Path of the Gods

Silvina found herself stepping off into the darkness, with merely a wolf cub to guide her. It was unnerving, but it had not been worse than what she had faced before. It felt like the universe was honing in on her. She had been forced from her home with few options of returning home and now it was impossible to escape this forest without being hunted like prey. She had met someone new, followed a spirit, and nearly died at the hands of a man and his strange shadow creatures before guided to safety by a lone wolf cub. What else could go wrong?
Silvina took a deep breath as she made her way down the steep stone steps, further into the darkness. She could feel her heart racing, more than before. It was an exhilarating, yet terrifying feeling. 

She lifted her hands up to brush away potential cobwebs presenting themselves in the darkness. She could hear the pitter patter of the wolf’s clicking paws on the stone but soon she would find the walls and steps starting to light up in a soft blue glow. The cracks in the stones which formed no distinct pattern were illuminating the pathway ahead. It seemed to go on forever but now that she could see her way, she moved with less hesitation, the wolf cub still guiding her down.
“Where are you taking me?” She asked, her question not meant to be answered by the wolf, but said aloud simply to voice her curiosity for this place. Where was the light coming from? Was it similar to how the forest appeared at night?
After looking about in awe at the strange illumination of this place she would find herself at the bottom of the steps. She frowned a little, looking behind her but not seeing the entrance in which she had come in. Had it closed? Or could she just not see it anymore? She hadn’t realized she’d traveled that far down.
Looking ahead was an open doorway, the illumination of the floor and the walls not traveling past her feet. She frowned slightly, glancing at the wolf who had sat down by the doorway. He curled his tail over his paws, waiting patiently as if he could not enter unless she did. 

Silvina took another deep, calming breath. “Okay…” She closed her eyes, trying to center and ground herself. This had all been a lot and it had really only been a couple days since the forest fire. What was she doing? She needed to get back home. She didn’t belong here.
Come forth, child.

She opened her eyes, hearing the voice in her head. The voice was not distinct. In fact, it sounded like many voices compiled into one. She felt called forward like a pull of gravity that was not down but ahead. 

She did not think now when she stepped forward through the stone doorway. She just moved, her body and spirit called to the voice which spoke in her mind.
When she did, the light which graced the empty spaces in the walls, poured out, spreading like water which soaked between the cracks of an old log. It was as she had suspected. A temple. 

Silvina looked up at the high domed ceiling of the temple, a canopy appearing as stained glass with the light that had seeped between every carefully placed stone. There were four pillars which graced the walls, hugging the stone to form sections that held beautifully carved murals. 

Silvina looked out in awe, these murals painted by the blue light. She moved around the room, her pace slow now to take in the beauty of the scenes painted before her. 

“Where am I?” She asks, looking around but the question was not to anyone. It was not meant to be answered and yet it was.
You have entered the Temple of the Gods.
Silvina was not as surprised by the voice this time. In fact, she had more questions for it.
“Who are you?” 

The voice was silent then but only for a time, allowing Silvina to study the murals which graced the walls. 

The first mural on the left was one of a beautiful tree whose roots spread out into a forest which it towered over. Above the great tree was a dragon. The dragon had wings which were veiny and shaped like leaves with horns adorning its head that resembled branches. The dragon’s claws were held out and in them was an orb that glowed brightly while the other claw held a sapling. 

The second mural on the left was that of a raging storm, lightning raining down on a dragon whose wings resembled fins, their maw holding  rows of teeth like a creature of nightmare. The horns of the beast were connected to the lightning and illuminated the water where it resided. 

The third mural on the right was a dragon which was surrounded by clouds and open sky, wings spread out and perfectly symmetrical unlike the other two murals. In its claws, it held the sun and the moon. This mural was strange in that the sun was not glowing with blue light, but yellow light and it glowed a little brighter than anywhere else in the temple. 

The last mural was composed differently from the rest, because this dragon was sleeping between two mountains with a valley of trees and ice below it. The mountains did not tower over this dragon but instead, even as it slept, towered over them.

We are the Temple Watcher. 

Silvina looked to the center of the room where there was a pedestal. A book sat upon it, closed which caused her curiosity and eagerness to spark within her. 

“Why am I here?” She asks, moving towards the pedestal where the book was sat. It was leather bound and a deep red color. The cover was blank which compelled Silvina to open it and read its contents. 

You have been chosen by the Elder Gods. Your spirit has guided you to this place, for the path you will walk awaits you. You must answer their call. 

“Their call…” She looked up and around as if she might see the owner of the voice, but she did not. “How do I know what that will be?”
Open the Divine Tome. It will show you the way.