Blood dripped down the sides of the Moon Aspect's pale lips. Her heavy panting formed into small clouds of visible air. They stood near the crest of Mount Targon, the ground being draped in white as snow flurried endlessly. Even with the Aspect of the Sun kneeling on one knee before her, gasping for breath and holding herself up with a distinct Solari sword that dug deep into the Targon soil, bone-chilling wind relentlessly pierced through their armor. Leona's Solari flare barely flickered against the vigorous Targonian climate as the grip of her bronze gauntlet tightened around her blade.
"Pathetic, " the words trembled through Diana's dark mahogany lips.
Amber eyes pierced at her, Leona's arms angrily tightening through the leather handle of her ornate Solari shield that leaned against her side.
"How can a Lunari insult with such confidence?"
Diana cracked a bloodied smile, "Solari declare their believes with such arrogance, as if every word they spout is the sole truth."
She rose to her feet, her crescent lunar scythe lifting from the ground.
"It disgusts me."
Gale of snow unyieldingly danced between them, moonlight appeared beyond the peak of the mountain, illuminating above them. The Ra'Horak pulled herself up, dragging her Solari shield from the crevice it had created when she crashed it into the ground.
"I take no offence at your disbelief in the verity of our ideals, Diana. After all, learning morality from a Lunari is no different than learning to breath from a voidborne. Pointless."
"You dare compare us to those monsters?!" Diana's teeth furiously gritted against each other as she pointed the apex of her sword at Leona.
"To me," lifeless bronze eyes tinged with a drop of remorse, "you are one in the same."
A roar echoed from the Lunari as she dragged her moonsilver sword across the Targonian soil, raging towards the vainglorious woman with familiar honey eyes that now glared at her with disdain. They regretfully used to shine at her with warmth but, for Diana, losing the Ra'Horak's radiant gaze was the price to pay for accepting the truth of this world and denying the lies of the self-righteous Solari.
Diana leaped and towered mid-air above Leona, her scythe raised behind her. A burst of power released through her veins, drawing from the moon as it lined up with her in the sky, lightly blinding the Solari with its pale blue glare. Leona immediately raised her shield, radiance swelled around it as Diana crashed down her kopesh dealing an astronomical amount of lunar power . A large shockwave rippled from the impact flinging both of the warriors to opposite sides of the cliff. A small rumble echoed across the mountain.
The moonsilver kopesh carved against the mountain's walls helping Diana catch herself from being tossed with the force as Leona dug her sword into the soil, slowing her from sliding across the ground and over the cliff's edge. She balanced on the balls of her feet, arching over the empty space of a long drop . The echoes of pebbles rolling off the edge rung behind her, never returning a sound of collision.
Only a trembling sigh of relief escaped her. Although Aspects were immune to pain her body would still require time to recover, leaving her people vulnerable. Continuing in such a precarious situation with Diana was too risky, she needed a vantage point.
A quick but sharp movement in the air pulled up her eyes. Glaring back was the tip of Diana's crescent weapon.
A cold stare from the Lunari's crystal eyes fixated on her.
"Finally, you'll see the true power of the moon."
No.
Leona huffed, muted solar energy rising within her. "I will never surrender until all the enemies of my people have been dealt with, Diana!"
"Well then," said Diana , powerfully pulling back her kopesh. "This time, I won't hold back."
Lunar vigor pumped through her as she sighed in relief, ready to end the centuries of battle between them.
Leona's menacingly honey eyes shot up at Diana, her iris' suddenly brightening into a bright hazel as if sunlight was reflecting against them until a sudden burst of solar flare threw Diana back before she could land her weapon. Diana's lunar shield wrapped itself around her, protecting her by cutting through the flare. She heaved, grasping for breath while clutching at her chest, slowly regaining the oxygen in her lungs.
"Even in the night, a Solari can do such things?"
"I may not be as powerful as you in the night but remember the moon reflects the sun's light. The Sun always exists in her beauty."
Diana scoffed, her hand still gripping at her chest, her breathing finally slowing to a normal pace.
"All this time I thought I was competing against your arrogance but it was the Sun herself?" She stood back up on her feet picking up her weapon then cracking her neck to the side, feeling the swelling begin in her body again.
"If you had told me that, I would have blown her up myself, then maybe…."
"Nonsense."
"Yea, that is what it is isn't it, rubbish. Our fate was never to follow our naïve emotions, it was to fight, until death do us part."
