The Red Guardian | DNP

[Yuroshi]

J V A L K A
The Red Guardian

a passion unmatched

.:name: Jvalka- Bright, Glorious,
and Radiant Light of Flame
.:age: 14
.:likes: dawn, nature,
sneaking around, archery
protecting her home
.:dislikes: bandits, complete silence,
treasure hunters
.: quirks: sways while talking,
giggles often,
wears a blindfold
.: bad habits: lies often,
steals “just because it’s fun”,
likes scaring travelers

[Yuroshi]

You walk into the village tavern- it’s a peaceful place, really, but very full of people, all in good cheer. The only open place is across from a girl with fiery red hair. She’s wearing a traveler’s cloak from what you can of her position near the wall, and is small enough that you can tell she’s still a child.
As you draw closer, you notice a bow and quiver strung across her back, both looking well-cared for, and as you ask if she’d mind if you sat, when she turns to respond you’re quite surprised to see a piece of cloth tied around both of her eyes... for a moment, you can’t help but think at how irrational it would be to have a blind archer, but as she smiles towards you and gestures for you to take a seat, you start to wonder other things.
Many questions pass through your head, things you’d like to ask such as “Are you alone?” Or “why do you look so serious?” Or the burning question of “how can you use your bow if you’re blind?” But the question that slips out is not any of those, nor is it asking for her name. Instead, you ask her what her passion is.
She turns towards you, and her serious but peaceful mask dissolves as she breaks into giggles- no doubt thinking your question quite absurd. You can’t help but smile yourself, though, as the laughter is anything but malicious, and makes her seem more like the child she is. You pay close attention as she responds, still smiling.

What’s my passion? That’s a big question to ask a kid, isn’t it? I mean, look at me. I’m barely fourteen! And before even my name too! You’re funny, but I like that. This time, I’ll answer.
I suppose you’re lucky, cause even though I’m just a kid, I do have an answer. I don’t live here, in this village. I’m only here to learn, for a little while. And despite the blindfold around my eyes, I’m most certainly not blind- I can see very well, probably better than average. And that’s important to me, to achieve my goals. My passion is to protect my home... the Timeless Forest.

For a moment, you think you must’ve heard her wrong... you’ve heard tales about the Timeless Forest. Hardly anyone travels through it, and those who do know better than to stray from the path- there are rumors of a group of Forest Guardians, responsible for protecting the secrets the forest hides within. There are rumors of treasure, of unending knowledge- but that’s all they are to you- rumors. But there is one truth you can’t deny- those who stray from the path with bad intentions are never seen again. And if what this child is saying is true, then perhaps the Forest Guardians exist as well.
You open your mouth to ask, but realize she’s already standing to leave. Before you can ask, she laughs quietly, gives a small wave of a gloved hand, and weaves effortlessly through the crowded tavern, disappearing through its doors. You blink once then shake your head, trying to dispel your curiosity, but can’t help but wonder what sort of life that girl had lived...

[Yuroshi]

"Thirteen Years Before"

In the middle of fall, near a superstitious town on a path to the Timeless Forest, a young couple prepared to mourn for the loss of their daughter. Now, in most families it isn’t quite typical to mourn for the living... but in this case, to the parents she was as good as dead already. They walked slowly towards the Forest, entering only a ways past it’s edges where the babe’s cries wouldn’t be noticed when it woke, the father with a supportive hand on the mother as she silently wept. The sun was beginning to rise, coloring the dark sky a brilliant red, and it illuminated the scene beautifully, creating a striking and unforgettable picture with the contrasting grief, horror, and peacefulness to all who saw- but of course, only the two parents were there to see, and they were quite occupied in the task of abandoning their one year old. Said one year old slept on, blissfully unaware of the changes that would take place and already had begun. She was always a quiet little thing, and now was no different. As her parents bundled her up against the base of a tree, she slept on. Even as they removed the blindfold from her eyes for the first time, she didn’t stir. As her parents turned and left, preparing to tell the village of how their daughter was lost, and how much they would mourn, she finally began to stir. And as the little one finally woke, her eyes blinked open, unfamiliar with the light around her but awed nonetheless, the reason for her abandonment became clear, though the act was no less despicable. Pure red eyes were squinting into the growing light of the red dawn sky, looking for something- someone- that wasn’t there, and never would be again. And finally, when the little one simply couldn’t find her mother, the defenseless lone child began to cry.

