Keeper of Life - NaPoWrMo Entry

The Tree filled her view, the leaves reaching out in arcs and spirals. The roots twisted like a painters brush filling the ground. The surrounding stone walls had long since yielded to the ivy and tendrils that covered it. Not only could she see it, she could feel it. The heartbeat of the tree. How it eased her mind, how it relaxed her. It took all the stress and worry of her test away.

“It doesn't matter how many times you see it eh Sol?” Clover said.

“Yeah,” Solar responded, the awe still in her voice.

“Aren't you excited, you'll be a guardian,” Clover said.

Flare chuckled and watched a leaf as it trailed off the tree and spiraled to the ground. “That's still a few days away Clover. Besides you're being invited to the archives, that's much more exciting then being a tree guard,” she said.

Clover burst out in laughter. “Well if you think making books is that exciting sure, though I will get to research a lotta stuff, and that's pretty cool too. Still though, you'll be, like, elite soon. You'll be some super duper untouchable mountain of unstoppable powa!” Clover said, Solar hit her in the shoulder.

“Don't make me hit you again,” Sol said grinning. Both of suddenly grew quiet and they just stared at The Tree.

“It's not like we'll never see each other again, you'll be permitted out after the first year right?”

“I know, but then we'll both have duties, and yanno, stuff.”

Sol leaned against her. “Clover, no amount of stuff could keep me away from seeing my best friend,” she said with a soft smile. “Besides, that's assuming I pass all my tests.” The stress lurched back inside her for only a second before The Tree relaxed her again.

“You'll do fine Flare, you're one of the best casters I've seen. Bam, kapow,” Clover imitated. “All I can do is remember stuff and fly,” she said, rolling her eyes sarcastically.

“Hey don't make me invent flying magic now,” Flare jibed and nudged her friend. They both laughed lightly and watched as The Tree created artwork with the light. “Remember when we were little, when we used to sneak out during the night and play games here?”

The pale grey pegasus laughed with nostalgia. “Yup, remember getting caught?”

“Well thanks for disrupting that memory. Thank, you, very, much.”

“Hey, I wasn't the one who-” The tower bells disrupted their conversation. “Oh, is it time already?”

“I guess it is,” Sol said. They both rose and caught sight of the robe clad tenders that entered. “Well I guess I won't see you tomorrow will I?”

They embraced each other not wanting to let go, as if the other would drift away never to be seen.

“I'll miss you Sol,” Clover said holding back tears.

“We'll meet again, it's only one year. You think they'd let you have the festival...”

“I know,” Clover said breaking it off. “But a scholar’s job is never done I guess.”

“See you in one year, same place, same time?”

“Count on it,” Clover said taking flight. Sol waved her hoof in the air as her friend departed above the canopy.

One of the tenders approached her. “We must tend to The Tree, we ask that you-”

“I'm going, I'm going,” Flare said. They thanked her and she exited through the stone arches that were set in cloverleaf walls.