Leona 's teeth grinded as she summoned the miniscule solar energy left within her under the moon lit sky. She gripped the handles of her shield, bringing it up tightly against her, ready to launch towards the pale Lunari woman, intending to fulfill her duties even it broke her beyond repair.
They yelled as they flung towards each other and clashed, dancing in a sequence of attacks and perries they had choreographed for hundreds of years in Mount Targon, only ceasing when a roaring rumble echoed behind Diana.
Leona's eyes caught it first, mountainous powder of snow, rolling down towards them.
"Diana," a blanket of fear covered her face as she dropped her sword and ran towards the Moon's Ascendant, wrapping her free arm around the Lunari's waist, digging her radiating shield into the ground, pulling Diana under it, absorbing the avalanche's impact. At first collision , some of the snow melted against the Solari's power. Leona's arm wrapped around the handle, unbuckling against the immense pressure.
She's not strong enough.
Diana pulled herself out of the shock of being saved by her mortal enemy and instinctively raised her arm against the leaning shield, only slowing its fall over them until it created a small antre between it and the ground.
Snow continued to pound against them, pushing them down to one knee, as they lowered their faces under the shield, hoping to keep their heads from being ripped off their torsos.
Diana's arm pressed against the topmost part of the shield but it could only keep the shield at an acute angle forcing them to lean in closer. Leona's arm still gripped around her waist, ensuring she wouldn't flail out. The pounding punches slowly became sifting snow as the movement paused around them, leaving them in a cold darkness.
"Leona, " a raspy voice called out. Diana reached out to her waist and grabbed the arm still wrapped around her then slowly traced up to its shoulder then across the collarbones to Leona's face. Frigid fingers brushed against familiar cheeks in the dark, stroking until she could feel the caterpillar hair above her eyelids. They were closed.
Was she out cold?
"Leona, wake up." She patted the Ascendant's cheeks hoping to get a slap, punch, anything as a response. She couldn't tell with the darkness. Had she been knocked out by the pressure? Did her Solari energy expunge while trying to protect them, or worse, had she taken a hard blow and bled out?
No.
Solari warriors were known for their immovable resolution, Leona even more. The Ascendent couldn't have passed so easily. Right?
Diana closed her eyes and began to chant, "The moon will rise. The night shall last forever."
The ring and crescent shaped insignia on her forehead began to light up, wrapping the small cave in a blue light. Her eyes opened to see Leona's head leaning against the shield, blood dripping from a gash on her head.
"Leona!" she yelled as she cusped the bloodied face in her hand. She lightly began to turn the Solari's head away from the shield, leaning in to get a closer look at the impact but it only caused the shield to drag down lower.
Had she been keeping it up with her head?
Diana pressed her head and side of her back against the shield, replacing Leona as the anchor, as she grabbed around her waist then slowly pulled Leona's head on top of her free shoulder, examining closely where the bleeding has started. It wasn't bad and as an Ascendant she was already healing but even without feeling pain, the power of the gods don't stop their bodies from reacting to shock.
Diana sighed in relief. She just needed to wait until Leona woke then they could escape. Trying to leave with a heavily armored unconscious Solari from the cave-in of snow would be near impossible.
Leona's body began to tremble in Diana's arms, her breath quivered against the Lunari's neck. She was freezing. It was night and most of the auburn woman's Solari power was used fighting against her. Diana couldn't create warmth like Leona could, her skin was even described as being as cold as icy night air. There was nothing she could do and it angered her.
All this celestial power and yet she still couldn't save this one person. No, she couldn't waver in her faith. Her power was a blessing, a force to be reckoned with, but could it save them? She could blast a hole above them, but moving the snow weighing above might cause the cave-in to worsen. It has to be done from the top. But, how? If Leona was awake she could just melt the snow away in an instant. Was this the only option? Waiting and hoping she would regain consciousness?
It couldn't be the only way.
Still as she racked for an idea in her mind, she fought against the heaviness of her eyes slowly closing from exhaustion. Her hand gripped the Solari armor in her arms and pressed the immovable body against her, feeling the warmth she once lost and yearned as she yielded to the lethargic cold of the night.
------
Muffled voices bickered beyond the shield mounted with snow. Diana's eyes opened at the sound of snow crunching above them. Leona, still unconscious, laid in her arms. Diana had draped her leather armor skirt over her shoulders hoping it would provide the warmth she could not.
