The sun had begun to set, a thin strip of dim blue light illuminating the shallow parts of the cave. Night was approaching, and the already alien world around them would be shrouded in dark.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAUb7EK6BBQ4
Sophia tugged at the curved wrist-length sleeve of her sister's dress, a deep earthy green color, like a cross between soft moss and the color of the younger child's twinkly peridot eyes. "Sis, I'm hungry."
413Please respect copyright.PENANAiCAXzUOAKX
"Can we..?" Sonata began.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAd9XVY0Dv5B
Sophia frowned, tilting her head.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAavMDjM8siD
Sonata glanced between her sister and the distant corner where the food was, her pale brows pulled into a crease. If they could just make do foraging for meals here and there, they might be able to make their meager food supply last for at least a little longer. But what of subsistence could they possibly find in the dark, before they were among the wolves and who knows what in the darkness. Not to mention the scare she'd give Sophia if she let loose that there was a chance they could die. This was something she'd have to plan ahead of time.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAjaQ9Y0xBLp
"Nothing," she nervously assured, picking at a fleck of something dried onto her bare foot, "it's getting late, so we should collect some more firewood, just in case."
413Please respect copyright.PENANAtiL3UU1w89
Sophia looked back towards the entrance, her pale curls lemony in the twilight. "I can go," she volunteered, picking herself up to go.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAGsfBbA9wVD
Sonata felt dread set in on her chest again. "Stay where I can see you from the cave, I'm coming out soon!" She called, and watched the little being hurry off.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAaLANKgVKuq
Sonata made her way towards the dead firepit, trying to salvage what she could of the not-entirely-burnt-through timber. They hadn't done a very good job of putting the fire out that morning—meaning they just plain didn't, so there wasn't much they could save.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAVdYSVXwqmr
SCREAM
413Please respect copyright.PENANAcqQjZwB3xF
It was a short, acute, tiny screech of alarm that caught her ears. Sonata's head shot up. It had barely been a few moments, what on earth had she gotten into? Was she being attacked by something, could she scare it off, was she hurt? Sonata dropped what she was doing and ran towards the source of the noise, clenching her soot-covered hands so they wouldn't dirty her clothes.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAL9butFzZZ1
She found Sophia standing frozen in place not too far from the exit of the cave, her peridot eyes fixed wide upon the shadowy space under a cluster of bushes. Seeing as she wasn't hurt or until sort of imminent danger, Sonata's dash slowed to a rushed gait. She needed to conserve her energy more, with this silly drake.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAEdLCmP6vMs
"Sophia? What is it?"
413Please respect copyright.PENANA93lLx5XIDD
Her lips barely hushed out, "spider." Her eyes were still wide, frozen on that corner of darkness. When she heard the crunch of twigs of her elder sister right next to her, she turned her eyes enough to maneuver herself backwards and hide behind her, her small fingers interlocked into her skirt. She looked positively frightened, her little eyes all misty and her distressed expression.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAnoyubkaIoO
"Where?" Sonata simply asked.
413Please respect copyright.PENANADos1LCQJUC
Small fingers hesitated, then unlocked themselves just enough to point down to the place. "I picked it up and it was there."
413Please respect copyright.PENANA1k2HtWgVE2
Sonata figured she was talking about a branch somewhere down there. She bent down and found a relatively thick branch in the shadows. She picked it up, and sure enough there were a pair of spiders, dust-like things with long hairs for legs and crumbs for bodies. The squeamish little princess behind her whined.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAnzc3OrIhiL
STOMP STOMP STOMP
413Please respect copyright.PENANAdPELyoNbE3
Sonata didn't hesitate to do it with her bare foot, and in no time the spiders were reduced to a disfigured pair of imprints on the dirt. Sophia's face was tucked into her sister's dress, her hands clinging tight as buckle clasps. Sophia brushed her curly hair in reassurance, pulling the small figure towards her in a small hug.
413Please respect copyright.PENANA6mwRG3YUQH
"It's okay, Sophia. It was only a bug. Did it bite you? Did any get on your hand?" She half teased. Sophia sniffled, wiping her hands on her sister's dress before looking at them.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAqgtCi3N1CQ
"Hey!"
