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The sun had been slowly rising above the horizon for some time now, and regardless of all the early mornings she’s had, this is probably the longest morning she’s had in a while.
Her candle had gone out several times from the late-night chill, or from the lack of string to burn; wax melted everywhere. She’d replaced it a few times but stopped counting once she hit five.
He’d be back, she’d told herself. He’d promised her, and he wouldn’t break it, not that one. So, she sat patient.
The field workers had been out early, like usual. Already checking over their crops and adjusting what might’ve been plucked or moved by wandering animals. Some had waved in her direction, but all she could manage was a weighted smile until they’d gone back to their work.
She can’t remember the last time she’s had a good night's sleep. She’d hoped being back would allow for more rest, but without her brother present… she couldn’t find it in herself to even try. Waiting by, with her candle lit.
At first, she sat outside by a small wooden table they’d set up when they were little. Candlestick brightly lighting the area. But after the third time the candle blew out from the nightly breeze, and her consistent shivering, she decided to move indoors. There, it was a little warmer and less likely for the candle to blow out. She would’ve lit the fire to keep warm, if she had the energy to, so she settled for a blanket over her shoulders for the majority of the night and stayed by the window.
Her eyes had wandered over the starry sky, even falling shut a few times, only to jerk awake when her head would start bobbing. When the morning sun started revealing itself, warmth, with it; she couldn’t find herself being grateful for the temperature change; her mind stuck with her brother, who has yet to return.
Eyes and heart heavy, she lays her head against the window, slouched into the glass. She was tired, and her gaze wandered to the umpteenth candle she’d lit. Wax dripping down the sides and coating the plate. The flame strangely wilted and withered, even without the breeze. Her other hand pulled up to slide the plate a little closer to her, and she sat straighter. She watched it a moment more before reaching for her matches. She only just grabbed the box when the flame suddenly blew out from a random gust of wind.
She jolted with surprise, watching the candlestick, and then looked outside over the fields. What could’ve caused that?
Another gust, but this time, much stronger, and there were people looking up and pulling back. Startled shouts and yelps before they’re all dispersing and leaving their workstations.
She stands–ignoring the blanket that fell off her shoulders at the action–and makes her way to the door. Old, flimsy wood, creaking upon its opening. She didn’t even have a chance to look up before several brightly colored beasts dropped down, landing in front of their parents’ shop.
She’d peaked through her arms as they blocked the heavy wind that blew in, but let them fall, wide eyes jumping from dragon to dragon until she saw her brother leaping off the back of the red one.
“Kai?” She breathed in automatic response to staying up another full night.
When the spikey-haired teen turned in her direction, he wore a smile and was already forgetting the dragon as he jogged for her, and with a whimpered cry she hadn’t realized she was holding, she sprinted for him.
“Kai!”
She jumped, and he caught her; like always.
She had nothing else going through her mind besides the fact he was home, and safe.
She tightened her hold, trying to avoid outwardly crying around everyone else, but she was too tired to handle much right now, and her brother was home. They were both home.
She sniffled. “Please. Don’t do that again..”
“Nya…” He held on just a bit tighter. “I promise.”
“I missed you.”
“..I missed you, too.” And his words were much weaker there.
He set her down after that, but neither moved to let go of the other. Not until they gave each other one last squeeze.
After pulling back, she was surprised to see she wasn’t the first to wipe at her face, and she ended up sputtering a light giggle and he joined with a nudge in her side.
“Stop it.”
“You’re such a softie, you know that?” She jabbed, wiping at her face.
“Oh, and you’re not?”
She just crossed her arms, and after a second or two of them staring each other down with smirks and poses declaring attitude, she stuck out her tongue. They laughed.
“Not to interrupt-” Spoke another in a black outfit similar to her brother’s: clearly interrupting. “But we have yet to be introduced.”
The knowing smile says he knew full-well that he interrupted, and for some reason, the action makes her think too much of herself.
She snickers in Kai’s direction, who rolls his eyes and smiles back at her with a look that asks: ‘ You see what I have to deal with? ’
She purses her lips and glances away, hoping to convey her words without a sound, and the received burst of laughter from Kai was enough to tell her she got her message through.
“Right, so..” Kai starts, hand on her shoulder, and she couldn’t put into words how much she’s missed him around.
“This is my little sister, Nya.” Then he looks to her, gesturing to the gathering group of three. “Nya? These are the guys: Cole, Jay, and Zane.”
“S’up?” Says Blue with a smirk, that melts behind a facepalm. She snickers.
“Greetings.” Says White, who’s very politely reserved, hands folded behind his back, and she gives a light bow of the head in his direction.
“I would say you’re lucky to have a brother like Kai, but I guess it could be said the other way around, too.” Says Black, and she smiles brightly in Kai’s direction, and he smiles back.
With a side hug from her brother, they both reply: “Couldn’t have said it better, myself.” Then they’re chuckling all over again. Wow, they both must be tired, then.
Black–Cole–crosses his arms with a fond smile, while Blue–Jay–tackles Cole from behind, trying to climb him like a tree all of a sudden, only worsening her laughter. White–Zane–stands at a distance, brow raised at the duo’s strange antics as Cole tries fleeing from the loudly laughing Jay. She ends up snorting, in tears, watching them all, and Kai follows soon after hearing her.
She looks forward to getting to know the new family.