The mistakes we make

## Summary

Tension builds between Cyrus and Estrella when she sneaks out to go on scouting missions after dark as an act of rebellion and bumps into a hybrid named V.T. 95, and gets confronted by Cyrus in the process. This causes an argument between them, and an expanding rift. Aurora, Dusk and Polaris, along with some good friends must help the two of them settle their differences.

## Characters

* Cyrus
* Estrella
* Celeste
* Sable
* V.T 95
* Aurora
* Polaris
* Sunset
* Alex
* Kai
* Maxine
* Jess
* Lavinia
* Aelia
* Dusk

## Estrella’s POV

People think I have the greatest life ever when I tell them I’m the child of a guardian, but little do they realize that’s not the case.

It can get awkward when you live with a parent who is constantly protective of you.

It gets annoying when you’re out with your friends and they meet your parents only to hear of some memory of something you said when you were four and laughing about it because you think it’s funny.

But it’s not funny. It’s embarrassing. Very very embarrassing. Even more so when there’s the rule surrounding friend meetups. The rules themselves aren’t bad, it’s just that I have to recite them every time I meet up with someone, as if I forgot about them.

*Get home before dark.*

*Be careful who you talk to*

*Don’t go into the forest at night or without someone with you.*

What’s so bad about going into the forest at night? I see people there all the time.

I take all my clean laundry and place it on a shelf in my closet.

I exit my room and spot Kai sitting on the couch with a mug of tea.

“We have a scouting mission this evening.” They say.

“Maybe they’ll let me go alone this time.” I say.

Kai sighs. “Unfortunately it’s up to our parents whether or not we go alone. They say it depends on how mentally ready we are.”

I groan. “You’re only saying that because you’re already going unsupervised.”

“Reya.” Kai says. “Cyrus said you can’t go alone because they only want to keep you safe.”

“Well I’m getting tired of them embarrassing me in front of my friends.”

I hear Cyrus call me over.

“Estrella!” They say from across the house. “¡Ven aquí!”

“Ya voy.” I reply, walking over to them. They shift from human form to their regular form. “I overheard you talking about the scouting mission.”

I nod.

“Remember, don’t stray too far from the group, and come back home when it starts getting dark. Not everyone here has night vision.”

I roll my eyes.

“And don’t talk to anyone we—“

“Don’t know, yeah, I get it Papá!” I say. “I know. You’ve drilled this into me for the past *several weeks.”*

“I was just checking.” They say. “No need to sass about it. Now,” They begin, getting on their knees and prompting me to do the same.

“Mija, promise me you will stay close, and stay safe…”

“I know. I promise.” I say.

“Good girl.” They reply, running a hand across my cheek.

## Celeste’s POV

My eyes flutter open, and the light startles me, causing me to flick my eyes shut. Then I hear a voice, and the earthy scent of gardenia and mud hits my nose.

Kai enters.

“Huh?” I say softly. “Didn’t hear you there.”

“Cyrus said not to wake you. I figured you’d wake up eventually. That last mission was pretty exhausting.”

I nod. “We have a scouting mission tonight. Estrella really wants to go, but alone.”

“Doesn’t she know that walking around in dark areas isn’t always safe? Because not everyone here has night vision.”

“That’s what I heard Cyrus tell her.”

I walk over to the kitchen and take a seat next to my friend Kit, the son of Cyrus’ friend Sandy.

“Everything alright?” He asks.

“Kit, you know how you sometimes join us for missions with the older apprentices?”

“Yeah.”

“But I wish I could go by myself for once.” Estrella chimes in.

“Look, we all want to do that, but we know it’s not safe to go out by ourselves at night. Not until we’ve proven that we can protect ourselves and be ready for whatever lurks out there.”

“I know, I *know*! That’s the same damn thing you guys always tell me! Honestly, I’m tired of the same answer every single time.”

“You’re literally showing the opposite of the example you want to set. Don’t rush things, Reya. You’ll end up making more messes than you can count. Please. Don’t put yourself in danger. You’re rushing into this. You need to prove that you’re ready by showing the guardians you have the skill, the information, and the headspace to go either with little supervision or by yourself.” Kit says calmly.

“You’re only saying that because you’re an Ace at everything, *Edison*.” I bite back.

“No. I’m stating facts.” Kit says. “And *don’t* call me that. I hate that name. It makes me feel bad about the fact that I sometimes do things faster than other people.”

“Right.” Estrella says.

“**¡Basta!**” I shout. “Please! Papá doesn’t like it when you guys are at each others’ throats for no reason at all. We’ve basically known each other for our entire lives and you guys still sometimes act like you hate each other!”

I get up from sitting on bed and walk into the hallway. I hear footsteps and see Papá standing in front of me.

