The sun had begun to set, a thin strip of dim blue light illuminating the shallow parts of the cave. Night was approaching, and the already alien world around them would be shrouded in dark.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAdND8Lde8HJ
Sophia tugged at the curved wrist-length sleeve of her sister's dress, a deep earthy green color, like a cross between soft moss and the color of the younger child's twinkly peridot eyes. "Sis, I'm hungry."
414Please respect copyright.PENANABDYj9A0Nvw
"Can we..?" Sonata began.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAfraVEndr0L
Sophia frowned, tilting her head.
414Please respect copyright.PENANANc9FtJJKqN
Sonata glanced between her sister and the distant corner where the food was, her pale brows pulled into a crease. If they could just make do foraging for meals here and there, they might be able to make their meager food supply last for at least a little longer. But what of subsistence could they possibly find in the dark, before they were among the wolves and who knows what in the darkness. Not to mention the scare she'd give Sophia if she let loose that there was a chance they could die. This was something she'd have to plan ahead of time.
414Please respect copyright.PENANATJM9mVgmoh
"Nothing," she nervously assured, picking at a fleck of something dried onto her bare foot, "it's getting late, so we should collect some more firewood, just in case."
414Please respect copyright.PENANAViVbK0ZL0J
Sophia looked back towards the entrance, her pale curls lemony in the twilight. "I can go," she volunteered, picking herself up to go.
414Please respect copyright.PENANA1IPaahGphQ
Sonata felt dread set in on her chest again. "Stay where I can see you from the cave, I'm coming out soon!" She called, and watched the little being hurry off.
414Please respect copyright.PENANANGtOZttdFU
Sonata made her way towards the dead firepit, trying to salvage what she could of the not-entirely-burnt-through timber. They hadn't done a very good job of putting the fire out that morning—meaning they just plain didn't, so there wasn't much they could save.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAKQ1eCzsOQ7
SCREAM
414Please respect copyright.PENANANtYR5MwXiF
It was a short, acute, tiny screech of alarm that caught her ears. Sonata's head shot up. It had barely been a few moments, what on earth had she gotten into? Was she being attacked by something, could she scare it off, was she hurt? Sonata dropped what she was doing and ran towards the source of the noise, clenching her soot-covered hands so they wouldn't dirty her clothes.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAWC1HjhAQxm
She found Sophia standing frozen in place not too far from the exit of the cave, her peridot eyes fixed wide upon the shadowy space under a cluster of bushes. Seeing as she wasn't hurt or until sort of imminent danger, Sonata's dash slowed to a rushed gait. She needed to conserve her energy more, with this silly drake.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAVKVCPZ5nrr
"Sophia? What is it?"
414Please respect copyright.PENANA2D1fJqZMWq
Her lips barely hushed out, "spider." Her eyes were still wide, frozen on that corner of darkness. When she heard the crunch of twigs of her elder sister right next to her, she turned her eyes enough to maneuver herself backwards and hide behind her, her small fingers interlocked into her skirt. She looked positively frightened, her little eyes all misty and her distressed expression.
414Please respect copyright.PENANA7wQeP1lT3r
"Where?" Sonata simply asked.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAQ1GAW8CLsX
Small fingers hesitated, then unlocked themselves just enough to point down to the place. "I picked it up and it was there."
414Please respect copyright.PENANAzkEL9VOObL
Sonata figured she was talking about a branch somewhere down there. She bent down and found a relatively thick branch in the shadows. She picked it up, and sure enough there were a pair of spiders, dust-like things with long hairs for legs and crumbs for bodies. The squeamish little princess behind her whined.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAvVvy7olR9h
STOMP STOMP STOMP
414Please respect copyright.PENANAdLIWSw8eKE
Sonata didn't hesitate to do it with her bare foot, and in no time the spiders were reduced to a disfigured pair of imprints on the dirt. Sophia's face was tucked into her sister's dress, her hands clinging tight as buckle clasps. Sophia brushed her curly hair in reassurance, pulling the small figure towards her in a small hug.
414Please respect copyright.PENANArrrQn1D4yR
"It's okay, Sophia. It was only a bug. Did it bite you? Did any get on your hand?" She half teased. Sophia sniffled, wiping her hands on her sister's dress before looking at them.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAyBqdzT6lbf
"Hey!"
