A few weeks after studying the sketches and what she could make of the words (after having to learn pieces of Celtic scripture to read them), Vivian wrote down notes and summaries that she kept stored in a small box upstairs by her bookshelf. She even attempted to make updated sketches of the guardians, ones where the ink wasn't smudged and the lines were thin and clear. She even took to color them according to their descriptions; she decided to use yellow pollen from flowers to make Solitz's eyes shine like the sun as they were described.

She went for a walk through her wooded home as she usually did when she wasn't reading, this time bringing blank pages and a charcoal pencil which she sharpened to a small rounded point. She replicated what she saw on those pages, flowers, grasses, trees, leaves, animal tracks, bird feathers (which she also collected to take home), and this time she also found a skull, perfectly clean. She stared at it, pondering what to do, she could leave it there but it was enticing her.

Take me, I'm here for you It whispered to her.

She put her sketchbook and pencil down and gently placed her hands on either side of the skull, she lifted it up and examined the white bone. After a few moments she determined this was the skull of a fox. She returned home with her treasure in tow, placing her book down on the kitchen counter along with the pencil, keeping the skull in her left hand. She walked into her room and placed it on her nightstand, she pulled out another book, filled with sketches of the fauna she observed in the woods, and turned to the pages of the red fox. She grabbed a pencil out of her nightstand drawer and drew a model of the skull in the extra space in the upper right corner of the second page of the fox.

She was sure to draw small but large enough to see with details on the skull. Once she decided that was enough she put away the book and pencil, looking back on the nightstand. The skull stared back. The rest of the night was spent reading more on the Guardians, Solitz, she decided, was the most wild. Elhaz seemed more like a responsible father to everyone instead of a figure idolized simply by his status. Cynefin was easily the most chaotic, he brought harm to none but he was a troublemaker, wreaking havoc whenever and wherever he could. Solitz, on the other hand, was almost a mix of the two and yet the shortest at thirty-two feet tall on his hind legs. Vivian took a particular liking to Solitz but couldn't decide who her favorite was. Elhaz was very responsible, Cynefin knew how to have fun, and Solitz, he was mighty and strong but also enjoyed spending time with others, especially the children, he was a caretaker amongst warriors. He was also the brightest in appearance, until winter when his colors changed dark and cruel. Snow-fur was a nickname given to Solitz by a little girl named Aaliyah and it was accurate as far as Vivian could tell. She read that his fur was as white as freshly fallen snow, his antlers a miraculous copper, silver claws and hooves, and his skin was a yellowish orange with bright yellow eyes. During winter his fur went grey and his skin dark grey to black, his hooves and nails remained the same silver while his antlers switched to a deep bronze, his eyes also remained the same. Apparently Solitz was the only one who changed colors naturally, back then the witches had made special colored liquids using natural elements that they used to leave sigils and prints on the guardians for special days and rituals. There was a drawing of Elhaz that portrayed hand-prints all over his body touching his skin while sigils were painted on his skull, antlers, claws, and hooves, his fur was coated in a mess of colors. He looked wonderful. Another drawing portrayed Cynefin with the same marks, as Vivian examined his portrait she recognized a sigil that was placed on him twice, once on his skull and another on his index left claw, she squinted her eyes at the tiny mark, she knew what it meant, Reaper.

After more digging she noticed that Reaper was a nickname given to Cynefin by Gaia, as an honor for his battles with men from the sea.

Men from the sea. If a guardian didn't stop them from coming, why does Angela think I can do it? It then occurred to Vivian that Angela must not have read these books.

Vivian put the book down and decided it had been quite some time since her last visit with Angela, so she got up and started walking toward her house.

Vivian walked into town and was greeted with odd looks from those she used to consider her friends. Three little boys were whispering to each other, she knew them. Warren, who wanted to be in charge one day considering Soren is his father, glared at her and whispered something to Cyrus who was sitting next to him. She looked at the third boy, Vulcan, or Huck as everyone called him, stared at her with wide eyes, then gave her a sympathetic smile. Huck and Vivian were friends but after her banishment he had kept a distance, Warren and Cyrus always liked to tease and annoy Vivian simply because they didn't like her for a reason unknown to her, but Huck would always tell them off, he seemed to be the only kid her age that cared for her feelings. She carried on, she didn't need them getting in trouble for speaking to her, especially Huck.

