Hylo blankly stared at the small backyard their new home had. She panned around the area, realizing how empty it was.
Memories of drifting off to sleep in her old backyard filled her mind, bringing a sense of sadness with it. Instead of embracing her feelings, she gave it a chance.
The crispy grass compressed beneath her body weight as she laid back. It felt good. Hylo turned her head to the side, studying each individual blade.
Despite it being grass, she couldn't help just how odd these were. Instead of being a vibrant green, they were a dull orange. However, they were colder. Which made her feel a little better.
While she made herself comfortable, Azir and Etherna traveled around the house. Looking for any secrets or leftovers the previous owners left.
After going up the stairs and taking a right, the duo found a door at the very far end of the hallway. The bronze nob reflected the overhead ceiling window's sunlight.
"Baby Azir," Etherna turned to her brother. "Do you want to go inside? It looks like something fun will be in there... maybe something to make us feel like we are in Krugi again."
Azir continued to smile cheerfully, completely ignoring his sister's feelings. "Fiery creature! Flaaaap flaaaaps away! Embers laugh like Neddy's tummy when he's happy."
Etherna sighed, turning to the distant door. "Maybe we might find another picture of Oppa-khim in there. Let's go."
The floor boards didn't creak, which was unusual. Etherna was used to hearing them groan underneath her feet as she walked through their old home early in the morning.
Frigid cold climbed into the soles of her feet, filling her with a sense of comfort and care. Something even Pearl could relate to. And despite it being colder, it felt emptier, too.
When they stopped before the closed door, Etherna recounted her steps inside her mind. Making sure she didn't accidentally forget a board creaked. When she was sure she didn't, she sighed.
"It feels very weird, Azir. What do you think?" Etherna turned to her brother. "Did you hear any boards making that funny noise?"
"You're a funny noise!" Azir smiled. "Open the doooor!"
She blinked blankly, before doing as Azir requested. The knob twisted, letting them push the door inwards to expose the inside.
Azir awed, feeling absolutely tiny compared to the inside. He looked up at the ceiling, the walls, down at the floor and the stacked decorations. It felt like a dream.
"Ava-va, ava-va (Room, room)!!! Keyba kivee (It is so many space)!" Azir bursted with excitement. "We can play games in here and build little forts, bahava (yay)!"
Etherna sniffed the stale air, noticing just how off this room was compared to the rest. She coughed and retreated, hoping any of the dust collected inside wouldn't impact her a lot.
Yet Azir wasn't fazed by the fine brown powder. He got on his knees and crawled through desks and chairs, pushing deeper into a maze.
"Hey, baby Azir, don't... come back!" Etherna called from a distance. "Its not safe for you to be in here. It's so hot and the dust is too much."
Azir's large Yonie eyes emerged from beneath a table, looking at Etherna between other decorations. "I'm oookaaaaay!"
Despite urging him to not dive deeper, he continued anyway. Leaving Etherna confused and conflicted. She turned to face the way they came from, wondering if she should ask her parents for help.
But she knew they were talking to the loyalist, and Hylo's little argument with her left Etherna feeling very insecure about her strength. She was a Zawed, one of the strongest hybrids possible.
If she couldn't compete with Hylo while also being one, then she wasn't strong. That undisciplined way of thinking was what Decka always warned her sister about.
Leaving Hylo to feed her mind and instincts with knowledge from an experienced defender whose days of being an unbreakable barrier were over. Despite this, Etherna was determined to prove Hylo wrong.
She was just as strong, maybe even stronger, than her. Etherna clasped her fists shut, then sharply inhaled clean air. Like a Zegus ready to explode with a flurry of strikes, she marched in.
Keeping a mean stare as her feet collected stirred up dust. Turning her soles into a dusty gray with a very smooth texture.
"Azir, where are you?" Etherna tried to use as little oxygen as possible.
Upon being called, he emerged from beneath a painting. "Do I look cuuuute with the funny gray stuff on my faaaaace?"
Etherna glanced at his innocent face. Dust coated his nose and one of his cheeks, with more of the powder decorating his forehead and shoulder.
"P - please Azir, let's get out of here," Etherna resisted the urge to cough.
"Why? It is fun," Azir's small frame disappeared beneath the disturbed decorations. "Can you see me?"
Before she could even respond, Etherna collapsed onto a folded set of chairs. Kicking up more dust as she coughed uncontrollably.
Ether, Pearl, and the loyalist stopped talking for a brief moment. The coughing sounded worse than usual, which automatically activated Ether's motherly senses.
He shot up from the seat and barreled up the stairs, going faster than anyone could track. When he reached the top, he slammed against the wall, then charged straight down the hall.
Azir looked on with a shocked expression, worried of what was happening to his sister. Then he watched as Ether picked her up and just as quickly retreated out of there.
"Hey, hey Etherna. Calm down and breathe," Ether instructed. "Shh, shh. Hey little one, its okay. What happened?"
She cleared her throat, the aftermath left her eyes a bit watery. "I'm sorry, Neddy. I walked inside hoping to prove I am strong and now I am... ah... ah... ACHOOO!" Etherna fell quiet.
Ether pecked her forehead, realizing she needed comfort. "Shh, shh. Listen, you're a strong girl already. How about this, we can walk downstairs and see what we can do to cheer you up."
"But Neddy, Azir is still in there," Etherna added.
"Don't worry so much about him, he's half Thresher like me. Because of that, he can support tiny particles, so I'll grab him in a few. But for now, come with me."