“Everyone, what is going on here? Are you all trying to start an all out war? And in the house. If you want to scream at each other, deal with it peacefully or take it outside. Now.” They say. “One at a time. Tell me what caused this fight in the first place.”

“Estrella is arguing about lone missions again.” Kit says. “I tried to tell her. Wouldn’t listen.”

“Estrella…” Papá sighs. “Don’t you remember the conversation we had earlier?”

“Yes. It’s-it’s just…I really want to go out and do this. I really really do.”

“I understand.” Papá’s voice softens. “But you have to be patient.”

## Estrella’ POV

“It’s just hard.” I say sadly. “Really hard. I want to do this. It makes me feel like I caught up with all the other apprentices. I know it depends on your headspace, but I’m *tired* of waiting.”

“I know it’s hard.” Papá says sympathetically. “I felt the same way when I was younger. My Mamá wasn’t a guardian, but both of my aunts were. One lived next to us, and trained me how to become one over several years. I too was like you. Eager, impatient. Wanting to experience life before I was ready for it. And with all the crazy stuff that happened to me as a kid. I’m only saying this because I care about you, mija. If you go into this too fast, and don’t give yourself time, it will stress you out, not knowing what to do.”

”Yeah but it feels like time has a vendetta against me. It’s like just when you think something cool is about to happen, you’re immediately told you have to wait another few *days* or *weeks* or *months.*”

”Think about it.” Papa says. “It will be worth the wait. This is all part of becoming a guardian, and also discovering who you are. The layers of your identity.”

”’Layers of Identity’?” I say. “To me, you don’t make any sense.”

”Well that doesn’t always happen with this journey, but a lot of previous students told me that that discovery was part of their experience. We’ll talk more about this during the mission, okay?”

”Sure.” I mumble dejectedly.

I walk down the stairs and into the lower level living room to play video games.

I wish I could do all this myself. Endless questions were asked about whether I was ready. I asked some kids once and some told me they let a 10 year old apprentice lead once. How is that possible? How come I’m not a part of this? I’m 12. I’m mature enough for this.

Cyrus’ voice rings in my head.

Mija, if you keep making rash decisions that put you or others in danger, I’m going to have to suspend some of your assignments. The reckless don’t always become guardians. You have to think hard before diving into situations like this. If this keeps happening, you won’t be a guardian until we deem you mentally ready and mature enough to be one. Reya, you’re always one to take risks, but sometimes that can lead to big mistakes being made.

Well I am mature. I’m 12. Four years away from being an adult. I want to join everyone but it all seems like that’s always out of reach.

Why are people hesitating on me? It’s not like I’m dangerous or something.

My breathing quickens.

What if…they don’t want me to help them at all?

What if maybe I was never intended to be a part of this?

I spot an empty plastic bottle on the floor, and aggressively kick it, causing it to hit the wall, then the floor with a loud thud.

“Why is it that every time I’m around someone or I do something, someone always looks at me like I did something to annoy people??” I say angrily. “Get a fucking grip. Maybe you’re the problem. Maybe you’ve already failed people and not training you or letting you go out alone is their way of telling you you already failed.”

I punch the wall.

I hear footsteps going downstairs.

“Is everything okay, Reya?” Cyrus asks.

“I’m tired of being a nuisance. Perhaps maybe you never wanted me to join in the first place.”

“That’s not what we mean at all.” Cyrus says sympathetically. “But Reya, I know you want to join, but beating yourself up like this won’t make things go any faster.”

“What do you know? You’ve never been in my shoes.” I mutter.

“You have to understand that these things take time.” Cyrus says.

“Yeah well what if a bunch of people wanted us wiped off the face of this planet right now?? What would you do?”

“That’s a hypothetical situation, and this realm has a fail safe. All I’m saying is, you’re a kid, Reya. You’re still figuring life out.”

I groan. “Please stop giving the same exact answer.”

“It’s not the same answer. If you don’t accept that fact, then maybe I shouldn’t have brought it up in the first place.”

“Maybe it’s because you’re afraid.”

“It’s because I care about your safety.” Cyrus says.

“Yeah well why does it always feel like you’re just smothering me instead? It’ll just ruin everything, which is something that always happens.” I snark.

“Well you may not realize this now, but it’s because I want to protect you.”

“Sure. Whatever.” I say, walking off.

“Look, I know you don’t like me telling you this, but sometimes following rules is just a part of life.”

“So?”

“Sometimes that’s the way things are.”

“Then why does it always feel like I can’t do anything right?”

Cyrus locks eyes with me. Their voice softens.

“Mija, please stop being so hard on yourself.

Listen. I felt the same way when I was your age, dealing with the harsh ups and downs that came with living. It can be hard to trust yourself sometimes when it feels like things aren’t going the way you expected them to.