The sun had begun to set, a thin strip of dim blue light illuminating the shallow parts of the cave. Night was approaching, and the already alien world around them would be shrouded in dark.
445Please respect copyright.PENANABv6937l9es
Sophia tugged at the curved wrist-length sleeve of her sister's dress, a deep earthy green color, like a cross between soft moss and the color of the younger child's twinkly peridot eyes. "Sis, I'm hungry."
445Please respect copyright.PENANAHhFeaMt3sK
"Can we..?" Sonata began.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAuucO8gsKrx
Sophia frowned, tilting her head.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAMa3ej6aSXi
Sonata glanced between her sister and the distant corner where the food was, her pale brows pulled into a crease. If they could just make do foraging for meals here and there, they might be able to make their meager food supply last for at least a little longer. But what of subsistence could they possibly find in the dark, before they were among the wolves and who knows what in the darkness. Not to mention the scare she'd give Sophia if she let loose that there was a chance they could die. This was something she'd have to plan ahead of time.
445Please respect copyright.PENANA51A2QLRJvG
"Nothing," she nervously assured, picking at a fleck of something dried onto her bare foot, "it's getting late, so we should collect some more firewood, just in case."
445Please respect copyright.PENANAAjAVgq7sEJ
Sophia looked back towards the entrance, her pale curls lemony in the twilight. "I can go," she volunteered, picking herself up to go.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAn1yhY5WsNN
Sonata felt dread set in on her chest again. "Stay where I can see you from the cave, I'm coming out soon!" She called, and watched the little being hurry off.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAs1qPL5prtV
Sonata made her way towards the dead firepit, trying to salvage what she could of the not-entirely-burnt-through timber. They hadn't done a very good job of putting the fire out that morning—meaning they just plain didn't, so there wasn't much they could save.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAr7twd4st2y
SCREAM
445Please respect copyright.PENANAElTzeGpGUu
It was a short, acute, tiny screech of alarm that caught her ears. Sonata's head shot up. It had barely been a few moments, what on earth had she gotten into? Was she being attacked by something, could she scare it off, was she hurt? Sonata dropped what she was doing and ran towards the source of the noise, clenching her soot-covered hands so they wouldn't dirty her clothes.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAR7ff9YldNi
She found Sophia standing frozen in place not too far from the exit of the cave, her peridot eyes fixed wide upon the shadowy space under a cluster of bushes. Seeing as she wasn't hurt or until sort of imminent danger, Sonata's dash slowed to a rushed gait. She needed to conserve her energy more, with this silly drake.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAe3qOTef0sp
"Sophia? What is it?"
445Please respect copyright.PENANAs3rT0PDRo9
Her lips barely hushed out, "spider." Her eyes were still wide, frozen on that corner of darkness. When she heard the crunch of twigs of her elder sister right next to her, she turned her eyes enough to maneuver herself backwards and hide behind her, her small fingers interlocked into her skirt. She looked positively frightened, her little eyes all misty and her distressed expression.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAP7qqIWQZy4
"Where?" Sonata simply asked.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAUWgUlAtC35
Small fingers hesitated, then unlocked themselves just enough to point down to the place. "I picked it up and it was there."
445Please respect copyright.PENANAuNjXCHB7QW
Sonata figured she was talking about a branch somewhere down there. She bent down and found a relatively thick branch in the shadows. She picked it up, and sure enough there were a pair of spiders, dust-like things with long hairs for legs and crumbs for bodies. The squeamish little princess behind her whined.
445Please respect copyright.PENANA1SjUKVGzTl
STOMP STOMP STOMP
445Please respect copyright.PENANAn9Km3S1EfC
Sonata didn't hesitate to do it with her bare foot, and in no time the spiders were reduced to a disfigured pair of imprints on the dirt. Sophia's face was tucked into her sister's dress, her hands clinging tight as buckle clasps. Sophia brushed her curly hair in reassurance, pulling the small figure towards her in a small hug.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAg5mE924JLz
"It's okay, Sophia. It was only a bug. Did it bite you? Did any get on your hand?" She half teased. Sophia sniffled, wiping her hands on her sister's dress before looking at them.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAUAMxLCfT3X
"Hey!"
