The soft glow of moonlight filtered into the small cabin they were sharing for the night. Nandya was already tucked under her blanket, a book resting on her lap as she read quietly. The room was peaceful, save for the occasional rustle of the pages and the distant sound of waves crashing outside.
Seraphine peeked her head through the doorway, her fiery red hair spilling over her shoulders as she called out softly, "Nandya?"
Without looking up, Nandya replied, "What is it, Seraphine?"
Seraphine shuffled into the room, her golden eyes wide and slightly watery, as if she'd just seen something terrifying. Her hands clutched the edge of her white nightgown, and she took a hesitant step forward. "Can I… um… can I sleep here with you tonight?"
Nandya raised an eyebrow, finally looking up from her book. "Why? You've never had trouble sleeping alone before," she said, her tone skeptical but not unkind.
Seraphine fidgeted, her cheeks puffing out slightly as she tried to look as pitiful as possible. "I—I heard something outside," she stammered, glancing toward the window dramatically. "It sounded scary, like a monster! What if it comes in and… and eats me while I'm asleep?"
Nandya's lips twitched, but she quickly composed herself, trying not to laugh. "A monster, you say?" she asked, her voice laced with amusement.
Seraphine nodded quickly, her red hair bouncing with the motion. "Yes! It growled and everything! I don't think I'll survive the night on my own."
Nandya sighed, closing her book with a soft thud. "Seraphine, you're the strongest person I know. You can summon a spear bigger than a whale and raise the temperature of the entire planet. Are you really trying to convince me that you're scared of imaginary monsters?"
Seraphine gasped, placing a hand over her chest as if deeply offended. "Nandya! I'm being serious here! How can you be so cruel?" she huffed, turning her head away with a dramatic "Hmph!" and puffing out her cheeks.
Nandya narrowed her eyes, leaning forward slightly. "You're not scared at all, are you? You just want an excuse to sleep here."
Seraphine's cheeks flushed a deeper red, and she avoided Nandya's gaze, her fingers playing with the hem of her nightgown. "That's not true!" she mumbled, though her voice lacked conviction.
Nandya stared at her for a moment, then sighed again, this time in defeat. "Fine. Get in," she said, scooting over to make room.
Seraphine's face lit up immediately, her golden eyes sparkling with joy. "Really? You mean it?" she asked, already darting toward the bed before Nandya could change her mind.
"Yes, but only if you stop pretending to be scared," Nandya added firmly, pulling the blanket up to cover herself again.
Seraphine hopped onto the bed with a grin, wriggling under the covers beside Nandya. "Deal!" she chirped, snuggling closer than necessary.
Nandya rolled her eyes, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "You're impossible."
"And you're the best," Seraphine replied with a giggle, closing her eyes and drifting off almost instantly, her earlier act completely forgotten.