The Anchor (post copy)

“How can you be so sure?” I asked, fishing a little.
I got an answer I did not expect. “I find no coincidence in this being the one place more adapted than the Agris terra, yet disconnected from its wind, and the fact that you feel intimidated with the changes here,” he said. “I believe the only way both places will survive will be when you feel a part of this place.”
“What do you make me out to be?” I asked.
“The reason any of us are here, or alive for that matter.” I was unsure how I felt. “I don’t mean to sound harsh or strict, but you need to know that even in your disconnection, you have a place in the events to come; one that, whether it is a risky or persevering moment is important for you to be present for.”
I smiled a little. “I wish I could see it the way you do, at least that easily.”
“You just need to see that as distinct as this place is, it is not immaculate to the Agris terra. I have more than a belief that you will be the catalyst, the change, and the proof to show that, and do more.”
“Look, I know I shouldn’t worry about Lily, but I never want to lose her.”
“The best thing you can do is realize that she probably doesn’t see that you feel distant, even if concerned for you. More importantly, you are not the only one among us who feels the way you do, and you know she has felt disconnected maybe far longer than you have,” emerald said.
“I didn’t even think of Aimee,” I said.
“Well don’t compare to her, but think that she may become a valuable friend because she understands what you feel, and seems receptive to her maturity. It’s important to know that many things are about to change, but expect most of that change for the better.”
“Thanks emerald,” I said, less uncomfortable. Maybe it was just that moment, but the ground under my heels felt softer than it had moments ago, as if I saw less jaggedness in the stone and more delicacy.
“Are you hurt badly?” Emerald asked.
I stood up. “Luckily not…” the ground began to tremor. The rustling of trees sounded violently with the snapping of their trunks.
“That’s our cue, we need to hurry to the third divide,” Emerald said, picking me up. He ran with his guardian and me on his shoulder. I readied my spear, feeling the escence of shaddow’s muse on my breath. I was at least ready now, for whatever was before us. We reached the third divide in the mountain, where we could see the canopy of the active woods. It was strange. I could see the tops of pine trees on a distant, mountain forest. It seemed like a relic in the memory terra.
We watched patiently, when rows of tree tops fell like dominoes. From the wreckage arose a behemoth of decay, unlike anything I had seen. It was a massive, hideous worm with rows of flat teeth. It roared, towering above the mountain we stood upon, even in the distance. “Is this what we were supposed to see?” I asked.
“Not quite yet,” said emerald. Suddenly, the fallen trees arose again as a serpent pranced from the ground, dwarfing the behemoth just barely. The creature was like the forest. His plated body was like the trunk of a tree, and as his mouth split open, vines like those of the elementals and guardians swiftly grappled around the behemoth’s neck. From the swift chaos, fled another strange hope wraith, with an injury. It’s broken skin shed a flock of its children in our direction as it dashed like a paper shuttle, while the fight finished. I could only see what I saw in a blur of motion as the strange creature dragged the behemoth into the woods, silencing it. “Now we may continue,” Emerald said.
-the terra nubebesus-