Akila,
The young queen opened her eyes, gasping. She clutched whatever was beneath her and focused on her breathing.
The air rushed to her lungs, and it felt like smoke and sizzling fire. She arched her back as she breathed it all in.
Then coughed harshly, feeling warm blood rush out of her mouth, but she kept breathing the precious air greedily.
Akila heard several voices around her, but she kept her eyes on the intricate ceiling.
There was a huge lotus flower in the middle of a soft looking pond and beside it, there were a couple of birds.
Their long necks hugged each other, and their beaks were touching as if they were kissing.
Their wings were slightly open, and the look on their faces was pure love. This was the first time Akila had noticed it.
The room was familiar, and the ceiling wasn't, but at the same time, she felt it familiar as well.
