The sun took it’s time leaking from it’s pit, with half it’s figure buried beneath, still it claimed brighter then any jewel. Four watched the sky grow in light from the patio made of old wood. Two with anxious smiles, and when the brightest jewel reached it’s peak, it did nothing to disappoint.

"It’s beautiful," said Megan. Her scarlet hair blowing with the touch of wind. "It is," replied a serene voice. Megan glanced behind. "Look who’s fallen asleep, again," the girl said with a tired smile. A palish toned man and girl leaned back against the home’s walls past her finger’s aim, the girl who seemed more in life drifting to the the man’s shoulder as both remained in what looked to be a delightful slumber.

"Good, they deserve a decent rest, as do you." Megan turned her head back to the sun, it’s light still shrouded by the fading dark blue sky. "You should … get some sleep too, L-" Before the girl could finish her thought, she too had also found a well deserved rest, on Astral's shoulder no less.

After successfully opening the door leading into their room without waking a soul, Astral lifted Megan as gently as a feather, and slowly laid her on the bed placed in the room’s back and center, before doing the same with other little lady. The room was big enough, three doors, one bed and four people. Though it’s lack in size was never truly felt due to the fact that the number is never reached when night arrived, and often before as well. Astral went to shut the left open patio door, and as expected, the pale man was gone. He closed the exit tenderly before heading to the door at the head of the bedroom leading into the hallway. His grey eyes glancing once more at the two young woman with a smirk. The light finding their faces with ease, as the dark their youngest other. "Children," he whispered simply, then taking his exit as quiet as the wind.

•

The youngest moved with purpose through shadows made by a spread of apple trees paralleled on both his shoulders. He was grateful to be out of the light’s view. His eyes wouldn't be able to endure much in transition, already slipping out of grey’s grip while keeping his chin low just in case, and in time, returning to a casual black.

He'd forgotten what he was doing, maybe he'd spaced out again for a while. But since his legs now trailed the ends and edge of the village, he had a good idea of where to proceed. The area he now roamed was much like a small forest, peaceful and near silent. The grassy path began from behind Ms.Clark's home, he often wondered how such a nice place came to be. He drifted through here as much as possible, for different reasons. Sometimes he craved the quiet, the green, blue and red butterflies floating at their leisure. The way the trees smirked at him when he rumbled through thoughts and fears. Other times, he craved the peace, because everywhere else he was reminded firmly of the truth. He could feel the wrath of nature echo through the breeze, humane or no. But sometimes, more then some, even the apple path wasn't enough to calm the mind.

He avoided the light piercing through the branches and leaves above, firm cylinders stretching upon the grass in front of him. Mrs. Clark would give the three young ones a gift in currency for helping out in the shop every so often. Shiny things, large enough for most to fit in their palm. Astral pulled out three brown pouches from his bottom pockets, each with quite a bit of weight to them. If followed long enough, the apple path could lead one to many locations in Lafeya. Astral pushed open the dusty low gate protecting the residence. It is well known here that life can be rough from time to time for everyone, but without Mrs. Clark, Ms. Heather, and Mr. Washington (The three and only shop owners), Lafeya would crumble underneath itself. Even among children the fact holds true, and cannot be avoided. Even if their parents wish to hide it, our number is too small to even try. The obvious deep discounts for locals of the village, the often free food parents somehow obtained a week before pay, or clothing, even medicine. They do more then most, and deserve the respect they are given. And if any who grow too desperate and choose not to offer such, they are immediately corrected by the other adults.

Astral crossed the aligned broken stone path and dropped one of the brown pouches on the back porch, returning to shut the gate before continuing on his way. A smile found his lips as a breeze appeared, bending his drooling hair to the sides of his view. A memory suddenly arrived in his mind, when he was found on the trail by his impatient sibling, and was asked why. Why, the way she said it, he could tell she was truly interested, but without the mask she so loved to wear. And in that moment, for whatever reason, somehow he took off his own, and spoke in truth from the depths of his cage. Did she believe him? He wondered. But one thing was sure, she could see through the act, which would undoubtedly be perceived as good, as kind to many. Knowing her, he wouldn't be surprised if she knew it was done with complete reluctance, as if it was not his will at all, and not in usual form. That is who she really is, a frightful mind with unmatched instinct. Perhaps that was the day he saw her for more then the girl who liked to pretend, perhaps even a equal.

•

The hours flew by before Megan opened her eyes again. It was clear to her either Crow or Astral wouldn't be near the moment she noticed the covers were wrapped around her, soft but tight, as if a spider had just prepared dinner. She sat up slowly while rubbing her eyes.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"They could've at least took a nap, especially Yaza," the girl said as her arms hugged her fluffy red pillow, almost identical to her hair. "I don't think that was him," said a smaller, even toned voice. "Yeah, sometimes I can't tel-" Megan whipped her head behind her.

