"Oh, this cake looks perfect Sheila.", The mother looked down at the masterpiece on the counter. "Well, our little sweetheart only deserves the best.", Sheila answered her best friend as she added three candles on the frosted cake. "Mama! Auntie!", A little girl squealed as she entered the kitchen. They turned around and laughed, little Aviva was covered in mud and still a little unsteady on her legs. "I will go get her cleaned up while you get the presents.', Iris laughed and carefully picked up her toddler.
"Mama, he pushed me into the mud!", Aviva complained before her mother could even ask why she was full of mud. Iris hummed and listened to her daughter babble angrily about the boy. "Are you ready for your birthday baby?", She asked Aviva, softly poking her small nose. Avi giggled and clapped her hands, smiling brightly up to her Mama. "Yes!". They walked into the kitchen just as Sheila lighted the last candle. Sheila looked at them and smiled. "There is our birthday girl. Tell me, Avi, how old are you today?", Sheila asked and crouched with open arms for the girl. With the familiar action, Aviva settled in Aunt Sheila's arms. "Three!", Aviva said and showed three fingers, her other arm resting around Sheila's neck. "Huh, I could have sworn it was two. Are you sure it's three?", Sheila mused and tapped her chin to tease the toddler. The two women laughed as Aviva tried to make them believe that she was indeed turning three. "Go on baby, blow out your candles and make a wish.", Iris encouraged.
Something caught her attention just as the last candle lost its flame. Every feeling of joy and warmth left her body instantly. An arrow with a dark blue cloth stuck to a distant tree. Sheila noticed her friend's uneasiness and frowned. She rested a warm hand on her shoulder. "You are going to leave soon?", though she already knew the answer. As well as the fact that it was safer this way, for her at least.
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AVIVA:
I groaned as I rolled over, my whole-body stiff. I felt something soft underneath my head and a heat source behind me. "Ori, are you awake?", Amelia whispered, then I felt her fingers comb through my hair. The action slowly pushing me back to sleep. "Let me sleep some more Lia. I had an exhausting dream.", I mumbled and pulled the blanket closer to me.
"Fortunately, it was not a dream, buttercup.", A voice said. I shot up with a gasp. I groaned when I made eye contact with Elroy, in turn he smiled and winked. He sat on a wooden chair next to a table, his one leg crossed over the other as he teasingly tapped his forefinger on the table. I turned to my sister, starting with her head I searched for injuries. "Are you okay? Did they do anything to you?", I asked and relaxed a bit after seeing no visible injuries. "I am okay Ori. They are very nice. I like Rowan a lot.", Amelia whispered and hugged me. I sighed in relief and held her close, kissing her hair.
"Don't worry buttercup, we won't hurt you.", Elroy said as he looked at me. I ignored him and took in my surroundings. It is a small room, hardly any space for the three beds, only one door. The heat source behind me turned out to be a fireplace. I tried to see where we were through the small window without leaving my spot from the bed, but it proved a useless attempt. "Where are we?", I asked him after a beat of silence.
"Still in Lavender Village unfortunately.", Elroy grumbled before taking a sip from whatever he was drinking. "And currently in Team 10's room, Buttercup.", He stood up and handed me a clean glass of water. I reached for it tentatively.
An hour had passed before the rest of team 10 had entered the room. During that time, I realized that Kayda was close and that the room is part of the courthouse. The place where all the Elders resided and it being in the centre of the village. I also learned that Elroy Peterson is a flirt.
Rowan, Elroy, Tristan and I are now seated around the table because they want answers to their questions. Amelia is in front of the fire, staying warm and playing with a doll that Rowan brought for her. "Five years ago, did you take a Dragon egg from Team 2?", Tristan asked the same question. I sighed and rolled my eyes. "Yes.", I crossed my arms and met his intimidating stare. "Did you sell it?", Tristan raised an eyebrow. Was this a test? The other two clearly saw Kayda. "No, I kept her, but you already know that."
"When did it hatch?", Tristan seemed to be the leader because he was the only one interrogating me. The other two just stared at us. "...A few days after I took the egg.". "Did your form a bond with it?". I frowned, uncertainty creeping up. I shouldn't tell them. "I... I don't know what you mean.", I said after a moment of silence. "When a Rider bonds with their intended, you get a mark on one of your wrists.", Rowan spoke this time, he explained it and showed me his left wrist. Three light blue snowflakes rested on his inner wrist. My eyebrows raised in amazement. I rubbed my finger behind my ear. My attention was drawn away from Rowan to Elroy. "If you think that is amazing, you should see mine Buttercup.", Elroy boasted. I rolled my eyes but looked at his mark that wrapped around his right wrist. It was three intertwined vines that encircled his wrist, dark green leaves adorning the vines.
"Do you have a mark then?", Tristan asked after I examined Elory's mark. "I'll show you mine if you show me yours.", I challenged. Tristan rolled his eyes but showed me his right wrist, a singular hourglass filled with sand laid horizontally. I hummed and sat back in my chair. "No, I did not bond with her.", I said. Tristan seemed to think I was lying because he grabbed both my wrists to inspect them. He pushed my sleeves back a bit only to reveal clear skin. "Like I said, I did not bond with her.", I grit my teeth and ripped my wrists out of his hold. "You referred to it as her, so I believe you have some sort of bond with her.", Tristan said as he settled down in his chair and wrote something on the paper again. "And you obviously did not sell her, why?", Tristan continued. "I don't know, spur of the moment.", I shrugged.
"Right, so where is she now?", Tristan stared me down. "I don't know.". Right outside the window. I matched his stare, crossing my arms again. "Did you raise her?", Rowan asked. I broke the intense stare down with Tristan and looked over to Rowan. "I raised her yes.", I thought that would be a given.
"Where are your parents?", Tristan asked after a while of silence. I frowned at the question. "What are you going to do with me?", I countered. "That is for Master Thoradon to decide. You did steal a dragon egg from our Dragon Riders-among other things. You assaulted a few Dragon Riders-", Tristan pointed to Rowan who had a small cut on his neck. I scoffed and rolled my eyes. "-And I believe you have escaped our grasps for five years now. You also don't have the dragon so that will not help you. On top on that, you prevented us from attending the ceremony. Really the list goes on and on.", Tristan finished.
"All I am hearing is the Dragon Riders incompetence. Five years to catch one girl?", I tutted. Tristan rolled his eyes and went back to writing.
"Where are you taking me then?", Although I no longer had to worry about being caught by the Dragon Riders, I still wasn't completely free, and this just might cause my ruin. "To the Dragon Village where Master Thoradon will decide on your punishment.", Tristan answered though his focus was on whatever he was writing. "And my sister?", If I were to be locked up, who will look after Amelia? I can't leave her alone!
"I promise you that no harm will come to her nor will you be separated until the time comes.". Rowan promised and Elroy nodded in agreement. I rolled my eyes. "Yes, because that reassures me.", I grumbled and stood up.
"Can... can I step out for a moment?", I asked. I needed to be alone. "We can't trust your word that you will come back.", Tristan spoke without looking up from his work.
"I'll go with her.", Rowan assured, and Tristan waved his hand dismissively. I bolted for the door, trying to find an exit in this forsaken courthouse. My tears threatened to escape. When I finally reached outside, I took a deep breath. My heartrate calming down. The door must have been a back entrance because I was standing in an alley.
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