413Please respect copyright.PENANAoOSiS6MSu6
Sniff. Sophia wiped the tears dripping down her apple cheeks with her sleeve, then showed her hands to her sister. Humoring her, Sonata turned them over, looking over and around her arms. "Nope, no more spiders," she confirmed, giving the small one another small squeeze. "Do you want to stack the firewood inside for me? I'll do the picking up and make a pile out here, you can carry them inside. Then there won't be any bugs."
413Please respect copyright.PENANAbdwXoIIXxM
Sophia nodded, rubbing her face. Sonata began to hand her the stick she'd just picked up, taller than she was. "Wait." She pressed the thinner end against the ground, pushing it down with all her weight until it snapped in half. "Here." The handed the small waiting hands the two halves. "Be careful of the splinters, okay?" Sophia nodded.
413Please respect copyright.PENANASwgw6kAX19
...
413Please respect copyright.PENANAYJOct4pvdt
The world outside was complete darkness. It was to be expected, as there were no other people to light flames here, no dim lights from a city in the distance, anywhere around. Sophia cuddled, curled against her sister's side. Her head was tucked between her shoulder and the fur cloak, the gentle rock of her breathing mixing with the crackling of fire and the howling of wind and the occasional sound of a rodent outside. They'd thrown the dragon cloak over a rock and layered it with their own cloaks and the other clothes they weren't wearing for some cushioning, but in all, it was still a rock.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAXh5wENuaeQ
Sophia was tired, but she wasn't quite asleep yet. Her hand still grasped tight the sleeve of Sonata's underdress, which she just used as a nightgown for now, she could still feel the occasional tickle of her sister's eyelashes shifting.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAcDlRuSgGXA
"Sis? Where's mama?" She asked again, her little peridot eyes wide and concerned as they peeked up from the corner of Sonata's shoulder.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAmOtoqaVZb0
She's gone to find father, she almost repeated.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAuxWOcZjayx
I don't know, she almost admitted.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAysJHlybXBt
She gently brushed Sophia's pale hair. "Do you miss your mother?" She asked.
413Please respect copyright.PENANATI72APE6L6
Sophia's eyes widened a little, then she turned around briefly, looking around the cave. Thinking.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAcEJm93kNxo
"I'm scared." She presses her head against Sonata again, hugging her arm. "What if something comes? Will Mamà save us?" She asked.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAb0iPj1MZ0I
Sonata nibbled her lip. Luckily Sophia was looking away, so she didn't see. There was silence until Sophia looked up, her concern a little more visible, her movements and pronunciations a little more jerky. "Why aren't you answering?"
413Please respect copyright.PENANAAP5jLSU6aN
Sonata stared down with wide eyes at the expectant little girl. She was scared, but she had to be strong. Everything would be okay, she needed to assure her that everything would be okay. But she was scared, herself. She didn't want to die, but more than that she didn't want her sister to die. She was so, so scared.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAR94vCEAwCt
She pulled Sophia into a hug, bending over her to hide her face. Her voice was a little broken, but she tried to hide her fear. She tried so hard.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAUSQvi4tqKo
"If something comes, I'll protect you." She pressed Sophia's head against her shoulder, reassuring herself more than anyone. "I promise, I'm right here, I'll protect you. I promised mother I'd protect you."
413Please respect copyright.PENANAK8s7V3Z6MP
She could feel some heat, and then wetness against her shoulder. Sophia said nothing. The tears Sonata felt threatening her never came. She sat holding she smaller figure, rubbing her back as she soundlessly cried until she tired herself out. The crackling of fire was her sole companion for a long time, until an exhausted Sonata was finally dragged down to sleep as well.
