The Guardian Hermit

The piece of Fungi fired out of her slightslot. The collection of leaves, mushrooms, and Lapwhileken bees’ honey masking any trace of her far too much for the 3 boys that had been trying to rob her swamp.

 “Dude put that down!” One teenager replied.

“No, man come on it’s just--

Emma put a nut in her mouth, truly sounding like a monster while she spoke. “You put it down? you leave. You don’t? death all.”

“Okay, no one buys that fake story anymore, swamp queen!” the teenager, holding his loot, replied. “What are you gonna do other than fire some stupid slingshot?”

A slingshot’s ammo burst into powder again. Right on a tree next to the teenagers escape route. The growl of a tiger followed after.

“Len, drop the thing! Right now!” the 3rd teenager finally spoke. “Do you want us all to die?!”

“Do you have any idea how people would pay to—” Lem started to argue before he got shot right in the face. Falling fast asleep seconds after. 

+Emma split out the nut, and stepped out of her hiding place. “You take him with you, and you leave. That?” She pointed to the strange loot Len dropped "stays."

“Could I ask one thing? Jezebel asked. “My name is Jezebel, but most call me Jez.”

“What’s your question, Jez?” Emma asked. “My name’s Emma, since your kind usually considers that a sign of trust.”

“Is… is it going to be okay?” Jez asked. “Len took out of that weird lake and… it just has been struggling ever since.”

“Look we… were just curious, and if Len was on his own he was going to do something stupid.” Liam said. “We should have talked him out of it. But sometimes, that’s just not possible.”

Emma stared, and walked to the creature. “Come… Len will be out for a bit. And if you speak the truth, I’ll know shortly.” Emma led them to the lake that they took the creature from and threw him back into the water. The sighs of relief followed quickly when he emerged looking a bit healthier. “He might be a bit sick, but his mother can take care of that.”

“Mom?” Jez asked. A massive version of what they had taken emerged after she asked. “We… took a child?”

“A toddler would be more accurate. He hatched less than a year ago.” Emma replied. “The childhood years are their best out of water. After 10 they tend to keep to whatever waters they were born in unless needed.

“And the tiger we heard doesn’t eat them?” Liam asked

“Frostbite?!” Emma replied, completely calm as a cyan tiger came to her side. “He was poached. Not sure where he came from, but to him this is his pack now. Not that, I mind him eating the plants around here. He’s immune to poisons anyways. He’s probably a gate keep, in all honesty.” Emma fed him some kind of berry.

“Okay… then why did the story start?” Jez asked. “When did you get here? Why are you still here?”

“Same as Frostbite.” Emma replied. “I have no memory of being abandoned. Maybe that was the custom then. Maybe that's just how my species did things. For all I know maybe I’m that curse from left to rot in here from… what is it 250 years ago now? I know they looked after me for a very long time. And now I know how to take care of them. I just felt like it was worthwhile returning the favor.”
The small creature came over close with his mother. Hold a very dried fin out. His mother looked depressed as she put the fin back in.

“Oh I’ve got just the thing.” Emma said, walking into her hunt after.
“What did we do?” Liam asked.

“we Let Len rope us into something stupid.” Jez replied. “Really started to feel like he should get put somewhere.”

“Give us an update as soon as you can Jez?” Liam said. “I think it time I do just that, and don’t worry about Len. I’ll pull him out.”

“Okay.” Jez answered. “I can do that.”

Emma came back after about 10 minutes. “Where Liam go?”

“He wanted updates from me.” Jez said. “Knowing him? He's gonna do his best to make sure no disturbs this place again.”

“Arc?” Lets see that fin again?” Emma replied. “If that's okay, Nessy?”

The mother nodded, and let arch show his wounded fin again. Letting Emma pour something on it. Both girls watched as it healed slowly.

“You keep in the water, and check back in 3 days, okay?” Emma asked.

“Arched nod, and swam away. Looking much better then before.
---
5 days later there was a paper at Emma's door. She picked it up and read it. Noting a front page article.

“nearly die," Laim said. “over some stupid rumor”

“We let him get us wrapped in something stupid, and almost ate a mushroom just to make a point. I don’t how this nonsense started, but the only thing out in that swamp? Are things that stubborn will get you killed for. I’m so grateful one of us at least had the sense to get us to walk back home.”

“And we will not be allowing people back into that place.” Jez has also announced. “That swamp is now protected, and no one is getting in or out.”
---
A few days after Emma showed up. Just far inside the gate to not be seen. “Well, seems someone’s daughter has learned.

“No, I learn from her. As well” Jez’s father said. “She told me everything. I simply wanted to see it myself. Miss Emma. Consider yourself the Guardian of this place.”

“I’ll let your daughter know if anything weird comes back up.” Emma replied.