After explaining all she learned to Moose and Angela they all walked out to Vivians cabin and looked through the books with her.

"Here, this is the one with their sizes and sketches, Na Talmhainn, and Caomhnoiri is the one with their stories, like how they decorated them for rituals and such, and this one says... Mathair an Domhain, Mother of the Earth. Must be about Gaia." Vivian guessed as she translated the title.

"I'll skim through Caomhnoiri and Angela can go through Na Talmhainn while you check out Gaias book. Sound good?"

"Yes I could do that." Angela agreed.

"Sure thing uncle Moose!" Vivian chirped.

They all opened their respective books and went to work. Vivian opened Gaias book and was greeted with green stamped leaves along the page edges surrounding a drawing of a tree-lady with her arms extending out into branches and her legs were a trunk with roots entering the earth. Underneath the roots Gaia was written, proving that it was indeed a book about her. Vivian flipped through the pages, there were dozens of sketches depicting what the people of the past thought Gaia might look like, all of them captured her dark skin and bright green eyes. She looked at the writing, Gaia gives all we need. Vivian could make a few guesses on what that meant, trees and caverns for shelter, water to drink, and plants and animals to consume.

Or Guardians for the witches. Vivian thought.

She thought back to that breath on her neck and the variation with the Guardians- the Wendigos as they were mistakenly referred to too many times to count. She wondered what he looked like, the one who saved her, what color were his eyes, how big are his antlers, are they whole or broken like Cynefins? Those questions sparked other questions such as; did Cynefin and Elhaz have their own holiday like Solitz? They named Solitz the King of Beltane, which, as far as she knew, was a fire festival. She couldn't read with all those questions swirling around in her mind.

"Let's stop for now. I have some things to do." Vivian spoke suddenly.

Angela and Moose both perked up surprised but they agreed without question, Angela explained that in Na Talmhainn there was a spell to summon a fairy, the fae are dangerous and powerful but if they liked you enough they could help you with just about anything.

"They could probably find your Wendigo." Angela had suggested, using the common term for the Guardians.

Moose had expressed his concern that if this wendigo was as large as the other we wouldn't need help finding him. Angela had pointed out that if that was true then they would have found him already. There wasn't much else Moose had noticed in Caomhnoiri than Vivian had, other than the other Guardians did- in fact, have holidays dedicated to them, Cynefin had Samhain (the Final Harvest) and Elhaz had Mabon (the Autumn Equinox). Vivian thought of any holidays that may be coming up since none have occurred recently. Litha was approaching, Midsummer (the Summer Solstice). Vivian's birthday took place shortly after the solstice, so she decided to dedicate Litha to her Wendigo.

It was only the start of spring, so Vivian had plenty of time to prepare for the search for her Wendigo-Guardian. She thought of offerings to bring him to her, she knew from her books that the past Wendigos had their own unique interests in their offerings, so she could only go off the basics that was used for all of them along with summer-themed gifts. She began writing down her ideas and rituals for Midsummer, she figured she may as well go all out with her dedication.

If he's meant to be mine I should give him a piece of me as a sign of my trust and loyalty, make it a little more even. Vivian thought while walking through the woods, crushing leaves and grass with each step.

Vivian came to the conclusion that when the time came she would cut off a chunk of hair and give it to him. Hair and other personal traits were highly valued by Witches, depending on what you possessed you could use magick against that person without failure or recoil. Fingernails to control their actions, hair to control the mind. She realized what she was giving up to him, and she considered it for a while before finalizing her choice. If the books were correct, he would be giving her his loyalty, protection, guidance, power, influence, his whole life, and she would give him her mind. According to what little she knew of the Riders, they never gave this kind of gift to their partners, she wanted him to know she trusted him, even if they never met.

She merged parts of her list into the rituals, making them more special and powerful. She began planning the execution of her rites and how she would present herself to him. She was walking home when the ground trembled, she froze the last time she felt that was when-

"Hello, Vivian." A cool, calm feminine voice reached out to her.

The ground opened and she went through just as she did all those moons ago.

She landed back in that place, the underground palace as she had described it, it looked the same, maybe brighter, teeming with more life now, the shoots on the plants seemed to glow, a pulse, like a heartbeat.

Mother Nature

"Gaia." Vivian whispered.

The same cat that had greeted her long ago entered the room from the same door it led Vivian out of back then. It sped-walked to her and curled around her left shin, meowing happily, like it missed her more than anything. It walked a few paces before her then turned back to look at her, indicating that it wanted her to follow. She happily obliged but instead of turning down the hall leading to the guest bedroom it led her through the opposite hall and down a staircase of dirt and roots which turned to clay and rock, torches placed along the sides of the wall acting as a light source. When they reached the bottom the floor was mostly slabs of stone, grey with flecks of blue as she walked there were huge vines protruding through the wall and then diving in again, creating a waved line leading to a large set of double doors. The vines pulsed with the same blue-green glow the other plants did. She reached the door, wooden, painted with a purple sky of the setting sun, she gently placed a hand on each door and pushed. The doors were surprisingly light and they opened with ease, she walked into a dark room, once the doors fell closed behind her the glow returned, stronger than ever, it lit up vines and roots and small plants and flower that filled the room, yet it did not illuminate the whole space she could she that the glow all flowed in the same direction, the center, the heart of the room.

