Retreating shadows

CH6

When Sunchild returned from her morning prayer, the first days program had been brought to their rooms. Agon was reading it aloud. In all the years Sunchild had been to the gathering, a day usually had the same shape. Today there would be sports in the morning, tabletop games that afternoon, and the evenings would be filled with those nifty light-clan moving pictures with sound and music.

Sunchild had long ago lost interest in most of the entertainment options and rarely bothered with them. The three out of eight currently present who had never been here before, however, were listening with rapt expressions. You could almost be convinced that the sun was speaking to them herself.

"So, that's what soccer and rollerskating are," said Agon. He wasn't a morning person, but this level of exhaustion at this time was strange even for him. "You can do those after breakfast. You can also go horse-riding. That's—"

"That's where you ride one of those animals, I know. The centaurs but with an animal head instead of a human chest and shoulders and face!" exclaimed Pirocessa.

"Centaurs, minus their best part," mumbled Nox.

"This horse," said Piroce. They continued, "They carry you? The horse wishes to do this?"

"If it doesn't like it, it'll just throw you off," said Erok. A smug smile overtook his face, "Eib can give you a first-hand account."

"I fall off a horse once, and you act like it's a cornerstone of my personality," grumbled Eib.

"It was very memorable. I thought the fire clan had redeclared the war. That was the only explanation for the volume of your yelling I could come up with." said Nox.

"The only reason it was memorable for you was because you cannot come up with anything more interesting to think about." said Eib. "Contrary to you, I have something exciting planned today. Arlen and me are finally going on our date."

"He's here?" said Sunchild, "Why didn't you say so yesterday?"

"I— well—" Eib tried. "He was so very nervous about it when I talked to him. Maybe he likes to keep his dating private. I didn't want you to make him uncomfortable."

This, Sunchild reflected, was a reasonable line of reasoning. Had she been aware the day before, she likely would have aggressively informed Arlen of her best wishes immediately.

"I will meet one of these horses," Piroce decided.

"Great, okay, I'll show you," said Agon, "I'll give you a tour. Whoever wants to do the rounds of all the activities, follow me."

Agon, Veice, Piroce and Pirocessa left for an early breakfast in an effort to maximize the entertainment. Eib followed soon after, to prepare for her date. This left Sunchild with Nox and Erok.
"They might get into trouble," said Erok. "I should keep an eye on them and their surroundings."

"Be careful with the death glares," said Nox. "Maybe one of them will work when you least expect it."

"I only shoot death glares at those who deserve death," said Erok.

"Now, leave the murder for after we've had breakfast," said Sunchild, "I'm hungry."

Breakfast came and went, as breakfasts usually do when you are hungry. After, everyone scattered across the island like sparks on dry grass. Sunchild looked around, feeling a bit lost.

Were she at home, her two boys would have kept her busy. She'd spend the morning trying to convince them to change out of their pajamas. When her effort were, inevitably, for nought, she'd beg them to at least put on their shoes before going outside. As she resigned herself to two more ruined pairs of socks, she'd need to move on to the dishes.

The rest of her days were spent teaching the shadow children the history of their people and helping whoever may need it. Sometimes she organized communal welcomes and farewells to the sun, and there would be snacks and drinks to procure. Here, asking someone if they wanted her help would get her a curt thank you and a definite no. She'd tried.

As most aimless things on islands do, Sunchild found herself on the beach.

Alright then, she thought. Perhaps on this beach, this year, she could find a shell unlike any she'd ever seen before.

Some time later, she had had to conclude that there were no hidden gems to be found. All there was underneath the sand, seafoam and rotten seaweed was more of the same. Oh well. Not every hour had to be a productive one.

It was then, just before the morning's time of true shadows, that the bird crossed the skies above her. It was headed east, towards the shadow clan home.

It wouldn't be their home for much longer. Sunchild recognized the dark bird for what is was—the dragonform of her old friend Meli. Sunchild hadn't seen her since the first ship to go looking for far-off land had carried her away.

She couldn't help but smile, her cheeks almost hurt from it. Meli's return could only have one reason. Their quest had been completed.