Once the sounds of people echoed off the cliffs, mingled with the roaring of the waterfall. Now only silence echoed with the waterfall's roaring, a roaring that seemed almost mournful.

Once the castled city thrived, it flourished, ruled by wise and gentle Kings and Queens generation after generation. A hidden place, thought to exist only in stories and legends. In myths and lies. A castled city with no true name, some may have mistaken it for Shangri-La.

To the people that had lived here, to the Queens and Kings, it was simply, home. Sanctuary. Haven. Utopia. A protected city, a truly peaceful place.



The only ways in or out was often patrolled by the Guardians, all were forbidden to leave and no outsider was allowed to enter. The Guardians were creatures that were seven feet tall, with cloven hooves instead of feet. They had horns that sprouted from their heads, and long pointed ears. All of them were tattooed with glowing symbols, blue, green, red, or purple. Their eyes always reflected and glowed the color of their symbols. The colors had no significance other than to serve as decoration of a sort. The Guardians were bound to this castled city, bound by oath and blood.

That was so long ago. The thriving castled city is now nothing more than a ghost town. A place isolated from the outside world can only sustain itself for so long. The castled city's time had come and gone. It had flourished for hundreds of years, and now it was nothing but silent stone. An empty place, an echo of it's former self. The crops had begun to die, withering before they even ripened, that was how it had started. The children and the elderly began to die off first, then everyone else. It only took a few short, agonizing years for this hundreds old city to turn to a ghost town.

Except, the Guardians. Bound by oath and blood, they continued their dedicated vigil for years after. Though, even they, one by one, began to drop off. Some went mad, somehow they had failed in their duty to protect the people of their city and they could not fully understand how they had failed. Those were the ones that gave themselves to the waterfall. The others just, seemed to vanish, and some would just sit and stare out into nothingness until they wasted away into nothingness themselves.

The last Guardian, keeping a solitary vigil, knowing deep within his heart it was hopeless, no point and nothing left for him. The youngest and the last. The last of the Guardians and the last of the inhabitants of the castled city. He had been created only 2 years before the city had died, he understood it was the Guardian's fault. Killing all outsiders that wandered too close, any who got even the slightest glimpse of the city.

Even now 210 years later, he could not go against his oath. The blood that flowed through his veins was tempered by the will of the long dead Kings and Queens. Even with nothing left to protect but old memories and ghosts, he could not disobey. Only minutes ago, he had shoved a young explorer to her death, had fed her to the roaring, crying waterfall.

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The Last Guardian




Name: Rabbit
Age: 212
Sex: Male
Race: Guardian
Misc.: More or less the Guardians are/were half demons. The Queens would mate with a demonic creature kept deep within the mountain below the castled city in order to create the Guardians. Rabbit was the last one made before the city died, when all the humans of the city were dead, a loud wail sounded up from the mountain that shook the city to it's very core. Without humans inhabiting the city, the creature trapped below died. It isn't known how or why that creature would die. Had the other Guardians not lost themselves to confusion and despair they would all be alive now. Guardians life force is sustained only by water, and the castled city is nearly surrounded by water.

Rabbit stood at a height of seven feet exactly, they had always called him Rabbit. His Queen and then the other Guardians, and so it was what he called himself. He had never seen a real rabbit, so the idea of a rabbit being a creature and not an actual name was foreign to him. His hooves made the slightest of sounds on the cobbled walkways as he moved through the dead city, yet the slight noise echoed loudly. The echoing sound seemed to bounce off the walls and follow him. He hated it. He was the last, but his body and mind were too strong to give in to despair the way the others had.

Everyone was gone, but Rabbit had not even known the city when it had been in it's prime. The time when it had flourished and thrived beautifully. Rabbit had been created in the time of crisis, and that was all he knew. That and his duty, and the stories the others had once told him of the beautiful city. Rabbit would have loved to have guarded it during it's prime, but there was no point in wishing for things that weren't possible. Rabbit patrolled, as he was meant to do. There was nothing here anymore, yet he still had to keep it safe. He was a hard creature, he had done many violent things in his 212 years of life. He was bound by oath and blood, but it was lonely here. Lonely and so quiet, sometimes he would speak to himself just to hear his voice or shout so it would echo with the weeping waterfall.

Once, in his first few years of life, Rabbit had thoroughly enjoyed killing the occasional outsider that accidentally found their way to this place, he was protecting his people, his Kings and Queens. Now, it only made him feel even lonelier. What was the point of a Guardian if there really wasn't anything left to guard? Yet he could not go against his oath. The symbols glowing brightly on his nearly naked body was a constant reminder of that. Rabbit made his way through the dead utopian city and out the main gate. He would patrol the main walkway, glancing off it down one side. Rabbit shuddered. Only a little while ago a woman explorer had come, and Rabbit hadn't even tried to resist the oath to his dead Queens and Kings. He had bounded forward and without hesitating he had slung her off the long walkway while calmly telling her she had to die for trespassing.