[Yuroshi]

"Discovered"

That day, the little one- sad as her future might’ve been- got extremely lucky, if one believes in luck. Perhaps it was fate who decided she wasn’t to die that day, but just as the cries of the babe were heard by the hungry beasts of the forest, so too were they heard by the Timeless Forest’s protectors.
As a giant arachnid began to advance on the little one, preparing for the easiest of meals- even if the bright red hair was intriguing. The little one, having wept itself tired, had already pulled her blindfold back over her eyes. She wouldn’t have noticed a thing, no doubt, had fate not intervened. The spider’s progress was stopped by a solid THWAK as a long arrow embedded itself in a tree mere inches away from the spider’s eyes. Perhaps it may not have been deterred if that were all that happened, but the numerous figures in nature-colored armor dropping down from the trees around it convinced it otherwise. For a moment, the Forest simply fell into a tense silence as the arachnid debated its odds of simply snatching the child and running, but it finally turned and headed away. For now, at least, the child was safe.
The leader of the band moved silently toward the child, bending down to gently check for a pulse, perhaps fearing she was already too late. Upon finding the gentle fluttering of the child’s heartbeat, she quietly lifted the little one closer to her masked face. The others crowded around her as she curiously lifted the blindfold away from the eyes of the little one, thinking that perhaps she was blind. She couldn’t help the slight inhale as the red eyes blinked open, focusing on her with piercing precision. A plethora of emotions ran through all the gathered rangers, all the women feeling rage towards the villagers as they understood that this wasn’t a case of losing track of a child, but one of abandonment. Yet... as the child smiled with a heart wrenching amount of love up into the eyes of her rescuer, all of the women couldn’t help but be moved. And in that moment, as the rangers made brief eye contact with each other, they came to a unanimous decision. If the villagers didn’t want the precious little one... they would keep her. As if sensing that life just got much better, the little one giggled up at them, reaching to pull down the mask over the ranger’s mouth.
“Jvalka,” the lead ranger said with authority. “Your name shall be Jvalka, little one.”

[Yuroshi]

"Six Years Later: Decision"

Jvalka had grown considerably over her time with the “Guardians,” as they called themselves, but was still a tiny thing compared to the rangers’ amazon-like bodies. She was only seven, after all. In her time with them, she’d grown to think of the Guardians as her family, using their hair or armor colors in place of names, for it would not do to let outsiders know their true selves. As she grew, she learned from example how to walk on the leaf covered ground without making a noise. She grew strong and fast, racing with the wind through the bushes and shrubs, learning to leap and twist with the gracefulness of a doe, and learning to climb, and become one with the trees.
Of course, she was far from perfect, and often fell or tripped, landing in a heap or rolling to a stop. But such is the way of life- one cannot learn without a little bit of failure. Yet, two things never changed for Little Red, two things that she’d had in or with her since she first began to think- one, her blindfold. She was simply too attached to and used to it to let it go away, and its ability to dull her sight in turn increased her other senses... and none of the Guardians could really complain, as they found it quite adorable when she stumbled around with it on. Had she been ashamed of her eyes, it would’ve been a different story, but they’d told her of her differences, and she accepted it with the same tenacity she threw at everything else. She simply let loose a mischievous giggle, and took it as a new challenge to get through or around- or perhaps even turn to her advantage.
Yet, as all growing children have, Jvalka was full of an ever-burning curiosity. The Guardians by their very nature never lied to one another, so anything that she would ask she knew she’d get the answer to. Sometimes, they were simple things- like why does the sun go round and round, or why is the sacred tree sacred, but this time... this time, she asked the question she’d never bothered to before.
“Mum... how did I get here with you and the rest of the Guardians?”
And as was her nature, the leader told nothing but the truth, even though she worried how the child might feel. She told her, “Little Red, your parents were foolish, for they gave up an angel like you. They looked into your eyes and saw only your inner fire- they didn’t consider the way new growth springs forth from the ashes, nor the warmth and brilliance it can bring. They left you, my dearest, and we kept you, little Light, but you are welcome if you’d like, to leave us...”
She expected the worst, and hoped for the best, as was the Guardian way, but what came still warmed her greatly.
“But mum,” Jvalka said, a smile growing on her face, “I’ve already got the family I love here. Besides... this is my home now, and I wouldn’t change it for the world- not even for that amazing truffle stew you make sometimes.” And with a grin and a giggle she scampered off, no doubt looking for ways to cause trouble in the most harmless way possible. For that was the second thing about Jvalka that never changed- while she was most certainly a trouble-maker, she was filled with both love and passion unrivaled.