414Please respect copyright.PENANAnfRqut0RxW
Sniff. Sophia wiped the tears dripping down her apple cheeks with her sleeve, then showed her hands to her sister. Humoring her, Sonata turned them over, looking over and around her arms. "Nope, no more spiders," she confirmed, giving the small one another small squeeze. "Do you want to stack the firewood inside for me? I'll do the picking up and make a pile out here, you can carry them inside. Then there won't be any bugs."
414Please respect copyright.PENANAvtQO7k147k
Sophia nodded, rubbing her face. Sonata began to hand her the stick she'd just picked up, taller than she was. "Wait." She pressed the thinner end against the ground, pushing it down with all her weight until it snapped in half. "Here." The handed the small waiting hands the two halves. "Be careful of the splinters, okay?" Sophia nodded.
414Please respect copyright.PENANABltVB2ICfC
...
414Please respect copyright.PENANADAPYlqIFip
The world outside was complete darkness. It was to be expected, as there were no other people to light flames here, no dim lights from a city in the distance, anywhere around. Sophia cuddled, curled against her sister's side. Her head was tucked between her shoulder and the fur cloak, the gentle rock of her breathing mixing with the crackling of fire and the howling of wind and the occasional sound of a rodent outside. They'd thrown the dragon cloak over a rock and layered it with their own cloaks and the other clothes they weren't wearing for some cushioning, but in all, it was still a rock.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAx6AXIZ92Gk
Sophia was tired, but she wasn't quite asleep yet. Her hand still grasped tight the sleeve of Sonata's underdress, which she just used as a nightgown for now, she could still feel the occasional tickle of her sister's eyelashes shifting.
414Please respect copyright.PENANA1DlRRharmd
"Sis? Where's mama?" She asked again, her little peridot eyes wide and concerned as they peeked up from the corner of Sonata's shoulder.
414Please respect copyright.PENANATqYHLhVCuB
She's gone to find father, she almost repeated.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAvrd3V2v3XY
I don't know, she almost admitted.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAZrA7Yah5Xk
She gently brushed Sophia's pale hair. "Do you miss your mother?" She asked.
414Please respect copyright.PENANARJ00fU6ZG6
Sophia's eyes widened a little, then she turned around briefly, looking around the cave. Thinking.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAN07jDhMn4v
"I'm scared." She presses her head against Sonata again, hugging her arm. "What if something comes? Will Mamà save us?" She asked.
414Please respect copyright.PENANALuxMXVG8SG
Sonata nibbled her lip. Luckily Sophia was looking away, so she didn't see. There was silence until Sophia looked up, her concern a little more visible, her movements and pronunciations a little more jerky. "Why aren't you answering?"
414Please respect copyright.PENANAGfeRX7woxd
Sonata stared down with wide eyes at the expectant little girl. She was scared, but she had to be strong. Everything would be okay, she needed to assure her that everything would be okay. But she was scared, herself. She didn't want to die, but more than that she didn't want her sister to die. She was so, so scared.
414Please respect copyright.PENANASBEqkUbM3p
She pulled Sophia into a hug, bending over her to hide her face. Her voice was a little broken, but she tried to hide her fear. She tried so hard.
414Please respect copyright.PENANA0VSJ7cjq04
"If something comes, I'll protect you." She pressed Sophia's head against her shoulder, reassuring herself more than anyone. "I promise, I'm right here, I'll protect you. I promised mother I'd protect you."
414Please respect copyright.PENANAdozs8OqBqL
She could feel some heat, and then wetness against her shoulder. Sophia said nothing. The tears Sonata felt threatening her never came. She sat holding she smaller figure, rubbing her back as she soundlessly cried until she tired herself out. The crackling of fire was her sole companion for a long time, until an exhausted Sonata was finally dragged down to sleep as well.
