| Sleeping Panther morphed back into his human form and I blinked and realized that he looked as if he was a teenager. 'I had noticed that he had been reversing in age before but now he looks like he is only a few years older than Tasha,' I thought and the gaurdian saw me frown. "Yes, Taka, it will soon be my time," he said solomly and I shook my head, not wanting to believe it. "But Sleeping Panther, why? Why is this--" "Happening? Two gaurdians cannot exsist in one dimention," Sleeping Panther said simply. "They are younger and stronger and therefor, will survive. When they have children, they too will began to reverse in age when the children aquire all the power they need to take over the job. The parents will return to the age they were first a gaurdian and their body functions will shut off...indefinatly. Usually it takes thousands of years but the direness of the situation is allowing them to progress quickly which is, for me, a double edged sword." I couldn't believe what he was saying. 'Sleeping Pather is going to...die?' "But...you've been like a father to me," I said softly and fought to keep the tears back. "If we take you to Earth, could you stay alive? I don't want you to die..." The seemingly ageless human smiled and stroked the scales under my neck. "There is a time and a place for all. I will die eventually and being on Earth won't change anything," he replied and I shut my eyes. "How are you going to tell Tasha?" "I would rather fall in battle. I'm telling you because I think of you as my child. Tasha is important to me too but I do not think she would take it too well. So much has happened to her in such a short space of time..." Nodding, I hung my head, a silver tear running down my muzzle. "May your death be an honorable one, Sleeping Panther," I whispered and I felt him brush away my tear. "It will be, Taka. It will be. But I must also speak to you about Der." I opened my eyes and looked at him again and I saw him sigh. "Don't look at me like that," he said with a wry smile. "Like what?" "Like a teenage bringing home her prom date. 'Mom, don't look stupid!' and all that." "No, it's just--" "You think he doesn't love you but he does. He does. And maybe one day...he'll have the courage to tell you." I heard a trumpting sound and saw Will, Tasha, and Der flying in formation towards us. I felt my insides go cold and I shook my head again. "He may have the courage Sleeping Panther. But will I?" "You will have too. So much more than you think is depending on you." |