"SUE!" the girl yelped somewhat embarrassingly. "Morning," the girl replied. Her greeting came with a grin, wide and unexplained. "Red morning I see," she teased, explained. "How did you sleep?" Megan said, already changing the topic with her usual calm voice. Sue let out a yawn as her arms raised and limbs stretched. "Satisfying."

"I doubt you would be satisfied if you died in your sleep," Megan muttered under her breath. Sue carried on, ignoring the comment. "And you?" Megan turned to the bright window across the room. "Surprisingly well."

Sue also looked to the window, just beside the patio door. "Where do you think they are?" Megan pushed the hair from in front of her eyes behind her ear. "I don't know. I never find the right time to ask Astral, and you know how Crow is," Megan said with a shrug.

"Trust me, I do," replied Susan while leaning toward the edge of the bed to check the alarm clock. "I'd bet all the happiness in the world they have a way of watching us," said Megan with a blank stare toward the warm sunshine. Sue hopped off the bed and headed to the bathroom waiting directly ahead. The cold wooden floor digging into the bottom of her feet with every step. She moved in her usual lax motion while cracking her knuckles, likely to occupy her mind from the wood below. "Only a fool would go against that bet," she whispered while facing the restroom. "Especially if we're including the dumb bird next to you." Megan gave a smile and started to play with the sleeping bird's wild black feathers. She always found worry when waking to find it in bed, it was so small, like their brother it seemed far more peaceful asleep then awake, which tended to worry her even more.

"I wonder if it helps, that we're here I mean." A soft laugh left one of their lips. Sue stopped in front of the restroom door, staring to the floor while playing with her toes. "They've been active a lot more then usual. I think they're guarding him from something, or someone."

"But who?" Megan asked, still rubbing the bird’s soft head. "I don't know Mae," Sue said, her arms extending and dropping back to her sides. Clearly annoyed that the question again filled her mind without answer. "Something is changing," Megan added reluctantly. Although facing opposite directions, both held the same expression, and both forced the thought to the back of their mind, as if that would be the end of it. Footsteps patted the floor again before the door closed.

Susan scanned the tiled floor and blue walls, both old but the quality of the material somehow still maintained. She stared at herself in the mirror. Her cloudy white hair and few black strands meshed beautifully with her smooth skin and grey eyes. At least that's what Mae always told her, especially in their younger days. Always making her feel more pretty then she thought she was. Sue shared with Megan how her words made her feel sometime ago, and her response ... "Make sure the boy you like makes you feel the same. All the time!" Sue covered her face, just thinking about it made her cringe. Her fingers soon found the collar of her black sweater, which was long enough to cover her matching underwear.

She analyzed herself for a long moment before turning back to the mirror. What is beauty? She closed her eyes almost immediately after thinking the words. "It's too early for this shit," she muttered before starting the facet and splashing water on her face. After drying off with a nearby towel she reached for the door knob, but something caught her attention in the mirror. Slowly she turned, inching closer and closer to the glass, until it became obvious she was looking at her eyes. "No," she whispered.

Her left eye was her natural grey, but her right now a chilled black, cloaking the pupil completely. With no hesitation she dashed out the bathroom and ran through the head of the room leading into the small hallway. When Megan's head turned, fear took residence in her eyes. Fear and recognition.

"Crow! Crow!" Sue called as she fled downstairs. The further she ran the weaker she felt, her vision already beginning to blur. After descending the stairs her legs grew wobbly, now relying on bouncing wall to wall to make way, the sound of glass breaking at her rear with each shift in weight. Thankfully the front door was well in her sights, egging her on with a glimpse of hope, and with the last taste of strength she rammed her shoulder into the exit while turning the knob, flinging the door open and her ahead. It would hurt, but still she thanked whatever had helped her make it out the house.

Momentum carried Sue through the air until she met the hard ground, face in dirt without the cushion of her hands. She had no patience to even think of the dirt on her face. The world twirled as her arms shook in trying to raise and fail. She only had enough to sit on her knees as fear awoke from her bones with a smile.

She mustered enough will to scream, so loud that it shook her core. "Crow!" She looked down at her hands with scratchy breaths, her fingers had lost their color, ready to crack like stone with nothing more then the strength of a touch. It crept up her wrist, whatever claimed she could no longer move. With a tight grip she grabbed her hand, commanding it to stop, repeatedly. The bulk of stone was already hard, and eventually her anger slipped into pleading. "It's too late, it's too late, please stop," she said while squeezing her eyes as tight as she could. Tears aided her fear, streaming down her cheeks as warmth embraced her firmly. Her whole body froze as she felt a heart beat against her back, she turned around and looked up with stiff movements, and the fear was gone, crawling back into it’s lovely hole.

Smiling all the same.