come down for flowers.

“One night I saw a star jump from the sky, and she landed outside my home. She was delicate, like a flower, and walked like she weighed no more than a feather. She walked around, searching, but it seemed she had missed. I walked out to get a better look at her, to see what she looked like. And then, she saw me.

“She came towards me, trying to speak, but could not. So instead, she sang. Her music felt like the sunset, like happiness. At once, I was in love. And she was lost. She hadn’t meant to jump down, and she didn’t know how to get back. Terrified, she ask for my help. So I offered to take her up the mountain.

“It was a long trek, seemingly unending. Mercifully, the crescent moon hung paralyzed in the sky, and morning did not come. When she could not walk, I carried her. When she began to fade, I sung to her. Eventually she was not able to stay awake. I made it to the peak just ask she began to become gossamer, and I tried to wake her. But she would not awaken. I knew would have to bring her back to the sky.

“A crazy idea struck me. I made a jump for the moon, and managed to catch it. I hauled us up onto the edge, catching my heavy breath. I looked from the edge and saw it, the ballroom of the stars. I tried to wake her up, but still she would not wake. I would have to take her there. So I set out a foot, and walked. Through darkness and hopelessness, I followed the light of the dancing stars. At last, I made it.

I handed her body to her friends, who paused to worry over her, keening and whispering. She came awake slowly, and danced happily. I watched on, outside the group, until once again, she noticed me. She reached out to me, and we danced. Seemingly forever. But I looked over the horizon and saw light touch my precious mountain, and knew I needed to go home.

But there was one thing I did not know about the spirit world. The window between our world only opens but once a year. So I was trapped. Though I had dreamed of dancing with the beautiful stars, I still missed my family, my home. A year passed, and my homesickness healed, and my love was strong. Together we danced through the skies. But I knew I had to go back and tell my family what had happened. So I carried my own star down with me, a precious lantern that would let me travel between the worlds.

I woke my sister and told her my story, crazy as it may have seemed, and she listened. ‘Do not follow me’ I said to her. ‘I want you to be safe. Tell mama that I love her, and that I am happy.’ And then I made my trek back up, back to my home. Every year I came home to see my family, until they grew old and weary, and needed me no longer.

[[LET ME LOVE YOU]]

Friv sidled over to the starry spirit, putting them both under the mistletoe hiding in the eaves. She looked up with a blush and steeled herself. Nervously she went in to kiss his cheek...

...and kissed his lips instead by accident. With a nervous squeak she pulled away, twiddling her thumbs in her lap.