CADENZA'S POV
"Rose!" I yelled to my pet chicken, whom I got as a present from Castor the Chicken Shamman. She bawked.
"I told you to stop pecking the loose threads on my fabric! It ruins it! Now come on, I have to get us to the plaza for Garroth's surprise birthday party. I rushed out the door, Rose in hand.
"Good morning, Cadenza," Garroth, the head guard said. His eyes sparkled. "Do you know what day it is?"
"Not a clue, Garroth." I said. I must have been very convincing because he gave a kind of sad look and walked away. When I said that, the sparkle in his eyes dulled. His blue eyes darkened to an almost-teal colour. I felt kind of bad.... he seemed really upset.
I rushed over to the plaza and meet with Kassy. She's been my best friend for years. Of course she was an hour early, not unlike me.
"An hour early, I see." She said to me
"Why were you earlier than I was?" I asked.
She smiled at me and kept stringing up balloons. We told Garroth to patrol the gates, buying us a few hours of party decorating time. After about three hours, most of the decorations were up and most of the villagers were there. Except the fairy light decorations.
Darn Zoey, she was supposed to be here ten minutes ago. Why isn't she ready?
I rushed to Aphmau's house and knocked on the door. Come on, come on... Garroth's shift is going to end at the gates soon! Open up, open up!
"Hello? Oh, hello, Cadenza"
"Zoey! Why aren't the fairy lights at the plaza?!"
"Oh! I completely forgot! I have them downstairs. Let me finish dressing Levin and making sure Malachi is ready."
I waited at the door impatiently and when she finally came out, it was only ten minutes until Garroth's shift was done and he'd go through the plaza to check on the statue of Irene. I took the fairy lights and ran, leaving Zoey to walking Levin and Malachi. Kassy, myself, and a few others strung the glistening golden lights up, with thirty seconds to spare.
Zoey led the boys over, coming down the steps. I carried Levin since he wasn't that fast.
Twenty seconds
We found a hiding place and ducked down.
Ten seconds.
Someone whisper-shouted "Garroth's walking down the path!"
Five seconds.
When he went down the steps he was looking at the pebbles.
Three seconds.
Garroth finally looked up.
One second.
It was time. "Surprise!"