Her horrified scream as she fell had torn at Rabbit's heart, it had been an unexpected feeling. Rabbit knew it was because he was lonely and she had been the first person he had seen in such a long time. Rabbit shook his head, he didn't want to think about that or how it had made him feel. It had never made him feel like that before. Another shake of his head and Rabbit continued his patrol. He would walk out to where the walkway split in three directions. A large statue stood there, and there was where Rabbit would stand for a few minutes. Just looking out this way over two of the paths for a few minutes. The third path had collapsed and was no longer useable, so Rabbit often ignored that direction.

Name.; Calla
Age; 106
Sex; Male
Race; Earth Angel
Misc.; When people think of Angels, most that come to mind would be the holy ones of the Bible; Micheal, Rapheal, Gabriel and Uriel. But not all are like that. Many have a specific element and task tied to them. Many of the elemental actually spend their time among the humans, especially those tied to the element of Earth. These particular genre of angels age the slowest, their wings taking a hundred years to sprout, then every century they grow just a bit larger.

~*~*~*~

Panting harshly, the petite male continued to run. It didn't matter that he couldn't hear their shouts anymore, or the barks of their hunting dogs, he had to escape, to continue running as far as he could, as fast as he could. The faint thud of his bare feet on the rock, or maybe it was concrete, bridge slowed as he started to walk, chartruese green eyes flicking around as he neared what looked to be a statue and three paths. One certainly seemed not to be the best choice to go down, but the other two looked ok. He could see someone standing there, by the statue, and already he could tell this person was going to be tall. Calla, as he'd been called before...Well he didn't want to think about that time. Calla had always been small and petite, standing only around 5'2", with silky dirty blond hair that brushed around his shoulders.

Hesitant to move any farther, for he wasn't sure if the person would help or not, the young angel looked down at his clothes, wincing at the tears and smears all over the long skirt covered pants. Jerking to look behind him, hearing the howl of a dog that found its track again, Calla no longer hesitated, running towards the other, tears leaking from the corners of his eyes. He couldn't go back, he didn't want to go back, ever! Breathing heavily, the young angel yelped as he tripped on the hem of the pants, crashing to the ground not even a few feet away from the taller male. Scrambling to stand, Calla half crawled to hide the statue, curling into a ball as he hugged his knees to his chest, the dog barking getting closer.

Rabbit stood tall and proud as he gazed over the two useable paths. All seemed well for the moment, but just as he was about to turn away he heard it. The sound of running, then he saw it. The petite person running towards him, at first Rabbit thought it was a girl. Delicate and slight, but as the person neared he realized it was a small male. Rabbit grit his teeth, glowing eyes watched the running person as he tried to decide the best method of getting rid of him. Rabbit had his duty and he could not go against it. The sounds of dogs drew his attention though. Was this small boy leading hounds to his city? Surely other humans with those dogs? Glowing eyes narrowed into a glare directed at the young man.

Then the boy had tripped, and Rabbit caught the scent of fear and of tears. Rabbit hesitated, watching as the young man scrambled around and attempted to hide behind the statue. Rabbit should take care of this man first, then the barking hounds and the humans that undoubtedly came with them. Rabbit watched the young man for a few moments longer. Clearly the boy was scared of something, scared of something that wasn't Rabbit. The Guardian stiffened a bit. Outsiders were not allowed, but this young man seemed to be seeking shelter, protection. Rabbit was a protector. He shook his head, the symbols on his body glowing slightly as they always did. Rabbit would just deal with this boy after he dealt with the ones he had led here.

Rabbit turned his back to the young man and the statue. He strode forward on his long legs, cloven hooves thumping lightly against the material the bridge was made out of. He would confront these people and their barking creatures and destroy them all. His dead city demanded his continued loyalty and his protection.

Keeping his elbows pressed tightly against his knees, the closer the barking got, the tighter he tried to hold himself and turn into a ball. Hands came up after a particularly long and loud howl, covering the males ears. It was over. He would be captured again and beaten for his insolence. Sobbing quitely, Calla silently hoped it wouldn't happen, far gone into his own mind that he never noticed the ground crack a little to allow vines and bushes to grow as if they were going to protect and hide him too.

At the other end of the bridge, a trio of dogs bounded forward, barking and snarling as they paused a few yards from where Rabbit stood. The humans followed next, a group of six big burly, overly muscled men, two carrying nets another with rope, and the others carrying a whip or a club. "Where did tha' li'l run' get to?!" One snarled to the others as he moved forward, smacking the club into his other hand as he sized up Rabbit. Smirking, the male seemed to believe he and his men could easily take on Rabbit, along with their dogs. Maybe if he managed to keep him alive, his master would be pleased enough to overlook the extended time it took to finally catch up to that bitch angel.

Rabbit was neither impressed on intimidated by these people and their dogs. The seven foot tall Guardian had no visible weapons on him, but he didn't need weapons. The symbols on his body continued to glow, and his eyes were narrowed. Rabbit didn't much like the way those dogs barked and snarled, as if some animal could threaten him. Rabbit did not stop his approach until he was very close to one of the dogs. He glanced at it, as if it were nothing more than an annoying fly before he kicked it hard with one of his hooves. He caught the creature in the chest with his strong kick, shattering his chest cavity and sending it flying.

