The sun is just beginning to show itself behind the snow-capped mountains. It's light riding on the cold morning breeze. What would seem like a perfect morning, is not for Natalie. She sits upright in bed, in the same position she has been since she returned home, unable to sleep. With the stone still in her hand, unsure of her next move, wondering whether to share the experience. She stares at Katya who is beginning to stir in her bed.
Katya is Nathalie's identical twin. They share the same long, straight, strawberry blonde hair, green eyes, and a very petite frame. However the one thing they don't share their personality. Though they are both very caring, Nathalie is much more daring and bold than Katya, who is more on the timid side. Nathalie loves a good adrenaline rush, while Katya is happy sitting down with a good book, preferably non-fiction.
They have been alone for three years, ever since the disappearance of their parents when they were 10. They now live on the eighth floor of an abandoned hotel, only relying on each other.
"Morning," says Katya as she slips out from under her covers and walks over to Nathalie, flopping down in the bed beside her. On impact, the bed let out a loud creak and collapsed underneath the girls. They both fell with a squeal.
Their so called home was in far from good shape; the table was crooked, the stove barely started, the floor creaked at every step. Nathalie wouldn't be surprised to come to find the entire building had collapsed.
They roll on the broken bed laughing. "Hey, what was that for?" Nathalie swatted Katya across the head playfully.
"Just trying to make our home more broken than it already is." she responds smiling. During the commotion the stone had fallen out of Nathalies hand and was now rolling across the splintered wooden floor. Nathalie tried to get it before Katya noticed, but she was out of luck.
"What's that?" Katya asks, pushing herself up off the bed, and grabbing the stone just before it rolled under the dresser. She handled the smooth object between her petite fingers.
"Ohhh... ummm... That's just something I wandered across yesterday, it's nothing special." Nathalie said in as casual of a voice as she could.
"Oh realllly?" Katya said staring Nathalie right in the eyes. Katya always seemed to have a talent of finding the truth behind a lie, which is why Nathalie is amazed she has been able to keep so many secrets for so long.
Nathalie just stood there, trying to find to find the right words to help her out of this situation. She hated lying to her sister, but it was for Katya's safety, so she will lie as much as it's needed if it keeps her out of trouble.
To Nathalie's luck Katya just turned around with a smile and placed the stone on top of the dresser, however they both knew this was far from over.
Throughout the entire morning the stone sits there taunting Nathalie. She is not sure what it is, but she seems to have bonded with this stone, which completely confuses her, since it is just a stone. She can't help but hear it calling her name, begging her to take it off the shelf. The voices in her head continue to grow louder and louder, until it is unmanageable.
"Stop," Nathalie yells, "Please just stop!!" she jumps up frantically, her hands shaking.
"Nathalie are you ok," Katya says, her eyes wide. She runs over to Nathalie who is now rolling on the ground with her hands over her ears.
Nathalie doesn't know what is going on or why, but if it is dangerous, she will not bring Katya into it. Although her legs are shaking, and her head throbs, she pulls herself up, pushes Katya out of the way and apprehensively grabs the stone. When her hand connects with the stone it all stops. The pain, the voices, they all come to a shocking halt. Finally being able to concentrate, Nathalie realizes Katya standing over her, a look of worry on her face.
"Nathalie..." she reaches out to grab her hand, "what is happening."
"Nothing, just, don't worry about it." Nathalie says, then turns to run out the door, stone in hand.
"Wait" Katya grabs her hand before she can make it out of the room. "Where are you.."
"Please, just don't worry about it, you wouldn't understand. It's just not safe for you to be with me right now, I'm sorry." Their eyes meet, Katya's full of confusion and tears, Nathalie's are starting to water too. This only lasts a second, before Nathalie pulls her wrist free of Katya's tiny hands. And she bolts out the door without turning back. Katya taking off after her calling for Nathalie, but Nathalie doesn't turn back.
She runs down the stairs of their abandoned hotel building, the wood creaking with every step she takes. When she exits the building she just keeps running, swerving in and out of allies, attempting to lose Katya, who is chasing after her, and getting closer. Katya is fast, but Nathalie is faster. After a few blocks, Katya loses sight of Nathalie. When Nathalie looks over her shoulder to find Katya gone, she runs into an old ally in a quiet part of town, and stops leaning against the dirty brick wall.