"I see it!" A muffled voice yelled through the feet of snow. "I told you there was a bright light here! Someone's stuck under there."
"Fine, Elea you were right. Just keep digging!" another voice angrily retorted.
.
"Lyssa, you're the one that stopped digging five minutes ago."
"Okay, but I'm digging now!"
Diana's breath shivered as she warily listened to the quarreling girls above them. Immature as they were, they might be their only way out.
THUNK
They had finally reached them.
"Woah, is that..?"
The angrier of the two grunted in concern.
Frantic whispers exchanged, as Leona began to quiver again, forcing Diana to speak out. "Are you helping us or not?"
The timid voice let out a panicky squeak but was brave enough to respond.
"Y-yes, of course." She continued to dig around the shield, Diana could feel the weight of the metal ease off her back so she began to lift it.
"Stop." A commanding voice boomed. "We're going to take ten steps back then you can come out or else we'll throw the snow back on top of you."
"Fine," Diana grunted.
She counted with her harsh breathing, ten crunches in the snow.
"Alright, you can come out." The gruff voice said.
Diana slowly pushed the shield up, tugging Leona alongside her, arm wrapped tightly around the waist, her limp head still laying against her shoulder. Cracked lines of dried blood streaked down the Ra'Horrak's limp face.
A slight shift of Leona's dead weight narrowly unbuckled Diana's knees, almost sending her back to the floor, displaying how weak she truly was after hours of using her powers in an attempt to keep them from freezing to death. Grunting against the shield, the silver haired Lunari conjured a small burst of energy that sent the Solari metal flying off. She wrapped Leona's arm around her neck and firmly held her up with an arm around her back.
A curly haired brunette screeched as the shield blew past her thin frame.
"HEY!" Seared the stout celtic copper haired girl beside her, pulling the brunette into her arms protectively. "You almost hurt her! I knew we shouldn't have helped scum like you."
"Lyssa," The frail adolescent grabbed her friend's arm desperately. "I was just startled. You know even a moonfly makes me jump. Don't blame her."
"You need to stop being so lenient, Elea. She could have killed you."
"You're exaggerating."
Their childish quibbling waned to Diana's ears as she inspected the area of impact on Leona's head. It had already completely healed up but she was still out cold. Should she take her back to her temple? No, if Diana ever set foot in the Temple of the Solstice with the unconscious Aspect she would be killed on sight. If Leona was brought to the Temple of the Lunari, she'd be killed before she wakes. There was nowhere to go. A distressing knot tightened in the Lunari's chest as she scrambled for an idea whilst palming Leona's face in her hand. The Aspect's power was nothing more than a mere encumbrance that stirred within her as it refused to contribute anything of value to the collapsed Leona.
"Is she still alive?" A timid voice asked from beside her, Diana swiftly turned to ready to grab the throat of the stranger only to face the juvenile girl staring with worry at the Ra'Horrak. She wasn't a threat, but Diana's adrenaline still flooded within, etching to survive despite the change in circumstance. A small nod was all Diana could accomplish.
"We have a small hut not too far if you need some---"
"ELEA!" The pixie cut girl beside her growled as she pulled her closer by her hand. "Don't." She gritted through her teeth.
The delicate girl snatched her hand away from the intense grip.
"I'm not leaving someone to die, Ly. I'm sorry but I can't." Elea turned back to the weary faint woman still propping up the unconscious warrior. "We can start a fire and we have some leftover stew we can heat up. She can recover there. Here let me help"
Elea threw Leona's other arm around her neck, relieving some of her weight from Diana's aching back.
Diana seethed at the thought of relying on two juvenile girls to keep Leona alive. She sucked her teeth at the ridiculousness of it, but it was the glimpse she caught of Lyssa's menacing glare that concluded they would only be a hindrance.
"We'll find another way." Diana coldly declined, her eyes shooting sharp silver blades in return, asserting her intent to reply to any sudden threat.
Elea looked between their piercing stares then waved her arms frantically, breaking their focus from each other as if to dissipate the tension.
"Listen, my friend over here," she rolled her eyes at Lyssa in annoyance, "won't do anything to hurt you or your friend. I promise. She's just stubborn is all."
A skeptic chestnut eyebrow raised at the frail teen.
"She's right, I won't do anything to hurt you, " Reassured her volatile companion. "As long as she asks me not to."
"And if she does?" Diana harshly asked.
"Trust me. She might be hot-headed but Lyssa, wouldn't hurt a firelight."
