When the first bells began ringing in the temple, a kingdom away, Orn was siting alone in the dark.

Orn sat leaning against the wall opposite the door. He cringed and closed his eyes as he heard something scratch at the wall behind him. The sound stopped as abruptly as it started, and Orn thought he could hear the rustling of something moving away.

Once he was sure the creature was gone, he slowly let out the breath he was holding. Pulling his knees towards his chest, he started talking to the only person how might hear him, Kao. She had still not returned, but talking to her made him feel less isolated.

Orn had been praying a lot the last couple days. Being trapped in the hut meant he was more alone than he had ever been before. Until now there was always someone nearby, but now he was truly alone. To fend off the feeling, Orn started by doing tasks around the hut. The sound of scratching had initially caused him to pause for fear of drawing the goblins attention. But with the growing frequency of the sounds, Orn could now do little, but quietly pray.

Orn froze and strained his hearing.

The shuffling sound near the door stopped and Orn relaxed. That is happening more and more frequently.

…

[awake]

Kao yawned, and sat up in her bed stretching. Idly rubbing at her face with the back of her hand, she pulled the covers away and turned to get up.

Her night gown rustled as she hopped out of the bed. Leaning forward a mirror slowly materialized in front of her. While she examined her reflection, the bed faded from existence behind her.

I look a mess. She smiled and blew one of the loose strands of hair out of her face. How long has it been since I last took a nap? Was Mother still awake back then?

Her thoughts turned back to memory/dream she had awoken from. A memory of a time when she gathered around the loom with her sisters watching their mother work. Stars and planets danced at their mother’s touch. Then the threads began to appear filling in the spaces between and adding color and substance to to fabric.

It was not long after her mother given them all tasks and rules. They were watching her work Then a galaxy shifted out of place, again,. Irritated by its action her mother casually cut it out with her knife, and muttered about following rules. Kao could still remember the falling threads of an entire galaxy fading into nothingness before they hit the floor. Remembering the moment that she and her sisters realized how insignificant they were before their mother caused her to shiver.

Shaking her groggy head she pushed the thought away. Mother is asleep and I have other things to do. I need to get dressed, and see what trouble Orn has gotten into.

She slowly turned in place. As she turned her appearances changed. When she again faced the mirror, she was in her black dress and her hair was neatly combed.

Better, she thought turning this way and that to check that her now tamed hair looked the way she wanted it. She caught herself brushing unconsciously at the waist of the dress. Did it get smaller?

She slowly turned back and forth, watching the way the dress fit in the mirror. It is smaller. How did that happen?

Scrunching her nose she tapped it with her finger, and felt it adjust to better fit her. That was strange. Probably the effect of those stones. I will have to pick. No. Talk, to Orn about…OH, speaking of, I knew he would miss me...

Kao smiled as she felt a slight prickly sensation in the back of her mind when someone prayed to her. I am going to have so much fun picking on him for getting lonely so easily.

The smile morphed into a look of horror, as all of Orn’s prayers washed over her. How long have I been… No… Oh no...

...

“Orn,” Came a soft voice from beside him, nearly causing him to jump. He turned to see Kao standing next to him with a pained expression.

“Kao, you are awake.” He felt the smile growing across his face.

“Yes.” She tried to smile, but could not force herself. “Orn, I am sorry.”

“For what?” Orn did not understand why she would be apologizing. I am the reason she was tired.

The shuffling sound came from the door again, and it rattled a bit in its frame. “For not being here sooner. There are goblins everywhere outside.”

Orn nodded. “I know. But Uncle is on his way back with help.”

She shook her head, “The goblins are already gathering here, and your uncle is going the wrong way. Worse, I think their queen is moving this way.”

“The.. the walls are thick, and uncle will come.” Orn swallowed, “I just need to keep quiet...”

Kao shook her head, “Goblins may not be able to get in, but their queen is a different matter.”

Orn was afraid he knew the answer, but he asked anyway, “So Uncle and the other hunters?”

Kao looked down, “I searched the area before I came. I do not think they can make it in time. And the queen is now between you and them.”