Viena and the Black Mirror

[ 20 ] - 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠

      Viena was unsurprised when she woke up damp. The fabric of her dress clung to her body like a moldy towel, itching her skin. She just knew mud caked all over her.

There was one comfort, however; the black fabric shielding her from the rising sun. It kept her warm, absorbing the light of the morning like a fireplace. Viena's eyes squinted as she pulled the fabric off her face, relishing in the quiet birdsong. The sun peeked at about thirty degrees, meaning she slept through most of the morning.

She sat up with a yawn, twisting her back with several pops. Doing a quick scan made her realize three things. One: the black fabric was the feathered cloak Sen never took off. Two: Sen lay nearby, an arm thrown over his eyes as his chest slowly rose and fell. Three: Viena was alone with him.

Viena tossed the cloak off her as she stumbled to stand. Only to fall over as her vision swarmed with blurry black spots. She hit the ground hard, clutching her head from the building migraine.

"Viena...?" Sen groaned, stretching his arms above his head. "You okay...?" He rubbed his eyes blearily.

"W-why are you laying there?" Viena stuttered, scooching away.

"Hm?" Sen blinked as he gazed at the surrounding ground. He sat twelve feet away from her, an appropriate distance yet still embarrassing in Viena's eyes. "I must have fallen asleep while watching you."

"W-watching!?"

Sen's sleepy head must have realized something, because his eyes expanded with his mouth gaped open. "W-well, not you specifically! It's dangerous to sleep outside in the open!"

Viena covered her face with her hands. All that trouble just to keep her safe? All because she couldn't control where she fell asleep? She needs to be more careful. "I-I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have fallen asleep out here."

Sen shrugged. "I don't blame you. We were all fatigued." He chuckled tiredly, lifting his hand to stare at the clouds. "I wouldn't be surprised if Fleaya is still asleep. And she's been waking up at sunrise every day of her life."

"She seems like she's got the energy," Viena giggled, leaning back against the grass with a sigh.

A faint smell of smoke lingered in the air, fading away with the morning breeze. It shocked her to wake up to such a good, weathered day. Viena half expected the sky to be gloomy with clouds, holding the promise of rain and fog. She was glad to have one less thing to worry about.

"What do we do..." Viena lamented. There were so many things to be done. So many questions she did not have the answers to. And they only had three days.

Sen sighed, standing up with a stretch. "Let's get something to eat first. We'll go from there afterwards."

"Shouldn't we have a meeting?" Viena asked. She stood up, wiping away the wet grass that clung to her skirt. "We only have so much time before..."

Sen chuckled, erasing her worry with a wave of his hand. "You try having a meeting with a bunch of hungry, sleep deprived individuals. Things go smoother if everyone is in better shape, and you look like you've seen better days."

Viena studied the state of herself in irritation. "I don't look that bad," she insisted. The warmth spreading through her body was more than embarrassment, Viena realized.

"You've got leaves and sticks in your hair," Sen pointed.

Viena felt through her wild curls. Sure enough, foliage stuck out of her head like a bush. She hadn't wanted to be aware of it. The more confident she tricked herself into being, the easier it would be to get through the day. But now...