[Yuroshi]

"Training: Passion Found"

After her decision to stay with her family there was a unanimous decision, communicated7 in that strange unspoken way the rangers seemed to love, that it was time for Jvalka to begin her training. Of course, everything until the point was part of it, but now? It was time for weapons.
As was customary among the Guardians (though none but them would know it), the weapons she chose to learn were all the choices of her own. Although she took a day to deliberate, she eventually decided on the bow for her ranged weapon, and short, dagger-like curved blades for her close-combat ones. More specifically, she’d chosen the recurve bow, and the karambit. The Guardians were pleased with her choices, as they showed clearly her intent to be challenged, and willingness to put in effort to achieve greatness. But they also knew it would be quite difficult for her to master the bow especially, it having a draw-weight nearly have as heavy as she was. So they started with the karambit and physical conditioning, which was by no means easy- especially for one who was only seven, regardless of the fact that she’d been active all her life until them. It didn’t prepare her for the intensive strength training, nor the brawls she was constantly put into. And it certainly didn’t prepare her for the spontaneity of the melee mock battles she was put through. They told her, the first time she was quickly and firmly stomped down in a firm but gentle surprise attack, that a ranger must never be caught off guard- that her weapons would become her constant companions, and she must never be without them.
Of course, being seven, this might’ve been more difficult for some, but she’d seen what all the others did for the Forest. And she took their words to heart- for while she most certainly had no qualms about lying to others, the Guardians were her family,, and the forest her home. She loved it and all that was in it with a caring unmatched by normal, greed-touched hearts. So she followed their orders, though not, perhaps, in the way they were expecting. She sat one night with her blades laid gently unsheathed on her lap and bow before, and introduced herself. She told them her name, and told them that they would be best friends from here on out. And she knew, at fifteen, when she was to find a mount of her own, she would also choose to name them. So she learned, and she grew. She gained cuts, scrapes, bruises, and scars along the way. She went to sleep sore, and woke up the same way. It was anything but easy, but it was... right. And as she grew, and as she learned, her love and respect for the other residents of the forest grew with her. There was no way to miss the quiet respect the animals within it gave the Guardians, or the trust they were offered because of their protection. As her love grew, so did her passion to protect those that received her love, no matter what the cost.. but there was one thing that cemented it, after she had started to truly know her weapons and become dangerous. One thing, which made her vow her protection in a moment of seriousness uncommon for the little one. Put simply, it was a moment of vulnerability. Not many were able to witness the birth of a newborn unicorn- in fact, nearly none would be blessed by such a sight, but the Guardians stood quietly with the mare, protecting her. The little colt, once risen, even had the audacity to go bump his quivering nose against Jvalka’s hand- and she wept, because even at twelve years old she knew that this was something truly magical. After this, she threw herself further into her training, and began to go “spy” on the villagers sometime, her blindfolded form becoming a common sight, though few noticed her weapons, and none recognized her as a Guardian from the travelers cloak she had “borrowed permanently” from an adventurer she’d scared away from the forest.
And so she grew, her passion growing with her, as she protected those that she loved most in the world. She knew, as long as she lived, she’d never stop protecting the forest she lived in.