445Please respect copyright.PENANASxzK8PakNN
Sniff. Sophia wiped the tears dripping down her apple cheeks with her sleeve, then showed her hands to her sister. Humoring her, Sonata turned them over, looking over and around her arms. "Nope, no more spiders," she confirmed, giving the small one another small squeeze. "Do you want to stack the firewood inside for me? I'll do the picking up and make a pile out here, you can carry them inside. Then there won't be any bugs."
445Please respect copyright.PENANAkfToZAv9fJ
Sophia nodded, rubbing her face. Sonata began to hand her the stick she'd just picked up, taller than she was. "Wait." She pressed the thinner end against the ground, pushing it down with all her weight until it snapped in half. "Here." The handed the small waiting hands the two halves. "Be careful of the splinters, okay?" Sophia nodded.
445Please respect copyright.PENANA4Jc5mK0exk
...
445Please respect copyright.PENANAhY4RCjAirj
The world outside was complete darkness. It was to be expected, as there were no other people to light flames here, no dim lights from a city in the distance, anywhere around. Sophia cuddled, curled against her sister's side. Her head was tucked between her shoulder and the fur cloak, the gentle rock of her breathing mixing with the crackling of fire and the howling of wind and the occasional sound of a rodent outside. They'd thrown the dragon cloak over a rock and layered it with their own cloaks and the other clothes they weren't wearing for some cushioning, but in all, it was still a rock.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAYCX9xrlcBI
Sophia was tired, but she wasn't quite asleep yet. Her hand still grasped tight the sleeve of Sonata's underdress, which she just used as a nightgown for now, she could still feel the occasional tickle of her sister's eyelashes shifting.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAu2Vx3dMyht
"Sis? Where's mama?" She asked again, her little peridot eyes wide and concerned as they peeked up from the corner of Sonata's shoulder.
445Please respect copyright.PENANA0BREu0tNAS
She's gone to find father, she almost repeated.
445Please respect copyright.PENANA5Dv4Gf4V3I
I don't know, she almost admitted.
445Please respect copyright.PENANA8fFhNBTJnv
She gently brushed Sophia's pale hair. "Do you miss your mother?" She asked.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAhd7wmAXA6Q
Sophia's eyes widened a little, then she turned around briefly, looking around the cave. Thinking.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAG7JY3MYF7N
"I'm scared." She presses her head against Sonata again, hugging her arm. "What if something comes? Will Mamà save us?" She asked.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAYQV95TOmTY
Sonata nibbled her lip. Luckily Sophia was looking away, so she didn't see. There was silence until Sophia looked up, her concern a little more visible, her movements and pronunciations a little more jerky. "Why aren't you answering?"
445Please respect copyright.PENANAUwq2WWjsCO
Sonata stared down with wide eyes at the expectant little girl. She was scared, but she had to be strong. Everything would be okay, she needed to assure her that everything would be okay. But she was scared, herself. She didn't want to die, but more than that she didn't want her sister to die. She was so, so scared.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAr9MHBvTGt4
She pulled Sophia into a hug, bending over her to hide her face. Her voice was a little broken, but she tried to hide her fear. She tried so hard.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAkZIUwoThe0
"If something comes, I'll protect you." She pressed Sophia's head against her shoulder, reassuring herself more than anyone. "I promise, I'm right here, I'll protect you. I promised mother I'd protect you."
445Please respect copyright.PENANAHnJycr5Sr2
She could feel some heat, and then wetness against her shoulder. Sophia said nothing. The tears Sonata felt threatening her never came. She sat holding she smaller figure, rubbing her back as she soundlessly cried until she tired herself out. The crackling of fire was her sole companion for a long time, until an exhausted Sonata was finally dragged down to sleep as well.
