Alex's ear pricked as Josh came closer, his steps were sluggish and he could hear a buzzing sound. "Josh..." He paused not hearing a reply. He caught the scent of blood and spun as Josh suddenly leapt at him. He lowered his body kicking Josh's legs out from under him. Knowing he was loosing his bearings he tried to make him fall forward so he at least knew which approximate way as he jumped on top of his struggling and now hissing friend. Feeling in the darkness he found a long Freisas larva attached to Josh's back. Using his dagger he cut the thing off ignoring its protests and then after making sure it was dead threw it into the darkness hearing the scurrying of things running to scavenge.
"Uh...Alex why are you on top of me?" Josh asked shakily.
"Oh, sorry." He let him up keeping his direction with the angle of his foot. "You had a Freisas on you."
He felt Josh shiver. "Ew!! Oh yuck I hate those things. How did you know?"
Alex invisibly shrugged. "I heard the buzzing by its underdeveloped wings. Plus...you may be a frady cat but you would never give up." He slapped is friend on the back.
Continuing on, Alex had to hold in the excitement, the thrill of danger sent his blood rushing. Josh was behind him close enough to feel the faint wind from his breath. Alex had always been a wild one that everyone made fun of for messing up, he did mess up a lot. His energy would get in the way and he would make a mess of things, but he was never afraid or embarrassed, maybe that was why Josh and he got along. Josh was quiet and good natured, he like to stay in the background and watch everyone else have fun. He got embarrassed whenever someone paid too much attention to him.
Opposites in every way they were as close as brothers.
Feeling the ground changing he smiled, taking another step light suddenly blinded him. After at least an hour in pitch black it was like staring at the sun on the hottest and sunniest day of summer. He blinked stepping further allowing Josh to see that they made it. "I told you we would make it." He said over his shoulder.
He turned his head to see his friend rubbing his eyes and blinking looking around in utter astonishment. "We did it!" He shouted but then put his hand over his mouth, his cheeks tinged red for a moment.
Alex chuckled then looked back to see that the ancient tree was closer, they were almost there. "I'm close now brother." He said to himself. He started forward, Josh stopped him pulling on his arm. "What!" Alex said getting annoyed, he wanted to finish.
His friend's face was contorted with deep contemplation which was usually followed by a lecture or some insight into his psyche that only proved to confuse him. "Alex, you really should stop taking so many risks. I'm only a weak destined drop out, a Guardian would never take a second look at me let alone risk his own life to save me. You need to learn to make the hard decisions if you want to do this."
Rolling his eyes at the comment he said. "No you're wrong. A Guardian's duty is to protect everyone, especially those who need him... " He smirked. "Besides you told me that you wanted to take the trials...right?"
Carefully Josh answered wondering where this was going. "Yes."
"Why?"
****
Swallowing hard Josh looked away despising when Alex made him say it. "To become stronger and to help my family." It was true but there was so much more to it. He wanted to help his widowed mother take be able to pay for food and cloths for his three younger sisters. He wanted to be able to stand tall like the Guardians that he saw when he was only four. They never seemed to doubt or be afraid, just like Alex. The minute he met him, he knew he was destined for greatness, but Alex never saw it.
Alex nodded. "And you're also my best friend and if I let you down how could I ever call myself a Guardian. Now we have a chance to be Guardians together...come on!" He said excitedly and pulled on Josh's arm. They both ran to begin the last stretch to the finish line.