[Yuroshi]

Now, you know the bulk of Jvalka’s past- it isn’t long, but it wouldn’t be, really- she’s only a child, after all.
But that is not the end of it all, certainly, it isn’t over.
Past this point will be glimpses into specific pieces of her past- those that helped her passion grow and thrive, and those where she worked hard to be able to achieve it.
Perhaps, through them, you’ll understand her better.

”

[Yuroshi]

"Young Jvalka"

When Jvalka was extremely young, she was... well, she was the most angelic devil child you’d ever meet. She had so, so much love in her, and she really did want to make her “family” happy all the time. She’d often find the prettiest fallen leaves, or shiniest stones- whatever she found lovely, she’d often fashion into jewelry (with help for the more complex ones) to give to the Guardians- and even now, you can still see, every once in a while, flashes of a pretty pebble on a simple piece of twine resting around the neck of the fierce Forest Guardians. Everyone adored her, and how she was always so gentle with the wildlife around her. For a lot of the time, she was the perfect child,
If a bit clumsy.
But.. she always wanted to have fun. And when you combine a clumsy young child whose role models all constantly are using dangerous weapons and intimidate others with a will of stell and a blindfold... well, let’s just say that sometimes, things would get a bit... messy. Even if her blindfold did not completely block out her sight, instead leaving it mostly as shadowy figures, things could still go wrong.
At one point, she attempted to follow the rangers out as they were intimidating adventurers out of the forest, and quite on accident ended up stumbling towards a camp of adventurers all on her own. Night was fast approaching, so her blindfold was removed already, uncovering her red eyes for all to see. Once she noticed the adventurers, she quickly hid before calling out, not bothering to disguise her voice, and telling them politely to leave before it was too late. Perhaps it wouldn’t have worked quite so well if they hadn’t seen the red eyes peering at them, and the dagger hadn’t embedded itself so close to their guard (for the rangers had arrived quite silently). But, it did, and the adventurers fled from the Timeless Forest- and the rumor of a demon child residing in the forest began.
Jvalka was brough home them, both unharmed and unarmed, and none the worse for wear, although the others began to wonder then when she should be trained, what with that and the knife incident from when she was four three years before.
So they decided it would be soon, if she chose to stay- and the next day she told them she would.
While fortunate for her, it was undoubtedly a great misfortune for the villagers, for now that Jvalka had scared them away once... well, she thought it would be quite fun to do so again. Wouldn’t it?

[Yuroshi]

"The Knife Incident"

Jvalka was small- four years old, though nearing five, and her two favorite things to do when she couldn’t go try to talk to nature were to mimic and play make-believe. Oftentimes, her make-believe consisted of pretending to be the “Super-Awesome-Cool-Bestest Guardian,” who had to fight off all the bad guys who wanted to steal from the Sacred Tree, or otherwise harm the forest. She wanted to be exactly that when she grew up, and was determined to do as much as she could to do so. For the most part, she had all she needed, even if her legs were a little bit stubbier, and her arms a bit weaker. But there was one big difference between her and the rangers that she noticed and decided she needed to fix- they had weapons, while she didn’t.
So she did whatever was necessary to get what she wanted.
In this case, that meant borrowing without asking from the supplies left by travelers, taking a single short knife that looked more like a sword by her petite frame. Happy now that she was just like her idols, she quickly ran off, fighting imaginary enemies and saving imaginary friends. It was a miracle, really, that she didn’t cut herself or anything else with the way she was wildly swinging the knife around. For a while, the rangers didn’t even notice the danger she was in, believing she was once again simply playing make-believe. But when they noticed... well, it could’ve gone much worse, but a swift rescue was put in order. After taking it away, the Guardians calmly explained the danger, and told her that she must wait to be trained, lest she hurt herself and others. While she agreed, eventually, that didn’t stop her from trying to train herself- after all, a really pointy stick is still different from a knife, right?
And the rescue? Well, it went something like this...

