"We are finally here." My fingers clenched.
We were standing at the entrance of the cave.
We had already checked the cottage thoroughly on the way back, but found nothing.
Not even the faintest connection.
But here, I could feel that pull. That same pull, as if strings from my heart were tied to something inside.
I didn't know if this was a trap, or if it was genuine. But the decision had been made.
We would follow through.
No, I would follow through.
Toby was in no condition to do anything, and Sylvie was... well, Sylvie.
And she needed someone to protect her as well. But it wasn't like I was blindly walking into this.
We had a plan, a backup, a precaution just in case things went south.
"I hope not," I sighed.
I had collected some things from Toby. This man had some efficient tools.
Looking back, I could see both Sylvie and him. They were standing some distance away.
They were hiding, yet ready to flee.
Toby and I were on the same page. If something were to happen, they would run.
Sylvie was, and would always be, the priority.
"I will be going now. Take care, you two."
"Papa, be careful. I know you are strong, so come back soon. And promise me we will go eat ice cream later. Please?" she almost sobbed, but held her tears in. Her eyes were round and puffed.
My baby daughter was doing her best, holding herself together when she wanted to break. If she could do that, then I had no right to falter.
"Sirius," Toby said, his voice solemn and serious.
"I know, don't worry. I plan to come back alive."
He just nodded. There was no need to exchange more words.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped inside.
----
The cave wasn't anything fancy, but what a cave would normally look like.
It yawned wide before us, its mouth jagged like broken teeth.
Damp stone was streaked with moss and claw marks carved deep into the rock.
The air carried a heavy scent, earthy, and sharp with the iron tang of old blood. Bones lay scattered near the entrance, some splintered, some clean, all proof of meals torn apart here.
Every detail said the same thing... this was no abandoned hollow. Something massive still lived here, and it returned often enough to make the space its own.
I walked inside, my hands on my sword... ready for anything unusual.
Even though there were a chance of it being a trap, there were more chances otherwise. The reasoning was simple... the guardian swore on its duty.
The guardian's oath was a sacred one. You couldn't back off from words, neither could you lie. So the chances were slim, except...
" That wasn't the guardian at all "
I had killed him with my own hands, fire had burned, and feasted on it's body. So who was this guardian?
The question bugged me, and the reason for apprehension.
As they say...
" Prevention is better than cure, Sirius "
*Thud*
A single thud echoed in the dark, followed by another, steady as a heartbeat.
* Thud thud thud *
The sound was coming closer, each step slower, heavier. Whatever it was, it was coming.
I calmed my mind, and took a deep breath.
Clenching the now unsheathed sword tightly, I tensed my calves and thighs.
" Ready for another round " i murmured.
" There's no need for that. Calm down, human " A voice came from inside, and before I could wonder more about it... something or rather someone came into view.
It was indeed a wolf, bearing an uncanny resemblance to the guardian I had just killed.
White fur, fierce eyes, and even the voice itself had resemblance.
There was one striking contrast though, this one was smaller. Not small as in fragile or dog sized, but small compared to the beast outside.
It still stood as tall as me, maybe more.
The guardian we had just fought, however, was humongous built as if to tear giants apart..
" Guardian? " I subconsciously blurted out.
" No " the wolf shook it's head. " Not yet, atleast "
It continued, " I am Slythra, daughter of the guardian Slythrein "
I was taken aback a little. I had expected a lot of things, but this surely wasn't one of them.
" So the guardian, is it really the one we just kil- " I barely stopped myself to say it.
Both my mind and body were worn out, and the effects could be seen.
" I mean, the voice.. was it you? Or was it your father? " I asked, correcting myself.
" Yes and no " Slythra replied.
" What do you mean? " I was confused.
Yes and no? Which was it?
" I see that you have a lot of questions, naturally so " her voice rang again. " My father is waiting inside, let's talk while moving, shall we? "
" So he is still alive " i mused.
She didn't reply, and her footsteps started echoing in the cave again as started walking deep inside.
" Wait! " I shouted and followed her.
I remained skeptical, but really... what choice did I have?
With a sigh, i was followed close behind her tail.
" So? What's going on? " I asked again, this time my voice had a tinge of seriousness.
" What you saw outside wasn't my father but just the physical aspect of his body. "
" Huh? What? "
She didn't reply immediately, but took her time thinking.
Her head tilted upwards, as if the thoughts were written above.
" Let's say my father gave up his body... just to live a little more. He, I mean the real guardian is inside, in form of a wisp right now. " She looked directly in my eyes.
" A wisp? " I asked back, just to be sure.
" He separated his body from his soul, diminishing his power by a lot. But, because of that he could live more. "
" I don't know how it works, but I think I understand the situation atleast "
" What you killed wasn't my father but a husk of what he was. And now, his body being burnt, only his soul remains "
" So that's why I was able to kill him " I replied, ignoring the glare she gave me in the last.
I had a lot of questions, but one required immediate answer..
" Why are you telling me this? Aren't you afraid I might attack or go haywire knowing the guardian isn't powerful anymore? "
" Sirius " She stopped, and for the first time she said my name. How did she know it? It wasn't that hard to guess, her father knew me.
" We are family, kind of. And if we are going to have a conversation, we need to trust each other. I have shown you our sincerity, I hope you do the same "
And then, she was moving again...
I was left a little behind, lost in my thoughts.
" Family... " I murmered.
Before I could give it much of a thought or ask any further, a voice as deep as the forest itself pronounced itself.
" Welcome child "
It was indeed the same voice as the guardian. And now, i was one step closer to truth.. and to my mother.