Thanks to my readers/reviewers. This is looking to be seven or eight chapters total. If this feels like it's going nowhere... well... don't worry. The end is in view.

Drifting off

Freedom.

That was Starfire's experience as she flew through the vast open deserts in the twilight, feeling the freezing breeze rush over her skin and filter through her hair. Nothing artificial or manufactured existed here to distract the senses from the organic, genuine feeling of the open sand dunes. And yet, with the stars shining down overhead and the incessant frigid wind lashing against her face, she got a sensation that could only be described as… surreal. She almost felt that she was dreaming, and that she never again wanted to be shackled by the conscious world.

As if to threaten the feeling, a small city came into view on the horizon. Starfire dreamily flew behind her sister. The high walls came closer and closer until they were suddenly underneath. Thousands upon thousands of structures became visible. Houses, buildings, communes… in one swift instant they materialized.

Blackfire spent no time to gazing – she flew straight down to the road just inside the city wall. Starfire followed, the dreamy look finally disappearing from her face.

"Did all the blood get forced to your legs or something?" asked Blackfire. She gave her sister an inquisitive look before remembering how quickly Starfire's mind could slip away to another dimension. Actually, thought Blackfire, maybe she doesn't trail off at all. Maybe she just gets really caught up in what's there. Even if it's ten thousand tonnes of… sand.

"Where is this place we are heading to, sister?"

"It's just a few minutes that way," said Blackfire, lazily pointing over her head in the general vicinity. She caught the sight of her own shoulder and seemed to muse. "I forgot what it feels like to be so open to the elements. I'm not used to feeling each grain of sand bounce off my skin as I fly."

"You will quickly adapt. And how is your hair? Was the dye satisfactory?"

"Huh? Oh," replied Blackfire, almost forgetting her recently acquired red hair. She pulled some over her shoulder and glanced back and forth a few times at her own hair and her sister's. "Well, I'm obviously on the darker side of red, but I'll blend in well enough. It's worked before."

Black hair, like the abilities of flight, resilience, and starbolts, was a rarity among Tamaranians. The vast majority possessed hair in various shades of red.

Blackfire led the way down the streets towards their destination. The streets were usually only wide enough to accommodate four or five individuals at once. Residences and small businesses were mixed freely in this quarter, and a good number of poorer people sat on the sides of the road. A particularly old woman sitting alone at the end of a short alleyway caught Starfire's attention. The woman was definitely on the edge of her mortality. She was draped in a few thin sheets and was sitting between a couple of large rocks that almost formed a low alcove.

Starfire turned from behind her sister and walked right up to the old woman, stooping over at her feet.

"Are you cold?" asked Starfire.

The old woman gave no reply and only stared back with a blank expression. Starfire eyed the rocks around the old woman, and noticed a thin layer of sand that had formed on the blankets near her legs.

Starfire quickly thrust both her hands onto a large rock a few feet high that was right beside the destitute woman.

"Star," interrupted Blackfire, "what are you…"

Already, the green energy surged from her hands. The old woman turned her head slightly in surprise. Starfire slowly moved her hands around the rock to heat it evenly. Her eyes stayed closed as she felt around the surface, ensuring that the temperature wouldn't be too great for the woman whose bodily functions were too meagre to regulate themselves. An observing Blackfire kept silent the entire time.

"There," said Starfire as she opened her eyes. "You should be warmer for a few hours."

The old woman mumbled something unintelligible. Starfire sighed before she stood up, turned around and met her sister at the head of the alley. Blackfire resumed leading Starfire towards her goal.

"She might burn herself," objected Blackfire.

"She has not moved in some time. The sands of many days have piled up on her."

"Oh…" mumbled Blackfire, surprised at her sister's observation. They pressed on with Blackfire in the lead. The buildings on either side became increasingly derelict, causing Starfire mild concern as to where she was headed. Soon enough, Starfire began to feel a thumping vibe in her head. It was as though someone was slamming the ground with a great mallet.

The pounding epicentre soon became visible. It was a large hall, probably once a community center of some sort. There were no windows, and the exterior looked run down – much like everything else in the vicinity. A lone male Tamaranian of eighteen years of age stood beside the only entrance. He perked up at the sight of Blackfire and her sister approaching.

"Ono'tari!" he exclaimed. "The hardest dancer and strongest arm wrestler I've seen. Where have you been?"

"I live up to my namesake," replied Blackfire with confidence.

Starfire reflected momentarily on the meaning of her sister's alias. Twilight. The Tamaranian male casually strutted up to the two sisters, obviously happy to see "Twilight".

"Ah, and who is this?" he asked, looking acceptingly at Starfire.

"This is my sister… Kara'kuu. Kara'kuu, Xu'ffash. Xu'ffash, Kara'kuu."

"Ah," said Xu'ffash as he held out his hand. "Nightstar. Nice name. Your sister told me a little about you."

The situation had obviously caught Starfire surprised. She briskly held out her hand and gave Xu'ffash a much harder shake than he was expecting. Blackfire smiled and rolled her eyes while Xu'ffash tried to act unaffected.

"You've got your sister's strength," he remarked.

"That is what many have told me," said Starfire, her voice sounding distant.

Xu'ffash glanced back and forth between the two for a few moments. Though he had only known Starfire for less than a minute and Blackfire for less than a week, he was already casting their roles. Ono'tari, the one of fame. Kara'kuu, the one with the inferiority complex.

"I'll see you two inside."

"Be just a minute," replied Blackfire as he stepped through the doors. As he did, a beam of blue light shot through the open door, illuminating the two girls. Blackfire turned to face her sister. The intrigue and excitement were radiating off her face.

"Okay Nightstar, keep it down in there," said Blackfire with a semi-motherly tone. "No starbolts. No flying. No demonstrations of unusual strength, though it's a bit late for that. Keep a low profile. I don't want anyone guessing that we're anything more than a few regular Tamaranian youth."

Starfire nodded excitedly.

"Well then. Let's party." Blackfire pushed the hall door open for her sister.

As soon as she stepped in, Starfire was drenched with a blast of vibrant, energetic, deafening music that made her want to scream with joy. Bright lights of all colors came beaming from every corner and reflected off mirrored parts of the ceiling. People were dancing and moving to the music everywhere, and a strange mist seemed to lightly cover some parts of the room. Starfire clasped her hands together with her eyes as open as possible, grinning with anticipation.

"Yeah," joked Blackfire, "keep those eyes open. If you drifted off in the barren desert, you'll fall fast asleep in here…."