Tears of a Dove

IV: Solstice

The same day, at dusk

"Arwel. Arwel!" Miku shouted.

Arwel jumped out of his slumber in surprise. "Miku...?"

She giggled. "I knew you'd still be sleeping. I came to wake you up. Come on, the Solstice starts soon."

"Right." Getting out of his bed, Kobe woke up and lightly shook Ingrid, waking her up as well.

"Hmm?" Ingrid mumbled sleepily. "Is it time?"

"It sure is," Kobe responded.

Miku leaned over to Arwel. "Who's that?" she whispered.

"I'm going, to be honest, I have no idea," Arwel whispered in response. "She kind of creeps me out."

Looking into Ingrid's eyes, Miku silently gasped and covered her mouth. Her gray irises and gray-black hair gave her an unsettling sensation.

Arwel noticed her and put his arms on her shoulders."What's the matter?"

Miku cleared her throat. "Nothing. Let's go."

"You guys go ahead. I'll get myself and Ingrid ready." Kobe said. "We'll catch up."

Arwel nodded and took Miku by the hand. They exited through the front door.

"Are they gone?" Ingrid said in one quick breath.

"Yeah. It's okay, we'll meet up with them very soon." Kobe said, hand on Ingrid's shoulder.

Ingrid ran her hand through her dark hair. "Does it look okay?"

"What?"

"Me. Do I look alright?"

"Uh... Yeah, of course, you do."

She smiled. "You don't seem very confident with your answer."

"I am. You look great already."

Ingrid stood up. "Alright, I guess I'll have to take your word for it."

"Is there anything I can do for you before we leave?"

"No, thank you," Ingrid replied. She seemed rather happy. "You're already doing enough for me. I... I appreciate that."

Kobe noticed moisture in her eyes. "Hey, are you alright?"

"You don't know what it's like to live every day in a place like Kinji. I've witnessed several deaths, yet nobody... Nobody even cared about anyone there. It was basically just a huge battlefield. You'd be lucky if you survived. The day my parents left me, I saw it in their eyes that they only cared about themselves. Me being twelve years old at the time, I didn't know what to do. I sat there for hours on end crying. Someone heard me and broke into my home." She pulled up her right sleeve and pointed to a large scar on her forearm. "They attacked me and threw me on the ground, threatening to end my life and take everything that was important to me. I didn't respond, so he began taking things. Then, I grabbed one of my father's blades, and... I killed him right there."