Moonspear it’s not meant to be

The boy was quick to introduce himself; Alya's smile was almost imperceptible, but present as she regarded the bright young thing.

I am Alya, she replied. Her ears cupped toward Hydra as she spoke, but her gaze remained on the youth before her, deep blue carefully measuring. Only the suggestion of a trip drew her eyes away, startled, toward the Queen.

Certainly, she said, for there could be no other answer when Hydra asked something of her. But she scanned her sister's face, searching for answers.

Did Hydra really want her to go now, when there might be trouble brewing on the horizon? She almost asked, but the glint in Hydra's identical gaze gave her pause; it was clear that the woman did, indeed, want her to go, and when Alya looked back on the past several months, she thought she could see why.

Another faint smile flickered across her otherwise placid features, this one near apologetic. She knew she'd been reclusive and withdrawn, but she thought she'd at least been putting up a good front. No facade was ever good enough for her sisters, however.

She turned her attention back to Huojin. What do you think, Huo? she asked. You won't mind me coming along, will you?