We Were Gods: Borya

For anyone new to my gallery, this is a piece from my Gwarcheidwad: Guardian + Spirit universe. Specifically, this is a more humanoid physical manifestation of Logan's partner, the Ga-Oh(a type of wind spirit) Borya.

Of course, I can't give you fresh Guardian+Spirit art without a story snippet.

"Once, a very long time ago," The lion-like creature's normally jovial voice sounded sad and distant as he sat next to his young charge, and stared at the stars. "Once, My Girl, to your people, we were gods."

The girl, barely 6 years old, curled closer to him, tangling her fingers in thick blue fur, "I don't understand. What's a god?"

Borya smiled to himself, and shook his great head, "I am not certain anymore, my dear girl. Once, it was a spirit of power that was bound to protect a people."

"Then that means you and I are gods."

He laughed, a deep rumbling sound within the semi-feline chest. "It did once. I was a god, and the human who spent their entire lifetime as my partner was my 'Gwarcheidwad'. I am not certain what the word means anymore. It has changed since the old days."

The little girl knit her eyebrows in thought. "That's stupid. Words shouldn't change meanings."

"No. They should not." Borya gazed up to the moon that lay between the Earth and the stars. He remembered a long time ago when he walked openly among the humans he protected in different form, something closer to the people he lived among. When his partner lived by his side in the wilderness and the temple house. A time when he chose his Gwarcheidwad in a formal ceremony from the children of the village. It had been simpler times, in it's own way.

Detail image:

Again, this is an alternate form of Borya. One he doesn't use much anymore as his human contact is pretty much limited to Gwarcheidwad only.

Characters and Gwarcheidwad: Guardian + spiriT story are copyright © B.R. Shropshire/=elfgrove