The sun came up and to his sister’s surprise he was up and ready his legs twitching from the anticipation.
When he got to the temple there was only a handful of kids there, including his friend Josh and Jon. Josh ran over when he saw him come.
"Are you nervous?" Josh asked him, but Alex could tell that he was the one who was nervous.
"Nah, just excited. I can't wait to go over the Dark Moors. I've always wanted to."
Josh looked at him like he was crazy. He shook his head and went back to sit down on a stone that was turned over near the ruins of the old temple. Alex went up to the head Cleric who had motioned for him to come over.
"Well mister Draconis, for once you're early. I hope you will be ready for today and perhaps even repeat yesterday's fine performance." He smiled and patted Alex's shoulder.
"I'll do my best sir." He answered how his mother would have wanted him to, but inside he was already celebrating his victory.
Then everyone stood up as a man dressed in a black cloak came and stood in the center of the yard. "This is the beginning of the second trial. The Oracle himself has decided to come and cheer on the initiates!" Everyone gasped including Alex.
Then from the archway leading into the temple came an old man dressed all in white his bald head and white brows told of his advanced age but no one really knew how old he was. He held a long Stave in his hand which made a sharp chink every time it hit the ground. Alex stood as straight as he could as did everyone around him even the Clerics. It was an honor to have the Oracle come to see them only at the second trial. They hushed when he stopped in the center of them all and gathered around him.
"My Children." He began in an old wavering voice. "I am proud we have so many strong young ones. I have a feeling that the one chosen this year will grow to be a great Guardian, who will do many awesome things." He stopped for a moment as everyone gasped. "This year’s choosing will be different from previous years." Alex was clenching his fists so tight he looked down to see nail marks in his hands. "After today...those that are left will advance to become Guardians." There were cheers from most of the kids and the clerics who had helped to train them; Alex stayed quiet.
"We will have a third trial, but only to find the one who will lead them.. I know this seems strange to you but it is necessary if we are to survive the coming darkness.” There were murmurs of darkness and danger, the atmosphere changed from excitement to fear. “Take heart for you are our hope. You who have come here with honor and bravery, are this lands only hope to defeat the evil that will try to take this world. I wish you all good luck." Then he went slowly back into the temple and everyone watched him go.
Alex's eye narrowed, now he had to win, he had to go on and become a guardian. He looked over at Jon who was staring at him. Alex clenched his fist again ignoring the pain.
The Dark Moores, were a cursed place filled with deadly plants and animals. It was off limits to everyone but the Clerics and the initiates taking the second challenge. Alex stood on a large rock with the others over looking the vast swampy jungle. Under those trees where no sunlight could penetrate he would be tested. Not just to be chosen but to be worthy. He always wanted to be the strongest he could, to surpass his brother and be selected as a guardian. The most dangerous but most rewarding of stations. To be able to protect his family and world from whatever darkness may come was all that he focused on.
"Come here initiates!" The head Cleric called.
All the remaining kids gathered into a small group in front of the Cleric as he held the incense stave waving it allowing the smoke to enter into their lungs. It was believed that the incense would purify their minds to aid in their survival of the moores. Alex breathed it in resisting the urge to cough. He hated the incense. Josh was standing next to him his finger were twitching like they did when he was nervous.
"You got this, don't worry." He whispered to Josh.
Josh nodded but his fingers continued to twitch. "Alright, you have until the sun sets. Go!"
Alex took off again but this time keeping his eye on his friend. He didn't need to rush right away, if he went too fast the Squirim would think he was a rabbit and grab at his legs. He hopped from solid ground to solid ground, he could hear the others yelling as they came into contact with a animal they had never seen before. He saw a patch of light green moss in front of him right where he needed to jump. He stopped.
"Hey why did you stop?" Josh called. Alex didn't answer him, he just sidestepped and hopped to a farther away patch.
"Don't step on the light moss!" He yelled to Josh. He looked back as a small tarantula crawled on top if the moss and smiled as it got swallowed up by the Holgater. The creature would actually open it's mouth wide having a light green mossy interior and wait until something walked on it. Ingenious camouflage really.
He looked ahead of him and saw that he would eventually need to trudge through the water, he looked around and saw a white barked tree with vines growing around it. Keeping Josh in his peripheral vision he hopped to the dry land around the tree and looked up at it. The leaves were lush and green as well as the vines that were coiled tightly around it.
He sighed hard and took hold of the vines, he heard a high screech and held tightly as the vine began to struggle against his grip. He pulled and pulled until finally the screeching stopped as he pulled a two long pieces of vine off the tree leaving the open wounds of the tree bare for all to see. The holes that the vine had burrowed into the tree actually kept the tree alive. It used the tree as a trap to catch small birds in it's coils. He then jumped to Josh and handed him one of the pieces of vine.
"Remember keep the end of the vine in the water, you don't want the Crocidads taking a chomp at you."
Josh nodded. "You shouldn't be helping me so much, you're going to loose because of me."
Alex laughed and shook his head. "No way am I going to loose. I just want you to make it too. Imagine us both Guardians." Then he jumped to the next spot leaving Josh there to smile.