After taking a few moments to catch her breath, Nathalie begins to examine the stone once more, trying to piece together what just happened. The stone was calling to her, why? It seems to be more dangerous than Nathalie imagined. What really worries her is Katya. Nathalie knows she is searching for her now, and it won't be long until she is found. What is Nathalie going to say? How is she going to manage to keep her secret after this? And if somehow she were to find a way to keep Katya from knowing anything, she can't live with Katya and have the stone, but Nathalie is not letting either go.
A wave of guilt comes over Nathalie. How can she value some stone as much as she values her twin sister. Still, Nathalie can't imagine throwing the stone back to where it came from, not after she saw how dangerous it can be. She will not put her hometown in danger, and she will not put her sister in danger, she will just need to find another way. She just needs time to think.
"Nathalie, there you are!" Nathalie turns her head to find Katya sprinting towards her. So much for that time to think. Nathalie turns to run, but it is too late. Katya has already grabbed her, and this time she has no intention of letting go. "What is up with you? Please talk to me."
Nathalie ,not sure what to say yet, just closes her eyes and tucks her chin to her chest. She is embarrassed by how she is reacting to this. She is normally so daring and brave, why is she feeling so vulnerable now.
"Please just say something. We are so close, why do you feel you can't talk to me." At this point tears are streaming down Katya's face, she is so desperate to help her sister, she doesn't like seeing those around her unhappy.
Nathalie knows Katya loves her, know she would keep her secret and understand, but what Nathalie doesn't want is to pull Katya into this. To put her in danger. Especially now, with this weird dangerous stone. Even if it will hurt Katya's feelings, staying quiet is the best way to keep her safe. However the longer Nathalie keeps quiet, the more upset Katya begins to look. It breaks Nathalie's heart to see this, so she reaches out and embraces Katya in her arms. Nathalie feels Katya's body relax, "Just say something," Katya whispers
"I really can't, there is no way you can understand, but I do love you."
"I love you too, but... Nathalie look!" Nathalie opens her eyes to find a blue light, glowing so bright she can barely keep her eyes open. Nathalie breaks loose from the hug, but Katya continues to grasp Nathalie's hand, her grip tight. This time not to keep Nathalie from running, but from fear.
Nathalie struggles to see through the blinding light, she knows automatically it is the stone, which to her surprise in no longer in her pocket.
Once Nathalie's eyes adjust, she is able to see the stone floating in the air a few feet in front of them. She turn to Katya to find her mouth agape. They turn to run, but they only make it a few steps before they began to be pulled backwards.
The stone has grown to the size of a basket ball, and it keeps growing, and it's also spinning. It spinning so fast it pulls the girls in like a tornado.
In all the chaos the girls hands separated sending them flying in different directions. They go spinning in circles, in no control of themselves, about ten feet off the ground. By now the stone is the size of a young child, and it has picked up a mailbox, a few signs, and it starting to rip apart the buildings around us.
The spinning comes to an abrupt halt sending everything flying in different directions. Nathalie hits the alley wall, while Katya flies much farther down the alley landing roughly on the cement ground. The mailbox also comes flying her way, crashing into the electrical wires above Katya. The wires fall in front of her and burst into flames.
"Katya!" Nathalie screams, reaching out towards her sister. To her surprise water shoots out of her palms and extinguishes the flames. She knew she could manipulate water, but she has never created it. It seems she has unlocked a new power, and just in the nick of time.
Katya sits up, burned and bruised, but alive. Her eyes wide with fear, confusion and absolute amazement of her sister's power. Nathalie walks up the her and helps her stand, making sure she is ok, however before she gets the chance to explain anything the light coming from the stone gets even brighter. It so bad the girls are squatted on the ground covering each other's eyes, temporarily blinded. The light slowly dims until it flickers, and dies.
When Nathalie gets her vision back she looks up, examining the damage they have created. All the surrounding buildings are either torn to the ground, or burnt to a crisp by the fire. Trash and debris litter the streets. But most shockingly of all, in place of where the stone used to be, stands a creature. A winged wolf, with thick grey fur blowing in the wind.
He is ginormous, almost the size of a car. He also has a four pointed star pattern of his forehead. The girl stare in awe, he is the most beautiful creature they have ever seen. As she beast slowly approaches, the girl try and get away, but they are too slow. The creature stands over Nathalie, teeth bared, growling, and puts his face right up to hers. Nathalie can smell the stench of his breath, and is staring him right in the eyes, her entire body shaking. Then the wolf steps back and chuckles.
"Ha, I got you good, didn't I. Hello Nathalie, I'm Arcish, and from now on, I am your Guardian."