The preparations for Solyestra are underway, and they're coming along well. Aside from a few personal struggles, that is.

"What is with these raised voices? It annoys me!" the female states in a commanding way.

"My business is with Zephyr!" Cruz addresses her agitatedly with a loud voice still.

"And my business is with anyone causing any disturbance inside the Palace, something you are doing right now! Quit it, or leave." she bellows at Cruz while having a wing pointed at the Palace's entrance.

At this point, Tudor walks on by. He's on his way to the storage rooms, keen on wanting to know what food items are available to feast on soon and relish on all of them. He looks up at the bossy attitude of the female from behind her, curiously to hear what Cruz and the old Jaquin have done to anger her. An immediate urge creeps up in him, wanting to mock Cruz and drive him into the tight corner he's in now even further. However, a thought entering his mind prevents him from doing so this time: *Uh, nope… I rather not have Tornado do the same with me.*

He knows that he can only expect heavy retaliation for any remark he makes that she deems improper. He decides to continue on walking. Lavishing on all of the food was something he wanted to do yesterday, but got prevented when Shaniqua dragged him into the throne room, instead.

Tornado, on her turn, makes a gesture with her head. Two members of the King's Guard, one of them being Veje, walk over and go stand beside her, one on each side, looking at Cruz with a stern look on their faces.

"Let me be the wiser Jaquin of the two…' Zephyr says with clear irritation to his voice as he looks at Cruz and turns around facing the Palace's entrance, 'My business here will come at a later time."

The grey old Jaquin spreads his wings and flies off. Arriving outside, he's greeted by the same tasty scents Luna was. This comforts him and makes him feel more at ease, and allows him to start pondering over the course he set out for Cruz… In the meantime, Zephyr's absence in the Palace is replaced by king Verago, who approaches Cruz. He, too, heard the commotion and came to see what this is all about. "Say, Cruz. I heard your voice. It sounded rather irate. Such tone is not voiced within my Palace. You would do wisely not to let me remind you of this… Tornado, it was a bold move raising your voice as well. I do not condone it from anyone."

Tornado looks agitated, clearly displeased with Verago shushing the situation. Yet, she dares not talk back to him. She knows his decision is final and leaves it at this. "I understand." is all Tornado replies with and in an unmoved way.

"Good. Both of you should know better than arguing with one another. Today is all about celebration and honouring the Sunbirds. Now, head out both of you. The feast is soon to start and preparations are still underway."

"Hmpf… Agreed.' Cruz says indignantly while nodding and prepares to get airborne, 'I am done here anyway."

Just like Zephyr, Skylar's undergoing the same event. He, too, has all kinds of embellishing scents reaching his nose. He takes in all the intricate smells and relishes over them. Deciding to follow one such smell, he ends up with Migs who seems busy baking using a flat-surface stone for a stove. He looks gleeful. Skylar notices a few severed sugar canes lying next to Migs, as well as two sliced onions. Migs looks up at the one approaching him and bears a genuine smile. Excitedly, he says: "Finally, you are back. Now, look at this! I was able to extract the juice from these sugar canes. Now if you will get me some ceramic bowls from the Palace, then we can make black treacle. I know you like that!"

"Ooh, and we need that for…' Skylar exclaims excitedly only to realise he hasn't a single clue and adds cautiously, 'For what, actually?"

"Well, to make empanada stole, of course!" Migs replies in a delighted manner.

"Right! Hmm, that is sooo delicious!" Skylar says and starts licking his lips.

"It is, indeed. Making the food is the pinnacle of preparations. The dough needs some time to rise but that gives me plenty of it to get this right. Now, off you go!" Migs exclaims perkily.

Skylar prepares to take to the skies and says: "I will get some bowls right away!"

Quickly, Migs prevents this by blocking Skylar with one of his wings, saying: "Mind you, though. Those bowls are old. I mean, really old! We got them from the humans before your father banned them. We cannot make them ourselves. Once broken, a bowl can no longer be replaced. So be careful!"

Skylar nods deeply as he looks Migs in his eyes with determination. "Got it!" he replies at a serious tone of voice and gets airborne.

