Flashback secret palace

[Cana]

Spring 55th 499av ▼ secret palace ▼ plaza It was dawn. She could hear loud, exotic birds cooing and making noise. Shara wasn't awake yet in her bed across the room. It was already hot and humid, and Cana tip-toed out, careful to avoid knocking things over or making any noise. She had an idea - she dreamed about it - and she wanted to get things ready without anyone noticing. There was a dagger sitting on a table next to a bone that was used to sharpen the blades. No one was out yet, and she grabbed the dagger, running back to her room and giggling. Shara was still asleep, so she crept next to her bed. After a few seconds of watching her sleep, Cana violently shook her awake. "Shara! Shara, wake up!"

[Shara]

Shara was having the most magnificent dream of food. Succulent boar, stringy snake, and a pile of colourful birds that had been plucked and roasted to a dark red and black colour. The smell of it all, the feel of it on her fingers, just waiting to be stuffed into her mouth. And then Cana's voice rang out, shattering the dream without warning and rousing Shara. Opening green eyes slowly, Shara looked at Cana from beneath one heavy lid, growing over more aware of the humidity the longer she was awake. Cana seemed excited and slowly, as though she could feel Cana's excitement rubbing off on her longing for that dream to return, her heart began to pump faster. She stretched in bed, giving the distinct impression that perhaps she would be too lazy to get up, before she wound up and sprang at her sister, tackling her to the floor and mock beating her up, laughing, before she got to her feet. Her loud noise didn't wake the parents, thank Dira, but that wasn't to say she might not the next time. "So, what did you want to do?" Shara helped Cana to her feet. She was restless, looking to do something fun or tear through the house like a monsoon.

[Cana]

She smiled, showing all of her teeth. She picked up the dagger from where she dropped it when Shara tackled her, and dangled it in front of her face. It had a bone hilt and shiny metal blade. "Let's build a fort!" As soon as the words had left her lips, she was rummaging around in her chest for clothes. She pulled on her shift, combing her fingers through her wild hair and running down the hall and outside. She hoped Shara was following her, because she was going to head right out the gate and no one could stop her. She was almost out the gate without being noticed, but the guard stopped her. "Where are you going, child?" "To get some sticks. I'm going to build a fort!" "Don't stray far." The guard went back to her post. Cana crashed into the jungle, already surrounded by the sounds of the wild, even when she could still see Taloba behind her.

[Shara]

"A fort!" Shara exclaimed. The idea came to her as a brilliant one. Why hadn't anybody thought of that before? They could do so much with a fort! In a hurry, she pulled on her shift and shook her head before running her fingers through it, mirroring Cana. There was no time to brush, not now anyway. Like a bolt fired from a bow, she tore after her sister. Bare feet thudded harshly against the ground at every jarring step but she barely felt it in her teeth. She was flying! Single minded purpose had met her usual zeal and collided to create a Shara that wanted nothing more than to do this, right now, and show everybody how awesome she and Cana were. The guard at the gate entrance into Taloba merely placed a watchful eye on Shara as she approached. The words of the sister had been enough to cover Shara's presence. They were often seen together after all. Shara nodded at the woman respectfully, green eyes alight with excitement enough that the look came off more leery than intended. And then, they were outside. Even only a few feet from the gate, the air felt different to Shara. Heavier with humidity and the watchful eyes of the denizens of the forest. Her skin crawled as sweat beaded down her shoulder blades and she hooted at the impassive wall of joined trees facing her. There was enough clear space for the children to gather their sticks for their fort without ever nearing the trees and that was what they did. No stick within reach was left unjudged, no twig left unthrown, and no hardy branch fit for whacking others left uncelebrated. It ended with Shara bearing an armful of wooden things, the top of her head barely peeking over the hodgepodge in her arms. She had lost sight of Cana in her determination (and maybe one-sided competition), and now couldn't see her anywhere at all thanks to the branches. Huffing, Shara turned around to peer at the heavy trees and eye them up with an air of a challenge. If Cana had gone that way, she would as well.