Mouse stretched his back, twisting his torso from side to side, letting a small series of pops relax him. He set down his bag beside a tree, turning back towards the wagon. The humans and Taiga would catch up within five minutes or so, as he ran ahead to avoid chatting with a woman from the wagon who took too keen an interest in him.

  Once she’d slid her hand over his shoulder, he’d either need to rip it off or take a break from them. Taiga ensured the latter was chosen. Now that Mouse took to ‘scouting ahead’, Taiga spoke with the woman on his behalf. Mouse couldn’t make out their words from such a distance, but he relaxed, knowing it was unlikely the woman would be so forward again.

  He checked ahead where the road met gravel and stone. Remnants of foundations littered the area, nature having overtaken anything left from abandonment. A breeze shifted the branches of the tree overhead, leaves scattering in freedom. No birds or animals lingered in the area, death’s grasp still haunting the land.

  A gurgle to the right made him spin around the tree. But beyond a dead end dirt road, only an unkept crop field lay ahead. Water lay in puddles about the field, a marsh retaking its territory. Reeds rustled in the breeze, and chattered over the water’s surface, sloshing it about.

  “You see something?” Jule came up beside him, peering around him and following his gaze.

  “Nothing you don’t.” He turned, catching Taiga breaking away from the woman and whistling for Sweet Bun to catch up.

  “Jules,” Ellio called to her from where the wagon pulled to a halt, “want me to grab your bag for you?”

  She scampered off without another word, running to her brother with a scrunched face. Taiga pulled a treat from Sweet Bun’s saddlebag, and hushed “good girl” to her. He walked up beside Mouse, glancing over the field.

  “Even nature knows something unnatural is happening here.” His voice was darker than to Sweet Bun and Taiga caught Mouse’s gaze, holding it. “Be on guard until we leave.”

  “What do you mean?” Ellio came up behind them, tossing Jule’s bag over his shoulder.

  “No birds, animals, or even insects. This land reeks of tragedy.” Taiga nearly spat the words, shuddering. “Corruption has rooted itself into this area.”

  He turned to Jule and Ellio, “do not wander far from Sweet Bun. If she leaves an area, follow her. She’s a creature of magic and has a keener sense of where she should and shouldn’t loiter.”

  “I plan to investigate the area. I can’t let the fear of the unknown stop us from finding the rip.” Jule stated without restraint.

  Taiga nodded. “I know you’ll wander off in a heartbeat. So keep Sweet Bun nearby. If she refuses to walk somewhere, then don’t be stupid and ignore those warnings.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him before sighing, “I get it, alright.”

  Mouse watched her walk away, half stomping in her stubbornness. Ellio followed after her, glancing between Jule and Taiga before calling back to them, “we’ll stay close.”

  Taiga sighed, pressing a finger to his brow. “Humans are such a handful.”

  “They always are.” Mouse shrugged. He never considered their presence anything but bothersome. “If they die, it’s not our fault.”

  Taiga slowly turned to him, frowning. “The goal is that they don’t die.”

  He shrugged again.

  After a few moments, Taiga nudged him. “She won’t bother you again.”

  He’d nearly forgotten about the woman on the wagon already. “Good. I’ll punch her next time.”

  Taiga paused, said nothing, then nodded. “Basically what I told her.”

  Someone called for him, and Taiga turned, walking off and back towards the humans. Despite the uneasiness of the air, the stagnant sounds, and past horrors of this land, those humans really wanted to settle here? He supposed that’s what humans did; make illogical decisions despite themselves for things like sentimentality or curiosity.

  If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Mouse’s eyes followed Jule and Ellio as they wandered down the road a bit. Ellio kept pace with Sweet Bun, who followed them at Taiga’s command, urging Jule to slow down. If anything were to happen, those two were definitely the types to die first. He sighed.

  Was this how Taiga felt when he’d been in charge of squads of new soldiers and apprentice knights at the border? He groaned, picking up his bag. He swung it over his shoulder and jogged to their pace. Ellio’s shoulders relaxed as Mouse came up beside him.

  “Taiga told you to stay close.” Mouse snapped at Jule, who turned just enough to see him approach, though she acted as if she hadn’t noticed.

  “Oh, it’s fine. This is definitely not the most dangerous place I’ve been to.”

