Chapter two

I looked about the dimly lit cave as I carefully sat up. My back was sore and aching but it was manageable now. Helios sat at the entrance listening to the war outside.

"How long was I asleep?" I sat down next to him and he wrapped his wing around me.

"Too long." An earth shattering boom pierced the chaos.

"What was that?" I asked in a hushed voice.

"The humans are getting involved now. That was one of their weapons." His jaw clenched as another loud whistling filled the skies shortly followed by another explosion.

"What are they?"

"They're called bombs. They destroy everything when they land. It takes no prisoners."

"Do they hurt guardians?"

"Yes. Enough about those, how are you feeling?"

I didn't want to admit it but I felt, incomplete. The lack of heaviness from my wings made my body feel uneven. And I still felt incredibly shaky.

"I'm fine."

"Well enough to walk?"

"I think so."

"Good. We need to start heading out. We've been here for far too long. We need to regroup with mom and dad. And report to the Protector."

"Okay."

We put on our amor and packed up camp. It was still dark out which meant daemons will still be roaming. It was our best bet to fly. But I had no choice but to walk.

"You'll stay close right?" We did one more sweep of the cave and adjusted our gear.

"What do you mean?"

"You won't fly too far ahead of me?"

"Who said I was flying. If you can't fly then neither will I."

"Then what's the use of wings?" I asked as we stepped out into the pouring rain.

"For when we both can fly in the heavens together. For now I'm grounded just like you." He closed the cave entrance and we made our way through the dense forest.

It wasn't wise for a Guardian to be grounded. We are better fighters in air. That's why the protector made all her children with wings.

"Are you okay?" He put my arm over his shoulders as I stumbled forward.

"Yea. Still sore but I'm okay."

"There are daemons near." I whispered as I readied my sword.

"I sense them too. Let me do the fighting."

"You don't have a sword."

"Give me yours."

"No!" I yelled as a daemon lunged at us. I shoved Helios out of the way and cut it down from the sky. It tumbled to ground and growled as black ooz sprayed from its mouth.

"What are you doing!" Helios yelled  as the thing got to its feet again. It's attention redirected towards him.

"Come on!" His yell echoed through the trees as he planted his shield. It lunged at him but it was met with a bash from his shield. It laid on the ground stunned. The poor beast looked so helpless.

"May your soul return to the heavens and be at peace. Return from whence you came. Return to the light of the protector. Bless be thee, Amare." I lifted my heavy sword and left it effortlessly fall. It made a horrific noise as the beast like creature's head rolled across the ground.

To give a daemon a second judgment we were taught to say the prayer before relieving it's tortured soul. Some believe that it doesn't work and it's only for comfort for us. But, I like to believe it does work. It wasn't a necessity to pray for the hell beasts but, I believe hell beast should also have a chance. The prayer was mostly meant for hellions though.

Hellions were once guardians. But if a guardian falls to Eros and loses touch with the protector, they become corrupted and begin to warp into a more twisted version of themselves. I've only ever heard stories of the taint of Eros. I've never witnessed the turning myself though.

"I told you to let me take care of it."

"It was just a hell beast." I smiled as I sheathed my sword.

"You're still hurt." He grumbled.

"Hurt not helpless."

"Just come on."

The night began to grow lighter as the sun soon began to shine through the trees. We could hear the screeches of the hellions and hell beasts as they returned to the dark depths. Helios began to relax as we walked into the open. Though, it didn't last long. The ground was scared from war and many guardians laid injured or dead across the ground. The few guardians who were okay tended to the wounded and made burial mounds for the deceased. Lower murmurs of the prayer hung in the air to help ease the pain of the lost brethren.

"I hope dad is okay." I whispered as walked over to the main tent.

"Me too." Helios took my hand and squeezed it. He hardly ever did that anymore.

I took a deep breath as we entered the tent. Several Guardians sat around a map of Eros. The talking came to stop as they looked at us.

"It's good to see you two. I was worried." A familiar comforting voice came from the far end of the tent. My gaze met a blessed sight.

"Dad!" Helios and I exclaimed as we ran over to him.

He embraced us in a deep hug. He rubbed my back but quickly untangled himself from us. Horror fell upon his face as the realization set in. He looked back and forth at Helios and myself. It was as though he couldn't accept what happened. But honestly neither could I.