------
Waft of the meat stew danced around Diana's cold nose, her stomach growling immediately at the smell.
"See, you were starving." Elea smiled as she pushed a filled bowl close to her. "Have some. I swear it's not as bad as it looks."
A reluctant hand picked up the tarnished spoon beside and brought a bite size worth of stew toward her trained nose, smelling for any tinges of poison.
"Here, I'll take the first bite." Curly chestnut hair bobbed next to Diana, digging out a spoonful from her bowl and swallowing it after a few bites.
"See? Still alive!" Elea raised her hands flipping them front and back as if to show nothing hiding behind them.
Diana's restraint succumbed to the assuring sight and she began slurping down the stew, desperately digging for every solid chunk and thrashing it into her mouth.
The pale dainty girl beamed, pleased that an outsider had enjoyed the fruit of her labor with such gusto, even it if was out of starvation. She picked up the empty bowl and sat on a short stool next to a basin of water where she giddily scrubbed soap on the plate, still pleased at herself. Lyssa's fingers tapped across the small rustic wooden table, her chair leaning back yet not falling.
The Aspect understood now why Elea didn't mind two warriors using their abode to recover; there was nothing worth pilfering. Every piece in their shanty dwelling was used beyond its limit. Fragments of cloth packed into the openings of their brick walls, windows were closed shut with panels of rotting wood. The only salvageable things she could find were their distinct garments.
"How did you both get caught in that avalanche?" Lyssa interrupted Diana's realization, her dark copper hair reflecting the flickers of the candle between them.
"Ly! That's rude to ask. They could have died."
"It's just a question. If there's nothing to hide then what's the problem?" She interrogated.
Usually expressionless, Diana was surprised to catch her face contorting in rage.
"What? Want to kill me?" The cocky youth sat up in her chair bringing it back to balance. "Try me."
"I don't kill kids," she fervently informed.
Lyssa sneered. "Oh, but adults are on the table? According to my people I'll be an adult in a month anyways so why not celebrate ahead of time?"
Diana restrained herself by turning away from the kids scowl, her body tensing up, preparing if she had to strike first.
"Ly, stop it." Elea smacked her friend on the back of the head, instantly melting their tension. Diana caught the instant drop of the shoulder and the shift from scowl to pout in Lyssa's expression when the two girls' eyes met. An understanding smirk brushed past her stern face.
"So you can smile." Elea said smiling back as the Aspect's delight washed off almost immediately. "You don't have to worry about us. We're just some kids living in a hut and you're… a warrior. We're powerless in comparison."
"That's exactly why I didn't want them here," Lyssa gritted between her teeth.
"Yeah but if she wanted to kill us she would have already. Isn't that right miss Lunari?"
Hearing the name sent a shock through Diana, but it's not like she was hiding it and it was easy to assume with the rune on her forehead in plain sight. Still, being perceived simply as a Lunari was a risk as it showed they were well aware of her people's place in this world. Elea was no threat but, Lyssa…
"As soon as my --- she wakes up, we'll be out of your home." Her quartz eyes reassured them.
They sat in silence almost accepting the unspoken truce between her and Lyssa.
"So," Lyssa's voice already aggravated Diana, "why is a Lunari with a Solari? Aren't you guys, mortal enemies or something?"
Diana's hands curled into a first with her growing concern.
"Ly, seriously?" Her companion glared in disbelief then turned back to their aggravated guest. "Sorry. It's just - y'know ,uncommon to see people from the two tribes together is all."
"And you?" Diana retorted. "Why is a Solari living with a Lunari in an abandoned hut in the outskirts of Mount Targon?"
"How did y--"
"Your blouse, although not distinctly decorated in Solari symbols, this type of embroidery can only be found there. And her," Diana gazed at Elea, "I can just tell."
Elea and Lyssa looked at each other uneasily. Lyssa reached out for her companions fine pale hand and clasped it in hers reassuringly, softly smiling at her.
"We ran away." Lyssa looked back to meet the curious cloud gray eyes. "We abandoned our people to be together, in peace."
"At such a young age? You're both not even fully grown," she vehemently replied.
"Does that matter?" Elea responded with a surprisingly stern tone. "If we had stayed until then, it would have been too late. We would have -"
The brown haired girl stared gently at Lyssa. "We would have been raised to kill each other." They gripped each other's hands almost desperately.
"Isn't that what you two did as well?"
