The Surprise[Enria]

[Kitchi]

4th, Summer, 513AV

Kitchi made her way towards the Cherry Grove, her feet carefully following the well trodden path. She was nervous, her mind overworking and creating a hundred ways today could go wrong.
It will be fine... stop worrying... it'll be fine...Don't worry about it. She reasoned with herself as she appeared in the small, familiar clearing. Blue eyes scanned the rows of pink and brown for the red hair of the days companion. To her relief nobody appeared before her and she continued into the clearing feeling her mood lightening.
Good, that is part of the problem sorted. She nodded internally, pleased with her early arrival. She had not planned for if she had not arrived alone, or on time. Her feet immediately moved her towards her usual spot, hidden slightly behind one of the trees and shaded from the blaring summer sun which had appeared around Wind Reach with the Summer. She was glad for the warm rays that bathed everything in a glorious golden light. Her belongings began to slip to the ground and she started to arrange them neatly on the floor. She wanted to keep her mind as busy as possible to stop it wondering and speculating.
The ticks that resounded around her notified her that her companion was late and Kitchi turned her head up to scan the area once more. The pink leaves were swaying in the faint breeze but Kitchi could see little else around her. Disgruntled slightly she turned her head back towards her belongings, tracing her blue eyes over the wood of her bow. Perhaps she could get some practice in before her companions arrival? She disregarded this suggestion and began to trace her other belongings, amongst them was a cloth covering several items that she ran her fingers over. She mentally counted the odd shapes and smiled happily once she was done. Everything was sorted, everything was ready. Everything except Enria.

[Enria]

Enria woke up with a smile on her face; she knew the date off by heart – today was her birthday. And like everyone on their birthday, she was overflowing with excitement like a kid a in a candy store. She bounced out of bed and stretched her limps as if in anticipation for today; she had agreed to meet with Kitchi in the grove, though for what Enria didn’t know; but she was curious. Enria snatched up her clothes and hastily got ready before brushing her hair into a braid so her hair wouldn’t fall over her face. She brushed her teeth and washed her face before grabbing her bag from the bottom of her bed, where she had dumped it the previous day, and headed for the grove.

As she made her way to the grove, her steps taking on a slight bounce of excitement, Enria’s mind began to wonder. What could Kit want? Does she remember what today is? What if she’s forgotten? Enria’s thoughts churned up butterflies which fluttered around her stomach. But Enria’s nervous excitement couldn’t banish away a huge grin which spread across her face.
As she passed through on her way to the grove, a familiar hand gripped her arm. It was someone she knew from the archery range. They smiled at each other and exchanged the usual pleasantries before Enria reached her first “Happy Birthday” from her acquaintance. She smiled and kindly thanked him before hearing the clock chimes which promptly reminded Enria that she was running late. She left her friend, making her polite excuses, before tearing towards the path that would lead her to the grove. She prayed Kitchi would still be at the grove, and had not ventured off to find her. She also hoped that Kitchi hadn’t been there long.

As she pounded the well-trodden path, which Enria could have sworn wasn’t this long, a familiar burn against the back of her legs reminded her that she should really start taking up running; so she didn’t get a burning ache hit the back of her legs. She tripped and stumbled up most of the path but finally seeing the entrance she slowed her pace to a casual walk. She stopped for a moment, calming herself. She didn’t want to be coughing her guts up in front of Kitchi; that would only set her up for juvenile mocking.

Once her breathing was back to normal, Enria fixed her braid which had let lost strands of hair flop over her face and began walking into the entrance of the grove. The grove’s sweet smell hit her first before the sweet birdsong greeted her. Enria loved the grove and often visited here whenever she could. Enria looked around the grove until her eyes came upon the familiar red hair of her friend. She smiled and thought to herself: of course Kitchi wouldn’t be late. Enria made her way towards her friend and picked a handful of Kima cherries. She plopped a cherry in her mouth, while playfully throwing a few at her friend; who turned and gave her an irked stare. She laughed and leapt down beside her friend, dumping her bag in front of her.

Enria swayed past Kitchi and saw her friend’s belongings placed neatly beside her. Enria’s brow furrowed. Why did she have her bow and what were the objects hidden underneath the cloth?

“Whatcha ya got there?” Enria asked; a curious smile played on her lips. “And what’s with the bow?”