Boom, boom, boom. The noises were getting closer, making Parina's heart beat nearly as fast as her wings. No one ever ventured this close to the gateway. She didn't know what she would do. They'd taught her over and over how to check incoming fairies for identification and which other magical folk were permitted to cross into their lands, but no one ever taught what to do when a human wandered this close. 

Her foot falls grew louder but still no words. She didn't appear to have company. That was good. Parina buzzed near the opening, tucking herself beneath the over-growth of vines hanging from the decrepit glass structure that disguised the crossing. The girl grew near enough to the opening that she could hear her breathing.  

Parina hovered beneath the vine leaves going through each spell she could think of. She grasped hold of her fairy dust, questioning if it'd be enough for a creature the size of those humans. The most she could hope was the dust could make the girl disoriented, but a spell, well, that could confuse her. Make her want to go elsewhere. But all of the glamour spells Parina could come up with were for minor objects. Changing her blue hair to a more pleasing pink, or affecting the color of her shoes. 

The girl's footsteps stopped, and for a brief moment Parina believed it was over, allowing herself to hope that the young human got bored with her adventure near the pathway. She actually breathed out, pulling back on the vines to see the entrance below. But her hopes were soon dashed, as the girl stepped on to the dirt walkway. 

She was young in human years. Far shorter than the fully mature people Parinda had read about in school, but she still represented a problem for the limits of Parina's magic. Glamour spells again began running through Parina's thoughts, organizing themselves into various levels of possibilities. 

The girl stepped forward again. This time pushing against the edges of the doorway. The air glistened with the swipe of her hand, and Parina realized the child was mere steps from her realm. She would be ruined if that happened. Her rank as guard would be stripped for sure, and her family would be humiliated.

She couldn't let that happen. No.

Parina dug her hand into her dust bag, angled her body for a quick descent, and chose the only incantation that seemed possible. A quick twist of her wrist released the dust and in the seconds it took to reach the girl, she dove to the area above her head.