***

I remembered feeling nervous. 

I had only recently awoken, only recently came to existence. I was a child myself, suddenly tasked with a burden no child, nor adult, should have to bear. 

The Old One, the One before I woke up, told me that I had nothing to fear. Nothing to worry about. The Old One's voice assured me that the tasked that awaited me was an honorable one. A good one. I was a guardian, according to the One. The Guardian, the soothing voice said. 

I believe I cried when the Old One said goodbye, but I wasn't sure whether I could even express grief. 

I remembered the Old One's voice and the song the One sang to me. That voice echoed in my memories, but I would never hear it again. 

Suddenly, I understood the task that was placed on me. The burden I had to carry. I had no fear or worry, but I was nervous. I was so young, so innocent. What did I know of the world? What did I know of its dangers? My world was comprised of light and beauty. What did I know of suffering? What was darkness? 

...I found out. 

I swore never to want to experience something so dreadful and painful again. I knew then that I was very much capable of grief, suffering and rage. But I was also capable to love, laugh and hope. Even though I was lonely. 

However, I was never alone. People visited me and would speak to me, which I enjoyed. I loved to hear the voices, loved to see the people. But they never stayed too long. 

I was still a child. I was alone. And, quite suddenly, I had to choose. The people who visited me told me that the Old One had chosen before I had, and now I should do so as well. It was very important to do so. But how did I choose? Whom did I choose? 

I asked and pondered, I thought and I searched, but I didn't know- or did I? Words came to me and I sent them into the world. Those words would search for me, would enter the hearts that were open to my voice, would seek the souls that were filled with light. 

Twelve voices responded. 

Like beautiful music they reached my ears, their voices harmonizing together perfectly, even though they did not speak the same language, even though they did not speak of the same things. I loved hearing their voices. They made me happy. I continued to speak my words to them, a promise, an oath. My heart filled with joy when each of them replied in the same manner. 

We were all children.

I watched when they were brought together for the first time. I knew about their thoughts and their feelings. When they were scared, so were I. When they were sad, I would weep with them. When they laughed, I felt the happiness in my heart. 

Their personalities, hearts and souls were so different from one another, but they were brothers. I knew all of them, very well. Based on their character, based on their interests and their strengths, their personalities, I gave them gifts. Twelve pieces of my heart, in exchange for a little part of theirs. 

Oh, how strong they were. I swelled up in pride at seeing their fast development, how much grace and elegance they portrayed in using their gifts. Knowing that they became my eyes and my ears, my guardians and that of the world, I gave one final gift. 

The moon had always beckoned. The gifts I gave them were given under the sun. The gift I handed them under the starry sky gave them the sight of the moon, to see brightly, even in the darkness of the night. Their scent enhanced, their hearing sharpened, their skin were shed and became the softest of fur. They howled at night and sped throughout the land to keep watch during the reign of the moon. 

I chose them. My twelve guardians. And they chose me. 

No longer was I alone, never did I have to feel lonely. As long as they were with me, we would never part. 

We were One.