Vivian looked down at the pulsing around her feet and ankles and noticed her animal companion had vanished, must've stayed back. She returned her gaze to the center of the room and her instincts told her exactly what she was looking at, or rather, who.

"Gaia." It almost sounded like a question, a request for confirmation.

"Hello, child." That same calm voice.

Suddenly, light filled the room, the vines making the roof had retracted, allowing the sun to shine through. A woman stood in the center, she was tall, almost six feet, holding a regal power in her stance, her skin was black and smooth, Vivian had never seen a color so captivating, so elysian. Sure Vivian had seen many colors of skin before but she couldn't help but stare at her beauty, like she couldn't control her own gaze, then she noticed the black and gold her, and the shining lime green eyes. The eyes confirmed that this was indeed the Goddess, and that she had finally found her.

"I'm sure you have many questions," the Goddess spoke. "I'm happy to answer them."

So many questions spun in Vivians head, her mother, her father, her whole family, the Wendigos, her old home, the Hunters, or even why Gaia bothered to reveal herself to Vivian right now.

"Uh, yeah, it's an honor to meet you, Gaia. My name is Vivian, even though you know that," She chuckled nervously. "What made you decide to show yourself to me?" Vivian finally asked.

"I had been meaning to speak with you sooner but I was gone for a time, I had to check on your mother." Gaia answered.

Vivian perked up.

"Is she okay? Can you save her? Can I save her? Is the Wendigo here?" Vivian spilled out.

"Wendigo? Ah, you mean one of the Caomhnoiri. He is not here right now, although he wants to be, I won't allow him to bond with you just yet. As for your mother, she is as safe as she can be." Gaia explained.

That answer would have to be enough for now.

"Why can't I see him, what do you mean bond?" Vivian blurted.

"The bond is a ritual that must be completed once he and you have established boundaries and trust with each other, don't worry, it's not dangerous. You must celebrate his sacred day with him, I know by now you figured out that his is Litha."

"I also know the others, what are they like? How big is he? How old is he? When will I get to see him?"

"I enjoy your curious nature, I've missed talking to a human, well, close enough to one." She smiled.

"I'm not human?" Vivian looked confused, stunned, and mildly mortified.

"Darling you're so much more, spiritually speaking. You're a witch, you're one of the chosen, you are the Maiden of the Woods."

"Maiden of the Woods?

"Yes, my dear, the only human living here, and a young female at that, currently too young for the plans I have but they will be amazing."

"Too young?"

"When you turn sixteen you will be able to make your first Muhcnar." She smiled.

That was a word Vivian hadn't heard before but she remembered skimming over it once or twice, in the books written with the Guardians language.

"Muhcnar?" Vivian asked.

"Oh, yes, I suppose you haven't learned the language of the Caomhnoiri yet. Don't worry, your new friend will teach you."

Vivian assumed Gaia referred to her Wendigo, her knight, as Angela called him.

"When will that be? And what is a Muchnar?"

"Surely you must know about the creatures witches can make, the occurrence only happens three time in a witch's life."

It all clicked, the Bones of the Earth, the rituals. Those were the creatures made from the very planet itself.

"Yes, I know what you're talking about now."

"Amazing, I knew those books I had made for your family would help."

So not only was she friends with my mother, Vivian thought but she was for my entire family through the years, all the Guardians and riders.

"They most certainly came in handy, although it took a while to try and understand those other languages." Vivian chuckled nervously.

Gaia made a face of puzzlement.

"Did you not read the translators? They even have a pronunciation section for some of the more awkward words." She asked.

"There's supposed to be translators?"

"You're telling me this entire time you had to figure it out all on your own?"

Vivian remained quiet for a moment, slightly embarrassed.

"Oh, my poor, sweet child. That must've been awful, no worries I will find a few copies and get them to you. Wow, your mind is powerful indeed."

Vivian took in the relief that came at the thought of a translator, it would make progress easier and faster.

"What do I do now?" Vivian questioned.

"Go back to your home, life as you do, once those books show up, study them. I'll also make sure you get some assistance, possibly make friends."

Before Vivian could ask about the friends part her whole world went black and she felt like she was falling, then flying. She moved her arms over her face until everything was still, when she removed them she was back in her forest, sitting on a pile of soft green leaves and flower petals.

She stood up and regained her balance, then began walking home when something moved out of the corner of her right eye. She turned her head to look, and hiding behind the nearest tree was a humanoid creature as tall as her, it had pale blue skin, light yellow eyes, cherry red nails- no, claws, long pointed ears, and lavender hair that fell down almost to its elbows.

"Uh, hello. I'm Vivian, who are you?" She asked, nervous.

It seemed to flinch at her name, and just stared into Vivian.

"Do you know what I'm saying?" She asked politely. "Are you alright?"

"He told us not to touch you, or go near you." The stranger said, voice cool and stable, with undertones of fear.

"He? Us? I'm guessing 'us' refers to you and anyone involved with you, but who is 'He'?"

Its eyes went wide.

"He'll kill me if he finds out I spoke to you. He told everyone to stay away, 'Don't touch my lacuna,' he called you."

"Could you at least tell me what he is? Or what you are? Or what the heck is a lacuna?"

"Lacuna means a blank space, a missing part, you are needed to complete who he is. He is the one of lilac eyes. I am a Jeskur, but my name is Rouge"

Without any further thought or conversation, the creature, the Jeskur, ran back into the woods, not willing to risk another breath in Vivians presence.