  Ah yes, the flawed mentality of humans.

  “Two seconds.” Mouse paused for dramatic effect.

  Jule turned towards him in curiosity. “Which is…?”

  “How long you’d survive if you walked into pure corruption.”

  That froze them in their tracks. He continued, “plumes of it blend into fog or mist. Thin veils are invisible to the naked eye. Creatures of magic, like Sweet Bun and I would notice once we’re in it. But by then, it would be too late for humans to escape.”

  Jule spun towards him, “how—”

  A croak shattered the silence around them. Then another, and another. Croaks upon croaks rung through the air, building into a chorus and overwhelming the lack of life around them. The croaks surrounded them on all sides, echoing through the ruined village from the marshed fields. The initial wave of croaks died down after a minute, though the orchestra never ended.

  “Are those… frogs?” Ellio asked, his voice a little softer than before.

  Mouse nodded. Frogs meant—

  “Mouse!” Taiga called, running to him. “This should be an empty territory, after Mafgnesn’s death.”

  “What are you talking about?” Jule rushed towards them, her earlier bravery forgotten.

  “Frogs are the acolytes of Guardian Spirits.” Mouse murmured, stepping forward and checking around them. If this many frogs appeared, especially when there were no animals even ten minutes prior, then they must’ve gathered toward their master. “It means there’s a Guardian here.”

  “Wait wait wait,” Jule froze, “what? Guardian Spirits??”

  Mouse ran forward, towards the marsh and gazed out at the clumps of trees and reeds. Nothing stood out aside from a frog hopping past him. Frogs had always served Guardians. Their presence alone drove him into the marsh. He sunk down into water as high as his thighs.

  “Mouse, stop. There’s nothing around. I don’t feel the presence of a Guardian. Just frogs.” Taiga pulled him back.

  He whipped around towards the road they’d came and out past the tree line west of where the town once stood. “Frogs don’t gather like this for no reason.”

  “I know. But right now, that’s all there is.” Taiga helped him from the water. “We’re going to have to wash your clothes now,” he groaned.

  “Don’t worry about those things.” One of the humans called, pulling lumber from the wagon. “It’s just the ghosts. We came out here a week ago to survey the damage and heard the same thing. A fog will probably roll in, too. It did the last time.”

  “Ghosts…?” Jule pressed, “what ghosts?”

  The man shrugged, “of the dead, I’d assume.”

  “Those aren’t ghosts,” Mouse muttered, though he kept his voice low enough for only Taiga.

  “I agree.” Taiga pulled a twig from Mouse’s curls. “But for now, there’s only frogs here. So calm down.”

  A pulse from behind made him turn. He stepped from Taiga’s grasp, sloshing back into the water and mud. From far into the ruined crop field and puddles, a towering figure stood. The sun settled beyond its outline, hiding its features in shadows. Only the thick feathers and quills broke the outline of what Mouse knew so well.

  “They weren’t there a moment ago…” Taiga breathed the words behind him.

  No corruption cloud emanated from them. No cries or anger of corruption erupted around them. Only the frogs croaking and splashing the water and mud made their way towards their master. So similar it was to his memories of those peaceful beings. How they got there was not even a note of concern.

  He rushed to them, pulling himself from the muddied canals and onto the field. Frogs gathered at the Guardian’s feet, clinging and climbing their quills and thistle fur. Footsteps behind him kept his pace until Mouse slowed within several meters of reach. Taiga pulled up beside him, staring up at the unmoving, porcelain white mask.

  “How? Which one is this? There shouldn’t be any Guardians here.”

  “I don’t know.” Mouse stepped forward. But with every step, the light of the sun simmered the shadows.

  Light pooled behind the furs and feathers, announcing itself as he drew closer. The outline of the Guardian softened. Their feathers thinning and fluttering in and out of view. Reeds and grass from beneath the Guardian remained untouched, solid within something transparent. As if the Guardian wasn’t there at all.

  Mouse looked up, the sun shining through the phantom of the Guardian Spirit.

  But… how? What did this mean?

  Taiga came up next to him. “Look.” He pointed down to the frogs. They leapt into the center of the Guardian, unhindered by any mass. Mouse caught Taiga’s gaze a moment, and the pit of Mouse’s stomach hardened in uncertainty and fear.