The dripstone spikes topping the Red Velvet Keep pierced the sky, visible to Pearl from a mile away as she crossed the treetops separating her and the Desert Duo. The Keep looked good, for something built in the midst of something so short and dangerous as a Life Game.
But Pearl wasn't here to admire the beauty of Grian's building. She was here to ensure that he and Scar were okay after the late night before. Yes... That was why... It had nothing to do with a certain revolution she was planning. Nothing at all...
On a whim, Pearl went to check the panda sanctuary for Scar instead of the Keep. Grian had said he was usually there. She wrapped her fingers around the mangrove root fencing and pulled herself over.
Taking a moment to look for Scar, Pearl was instead distracted by the sheer beauty of the reserve. The bamboo, the leaves, the roots... It was all placed so beautifully. Scar should have been terraforming, spreading this beauty over the world, not killing others in a Game. The workings of this stupid country bound so many people to unpleasant careers scraping for what coin they could, instead of pursuing their dreams and spreading their talents. It was all so wrong.
Pearl closed her eyes and huffed out an angry breath, calming herself down so she could face Scar without lingering bits of fury from thoughts of her government.
Like, seriously, what had the Lords done to earn their place? Was there actually some danger in the Border Woods, or were those just stories to keep the people of Misharin in line? And why would they, instead of any other people, have the power to protect the people from this danger? Why were they so special? What-
No. Thoughts like that just made Pearl angrier, and that was unnecessary. She was in the panda reserve, a place of calm, on a mission to talk to Scar, one of the nicest, happiest people in the Game.
She dusted off her pants, removing a little lingering dirt from her climb, and started her search for Scar. It wasn't a very long search.
"Hey, Scar!"
The man turned around. "Well, hello there, Pearl! Good to see you're alright. What happened after you left?"
"I ran. A lot. I ended up at Scott's. He didn't want us both dead, so he let me stay the night. How about you? I came by to make sure nothing bad had happened to you or Grian."
"Oh, we're fine. The Red Velvet Keep was close and I was able to get there quickly."
"Did you happen to try talking to Grian about what you said to me?" Pearl asked.
"The people-need-someone-to-talk-to thing?" Scar asked, confused.
"No! The he-shunned-you thing! I think talking to him could help. Maybe he doesn't realise what he's doing or has a reason."
"Really? What if he just... Never actually cared? What if he only stayed with me in Third Life because of his debt, and then couldn't make a new alliance afterwards? I'm not sure I want to learn that..." Scar glanced away.
"It might be worth the risk. Just think on it, okay?" Pearl reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder.
He didn't look back at her.
Pearl sighed, but moved on. "I did have another reason for coming here."
Scar finally turned to her, relief at the subject change flickering over his face. "What is it?"
"Scar, is your camera on?" Hers wasn't, she'd made sure of that.
"No. There also aren't any in this area of the panda reserve."
YOU ARE READING
Not My Pyre (A Pearl-Centric Double Life FanFic)
FanfictionPearl grows tired of the wrongs committed by the leaders of her country, known as the Lords of Misharin, and decides to do something about it with the help of some friends who are trapped in the Lords' Life Games with her.
