Dance of Lilies

Chapter 3 - Hyryin's POV

The hutt is the most beautiful in the mornings, when light bathes it in its glory, when the fresh scent of tea and honey fill the rooms. The best part of it is spending the first awaking hours with Sabi and the rest of my family.

This time, it's just the two of us, however. Usually Kyuuna is here the first thing in the morning, or Elliora has stayed the night once again since she never has the patience to walk home during the evenings. But this time, Elliora is with Loitu, and Kyuuna must have had a busy morning with her White Lilies.

I balance my fingers on the edge of the teacup, enjoying the warmth that seeps into the porcelain from the tea. It's a rare occasion for me to be here this early, and Sabi knows it.

"I was surprised when you came here in the middle of the night," Sabi whispers as she sits next to me and kisses my neck briefly. My hair is on a loose bun, the lilac strands barely obeying the rules of physics. Sabi's fingers trace my red feathers, fleetingly, before she settles with just keeping the tip of her fingers on my free hand while she reads the news. It's the small things that make me fall in love with her all over again, each and every day.

"I haven't seen you in two weeks, I wanted to stop by first thing while on my way home," I reply and brush her soft skin with my thumb. Sabi hums and smiles at my words, and there is a clear sense of amusement in it. She knows me too much. 

When she's about to open her mouth, I lift a brow and place my index finger onto her lips.

"Hush now dear. Not a word about Kyuuna," I chuckle. I know Sabi knows that I usually visit the forest in the morning for a chance to talk with the plant nightmare.

"I didn't say anything." Sabi's hum is teasing as she kisses my fingertips gently. "I'm sorry Kyuuna isn't here yet, though."

"Busy with her people?" I can't help but to worry, dread raising its ugly head every time Kyuuna  leaves Sabi's protection. They've been planning to move from the forest, into the town I live in, to find a place where the White Lilies could live with better accommodations.

"I'd think so," Sabi replies, and reaches to push some loose strands of hair behind my ear. It feels comforting. The peace, the quiet moments we share. Still, something is missing.

"I'm not saying I don't enjoy our time together— " I sigh, lips puckered as I lean against her shoulder, "— It just feels weird when the hutt is this empty..."

"I know you love it when the whole family is in the same place. I don't take offence, love..."

Sabi's words are calm as always, and it truly feels like she understands. She doesn't judge. 

I'm always so very lonely when I retreat to my apartment in the outskirts of the town, or when I go on my long work journeys. It's exhausting. So, when I'm back in town, I prefer to spend it with my loved ones. All of them. Preferably in the same room, as close to me as possible. I've always been one to indulge myself with intensity that would overwhelm most.

The morning doesn't get any better. On the contrary.

As I'm leaving, I stop right before opening the door. My fingers barely touch the metal handle as I get a feeling of threat. It's a sinister, awful storm that brushes against my back and makes me shiver.

I step away from the door.

Suddenly, it flings open, and one of the members of the White Lilies steps in, blood on his face, breathing uneven, tears in his eyes. When he sees us, he bursts into an unforgiving sob. He's younger than any of us, maybe in his late teens.

His words make me freeze.

"They took Kyuuna!"

Sabi is next to me right away, her hand on my shoulder, calming me down, as if she'd know the storm already raging inside of me. I can't talk, I can't utter a word. I feel like my very heart has frozen, close to shattering if it wasn't for her touch.

"Iliya, isn't it?" Sabi asks, and I'm surprised how calm she sounds, even though the hand on my shoulder is tense, almost trembling.

"Y-yes," the boy whispers.

"Iliya, can you tell me who took Kyuuna? What happened?"

Iliya takes a deep breath and rubs the blood off his face. It's not his. Is it Kyuuna's? It does have a silver tone to it, and now, the panic starts to rise. I try my best to withhold the whimper rummaging my ugly fears.

"We were—  were packing up our camp, and Kyuuna was giving us the keys, telling us to go over the border without her, i-in case Ursa would be there... And then, suddenly, a b-big storm came, and threw Kyuuna out of the forest. We — I tried to stop it, but Ursa was too fast. She took her, with the blue haired woman!"

I catch a glimpse of the worry that washes over Sabi as she squeezes my shoulder again. We're both as calm as we can, but I'm ready to run outside in unfathomable rage and find Ursa and Mimoi, to find Kyuuna, and to bring her back.

However, Sabi's soft tone stops me.

"Are you hurt, Iliya?" Sabi whispers,  and when she takes a deep breath I can feel her hand tremble again. She's barely managing her emotions, as am I.

"J-just a little... I'll be fine," Iliya whispers, "I just want Kyuuna to be okay."

"We'll bring her back, I promise. Can you take charge of the White Lilies meanwhile?"

Sabi has to know she's asking a lot from a teenager.

Iliya doesn't hesitate to nod. "I will do it. I'll go and lead us to the town— I'll do my best!" His voice trembles like a leaf, but he stands strong. I barely register the words of courage Sabi offers him.

After Iliya leaves, Sabi turns away from me. I glance at her and bite my lip softly, frustrated, scared. I might be amongst the most stable and calm beings in our family, but once my emotions get to me, I'm a mess internally. Sabi isn't quite like me. While she experiences rage and fear and all that in such intensity it would overwhelm anyone, she's also capable of handling it with utmost grace and delicacy. 

"Hyryin?"

Sabi's whispers breaks my haze. I've never heard her tone so fragile, so ready to break down, so close to tears.

"Yes?"

"Will you come with me? I don't think I can do this alone. I don't think I can handle rage as well as I'd like this time, and I don't wish to kill."

Sabi's words are a painful whisper, and I'm breathless from the vulnerability she offers me right now.

I take a step closer and pull her face between my hands. I press my foreheads against hers and take a deep, tearful breath. I have to be strong for her, too. She's never asked for anything from me, let alone for my help as a harbor for her ocean of emotions.

"You don't need to ask, my eternal... let's go get Kyuuna back."