Miyu danced through the thick, snow-covered trees (which unlike the mortal world, were made of white, shining bark that hummed with power). Leaping over the glass like lifeless branches that littered the forest floor, her mind eased. Thoughts melting away as her body became but a breeze, creating a soft chime that rustled through the white canopy above her.
The forest was her sanctuary. Perhaps the only place in the entire floating city of Moro that left her feeling calm.
"Miyu!"
Stopping suddenly – which created a wave of fluffy snow to cascade from her feet, she hid behind a shadowing tree only inches from where the ominous call had originated.
"You know, you're not as 'secretive' as you might think," she jumped, her heart racing as she unconsciously moved her body into a fighting stance. Her hands fisted as they covered her face. "Is that supposed to be intimating?" The intruder asked.
Miyu dropped the pose, sighing as she recognised the owner of the voice with sudden clarity.
Her brother laughed, his low, husky voice echoing in the silent woods.
Miyu flushed pink as she realised Cerise was only a step away from her, leaning against a tree with a lazy, pompous attitude.
"I am not being secretive," was her aggravated retort at his teasing.
At his returning grin, she hid her pink stained face from his mocking expression and relaxed her body.
"She's being more... sneaky, if you ask me."
Miyu fought her body's instant reaction to jump and managed to keep completely still - which she was quite proud of.
She called her sister's name in the empty forest, "Anjou?"
When no one answered, she spun, trees becoming streaks of white in her version as she tried to locate the owner of the second voice.
After a minute of scouring, she gave up and gazed at her brother, looking for support with a sheepish smile.
Crossing his arms, Cerise raised an eyebrow at his rather adorable sister before gesturing up, into the branches above them.
A bunch of ripe, red berries were dangling over them.
"Anjou I can see you!" She called, before grabbing a handful of snow and pummelling it at the suspicious fruits.
They fell hard, contorting with a surge of pink before slowly morphing into the form of a girl.
"You called?" Her sister replied, shaking off the lingering glimmers of magic.
Miyu laughed at her siblings, admiring their laid back attitude.
"How long have you been following me?" She sulked, digging her boots into the snow.
She had not felt a soul for miles.
The twins shared a look, there matching blue eyes stained with pink twinkling with mischief.
"Perhaps you're not as stealthy as we are?" Cerise mocked.
Anjou joined in the teasing. She put an arm over her brother's shoulders as she exclaimed their brilliance.
"Or perhaps, we are just too stealthy for even a god to see!"
"I am not a god," Miya rolled her eyes at the accusation, hating the title her father's blood bestowed upon her.
The pair exaggerated a gasp, before holding onto one other as they pointed towards her.
"No... then perhaps our mother hid another lover!" Anjou proclaimed.
Cerise shook his head in disbelief.
"How could she lie... all those years off snowball fights -"
"And ice forts!" Anjou interjected.
He nodded as if the memories were flooding back, "hours spent studying..."
"Training," his twin continued, "and for what… a lie!"
"I hate you both."
As Miyu walked away the cackle of her siblings rivalled the loud rumbling of the cities streets which she began to climb with annoyance.