The Aspect's body tensed at the question.
"Isn't that why you were together? I know how it feels." Tears began to swell up in Elea's eyes. "Not being able to protect the person you care about? Not being able to give them the warmth they need to stay alive?"
"The Moons power is a blessing, child," her wavering voice lashed.
"But great power can also be a burden," the young girl firmly stated. "What is a blessing if I can't even use it to protect the people I love?"
The girl's resistance to logic and reasoning vexed Diana enough to furiously knock back her chair as she stood, but when she saw the fear in the girls' eyes she silently excused herself into the room where Leona slept, harshly closing the door behind her. Her already pale hands clenched, her heart raced with no distinguishable reason. Was it rage burning inside her? An amalgamation within her tossed and turned.
Was it vexation at the idiocy of these two girls?
No.
Was she having qualms about saving Leona?
No.
Was it her pride disappointed at her reliance on these kids?
No.
What was it?
She could feel it crawling up her throat, its tendrils reaching around her neck, no matter how many times she tried to swallow it and unclench its grasp on her, denial could only be held off for so long.
Envy, resentment, remorse and worst of all, regret.
She will never regret her decision to reach the peak of Mount Targon. She will never regret reviving the Lunari, nor protecting her people. She will never regret leaving the Solari scum that raised her.
But, on some days the thoughts lingered like a silkworm dangling off a thread that enticed to be picked at. If maybe, in another lifetime, in another world, were they were simply just two people with no obligations, no duty to fulfill, could they have lived in tranquility, even if just for a mere moment?
The unlikely possibility toiled tunnels of holes within her, dredging for reason, quarrying for even the smallest fracture that could provide a semblance of hope, even in the darkness of a cold new moon.
------
Leona's faulds lay near the fireplace in the room, her shield and sword leaning against it, a puddle of water from the melted snow collected beneath them. Diana had wrapped the auburn haired woman tightly in a thick quilt Elea had made and turned her head towards the fire, away from the cold seeping through the crack of a boarded up window. She gently patted a wet cloth against Leona's forehead, cleaning off leftover speckles of blood. The stoic woman sat on the floor beside crimson-brown hair falling off the edge of the bed. She didn't dare climb and sleep beside her out of fear.
Fear of what?
It was just a precaution, she thought to herself. But, she couldn't help but lay against the cascade of silk umber hair, occasionally catching herself glimpsing at the light russet lips, now cracking and peeling from the cold. A hint of brown eyeshadow still painted over her eyelids, black eyeliner wildly smudged above her long eyelashes, and still, Diana couldn't help but stare.
She always envied Leona's naturally glowing skin. It always beamed brightest under the sun, but it could never compete with the radiance of her smile.
Just the memory brought a slender smile to Diana's lips. It was a past were their only worries were following the unreasonable instructions of academic zealots. A past were they frolicked as unexceptional beings living naively in bliss. A past were they held hands gleefully and shamelessly danced under the sky, whether it was night or day, because as long as they were together, it didn’t matter what light shone over them.
Leona grumbled and began to roll. Diana grabbed her shoulder before she completed the turn and gently spun her back towards the fire, towards her. She drowsily whined in retaliation, eyes still closed, cedar eyebrows furrowing. Diana began to instinctively stroke her arm until the whining waned.
Even after she calmed, the fare-skinned hands struggled to pull away. It sat open palmed over her arm, almost paralyzed in fear that holding tight might remind her of what ceased to exist. A shaky sigh was all her thoughts surmounted to as she pulled back her hand, bringing it close to her chest and clenching it almost gripping at that small moment of content.
A recollection of Lyssa and Elea's hands holding each other intruded her thoughts. They hadn't even reached their second decade of life, yet their courage flourished stronger than many warriors Diana had fought against. More courage than she could ever muster.
It made her wonder, even criminally suggest if it would be such a crime to live unbound by their duty, for one sole night? Would it really be so wrong to dive into the enthrallments of her mind? One night. She could give herself one night to gratify her incessant need. One night to be as courageous as them.
Her silver eyes followed the forbidden silhouette whilst standing from the floor then guiltily laying on the vacancy besides Leona. Laying over the quilt cradling the auburn woman, Diana delicately laid her head over her own arm ensuring there was a respectable space between them, yet fixated on the groves that traversed the leather armor on her back.
