Fantasy AU The Threads of Time and Fate (Kastellanos)

[FaeWhisperer]

Taking in a slow breath, you close your eyes as you lay out in the meadow, soaking up the sun’s warm rays. These days have been peaceful, but as of late you knew what fate soon would befell you— even if it was centuries away, it still rested in the back of your mind, that even your immortality had its limits. It was your purpose as the ‘successor’ to the forest guardian that protected your tribe. A being who’s alive for almost hundreds of years, yet when the time comes, you reincarnate.

Meaning you live in an endless loop, one day you’re on your deathbed, and then minutes after passing, you’re brought into the world once more, as a crying, helpless babe, yet you’re never a different person, you’re always the same whenever you’re born— at least, physically. You don’t remember any of your past lives, at least you don’t think you do.

And after you reincarnate, you had wondered; what happens to forest your previous self left behind as you are now helpless?

Some guardian.

But, one of your past lives had planned for this, especially after the first reincarnation.

You had created a select few other ‘immortals’ who stood by your side throughout many different years. These beings were of animalistic nature, just like you had been when entering your spirit form. And after your reincarnation, they patiently wait and guard the forest until your return.

This forest you guard is apart of a sacred realm, your tribe and others who live in worship the guardian spirit you have become, as they have also worshiped the lesser beings you have appointed.

Yet such a life was lived in mostly solitude, for all the years you have been the guardian- even you cannot remember why you became a guardian or who bestowed this fate upon you all those years ago… you just knew this realm needed protection.

And even in your solitude, you eventually come across one from your tribe who is intent on following, learning about you and even becoming your friend.

Even now, she laid beside you in the field, her presence was enough to calm your usual fears.

“I wonder what season you’ll be born into next..” she murmured out as she glanced up to the trees above her, her soft, golden hair mixing with that of the golden grass of the meadow. Her sun kissed skin glowed somewhat ethereally, and her hazel gaze caught the rays of the sun, practically shimmering when they rested upon your face. She knew it wasn’t for another few centuries for you to reincarnate, and for her, well, she was only 24 years old and she didn’t have that much longer. For a sickness was plaguing her, yet she didn’t look it and hid it well.

But once you discovered her illness, you began desperately trying to find a cure. You had only known her for such a short time- and in that two years- she had become so much to you. Always meeting you at the river, walking with you throughout the seasons- talking with you about tribal matters- her favorite things, and helping you protect the forest in her own way.

Penelope was her name, and she had become your closest friend. Yet as you looked into her gaze, you knew something more laid within you than just friendship. But how would she respond? For you, an immortal being.. she’d probably refuse, saying that it would never work out. Yet perhaps you could find a way for her to be with you in each life.. have her reincarnate like you did- with your fates intertwined by the red thread of fate— you could always be destined to meet.

And it was already so, but with your previous life memories lacking, you didn’t remember her from her last life, and she didn’t remember you.

But as for now, you would lie there with her, soaking up the rays of the warm sun. You would think about the next season you would be born in and eventually would come up with an answer for her to reply with.

 

[Kastellanos]

The meadow was quiet, bathed in the golden light of the afternoon sun. Hart lay stretched out in the tall grass, his sharp, curved horns casting faint shadows across the earth and digging into the dirt despite how hard he tried to avoid it. The warmth of the day soaked into his skin, but it wasn’t the sun that anchored him in this moment, for it was Penelope who did. Her presence beside him, steady and unyielding, calmed the endless thoughts that churned in his mind.

For centuries, Hart had existed in an endless loop. He was the guardian of this sacred forest, a being who lived, died, and was reborn, carrying out the same duty through lifetimes he could never fully remember. He had walked this path alone, resigned to solitude. But Penelope had changed that, she had become something he never thought he could have a companion, a friend, and perhaps something more, though much to his regret he hadn't explored that option yet. He didn't want to risk anything, as he wasn't sure she felt the same.

