Mindless Beasts

Failing miserably as the parasitic invasion overpowered his immune system causing a severe fever and inflammation.

It felt like he was turning into a statue while being absorbed by the green fungus covering him inch by inch and making Sly unable to move.

His skin was now a blotched itchy red that it was hard to tell the difference between his skin and the red glow of the parasitic fungus.

"Help me," Sly mouthed.

The pain was all over his body but the most excruciating pain was centred around his temple.

Everything about the pain felt surreal and unbearable.

Clutching his head, Sly wanted to curl up into a ball but couldn’t because his body felt frozen and no matter what he tried he just couldn’t move.

Tears slid from his eyes but became almost frozen on his face because of the cold from icy fungus tendrils.

Who knows how long Sly lay there in a pool of his own blood that seeped out from his reopened chest wound.

As the parasitic fungus slowly covered his entire face and he sunk into a red bog of despair.

Wrapped up in a reddish green parasitic cocoon the world was instantly blacked out.

Suddenly the blinds that covered his eyes were removed and he could see again it was no longer pitch black all around.

It felt like mentally Sly had been transported to a new world the likes he had never seen before nor knew existed.

"I’ve never seen anything like this before!" exclaimed Sly loudly.

All the wounds on his body had been healed, the venom was gone from his body and the colour of his skin had returned to normal.

Everything about himself and this new environment felt strange and wonderful.

Instinctively, he felt no fear which left him feeling bewildered.

Why did he feel so calm and safe in this alternate reality?

Subconsciously, it felt like he was no longer in the Dara Forrest but even though he had never been to this unusual place before it also felt somewhat familiar.

"Hello, anyone there?" asked Sly. "Where am I?"

"Welcome to your spirit landscape, it exists in your mind," responded an unknown voice.

Sly looked around but he could not see or hear where this voice was coming from, he felt somewhat embarrassed as if he had been talking to himself.

Wasn’t this the first sign of an insane individual, when you ask questions then start answering yourself.

Undeterred Sly continued to question this unknown entity determined to get some answers.

"Who are you? ... Why don’t you show yourself?"

"I’m your guardian spirit. You don’t possess much spirit essence and I’m very weak from sealing off that parasitic fungus but if you really want to see me just keep walking forward."

It was at that moment that Sly looked down and realized that he wasn’t on solid ground.

All around him was a vast mental landscape that reminded him of a very calm sea.

How was he able to walk on water?

"That’s because I’m assisting you," came the bold response.

Was this guardian spirit also able to read his mind, nothing should surprise him anymore but it did.

Every step he took caused waves to spread out from his feet but Sly didn’t want to sink into this limitless ocean.

"Don’t worry, I won’t let you fall. You are the last of the Foxx Clan and it is my duty as your guardian deity to keep you safe."

His words angered Sly and triggered his temper.

"Some guardian deity you are!" Sly shouted without hesitation, "where were you when my family needed saving?"

"I was in a deep slumber and after helping your grandparents in their final battle. I only awakened when your blood seeped through the cloth bag and soaked the family journal. It grieves me that I never got to say goodbye to your grandparents."

"So, are you saying that the journal will no longer exist?"

"That’s right. Think of me as a genie, the book was my lamp and your rare blood type set me free. As of today, your spirit landscape is where I will reside."

To think his blood had the miraculous power to release this guardian deity from the confines of the journal left him confused. Frustrated because with his response came additional questions but sensing the truth in it was very difficult for Sly Foxx to accept.

What had his grandparents been involved in before they died were their deaths not natural like his father led him to believe.

Right now, he was too young to get the answers he sought from a manipulative father who only recognized brute strength.

Squaring his fists, he hissed through clenched teeth, "I must get stronger!"

Still like any other kid, he went up to the spirit deity determined to inspect and touch him.

On closer examination it would have looked like any normal weed if it hadn’t come to life and started speaking to him.

Its body was small, fluffy, with a head that was globe shaped and green in colour.

However, its entire body was covered with a unique glow, almost diamond like, glittery and translucent, so tiny that it could stand on the palm of his hand.

This solitaire ice like plant that glowed so beautifully in front of him only helped to reinforce his conviction with his words.

For its spirit essence to have a diamond colour meant that it had to be at least over 100,000+ years old.

What could have happened to reduce this spirit guardian to almost infancy?

The spirit guardian’s head bobbed when it talked and it almost appeared too delicate that Sly was almost afraid to touch it.

Once he succeeded in touching the Sensitive Plant the feeling surprisingly made him feel like his age.

He enjoyed provoking it because the spirit guardian’s leaves and stems would droop and fold inward instantly upon physical stimulation

"Enough!" gasped the spirit guardian.

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