Leona whined again, this time it was like a plead from her dreams. Suddenly, she swiveled over, too quickly for Diana to react. Her russet lips barely pressed against Diana's chest, whose breath was now being caged in her lungs as the inches between them dissolved before her eyes. Warm amber cheeks caressed themselves against her bone-chilling chest. Her body stiffened as the unconscious Leona burrowed herself deeper as if she were but a mere pillow to tame.
The touch deprived fawn's radiant warmth began to burn against Diana's frigid body but as the stunned silver haired woman began to pull away, Leona's lethargic hand gripped at her moon-blessed garment, pulling her cushion back into place beside her tender face. Reluctantly, the fair skinned warrior let herself be confined by the dozing woman; as long as her glacial cold wasn't causing harm, she was willing to support her innocent entitlement. Their bodies naturally besmirched each other, Diana knew this. The two energies were never meant to collide, only cooperate, but pulling away felt somehow unfathomable.
With time, the burn became tepid, even pleasant, as if their vitalities were balancing, pushing, pulling, pulsing against each other in a cosmic equilibrium.
Less than twelve hours ago, they held swords against each other's throats, now a rapid heartbeat from Diana's chest grew from something familiar, yet unrecognizable.
It had been dormant within her. She knew it dwelled inside, gnawing, scratching to be released like a small voracious creature struggling to escape, but once the door of its cage opened, it filled her with an acquainted affection. A warmth she toiled to disregard. A glimpse of a different life from a different path. Like the sweetness of candy after only knowing bitterness your entire life. A feeling of discovery, joy, then regret and denial. Denial of the loss of a life that could have been filled with the taste of its sweetness.
Even then, her armed reached out and wrapped themselves around the woman who never failed to entrance her, pulling her in closer, laying her pale cheek against Leona's radiant copper hair, savoring the feeling of her nuzzling within her arms. Holding tightly, she allowed herself to be bewitched by the sweetness so often forbidden, gripping to this finite magical realism.
For one night, she would dare to be courageous.
---
Drowsy arms groped at the bundle of quilt beside her, seeking for what it previously held. Crystal eyes finally opened to see only rays of sunlight greeting her. Her eyes fluttered in realization. The night was over.
She pulled herself up, taking a handful of long deep breaths, grounding herself back to reality before standing from the bed and walking into the common area.
Her body froze once she entered, puzzled by the sight before her. Lyssa and Elea unsurprisingly joked and smiled at each other, hands intertwined as if they hadn't detached from the night before. But, it was the figure sitting across from them, joining in their senselessness that made Diana question her sanity.
Leona, hands lightly wrapped around a mug with warm coffee, smiled with Elea and Lyssa in between jests. They were so entertained they hadn't even noticed the disoriented Lunari standing a only five feet away.
Lyssa was the first to notice, her smile instantly dropping, likely recalling the end of their last conversation. The head with draping copper hair cocked to the side in confusion at the sudden change, then straightened in realization. Amber fingers tightened around the mug, auburn hair twirling as Leona turned to meet Diana's solemn stare.
Shoulders tightened as her cedar eyes flittered, perplexed at first then sure as her gaze became steady, staring at Diana before pairing her curious eyes with a minute half smile.
"Would you -- care to join us -- Diana?" An almost unnoticeable shrug from her shoulders told Diana everything she needed to know. It was for them.
"Yes," it came out unintentionally commanding so she cleared her throat before trying again. "Yes. I would -- love to." A forced rigid smile was all she could muster.
She pulled a stray chair towards the table and sat on the side between Leona and the two girls.
"Oh, I've made some coffee, or tea if you prefer?" Elea stood on her feet ready to accommodate.
"I'll have some tea, " Diana responded.
Leona's face contorted into bewilderment, tapping her fingers curiously against her mug then attempting to hide the reaction behind a sip.
"What?" Diana demanded.
"Uh, nothing. Just thought you'd be into more bitter things."
"I never liked bitter things, that was always you." Diana reached out for the mug Elea handed her and shot her a thankful smile.
"Wait, how long have you two known each other?" Lyssa asked curiously.
Leona and Diana's eyes met, unsure how to answer.
"Since we were kids," Leona took the lead smiling at Lyssa taking a large sip as reward for her immediate deflection.
I
"So how did you just find out she doesn't like coffee?" Lyssa was back in interrogation mode.
Dry umber lips choked on a large gulp of coffee. Leona turned her head to the side, coughing out her failure to conceal her surprise. Diana held in a small laugh as she reached out to assist, patting gently on Leona's back before noticing how strange it was to even be saving her enemy from choking to death.
