Side Story Chapter A: Four Guardians.
There were once four guardians of the forest.
Wind Archer, the main Protector.
Whipped Cream, Caretaker of Flowers.
Fig, Caretaker of Animals.
Herb, Caretaker of Plants.
Wind Archer knew of their past. They were once a regular cookie, beckoned by the forest to come, before meeting Sugar Swan and Millennial Tree. There, they were turned into a vessel for the wind, becoming Wind Archer Cookie.
Wind Archer knew, whatever happened in their past, they threw it all away, and they accepted their new place in the forest, defending the forest from the darkened spirits.
It was after a period of time, when Wind Archer arrived to find another cookie beckoned by the forest, wandering in the forest itself. Knowing what they were searching for, Wind Archer brought that cookie to Sugar Swan and Millennial Tree, to become Whipped Cream Cookie.
Then a third, to become Fig Cookie.
Then finally a fourth, to become Herb Cookie.
And that was how it was for a long time.
'What do you think is outside the forest?'
'Herb, you know there's nothing much outside of there.' Wind replied.
'But are you not curious?'
'I admittedly am, but my role is here, to protect the forest. Please just stay.' Wind answered.
Wind went back to work, but hearing how Herb said it, it really should not have been a surprise. But Wind was in denial themselves about Herb leaving the forest. And so Wind pretended everything was alright.
So when Herb disappeared, Wind felt numb. It was only a few days since Herb asked them about leaving the forest. And Wind blamed themselves for not convincing Herb to stay harder.
There were once three guardians in the forest.
Another passage of time passed, and this time Fig was the one who asked about what was outside a forest. This time Wind snapped.
'DO NOT ASK THAT QUESTION. JUST STAY.' Wind yelled.
Fig cowered a bit from that screaming before running away from Wind.
Wind tried to give chase, before losing Fig altogether.
Wind was not surprised when Fig did not return. After all, they were the one who chased Fig away with that outburst.
There were once two guardians in the forest.
Yet more time has passed. Then finally, Whipped asked Wind what was outside the forest.
Wind broke down, before hugging Whipped tightly.
'Please just stay in the forest. I can't lose you too, not after Herb, and Fig... Please just stay.'
Whipped hugged back, before muttering a simple 'I'm sorry.'
When the hug finally broke up, Wind watched as Whipped walked away, never to return again.
Once Wind couldn't see Whipped anymore, they crumpled to the ground, completely defeated, and started to cry. Their efforts were not good enough.
There was once a guardian in the forest.
Wind carefully fired their arrows at a fallen spirit, to purify them, watches as the fallen spirit turn into a dove and fly away. They dearly miss the others, but resolutely stayed to their own goal to protect the forest. After all, it was what they were good at, and what they were made for.
Wind Archer sat down on a branch, carefully looking towards the calm forest. They wondered if one day, there were no more spirits to purify, when they no longer have a reason to be around, would anybody ever ask them to stay.
As Wind Archer spread out their wings to continue their flight of their patrol, Wind Archer hoped that somebody would do so, instead of immediately letting them go.