”

[Yuroshi]

"The Birth of A Unicorn"

Jvalka had always known that she and her family were well-respected in the forest. They had a bond with all of the creatures within it- somehow, all knew that should they need help, the rangers would offer it freely. For example, a fawn who lost its mother to poachers might show up in front of the Guardians’ home. The rangers would help it find a doe who might’ve lost her own fawn, or bring the fawn to one of the White Stags to be adopted into the group if it showed promise- and, of course, they would chase off or punish any who dared poach. But, the fact was, no matter how many were chased off, others would still try to poach the innocent beasts of the forest for reasons outside of food, leaving many orphaned animals that the rangers would interact with- Jvalka included especially, due to her skill with handling them and her innate ability to “understand” them. While the orphaning of the babes helped to further her intense love for all of the animals, it also helped her separate herself from the other people- specifically, the greedy and selfish adventurers that sought their own gain- and an unnecessary one at that- at the loss of innocent life.
She loved all the animals around her, and was always honored that they depended on her for protection... and she was further determined to never let them down because of it.
But, one day, at twelve years of age, she witnessed a sight few outside of the Guardians would ever see... the birth of a unicorn.

The day started as any other might- the rangers who hadn’t patrolled that night woke up and immediately began searching through their things, tucking Jvalka mercilessly to get back the ones she’d pilfered. Then they stretched, and warmed up, before moving as one away from their “camp” and splitting up to patrol the forest. This day was not normal, though, where they might be gone all day without ever needing to return. Instead, a strange call could be heard from within the forest merely two hours after they left, the call being one the rangers alone all knew to mean “All to me, immediately.” Strangely, this call came from the camp, and the Guardians on patrol- Jvalka included- rushes at full speed back to their camp. While Jvalka tried to prepare for the worst, her playful nature being calmed in this moment that was undoubtedly quite serious, she was most certainly not prepared for what she found- a unicorn mare, obviously in labor, getting ready to lay down within the circle of unbreakable protection the Guardians offered. Shocked, Jvalka simply silently stood within the circle- she was still too young to be entrusted with the incredible responsibility of protecting a foaling unicorn. Instead.. she was able to watch, and be close. She locked eyes with the mare, the blue eyes of the unicorn looking into her red, and seeing beyond, straight through to her soul. While she would never know quite what the unicorn could see... she would always know that the unicorn found her worthy in at least some way. For when the colt arrived, his mother let him approach Jvalka, even seemingly encouraging it with a gentle look in her eyes. And when the little one touched his nose to Jvalka’s hand, she couldn’t help but cry, for it was as if everything good and pure in the world had come together to tell her that she was okay, and they trusted her.
She knew then, that her negative feelings towards the ones who wronged the innocents did not make her a bad person, and her conviction to protect the forest and its inhabitants grew thousand fold, planting itself firmly into her heart. Even as the mare rose, and she and the colt wandered off to go find the rest of the unicorn herd, Jvalka knew that this moment would be one that stuck with her forever, and felt the fiery passion within her expand even as she longed to lay down and rest from all the responsibility she’d just decided to take onto her shoulders- for even if it was an important one, and a job she would never dream of stopping, protecting so many was still quite a lot for one little twelve-year old to take on.
As if sending Jvalka’s turmoil, her mother silently slipped her hand into Jvalka’s as they all stood and watched the unicorns leave. And suddenly Jvalka felt the fires of her passion were not so big she’d burn out, for she realized that she wasn’t alone.