They hadn't been close since adolescence yet somehow there was a new air of comfort between them so Diana wasn't taken aback when Leona's eyes pleaded to be saved from the girl's cross-examination.
"We, um, just met after a long time so we're still reacquainting ourselves." Diana smiled at Lyssa to hide her stifled laugh.
"That's so sweet!" Elea gushed, gripping her chest as if holding back her excitement. "It must be so nice to see each other after a long time. I mean you two obviously care so much about each other."
Diana suddenly became hyperaware of her hand still against Leona's back and immediately dropped it as Leona straightened herself in her seat.
"It's easy to see," Elea continued, "how much you both love each other."
This time Diana was the one who choked as she sipped on her drink and Leona's turn to hold back a smirk.
"Elea, you can't just say that." Lyssa reprimanded her.
"Why else would they have been in each other's arms? You saw them when we went in there. What's there to hide?"
The two warriors sat in silence, their eyes refusing to meet.
Elea could feel the awkwardness she had stewed between them and began to apologize. "Sorry, it's not my place to say those things."
"It's alright, Elea," Leona surprisingly responded. "You didn't say anything wrong. We're just not -- as fearless as you are."
Leona's words caught Diana by surprise, their eyes meet, exchanging a unspoken understanding.
"These things are easier when you are younger." The words slipped out of Diana's mahogany lips as she turned to the two girls still holding on, still latching onto the sweetness. "You won't always be as fearless."
Leona's eyes fluttered , surprised by Diana's ambiguous consensus.
Elea and Lyssa looked at each other and exchanged warm smiles, their arms intertwined, foreheads leaning against each other lovingly. The two women could only glance at the two lovebirds from across the table before coinciding with each other's mutual stares. Simultaneously, they both stood and picked up their belongings.
-----
They waved at the two gleeful girls from across the field before turning towards their destination. Silently, they walked next to each other knowing they were mostly heading in the same direction.
Melted snow sparkled and dripped from wild grass, sunlight beamed over them as their feet dredged through the damp Targonian soil. Signs of a blizzard passing were only proven by small mounds of snow that refused to melt away.
Leona was the first to break the silence. "Do you think -- there's a way to gain something you've lost?"
Diana's steps erratically struggled to regain a steady tempo, and silence was the only response she could provide. In some ways there was a debt remaining between them. After all, Leona did saved her, bashed her head against her shield to protect an Aspect, a being imbued with the power of a diety, making them irrefutable. A noble action with no sane reason. Responding to an uncomfortable question is nothing in comparison.
"Depends," she answered, hoping to progress on the repayment of her life.
"On what?" Leona asked curiously, meeting her gaze with distant quartz irises, eagerly waiting for a response.
The Lunari could only turn her head away, diligently putting herself back in place.
"How much are you are willing to sacrifice for it?" Diana's question weighed in the crisp air.
Leona's eye flickered, her head dropping, fixating on the wild grass they stepped on, watching as they extinguished the life in their path as they both always did.
"Would you sacrifice everything?" the soft voice begged.
But, it was only met with the whistling of the cold wind.
The meadow merged into barren soil, where they stopped to a halt in front of the sharp edge of an escarpment, splitting into two well used roads. One led to the Lunari and the other to the Solari; a well-defined crossroad within the Rakkor caves, naturally made by a Millenia of nature forming and forging on Mount Targon. Diana glanced at the pale blue light emitting from the road leading to the Temple of the Lunari, then felt the gaze on her back, still waiting.
The pale woman turned, only to face the amber woman's knowing expression, coming to terms on its own.
In the moonlight, the speckle of a dream existed in a minute enclave they both willingly fell into; an enclosure where they experienced the sweetness of a life they were never fated to receive.
In the sunlight, a barren crossroad fractured a yearning daydream that surpassed the barriers of reality only to aggravate their bitterness.
Leona's lips could only form a warm longing smile before her body finally mustered the fortitude to walk towards the path illuminated by a warm radiance.
Diana's eyes traced the groves she had memorized the night before, a pattern she had etched into her mind, a silhouette that latched itself against the gnawing creature inside.
Lunari people described the Moon Aspect as courageous, brave, even valiant; but the only weight she could feel, was that of her cowardice. In her fingertips, on her throat, in her chest; constraining the incontestable power within, was the unendurable weight of her reluctance to embrace sweetness.