ANCIENT EGYPT:
A cloud of dust rolled by over the sand dunes of Tanis. The stars shone brightly as the cloudless sky broke dawn. Outside the gates of the palace, a child sat on a brick cart, gazing skyward. He had always been mesmerized by the stars and their constellations. Psusennes, his name was, translating to "The Star Appearing in the City". A slave hauled bags flour toward the palace entrance, limping. Psusennes hears footsteps running near; they have found him. He jumps behind the cart. A young girl appears out of the gates, she looks to be thirteen years old; as old as Psusennes. She has short, black hair, cut to her shoulders. Her face is small in comparison to her large green eyes, yet she is still stunningly charming. She is wearing a white linen dress designed with green edges. In her hand, she grasps a hair ball.
"Psen? Where are you?", she shouted.
Psusennes instantly stood up and replied,"Kira?"
"Psusennes! Your parents have been searching for you everywhere!". She lifted the hair ball, "You also dropped your wig".
He snatched his wig from her hand and placed it on its rightful place. "I'm not going back this time. I hate it there! Mum won't let you come keep me company, and none of the other slave kids like me. I don't blame them, my Father did enslave them all. They have every reason to hate me."
" Psen, those people don't know you like I do, none of them took the time to see whats actually on your inside."
At that time, a dozen guards spotted the two and yelled, "Hey! You two aren't supposed to be outside the gate!".
The guards started chasing Kira and Psusennes.
"C'mon! Let's go!" Kira shouted as Psusennes chased after her into the desert.
Out of breath, Kira and Psusennes slowed to a stop. They sat down, looking back at the temple, noticing they had lost the guards. There was a moment of silence before Kira spoke.
"We should head back now. My Mother will have breakfast ready soon. And remember to show up to your sister's ceremony, if you don't, your father will never forgive you." Psusennes sighed. His third sister had just been born a few days ago. Thankfully, he is the oldest of his siblings and could possibly inherit his fathers role as high priest.
Hungry, both headed back toward the temple. Kira had been Psusennes best friend since they could walk. Kira, a slave child, and Psusennes, son of the high priest, did not seem to be the perfect match though. Psusennes had first met Kira at the statue of the Pharaoh in the center of the palace. She was running around franticly, sandal-less, obviously lost. Pinedjen, Psusennes father, had been passing by at the time, and Kira, not paying attention, ran directly into Pinedjen. He asked her where her parents were, then took her to his house once she said she was lost. Kira stayed at Psusennes house until her parents were found, but the time she was there, Psusennes and Kira's friendship had been formed. Though, when her parents came to retrieve her, not wanting to leave, she had a tantrum and ran around the house knocking over urns and statues of gods. Psusennes mother, Duathathor-Henuttawy, was furious and held a grudge on her for her entire life. The fact that Kira was slave-born did not place a positive view on her either.
Psusennes and Kira arrived at the palace gates, parting with a hug. Psusennes started toward his house. He was reminded of the ceremony for his newborn sister, her name Henuttawy, named after her mother. Mutnedjmet and Muatkare, his other two sisters were delighted when Henuttawy was born. Psusennes, on the other hand, did not need another sibling. Mutnedjmet had a burning hatred for Kira, and Muatkare was favored by their father, Pinedjen. When Psusennes was not with Kira, he was either alone, or painting. Psusennes had a passion for the art of painting. He would paint the gathering baskets and water bowls his mother owned, and he stained his linen clothing with designs of diluted paint. Under psusennes' bed there was a narrow staircase leading down to a small, yet long corridor filled with his paintings. Years ago, Kira and himself had started digging it out. Nobody but Kira and Psusennes knew of the underground gallery.
Kira had come from a fatherless family, who had died of malaria before Kira was born. No father had made her slave life especially hard, considering her mother had to double as a female slave and a male slave. Kira was an only child, but insists upon considering Psusennes a brother to her. Kira's personality had been exceptionally positive for a slave child. She always would look at the brighter side of things, and rarely was she ever depressed. Whenever Psusennes needed cheering up, Kira was there for him. Psusennes loved her. It was a shame she did not feel the same.