She walked faster down the street to Angela's house but once she was only a few houses away she collided with a tall strong body, Soren.

"You." He hissed, clearly dissatisfied.

"I'm just here to see Angela, that's all."

"So you didn't hear? Angela is at a funeral right now, her sister's dead." Soren informed her accusingly, as if she was the one who did it.

"Asa's dead?" Vivian whispered, her heart cracking open.

"That's what I said, didn't I? Did all that time in the woods dull your hearing? I would assume it would have improved." Soren scoffed, mumbling that last part.

Vivian was mad that he was so detached from the situation, so her little, almost eleven year old self punched Soren as hard as she could in his stomach, he barely flinched.

"You disrespectful little bitch!" He grabbed her by her neck and lifted her into the air.

"You put her down right now."

Soren whipped his head around and Vivian saw the man who had yelled at Soren.

"H-help." Vivian breathed out, desperate for air.

The man glared Soren down and Soren dropped Vivian, she fell onto the ground and hit the side of her head on the not-so-soft soil, the man rushed to her.

She recognized his brown hair, amber eyes, and broad frame instantly.

"Uncle Moose." She whispered.

"Hey Sweetheart." He whispered back.

He called her many different nicknames, but he was always "Moose". Vivian didn't know his real name but she knew that he was a safe space for her hence the uncle title, they weren't related but Belladonna knew him since they were kids making him "Uncle Moose" to Vivian.

He lifted her up into his arms against his chest, he looked at her then back to Soren.

"If I ever see you touch her again you'll be dead before you hit the ground." His voice was low and deep, Vivian had never been so scared for someone before.

Soren just scoffed and stormed off, Vivian snuggled into her uncle, the pain in her head finally settling in, she held back tears.

"It's okay Viv, I'm here now, let's go see aunt Angela."

Vivian began to cry.

"Moose, you were gone for so long so much happened I-"

"I know," He cut her off. "Angela told me everything, about mom and the hunters and Soren, and your Guardian."

"My...What?"

"At least that's what we think. She told me that you were protected by something and we both believe you're the next."

Vivian looked down and her dress, dirt had made its home on her torso.

Moose carried Vivian all the way to Angela's house in his arms and placed her down on the porch, which he had to crouch down significantly for. She stood next to him at four-and-a-half feet tall and he towered over her almost by another three feet. He knocked on the door and Angela opened it with red eyes and a black dress. She gave a slight smile at the sight of Vivian then it dissipated once she noticed that half her face had specks of dirt.

"Vivian, Moose, come in." Angela stepped aside and allowed Moose and Vivian inside then she shut the door.

"I'm so sorry about Asa, she was incredible." Vivian noted solemnly.

"Yes, she was." Angela agreed, her voice barely a whisper.

Moose placed a protective arm across Vivians shoulders as they sat on the couch, holding her close, he was always protective of her.

"We need to talk, all of us." Moose opened.

"Yes we do, first off, what happened to Vivian?" Angela asked.

"Soren hurt me." She simply answered.

"He grabbed her throat and held her until I showed up, then he dropped her without a care in the world." Moose answered fully.

Angela stared in shock at him, then looked over to Vivian and at the ground.

"I'm going to kill him, he should have never been put in charge, this place belongs to Bella, to Vivian."

"Yes. It does." Moose agreed.

"Have you met your Guardian yet? Officially?" Angela asked Vivian.

"No, but I know he exists, I haven't seen any signs of him since the hunters but, I found a fox skull, perfectly clean. I think he left it for me. I've read so many books, I've almost gotten through all of them, I've been making notes and summaries as well, along with my own books with details on the flora and fauna, I've also learned a ton on the past Guardians. Oh! And now I've learned pieces of the other languages, except for the Guardians." Vivian reported.

"You're so young, so smart, you should be playing in the mud and making spell jars, not having to live in isolation or lose your family or any of that." Angela told her, seemingly on the verge of tears once more.

"I haven't lost my family, I still have you, and Moose." Vivian explained, trying to console her.

This time the tears started flowing from Angela's face and Moose slid Vivian onto his lap and placed his arms around her shoulders and rested his chin on the top of her head. Angela pushed forward to wrap her arms around Vivians waist, between her back and Moose's belly, leaning her head onto Vivians lap, her tears dampening the dress. Vivian felt so loved and safe and protected, she wanted to keep them safe as well.