Heirot

"Oh, it's just that my mom died about a hundred and ten years ago. I have never really gotten over it." Yuuna said while petting Starlight. "So I guess I'm a lot like you," Yuuna winked at Layla then said, "We still need to gather herbs. Come with me while your sister takes a bath." Yuuna suggested.

Layla gave a big smile and said, "Okay!" She stayed close to Yuuna and watched where she stepped this time. "Your mother died, too? That's kinda weird that we're traveling together now. Kinda like it;s meant to be. That's so cool!"

Meanwhile, Jayden was taking her bath. As she hummed, she wondered what Layla and Yuuna were doing...

Yuuna began picking herbs and showing Layla which ones to pick. As she picked the herbs she put them into viles or sacks depending on the type.

Layla paid close attention to which herbs were which. She was having a hard time remembering there names but figured she'd eventually get it. She liked helping Yuuna, even though she hardly knew what she was doing.

Jayden was was through bathing and went back to the camp. When she saw that Yuuna and Layla weren't there, she figured they must have gone to pick herbs. "Layla! Time to get your bath!" She called out in every direction, wondering which way they had went.

Yuuna heard Jayden's voice and called back, "She'll take hers in a minuet." Yuuna then stuffed the rest of the herbs away and took Layla to the hotspring and went back to camp.

"Jayden, how long ago did your parents die? Weeks or months?" Yuuna asked her and brought out a couple of cups and premade tea. She poured out the tea into her glass and offered some to Jayden.

"Oh, gosh. Years. I guess it was about five years ago. Yeah, 'cause I was 14 and Layla was eight. Long time ago, I really should be over it by now. The part I have trouble getting over is..." She paused and thought about what she almost said. "Never mind."

"I too lost my parents." Yuuna said, "Almost 112 years ago, I still can't get over it. It seems almost everywhere I go there is always someone who dies. Layla reminds me of my only apprentice, she died when we were attacked by bandits. So it's very akward for me to be traveling with you two." Yuuna took a sip of tea and put away the other glass and the water bag with tea in it.

"I have never married because I have been cursed in a way. Everyone who I have loved more dearly than myself I have lost to death. You are the first person i have told this to, don't tell anyone what I have said." Yuuna looked down then drained her glass.

"I won't tell anyone," Jayden said. "It seems fair that since you told me your story, I should tell mine. My parents were killed by some people who broke into our house. Then, they raped me, beat me, and left me for dead. I would have died, if Layla had not have used her healing magic on me. Now, she refuses to use her magic because it reminds her of what happened. And if it feels awkward traveling with us, do you want us to go back to Hepian? I wouldn't want to make you feel uncomfortable."

"I never said I was uncomfortable, I said it was ackward, because it reminds me of my life." Yuuna looked Jayden in the eyes. "What happened to you, shouldn't have happened to anyone." Yuuna's expression was soft. "I do not see any scars on you, but I have a few on my back, I was there when my parents were slain. I do not say this to burden you, but, I wanted you to understand why I have empathy for you."

Her sister has healing powers? I have only heard of that in young girls once or twice before. But I never really believed it

"All right. I just didn't want you to feel like you had to do this." Jayden said. "Sometimes I feel like I could have stopped him if I had fought harder, but I was so young...Thank you, Yuuna, for your kindness. And, no, I won't tell anyone. Layla should be back any minute."

Jayden sat down and began brushing her hair. "It's a miracle, though, that she's as happy as she is. She acts almost as if nothing has happened.

Yuuna went through her bag and found a few strips of cloth and put her hair up. She walked over to Starlight and smiled. "As soon as Layla gets back we need to go." Yuuna said to Jayden as she stroked Starlight's strong neck. Yuuna went back and picked up her stuff and re-packed and swung it onto her shoulder.

Layla sang to herself as she bathed. It was a song her mother had always sung to her. After bathing, she got dressed and went back to the camp, still singing.

"I'm back! Did ya miss me?" She beamed.

"Not really." Jayden said with a smile.

Layla gasped and walked over to Yuuna. "She's a mean sister," Layla told her. "I'm always the one being nice, and she doesn't even miss me!" She laughed and looked at Jayden. "No hard feelings, sis. I know that I'll always be the good one."

"I believe your both good. I believe that between you two, there is no bad sister. Then again, I have never had siblings either. The head priestess never had any little kids around besides her students." Yuuna smiled at them, "So where do you wanna go? I got an invitation to a friends house, they are throwing a party in a few days. THier house is on the Shores of Ighten, or we could go to the festival here." Yuuna suggested.

Layla smiled. "I want to meat your friend! And I've always wanted to go to the Shores of Ighten!" She jumped up and down and looked at Jayden. "What do you think, Jay?"

"Shores of Ighten. I love parties." Jayden said climbing onto Starlight. Then she lifted Layla up onto the horse with her.

"It's settled than." Yuuna looked at Starlight, Starlight nodded her head. Yuuna stepped on the coals of her fire putting out the hottest ones and poured some water onto the fire.

Yuuna hopped onto Starlight's back and they trotted off. On the way there Yuuna pointed out fields of flowers and what grew in them simply from the smell. She really liked to smell all the different kinds of flower, some were even edible.