413Please respect copyright.PENANAedr4yYLBP5
413Please respect copyright.PENANA0fcymkxjMD
413Please respect copyright.PENANA3W3SpeMIZz
413Please respect copyright.PENANAfXmp6MoGaA
413Please respect copyright.PENANA5FhzWJa03q
413Please respect copyright.PENANAFXYkFrcJc8
413Please respect copyright.PENANANEqVvndgy8
413Please respect copyright.PENANAumzVQx1Gu6
413Please respect copyright.PENANAACAWTGCf4e
413Please respect copyright.PENANAGIL5pPcLVI
413Please respect copyright.PENANAEv89lPHufI
413Please respect copyright.PENANAHvSlsCllhu
413Please respect copyright.PENANAYZYxEDgnXO
413Please respect copyright.PENANAIEzrl0IZcq
413Please respect copyright.PENANAobcIv1jUyD
413Please respect copyright.PENANAbrEuzfjjSH
413Please respect copyright.PENANA5AAKnAOU2J
413Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5SXBdxpMG
413Please respect copyright.PENANAGCXUswh4u8
413Please respect copyright.PENANAgSfiV1dq6g
413Please respect copyright.PENANAj9OPI9KqMo
413Please respect copyright.PENANAPkc6Ca61hA
413Please respect copyright.PENANAObuA5O1v7k
413Please respect copyright.PENANAyiioexG9Dh
413Please respect copyright.PENANA2YyP5ph7bT
413Please respect copyright.PENANAp9cThVeVOj
413Please respect copyright.PENANAPgwEM0dBmn
413Please respect copyright.PENANAzVwZ7XH1iu
413Please respect copyright.PENANA9a89gCqzvh
413Please respect copyright.PENANAsfG2XRqZA6
413Please respect copyright.PENANA21Pd9J44rG
413Please respect copyright.PENANA3A3ntWFDh8
413Please respect copyright.PENANAgpdU2ZIj1Q
413Please respect copyright.PENANAQoGcSOxyRo
413Please respect copyright.PENANAXJbHBHcebH
413Please respect copyright.PENANAUvJiVn54eM
413Please respect copyright.PENANAG7N2kwKDB1
413Please respect copyright.PENANA0An5ACoOj4
413Please respect copyright.PENANAZOS5aEJzCD
413Please respect copyright.PENANAbHTqG9zb2Y
413Please respect copyright.PENANABuCdmQe8XM
413Please respect copyright.PENANAiwyyHI2ROz
413Please respect copyright.PENANANXAfOY4bQl
413Please respect copyright.PENANAi3C9ZtEIID
413Please respect copyright.PENANA3Bsg0s2NJs
413Please respect copyright.PENANApvLaMhWja5
413Please respect copyright.PENANAuV1HR0Gq8u
413Please respect copyright.PENANAN1ic6Wz53G
413Please respect copyright.PENANAu4Id7TyeBu
413Please respect copyright.PENANA6sIa5KOEvU
413Please respect copyright.PENANAxxhO9NZJMr
413Please respect copyright.PENANAYnuyTlnI6A
413Please respect copyright.PENANAxMrkq5ZaQx
413Please respect copyright.PENANAUq8MVJu34D
413Please respect copyright.PENANAtsomSALv2a
413Please respect copyright.PENANAJ2pMILJsbE
413Please respect copyright.PENANA9kawLlbhOc
413Please respect copyright.PENANAw6UgFfCwFR
413Please respect copyright.PENANAxAMXfvOiZG
413Please respect copyright.PENANAPfoeMm2pkY
413Please respect copyright.PENANAWffsJExrfH
413Please respect copyright.PENANAfWMZoZ9LbJ
413Please respect copyright.PENANArLN2E2Q0dY
413Please respect copyright.PENANASi1Sw6OF9Q
413Please respect copyright.PENANAoQtGOnK1Yw
413Please respect copyright.PENANAADg2kPuck1
413Please respect copyright.PENANAmxcyPnT8iq
413Please respect copyright.PENANAeeeK0OgxWs
413Please respect copyright.PENANAjXDD36dtCa
413Please respect copyright.PENANAQlqhrsqjr3
413Please respect copyright.PENANAFFYifXZSib
413Please respect copyright.PENANAomQla24Fev
413Please respect copyright.PENANAOCF9y0Itvw
413Please respect copyright.PENANAhT7Arb3Lzf
413Please respect copyright.PENANAFhpEtO00A5
Alone in a cave.
ns 108.162.216.76da2