The Gardenkeeper's Daughters

Natrina- 10

"So, how was it?" Gash asks, sitting in our secret grove.

"I told Aislyn." I tell him.

"You did? What does she think?"
"She doesn't know why it happened. She says that Almalia told her that Sentients with close connections often dream of each other, telepathically or otherwise, but before this we were unacquainted, so it might be something else entirely."

Gash looks towards the trees. "Hmmm... I guess we'll have to figure it out ourselves. You're coming soon, right?"

I nod. "This is almost the halfway point. I believe it's the twelfth day, but with Aislyn's keen sense of direction and Almalia's help by Companion Crystal, we're making good time. Just a question... what's it like where you are?"
"We're up near the mountains. There's lots of rain, it's full of dense foliage, and the creatures there are very large. The dragons are usually friendly, but the large Felis are potentially less so. You guys stick together, okay?"

I sigh. "We will. Don't worry too much about us." I get up to my paws to stretch out. "So, tell me about your family!"

"You want me to talk about all of them?!" He looks shocked, though his expression is playful.

"Well, yes."

"Ugh, Nat, I have eleven siblings! That doesn't even count my cousins, they're wild. I must have... fifty of those."

"Eleven?"

"Five from the first litter, and mine has seven. I still can't believe you only have one sibling." he teases, but after a long pause adds, "It must be really lonely."

"I... I guess when we fight, I don't really have anyone else to talk to. It's bought us close together, though."
"Mhm." he says, taking everything I say in with a deft nod. His gaze turns upwards as he looks at the trees. Sunlight is spilling in, but unlike the usual pastel dream light, this sunlight is bright and hard. "Time to go already?"

"I'll see you tomorrow." I say with a sigh.

He nods, his whole body disappearing as the sunlight washes over him. I feel my own form turning to nothingness as my eyes open, returning me from our little forest to the real world. I feel a tinge of disappointment as I look upwards to find the sun above bright but there's no Gash.

My sister says she can usually control her dreams. I used to be a little jealous of her. Now, I'm very jealous. I could have done so much more behind closed eyes. I could have had a world made of endless places as beautiful as the corner of the forest where Gash and I meet. I could give him an entire empire for us to share.

The thoughts flit through my head like butterflies as I walk along the barely marked paths between trees, my paws splintering sticks into smithereens. Aislyn approaches me, but on my other side, Vivian pulls up.

"H-hello, Vivian." I manage to stutter, shocked by her sudden confidence.

"Morning, Nat." Vivian says in what I guess was supposed to be her least threatening voice.

"Good morning to you too." I say quietly. Her gaze meets mine for a second before I look away, still shaking a little.

Aislyn strikes up a little song, and I realize that she is really really good at singing. Without any words, her voice carries over the quiet woods and into the morning. The birds chirp back high pitched melodies and prey sits clustered around trees.

As we walk, leaves fall around us, silhouetting us against beautiful shades of bright red and orange and Aislyn continues, strangely solemn.

"Is it a princess thing?" asks Vivian, finally breaking the spell of her voice.