Rabbit didn't stop, he didn't let them take that as a warning. Rabbit gave no warnings. His lips parted slightly but he did not speak, only kicked the other two dogs in rapid succession much the way he had the first. Shattering their chests and sending them flying. The poor beasts were probably dead before they ever felt ground beneath them again. Once the barking creatures had been taken care of, Rabbit fell upon the humans with determined fierceness. Quickly and easily he would dispatch all six of the humans. Once the deed was done, Rabbit kicked the bodies over the edge of the bridge and into the chasm.

Rabbit turned, he had taken care of the most prominent threat. A bunch of outsiders and their pet creatures. Now he could take care of the less dangerous threat. The petite male cowering behind the statue. He moved towards the petite male with an air of intent, but it was hard to say what kind of intent. Rabbit knew he had to kill this young man, his city, his oath demanded it. Still Rabbit could not deny that this young man had needed protecting, and he had protected the slight male by destroying those outsiders and their dogs. Rabbit also couldn't deny that those men and dogs might never have come here if the young man had not led them.

A Guardian was a protector. Rabbit towered over the petite male and stared down at him, and the vines and bushes that had grown around him. Rabbit was hesitating, this creature had run here for protection, to be guarded. Rabbit had guarded him. How could he kill someone that needed him for protection? It had been so long since Rabbit had a living person, a living creature to protect. He was frowning.

Calla remained sitting, his crying slowly tappering off into hiccups, hands haltingly coming away from his ears and strange yellow-green eyes staring up at the other. Of his whole appearance, he'd heard too many times about how beautiful his strange eyes were. The iris was muted dark green color with a thin ring of bright sunny yellow. The angel had once thought to try and gouge out his own eyes to stop the comments, but he had been beaten before he could try. Blinking the memory away, the young male wiped furiously at his cheeks, sniffling a little. "I-uh...Thank you." He said faintly, voice sounding more feminine than masculine.

Standing slowly, still nervous, Calla lightly pouted about his shortness. He had really tilt his head back to look up at the other. "I'm sorry if I bothered you...I uh...Would..." Calla hesitated, utterly unsure what to do or even say. He'd honestly never been this free before. Wringing his hands together, he tried to quell the panic that bubbled up. He was safe, his pursuers gone. At least for now, they would be back of course. His master wouldn't give him up anytime soon. And when he finally caught the angel again, he would be in for a world of pain. Shuddering visibly, not because he was cold, the angel glanced up at the satyr like being. Taking a deep breath, clasping his hands together tightly and closing his eyes, Calla bowed his head. "May I stay with you for a little bit? I've no where else to go and I've left my abusive master. Please, I'm begging! Don't let me go back there!" He cried out, pointedly not looking up at the other.

Things had gotten so complicated in such a short time. Rabbit watched the petite male, studying him closely. He was silent as the boy stood. This person had thanked Rabbit, but he said nothing. Only thought. No one had ever come here seeking protection, yet this person had clearly sought protection from those others and their beasts. Rabbit listened as the male spoke, his head tilting to the side slightly. His kings and queens were gone, they were the ones who would have decided if this person could stay and live or die for trespassing. Rabbit knew his kings and queens had been kind and just, he knew his city was deserted and the only thing he guarded was a decaying, slowly falling apart city.

Rabbit looked a little uncertain when the young man asked if he could stay for a bit. Though as the male continued to plead, Rabbits look of uncertainty faded and he gave a hesitant nod. "I am a Guardian, I will protect you." Rabbit spoke the words slowly, as if he were testing this young man's language on his lips and tongue. His voice was soft, but his accent thick and unrecognizable, he wasn't one for long speeches or much words. He motioned for the young man to follow him and carefully he stepped around the boy and began moving into the city proper.

Eyes shooting open, Calla stifled the gasp of surprise that the other had agreed. Lifting his head up a little, though he continued to look down, as looking up at the person was disrespectful- at least according to his old master. Nibbling on his bottom lip, the young angel followed after the larger male silently, making sure to keep at least a couple feet's distance between them. It was just a habit for Calla, something he didn't know any better about. It had always been that way; if Calla was being lead somewhere he was not allowed to stand next to them incase his clumsiness rubbed off onto them and the other fell. No he had to stay in the background and be very silent.

As they made their way through the city proper, Calla looked around, gazing in wonder at the buildings. Although, it was rather sad in a way. Hugging himself, fingers clasped tightly over his shoulders, Calla slowed to a stop. There seemed to be nothing. It was a ghost town, barely able to sustain anything except for a few birds that managed to feed on the insects that thrived from the plant life and maybe a few small wild animals that fed on the birds. Being here, it left a hollow feeling in his chest. Closing his eyes for only a moment, he gasped as they snapped back open again. While the idea that no life seemed to exist anymore, and with the ghost town somewhat proving that theory, he could feel the faint pulse of life coming from the heart of the city. If nothing was done, then yes this place would fully die.