I always thought the idea of guardians was stupid, until my own took care of me.

My sister was born the day the tether was cut, and I was never allowed to see her, not until she was a few months old. I was only the provider, the mother, the birthing vessel, and I knew it. <br><br>But when my sister was a few months old, she began to scream. And she screamed all day, nonstop. And my mother, she was always so patient, so kind, and so caring, could not take it. So she took my sister outside and up into the mountains, and I knew she was going to bury her alive in the forest. That is what the guardians do when they can no longer safeguard their charges. A mercy. <br><br>But I couldn’t let that happen, couldn’t let my little sister die, so I went after her. I struggled my way up the mountain, and when I reached the top, I saw my mother burrowed into the side of a tree. Her arms were wrapped around my screaming sister, and my twin sister smiled at me, and said something I will never forget.<br><br>“Ah, I have been waiting for you, and I have your sister.” <br><br>My mother ripped open my sister’s throat with her jaws, and I fell to my knees, my heart breaking. I had never felt such pain and sadness, until I saw my mother wink at me, and then charge at me, jaws open, ready to kill. <br><br>At that moment, I knew I was no longer the guardian, but the charge.