"Eloise!" Ammara called, her voice carrying through the wood. It was an pine forest, filled with familiar scents, like wet soil, rain, and of course, the fresh, sharp smell of the pines. A single bird flew out of a tree, the creatures black plumage almost seeming to change colour in the early morning sunlight. Ammara marvelled at the sight. Most people would think it silly that someone such as Ammara would take the time to marvel at such a common, plain bird, but Ammara felt that she better take that time, for she would never know when she might see that beauty again, however common it may be.

A rustling sounded from the ponderosa pine above her, and she looked up sharply, her hand immediately going to the sword at her side. She relaxed when she saw her friend of three years, Eloise Blackstone, climbing down from the tree, something clutched in her hand.

Ammara raised her brow at the dark skinned woman. They had been camping in this large wood or a few days now, replenishing their supplies as needed.

"What were you doing up there?" She asked suspiciously, glancing down at Eloise's hands. Eloise smirked, her dark eyes glinting. She opened her palm to reveal a dozen tiny eggs, all of a peculiar blue colour, speckled with darker blue. "Getting breakfast, why?" She asked smugly, walking over to the fire Ammara had started, not long after awakening.

Ammara rolled her eyes, crossing her arms and sitting down next to her friend on a fallen log, the rough bark wet from the rain they had gotten last night, the fresh, metallic smell still hanging in the air, commingling with other scents.

They had met in a most peculiar way, if you can believe it. It had been but a few weeks after Ammara had run away from her father, after learning she was betrothed to a man she had only met that night, and had been held at knife point by Eloise. Eloise had mercifully let Ammara go, but took the merchants daughters small bag of money with her. And then, not a week later, Ammara had found Eloise in an alley, bruised and beaten. She had thought it quite peculiar, how a dangerous criminal, usually the one who did the beating, had been been beaten herself.

Ammara had taken the dark skinned criminal to a friends house, for there was not a healers building in sight. Eloise had spent almost a week there, only a few moments of consciousness to eat and drink. When she finally had gained full consciousness, in a moment of panic, as soon as Ammara walked in she threw an empty plate at her, successfully bruising her shoulder and puncturing Ammara's bare feet with the fallen glass shards. Ammara had of course forgiven her, saying that she would have done the same if she where in Eloise's position.

But to make a long story short, Eloise had requested Ammara travel with her, to 'Find a digs somewhere, or whatever you merchant people do.'. But what was supposed to be maybe a year, turned into two, then three. Ammara, now disinterested in finding a digs, took to traveling with Eloise, quite content, however dangerous it may be.

"So," Eloise started, placing a frying pan over the fire and cracking the dozen eggs into it, the eggs making a sizzling sound as they hit the hot pan. "What wondrous things where you dreaming about last night? By the looks of it, it must've been a pretty good dream, with all the moving around and mumbling you were doing." She said mischievously, wiggling her brows at Ammara.

Ammara battled the heat rising up to her face. She had had a good dream, but couldn't remember any of it. All she could remember, was a man. He had platinum blonde hair, tan skin covered in scars, and weapons covering him from head to toe. He was handsome, but the most curious thing about him, was his eyes. They were a deep, rich green, with long lashes that could reach the skin under his eyes if he closed them. But his eyes were devoid of all emotion, they were just...pools. Empty pools that held no happiness, love, sadness, fear, or anger. Nothing.

"I - um -" Ammara started, feeling herself blush. Eloise laughed, a light, twinkling sound, that could cheer up almost anyone who heard it.

"Well, what ever you dreamt about, it must've been very good." She said, flipping over the eggs, one by one with a knife.

Ammara chuckled lightly, grateful Eloise hadn't asked anymore questions.

They sat there in a comfortable silence, drinking up the sounds and smells off the forest. The sound of the eggs sizzling on in the pan rang through the air, the only sound in the forest other than leaves rustling, or the occasional bird call and wing flutter. The scent of the pines was not overwhelming, nor non existent. The smell of the ponderosa pines were comforting, for they smelled of vanilla, and when you broke a branch, almost like oranges.

Ammara picked up a small branch from the ground, bringing it to her nose. The familiar invigorating, fresh, woody scent attacked her senses. She closed her eyes, wanting to drown in this familiar, comforting scent. To just...breath. Live in this moment forever. For right at this moment, she felt safe—well, as safe as you can be when you're out in the wilderness.

A snigger from beside her tore her from her trance. Ammara opened her eyes, glaring at Eloise, who was trying desperately to keep hold of her laughter, but failing miserably.

"Tree sniffer." She giggled, her shoulders shaking.

Ammara scowled, throwing the branch to the side, said branch landing in a pile of needles.

After composing herself, Eloise took the pan off the fire, the eggs just barley crispy around the edges. The dark skinned woman dumped six of the eggs onto one small, metal plate, and the rest on its twin.

"Breakfast, is served." Eloise said, bowing to Ammara, the plate of eggs balancing on one hand, the other placed on her chest. Ammara smiled, taking the plate from her friend. "Thank you, kind lady." She replied, doing her best to imitate a noble. Eloise made a very unladylike snort, rolling her eyes.

Ammara put a hand to her chest, imitating how a noble might at something so unladylike.

"Oh my," she said, raising her voice an octave. "how unladylike!" She fought to keep a straight face, failing to the highest extent, now grinning from ear to ear and giggling uncontrollably. Shoulders shaking from silent laughter, Eloise kindly took Ammara's plate of eggs before they fell on the ground.

"Come on, Ammara," Eloise managed to speak through her laughter. "We still have a days travel before we reach Levart." She said, handing Ammara's plate back to her. The young woman took a moment to compose herself, taking a few deep breaths, before taking the plate from Eloise, still smiling broadly as the sunshine enveloped her face.

~§~

Well, hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter of Of Stars And Shadows!

The updates will most likely be very chaotic and spread out until I find a rhythm.

I'm also wanting to do a shoutout in every chapter, but we'll have to see:)

Please comment and vote if you enjoyed this chapter:D

Stay safe my dudes, and wear a mask!

~Reyna✨