414Please respect copyright.PENANAhgyKhw0XPj
414Please respect copyright.PENANAWjM21bBhbe
414Please respect copyright.PENANA8cvTma9u15
414Please respect copyright.PENANAN4wadWhNtn
414Please respect copyright.PENANAa8ZhmMgfm1
414Please respect copyright.PENANA0P7plah51n
414Please respect copyright.PENANAA0VIBez2ZR
414Please respect copyright.PENANAfrfkcOX9Gd
414Please respect copyright.PENANA1W8TvLhuzP
414Please respect copyright.PENANAEuKmhQkwYi
414Please respect copyright.PENANA625Qj36gDN
414Please respect copyright.PENANAmvmkQINK95
414Please respect copyright.PENANAV1HFR9Pypg
414Please respect copyright.PENANAYEcwiGArOL
414Please respect copyright.PENANA856q7KOpEv
414Please respect copyright.PENANAJDXCcJ5ff3
414Please respect copyright.PENANAVIGxft7cbr
414Please respect copyright.PENANAzgGOPq62YS
414Please respect copyright.PENANAGJBu8WCSGS
414Please respect copyright.PENANA3auxuRFkZE
414Please respect copyright.PENANAOwF18EsxG2
414Please respect copyright.PENANAzYxFDtuj5v
414Please respect copyright.PENANA8icH4d3GGG
414Please respect copyright.PENANAvdRyv5c8BK
414Please respect copyright.PENANASH2Hg5R5NY
414Please respect copyright.PENANApVWOZZDI2v
414Please respect copyright.PENANAfQeafytXvR
414Please respect copyright.PENANAkPonkSw9vi
414Please respect copyright.PENANAGAyEaLHB1S
414Please respect copyright.PENANAxePzCk1XCu
414Please respect copyright.PENANAuQMmLVOZam
414Please respect copyright.PENANAn5npHxptzk
414Please respect copyright.PENANAtatmlAUL9e
414Please respect copyright.PENANAIXrFbvPXnd
414Please respect copyright.PENANAqJjOhlNJZI
414Please respect copyright.PENANAj1SrsHsuIR
414Please respect copyright.PENANAlU3xsikNOl
414Please respect copyright.PENANADWdENCw221
414Please respect copyright.PENANAv42OjwqIJE
414Please respect copyright.PENANAEJEPhmMiGZ
414Please respect copyright.PENANAmcZ4VhztxJ
414Please respect copyright.PENANAJFdEWK8WhW
414Please respect copyright.PENANAcu0987wflk
414Please respect copyright.PENANAdMYBkU1UD8
414Please respect copyright.PENANAX4x6NHVhKI
414Please respect copyright.PENANAbQtwfj91X2
414Please respect copyright.PENANAU9bTlyPqIO
414Please respect copyright.PENANANFkEsziXMD
414Please respect copyright.PENANAjp6i2VjAzJ
414Please respect copyright.PENANAK5HPcr0KAT
414Please respect copyright.PENANAPf86JnfnbN
414Please respect copyright.PENANA3I99HyCvsc
414Please respect copyright.PENANA9NxAFYeqR3
414Please respect copyright.PENANAMkOziIaAuR
414Please respect copyright.PENANAwG1pK6VwRE
414Please respect copyright.PENANA63KWE4jAkN
414Please respect copyright.PENANAAKdHnSpRxY
414Please respect copyright.PENANAGM81eeFgc0
414Please respect copyright.PENANAIjeeSfQOTN
414Please respect copyright.PENANAR3W4ZNT5P7
414Please respect copyright.PENANAHZtYvEPqFE
414Please respect copyright.PENANAfE0855eLwy
414Please respect copyright.PENANALQpKG3FZDu
414Please respect copyright.PENANAogno8Pnq9n
414Please respect copyright.PENANAZtAh9y5dtA
414Please respect copyright.PENANAAxl26WTSay
414Please respect copyright.PENANAA7n77xfD2b
414Please respect copyright.PENANAaZBsoVGsP3
414Please respect copyright.PENANA0KUEUkhrkT
414Please respect copyright.PENANAMYSRkd1qIW
414Please respect copyright.PENANAxfuO3et5tu
414Please respect copyright.PENANAc9PBrhaOU3
414Please respect copyright.PENANASH0ZoQYLyM
414Please respect copyright.PENANAti8We5rxAI
414Please respect copyright.PENANA0YlUb6381C
Alone in a cave.
ns 172.70.131.119da2