Poppy and Fred gazed ahead of the river, over it was a small valley filled with different colourful stones that glows at night, they discussed alot, Poppy told him about her earlier argument with Amanda and how things had badly turned out.
"Wow, that's harsh. She shouldn't have said that about Mara though, the argument was between you and her." he responded thoughtfully.
"And now, she doesn't want to see me again."
"Oh come on, Amanda might be harsh but not that harsh to say that, your still her sister."
"Sadly, she doesn't know what that is when she's angry"
"Hmmm...but somehow she's right, you shouldn't have gone there especially since no one knows where you were going to, something might have happened" Poppy turns to him arching a brow at him. They continued to stare ahead, till Poppy asked.
"So how are you preparing for the festival?"
"Nothing much, but I have a surprise for you."
"Really?" she asked curiously "well...what is that?"
"Like I said it's a surprise, but if you want to know..." he turned his face to see her, his green eyes flickered with something she noticed but wasn't sure what it was "then meet me at the doran coast, I'll be there waiting".
"The doran coast? that's quite far from here, but I'll make it."
"So, how are you preparing for the festival?"
"Nothing much... I guess."
"You'll wear a dress?"
"No I won't, makes me feel naked"
"My parents will be there."
Poppy's heart dropped. His parents didn't like her one bit as his parents saw her for the first time even though she was the daughter of the chieftain in their village. She knew that they were against their relationship for each other they thought she was just a fellow male friend and not a girl suitable for marriage but it wasn't her fault, circumstances forced her to bury the girl in her and act like a man, that has been her shield ever since.
"I didn't mean to make you feel inferior, I just wanted to tell you so that you will know"
"it's alright, they can't stay forever at the capital. They'll have to come back sometime" she responded her tone somehow grim.
After a long silence, Poppy got up saying that she wanted to leave, Fred agreed to go too and on their way back they raced each other back to the village. They laughed and joked with each other and Fred waved her good bye as he went home to prepare for the festival.
Poppy rode alone till she got home. She tied Filip to a pole in the barn and gave him some apples to eat, walking to the front door and opening it slowly, no one was inside, she steps inside slowly, sneaking in the process. The fresh scent of stew came from the kitchen and her mouth watered in hunger, she ran there and opened the pot and oh mother! it scented so nice, she took a spoon and scooped some into her mouth, hot but very sweet.
"Thief!" Mara thunders, Poppy almost choked up on the second spoonful in her mouth, she turned while smiling towards Mara.
"Good afternoon!" Poppy beams at her sister. Mara's chestnut eyes narrows, observing her from head to toe.
"Get out of my kitchen!" she yells and Poppy could only laugh and run out of the kitchen like a little girl.
"Where have you been and where's Amanda and father?! I haven't seen them today." Mara asked as she dried her wet hair with a small towel.
" Father left the village to the other town and Amanda, I don't know where she is and I don't care." Mara looks at Poppy, noticing the slight annoyance on her face. She sits down on the old brown sofa where Poppy laid.
"Did you two argue?"
"Yes, I don't want to talk about it!"
"Hmmm... okay then, till your ready to talk I'll be right here waiting".
Suddenly, the door opened and footsteps were heard they expected Amanda to appear but instead it was their father, they welcomed him home and greeted him cheerful.