Not far from them, Nico's busy readying himself for some baking as well. He has fine baking skills. That is, according to his own judgment. He rather wants to help in preparing food than to participate in the funfair games. He thinks of himself more of a juvenile, even though he's still a youngster and his big brother sometimes teases him for having a baby face still. Therefore, he feels baking is more appropriate for him to do. Having gone past many other Jaquins this morning, Nico has learnt that only a few plan on preparing masa tortillas. So he decided to make these as well. Having gathered all the necessary ingredients from the storage rooms, he puts some piece of meat onto the already hot surface of a flat stone, one that enjoys not a single shade against the sun's unforgiving rays. As Nico has the meat gently touch the rock a sharp sizzling sound starts filling the air around him. He deems it fine for now. He has been keeping an eye on his big brother lately. Nico wants to outperform him. Not only during Solyestra but also in the speed race. Soon after, he spots Skylar hovering over the funfair field together with Shaniqua and Dulce. Both females have been helping set-up the funfair. Nico decides to join them in conversation. Apparently, Skylar has taken some bowls with him from the Palace, and the females wanted to find out why. Skylar proudly tells them he's helping Migs prepare the empanada stole. He then realises Migs must be waiting for him and he quickly takes his leave. Nico takes over the conversation and tells Shaniqua and Dulce what he's preparing. Before either of them can respond to it, all three hear a shriek: "Eee-eew!"

All look up to where it originates from. "I know that voice!" Dulce says worriedly.

They quickly make their way toward the source of the shriek. Standing next to a flat-surface stone, Avira looks at the burnt meat on that rock with disgust, watching the meat sizzle as dark smoke rises from it that bears a foul smell. The sight, and scent, upon the now distasteful food, has Avira startled but disgusted more so. Nico hadn't realised the scorching heat of the flat-surface stone would've turned the meat black so quickly…

In the meantime, Skylar arrives back at the flat rock Migs is utilising for his empanada stole. Skylar puts down the bowls gently, knowing Migs' watching his every move. He doesn't want to stick around, though, because he's dedicated to leaving for the feast early. He wants to stand next to his father, who'll commence Solyestra with a powerful roar at noon. *I really want to be there when it starts!* he motivates himself in thought.

Skylar clearly has a difficult impression on his face, thinking of a proposition to make toward Migs to avoid a boring conversation. "Can I leave early, Migs? I do not want to miss the start of the feast. Especially with my father kicking it off, you know." Skylar asks at an almost sad tone of voice.

Migs replies with a steady voice: "I know. I would like to attend it on time too, bu…"

"Okay, settled then!" Skylar immediately replies full of enthusiasm.

Of course, he knows Migs wasn't finished speaking and certainly didn't mean it the way Skylar interpreted it. Migs definitely wants to prevent Skylar from leaving. Still, the way Migs started gave Skylar the perfect lead, even if it were but to tease him. "No!' Migs exclaims and sighs, 'That is not how I meant it and you know it. Come on, the sooner we finish this stole the sooner we can attend the start of Solyestra."

"Boring…" Skylar mumbles as he rolls his eyes.

Conveniently for Skylar, that rolling of his eyes has him spot Zephyr flying past, heading toward the funfair. "Ah, but you can handle this by yourself, right? I mean, you probably do not want me to break any of these bowls… Right? So, I will leave you to your baking.' Skylar says confidently and readies himself to take to flight, 'Ow! And if you will, do not be too frugal with the black treacle, will you?"

Migs follows up on Skylar with his eyes, and mumbles while shaking his head: "Seriously, Skylar… Your behaviour is as reckless as your taste for sweets. One day, your teeth will fall straight out of your mouth."

Up in the sky, Skylar keeps his eyes on Zephyr. He really wants a word with the eldest of Jaquins. He quickly gains on him and shouts: "Chief!"

Zephyr seems in thought and startles from the loud voice coming from behind. "Huh? Oh, Skylar. How are the preparations coming along? I see, and predominantly smell, a lot of fine odours…"

"I think… They are doing well. I think we are almost finished."

"Good.' Zephyr says calmly and groans before continuing, 'I see something is on your mind. What troubles you, Skylar?"

"Say, chief. I was thinking about my training. You know, to become a Guardian… How come I was sent to training so late? I mean, are trainees not supposed to be younger?"

"I understand your confusion, Skylar. You must know that king Verago and qu…' Zephyr says droningly yet suddenly holds his tongue as he realises he shouldn't bring up Skylar's mother so he continues calmly again, 'He wanted to see you become a Guardian sooner. At that time, however, we lived in – exceptional circumstances in which we were given no choice but to wait. The fight against Shuriki had us all occupied for nearly 40 years, as you well know. All Jaquins able to join that ongoing battle had to participate. That included experienced Guardians, such as Cruz, myself. Even you had to participate. Times were grim, let alone, dire. Thus, you can imagine training you was not our priority, even though it pained both king Verago and me that we had to wait this long. Even so, the result is the same. You are a true Guardian, and that is what counts. Let no one tell you otherwise, Skylar…"

"Thanks, chief." Skylar says amiably.

"Well, I am here. I will inspect the funfair and see if it is ready."

"I will go and see father. He will want to commence the festival soon!"

"Hurry up, then. It is almost noon. And… Try to avoid Tornado for now. She just had an altercation with Cruz and is momentarily bad-tempered, to say the least."

"Huh, what did she do?" Skylar mumbles but turns around and heads for the Palace to see his father.