Root, Stem, and Flower

A Guardians of the PHAE Prequel Short Story

By: Rowan Dillon, Christy Nicholas

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

As her power grows, a grandmother must choose between her safety and her family.

In the arid landscapes of the Arizona Hopi Reservation, Nokomis Nicholas, a woman with a unique connection to the land, grapples with a difficult decision. Her granddaughter, Tansy, is in the care of her spiteful daughter-in-law, Yamka. As Komie's power over the land grows, she must decide whether to stay and protect Tansy or leave and search for a place where she truly belongs.

When a wise confidante offers her guidance, Komie is torn between the memories of her ancestral lands in Maine and her current responsibilities. After a heart-wrenching farewell, Komie boards a bus bound for the unknown, leaving behind a garden that responded to her call and the grandchild she loves.

Can she find her true place among the Unhidden, a community that welcomes and understands her unique abilities?
Root, Stem, and Flower is a prequel short story to the high-action contemporary fantasy trilogy, Guardians of the PHAE.


Dive into a gripping urban fantasy where the line between human and Unhidden blurs, and the struggle for acceptance could mean the difference between life and death.