The Guardian

"Bilbo Bear, why is the sky blue?" Lily asked.

"It is because of the tiny molecules of gas in the air. When the white light from the sun hit the atmosphere, it gets deflected by these molecules. But these molecules are smaller than the wavelength of the visible light and, hence, only blue light gets scattered because of its low wavelength."

Lily stared at Bilbo Bear with her mouth open. He sighed and shook his head.

"It is because the Sky Fairy loves the colour blue, so she decided to paint the entire sky with it."

"Do you think I'll ever meet the Sky Fairy? I like blue too."

Bilbo Bear chuckled and said, "I'm sure you will, little Lily."

As they reached their neghbourhood, he took her tiny hand in his and started to cross the road. It was then he noticed a black van behind them. He had seen it before outside Lily's school gate while he waited to pick her up. The windows were tinted black so he was unable to see through it. However, he did manage to take a glance at the number plate. He then ran a scan on it to check the registered user of that number. 

He didn't find any. The number was fake.

Bilbo Bear had quickly alerted all the other Bears within the town premises about the suspicious van and issued a notice to keep their allotted children closer to them for the next twenty four hours, or till the time the suspects were captured. He had then sent a message to the police about the same. It had been fifteen minutes since then, and the cops still hadn't shown up.

The car quickened it's pace when Lily and Bilbo Bear took a turn to walk down towards their home. He swiftly calculated the distance between them and the van and knew that it would catch up to them before they would reach home. 

"Lily, listen to me." He said, "When I tell you to run, run as fast as you can and hide behind those bushes. Once you do, stay hidden until I or either of your parents come to pick you up. Also, don't make any sound while you stay hidden, okay?

"Why, Bilbo Bear?"

"I can't answer that right now, little Lily. But if you do as I say, I will buy you that orange Popsicle you had been asking your mommy for."

Lily's eyes sparkled when she heard the word 'Popsicle' and readily agreed to his deal.

The van had slowed down considerably, but it was dangerously close to them. Bilbo Bear pushed Lily further away from the vehicle. That is when he saw the doors opening and a masked man dressed in black emerging out of it. Bilbo Bear turned to Lily and told her to run. The masked man saw this started to chase Lily, but Bilbo Bear blocked his way. The masked man tried to kick the Bear, but ended up hurting his foot. Bilbo Bear saw his chance and punched him in his stomach. The masked man fainted, but the problem was far from being solved. The driver quickly shut the doors of the van and started driving away, and he was heading the same way Lily had ran off to. Bilbo Bear activated the siren inbuilt in him, which was so loud that it alerted everyone in the neighbourhood. Those who were in the vicinity came out of their houses immediately. Bilbo Bear then pointed his paws them towards the bushes where Lily was hiding. One man, who was closest to the said destination, ran and grabbed Lily before the van could reach her. 

The driver, realising that there was no way that child could be captured now, changed his course and drove away towards the town's exit. The fainted masked man, however, was left behind. The residents gathered around the man, hoping to give him a good beating for trying to abduct a child.

"Alright! That's enough!" a voice stopped them before anyone could do anything.

***

"Are you feeling okay, Richard?"

"I'm fine, Ms. Mol. The Bear did a number of my stomach, though. It's going to be swollen for a while." Richard said.

"I have called for the medics. Take a week off, you did well." Ms. Mol said and walked towards her office, where she found Lily and her mother waiting for her.

"Thank you for being part of this test. I'm sorry if we caused you or your child any trouble." She said.

"No need to thank us! We were honoured when you chose my family as the subject this month. I know how important it is to constantly upgrade the Bears."

"Ms. Mol, when will I get Bilbo Bear back?" Lily asked.

"He should be back to you in half an hour. He's just getting his fur washed and his whiskers trimmed. Why don't you and mommy wait for him in the play area?"

Lily nodded enthusiastically and walked out of her office. Her mother flashed a thankful smile to Ms. Mol before she followed her.

Ms. Mol looked at the picture of a happy family on her desk. A beautiful curly haired woman held a little boy tightly in her arms. Ms. Mol touched her hair that were no longer curly. She had changed considerably. She no longer smiled or spoke to anyone unless it was absolutely necessary. 

It was all because those vile creatures took her son away from her.

She traced her fingers on the picture as she remembered the day she started Guardians Inc. Seven years after her child was abducted, the investigators had to shut down the case due to the lack of evidence. All her hopes died that day, but her damaged spirit inspired her to start this brilliant company. She knew she would never get her child back, but if she could save the others, then she would. 

She would protect the children at any cost.