Beside him, she gazed up at the trees, her golden hair blending with the meadow’s grasses, her eyes catching the sunlight and shimmering like they held the forest’s magic within them. Her voice was soft, almost wistful, her words were gentle, but they carried a weight Hart couldn’t ignore and wished he didn't know why it felt so. She spoke of his reincarnation with the ease of someone who accepted its inevitability, but she never mentioned her own mortality. Hart could feel it, though. The faint wrongness beneath her skin. She was sick, no matter how well she hid it. Her life was slipping away, faster than either wanted to admit.

“I wonder too,” he said, his voice low and steady. Hart turned his head to look at her gently, his horns digging up more dirt. His deep, thoughtful eyes studied her as if trying to commit every detail to memory. “Maybe spring. It feels fitting. A season of renewal, beginnings. Born with the flowers, the deerling, and butterflies. Seems like the perfect time for a child to enter the world.”

It didn’t matter what season he’d be reborn into. What mattered was here and now, this fleeting moment in a life that should have stretched far longer than it would. Hart studied her for a moment longer before looking away, his gaze fixed on the endless blue of the sky. He wanted to say something, the thought of telling her he knew, to ask her why she hadn’t told him herself. But the words stuck in his throat, a heaviness keeping them locked there, wondering why there was so much he wanted to say to her, and yet, he couldn't.

“Penelope…” he began, his voice barely above a whisper, as if he was scared of what he was about to say. He hesitated, unsure of what to say. Do you trust me? Why didn’t you tell me? I’ll find a way to help you. The thoughts swirled through his mind rapidly, before he settled on something simpler. “If there’s ever anything you need... you’ll tell me, won’t you?”

 

[FaeWhisperer]

Penelope continued to blissfully look up at the trees and sky- the feeling of him beside her always brought a comfort she never knew she needed. Especially in times like this, where she could feel her condition becoming worse. And of course she had hid it well, she didn’t want him excessively worrying over her- nor did she want to trouble him with such mortal things.

But it was when he spoke of renewals and new beginnings she began to think of her own mortality. Even though she did her best to ignore it, she was human after all. Even without her current condition hastening her way to the afterlife— it was..only human of her to think of death.

Yet in this moment, she knew she had to figure out exactly how to tell him. For he deserved to know the truth, for she considered him to be one of her closest friends. And she did owe him, especially when he protected this forest with the other guardians, those seeing Hart as their leader in protecting nature and all that resided in it. So it would be natural of him to want to protect her life too, as much as he would be able to.

And so, like he had read her thoughts, she heard him ask if there was something to share with him, she would. And from this, Penelope turned her head and looked at his gentle eyes. Her own searching his face as she desperately tried to come up with an answer.

“Yes…I would,” she started, her own voice barely above a whisper herself. Had she had told him earlier, perhaps he would have distanced himself from her- or yet, tell her there was nothing in his power he could do to help. The guardian was a guardian, not a god- not the ones they worshiped and idolized to bring the rains, survive during the winter— even cure someone from their sickness. That’s why they had a healer in her tribe, who— was her father. But since she spent most of her days out here now with Hart- she..hadn’t been back to have him ‘help her condition’ in two years and it had only worsened since.

Truthfully, to her— those treatments hadn’t helped. If anything she had felt worse after them, and before she had met Hart, she had just accepted her fate. Although now things have changed. It’s different, especially when she has so much to look forward to each day with him.

Penelope took a soft breath before closing her eyes. “Yet I can tell by that look in your eyes that you already know, don’t you?” She asked, knowing it to be so. She reopened them and turned back to gazing up at the trees, focusing in on some birds, perched high above. “Before you say anything on, ‘why I didn’t tell you..’ I can say exactly why- it’s because my fate as a human is inevitable and I…know I don’t…reincarnate like you and…I didn’t want to trouble you with such a trivial matter..” she explained, although he could hear her voice trembling, worried she might have upset him.