The immortals trekked back to their camp in silence, the weight of what had happened heavy on their minds. Above, the moon hung low, casting a silvery glow across the forest path. Luna had fallen asleep, blissfully unaware of the chaos she had caused. Eirik, still tense from the earlier confrontation, carried her gently, his brow furrowed in thought.
"We can't let something like this happen again," Thalos said quietly, his voice cutting through the stillness.
Aurelia nodded in agreement, her sharp eyes scanning the dark edges of the forest. "If we're going to keep Luna safe, we need a proper plan. This back-and-forth without structure isn't going to work."
"The Gloomlings were able to take her because we weren't prepared," Nyssa added. "We can't afford to be caught off guard again. Not with her safety at risk."
Lucius walked ahead of the group, hands behind his back, already considering their options. "Perhaps we should build a barrier around the camp. Something that keeps the beasts and any other creatures from wandering into our territory."
Cassian, who had been unusually quiet since the encounter with the Gloomlings, spoke up. "A barrier might help, but it's not enough. Whoever is responsible for Luna needs to stay near her at all times—no exceptions."
Isolde sighed, adjusting the cloak wrapped around her. "It's a good idea, but it's not just about physical protection. Whoever takes care of her needs to be fully present. Luna is more than a task; she's… well, she's a child. One of us will need to be with her, watching her, playing with her, never leaving her out of sight."
The group came to a stop as they approached the edge of the clearing where their camp was located. They could already see the familiar setup of tents and fire pits, but something about it now felt exposed. Vulnerable.
Elara, with her ever-gentle demeanor, glanced at the sleeping Luna in Eirik's arms. "She's so small... I don't think any of us realized just how fragile she really is."
Kael let out a deep breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. "So, how do we go about this? We can't all take care of her at the same time. We'll need a schedule, something more consistent."
"We already rotate who takes care of her," Aurelia pointed out. "Eirik had her this month, and next... well, who's next?"
Lucius pulled out a small piece of parchment and a quill from his satchel. "Let's organize this better. From now on, we'll follow a strict order, no matter what happens."
---
Luna's Guardianship Rotation:
1. Eirik Vandell (current)
2. Thalos Stonebrook
3. Aurelia Pyrrhos
4. Isolde Ravenshadow
5. Nyssa Drakos
6. Cassian Winterborn
7. Elara Larkspur
8. Lucius Castellan
9. Kael Valen
10. Zahara Almasi
---
Lucius looked up after jotting down the names. "Now, we'll all know when it's our turn. No more confusion, and no one will ever be caught off guard."
Eirik nodded, though his jaw was still tight with guilt. "I should have been more careful. This... all of this could have been avoided if I'd been more vigilant."
Nyssa put a hand on his shoulder. "We can't blame ourselves for everything. What matters is that Luna's safe, and we'll make sure it stays that way."
As they set Luna down in her makeshift cradle near the fire, the immortals gathered around. For the first time since they had found Luna, there was a sense of unity, of shared responsibility. Each of them knew that their immortality did not make them immune to mistakes, nor did it lessen their duty to the helpless child now in their care.
Thalos stretched his arms and let out a groan. "I don't think I've ever been this tired in my entire immortal life."
The others chuckled, the sound of their laughter echoing softly in the night.
Cassian grinned. "Who knew watching over a baby could be more exhausting than fighting off ancient beasts?"
Aurelia leaned back, resting her head against a log. "We've fought wars, sailed seas, and conquered lands, but this... this might be the hardest task we've ever taken on."
Eirik, finally relaxing for the first time since their return, laughed. "At least she's asleep for now. But who knows what kind of chaos tomorrow will bring?"
As the fire crackled, warming their tired bodies, Lucius cleared his throat. "Speaking of chaos... I once heard a story about a fisherman who thought he could outsmart the sea."
The others turned to him, intrigued. Lucius had always been known for his strange and sometimes absurd stories, and tonight seemed no different.
"Oh, this ought to be good," Isolde said with a smirk.
Lucius grinned mischievously. "Well, it goes like this..."
He launched into the tale, weaving a story of a poor fisherman who thought he could predict the tides, only to find himself constantly outwitted by the ocean's whims. The fisherman tried every trick he could think of—casting nets at dawn, waiting until dusk, even offering the sea gifts in exchange for a bountiful catch. But no matter what he did, the fish eluded him, and the fisherman grew more and more frustrated.
"And then," Lucius continued, his voice rising in dramatic flair, "the fisherman finally decided to give up and simply throw his net randomly into the sea. And what did he catch? A boot. Just a single, old, waterlogged boot."
The group erupted into laughter, the image of the bewildered fisherman holding up a boot instead of a fish too ridiculous not to enjoy.
"And what did he do with the boot?" Nyssa asked, still giggling.
"Oh, he wore it, of course," Lucius replied with a wink. "After all, it was a gift from the sea."
Their laughter echoed across the camp, filling the quiet night with joy. For a moment, it felt as though they had returned to simpler times, before immortality, before the weight of their responsibilities had settled so heavily on their shoulders.
But their laughter was soon interrupted by a soft cry. Luna had woken up, her tiny voice breaking through the night. The immortals fell silent, sharing a glance as if to say, Here we go again.
Elara moved quickly, scooping up the baby and rocking her gently. "Shhh, little one. It's alright."
Luna blinked up at her, still half-asleep but calming under Elara's soothing touch. The immortals watched for a moment, their earlier joy replaced by a quiet understanding. Luna's presence had changed everything—her safety, her future, had become their greatest task.
The fire crackled softly, and as Luna settled back into sleep, the immortals exchanged tired smiles. They had faced countless challenges over the centuries, but this one... this one was different.