Fallenstar

Danger Signs

It was a cool November afternoon, and Cia watched the red and brown leaves fall from the trees, flowing gently past her window. She looked over at her clock, which read 4:48. Solstice was hosting a party that started at five that evening. She threw on her purple hoodie that was striped with black and gray, and she headed out the door.

"I'm leaving for the Spring's place," she called to her parents. "I'll see you tonight!"

They bid her good wishes as she shut the door behind her. She was in a good mood, and excited about what was to come. The occasion that Solstice was hosting was a celebration of the chaos in their lives finally ending. It was also being held for Midnight, who had been recently adopted into the Spring family. Cia had heard that many people were going to be there. As they walked along the curb, the leaves beneath their feet gave a satisfying crunch. The feel of the beat of her steps akin to that of a metronome. She turned over into the next street, and her destination was only a few houses down. She knocked on the door and waited. Solstice greeted her with a wide smile.

"Cia! You're here! Come on in," she chirped. Cia's reply was only a simple smile of appreciation. No further words needed to be said.

Inside, Cia saw Tristen and Avery on the couch together. She figured that they would show up at the same time as each other. They had been inseparable ever since they announced that they were a couple, after all. Kio was sitting in a nearby chair. He had been talking to Solstice before Cia arrived. Midnight was nowhere to be seen, but that didn't seem to be surprising to Cia. She had come to learn that he was rather aloof and introverted. She guessed she would see him at some point that evening.

     As time passed by, more and more people started showing up. The home had become rather lively. Erick and Winter were the last to arrive. They showed up together, hand in paw. Winter had a bright smile on his face, while Erick's expression was more shy.

"Sorry we're late," said Winter as he brushed his brown hair out of his half-frozen face. "We had some business to take care of."

"It's alright," Solstice replied sweetly. "You're here now, and that's what matters."

"Where's Midnight?" Candy asked.

"I'm here," said a soft voice. Everyone turned to see Midnight emerge from the hallway. He seemed to tense up from all the eyes on him, but relaxed slightly knowing he was among familiar faces.

"Great! The fun can finally begin!" Solstice declared. She opened up her arms as if to hug Midnight, but stopped herself when she noticed him shy away. "Right, you're not a hugger. Sorry."

"It's fine," he shrugged, looking unbothered. Solstice put her hands behind her back awkwardly.

Cia hung back in a corner while vaguely listening in to the conversations around her. She wouldn't call it eavesdropping per say, but more like people watching. She wasn't really paying attention to the noise of the chatter, but rather the visual of her surroundings. She silently took note of all the little details in her mind, watching the mannerisms of her peers. She didn't notice when Kio came over to lean against the wall beside her. She jumped, slightly startled when she finally saw him.

"Oh, hey." She locked her bright, wide blue eyes with his soft, relaxed brown ones.

"Hey. Sorry, didn't mean to startle you," he replied, running a hand through his scruffy jet-black hair. "It's nice to see everyone together like this."

"Yeah, when we're all not in perilous danger," Cia snickered to herself, now staring at the floor with her hands in her pockets. Meanwhile, Kio was looking up at the various flowers decorating the room, grown by Solstice with her magic. They ranged in all sorts of beautiful shades and colors, from blues, to pinks, to yellows.