445Please respect copyright.PENANAtyKPFcS1G3
445Please respect copyright.PENANARCH3MO2BtE
445Please respect copyright.PENANApbahCxevym
445Please respect copyright.PENANAqFJ7rKNdW3
445Please respect copyright.PENANAV8dTphfoFI
445Please respect copyright.PENANAhSqdjVJFWX
445Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1k7UQ9N70
445Please respect copyright.PENANASQea52vKYD
445Please respect copyright.PENANAzG29BLTKUs
445Please respect copyright.PENANAMDIkK1ofPL
445Please respect copyright.PENANAmCFDHbv2z6
445Please respect copyright.PENANA2eVHVxg0oT
445Please respect copyright.PENANA7xAKFX13L1
445Please respect copyright.PENANAPTbZLYXoyO
445Please respect copyright.PENANAl9kbAv40VQ
445Please respect copyright.PENANATpiuVao5Bi
445Please respect copyright.PENANA594rJT5OQD
445Please respect copyright.PENANALgWZ1NCEna
445Please respect copyright.PENANAnxAYkFa6R0
445Please respect copyright.PENANAxBrB6HbbRB
445Please respect copyright.PENANAIVy1J9Rl3f
445Please respect copyright.PENANAj9iRmOJVmD
445Please respect copyright.PENANAGNGxvRHyPg
445Please respect copyright.PENANA0Jbnrcyrbn
445Please respect copyright.PENANAgnHYqPh7BB
445Please respect copyright.PENANADtBL3YoUv5
445Please respect copyright.PENANAtheAiZcEbB
445Please respect copyright.PENANAwKBINdLm7b
445Please respect copyright.PENANAPjep1MuPEM
445Please respect copyright.PENANAS53siaLGA9
445Please respect copyright.PENANAYosV332dF3
445Please respect copyright.PENANAScgGrP30Cv
445Please respect copyright.PENANA7KVs8kxZAB
445Please respect copyright.PENANAibLJh5v9oI
445Please respect copyright.PENANAmmoYd9Him1
445Please respect copyright.PENANANNvmbR5MUx
445Please respect copyright.PENANAMiDHwIKOfl
445Please respect copyright.PENANABHKtPmOrwx
445Please respect copyright.PENANAlEtofcURw5
445Please respect copyright.PENANA6aXyT9cxPc
445Please respect copyright.PENANAfkV1N1Lhi8
445Please respect copyright.PENANA7gIudA7hZt
445Please respect copyright.PENANAMxMoj0EBxe
445Please respect copyright.PENANA8xQya9VKzq
445Please respect copyright.PENANASXxxz1IbRw
445Please respect copyright.PENANAPlsknlIMU1
445Please respect copyright.PENANAO2mVty1mCz
445Please respect copyright.PENANAtWdy1AIrZ0
445Please respect copyright.PENANA2iUDQDL3lO
445Please respect copyright.PENANAcH41c4U6b2
445Please respect copyright.PENANA15rst3vwCb
445Please respect copyright.PENANANdw60F3KzY
445Please respect copyright.PENANACUlJCRO7Kc
445Please respect copyright.PENANArbYWrvKIHq
445Please respect copyright.PENANAIKO1xdbtR7
445Please respect copyright.PENANA5xntlVp788
445Please respect copyright.PENANAhCcErZr26l
445Please respect copyright.PENANA0JENxTDYvY
445Please respect copyright.PENANADexPopKqiH
445Please respect copyright.PENANAjG0xMlm2L4
445Please respect copyright.PENANAJ02VBHkPVQ
445Please respect copyright.PENANAlGjYI6A42q
445Please respect copyright.PENANAKF8wPoYrmf
445Please respect copyright.PENANAF1PtF1OyBk
445Please respect copyright.PENANAKe5Nu5D6gx
445Please respect copyright.PENANAP8kEnxitDQ
445Please respect copyright.PENANAcZ37J54y3s
445Please respect copyright.PENANAAOfl3NWORs
445Please respect copyright.PENANAdLBH0T3Ztv
445Please respect copyright.PENANAbwTnzlGAul
445Please respect copyright.PENANACW78jQUAlQ
445Please respect copyright.PENANAETrX3A92in
445Please respect copyright.PENANAfBrblK7Mbj
445Please respect copyright.PENANAwumyTzPNWa
445Please respect copyright.PENANAa9l6lqZA1l
Alone in a cave.
ns 15.158.61.17da2