{-Sharena-}

"You've gotta look at it from this angle," she stated, pointing up at the sky and tracing the form with her finger.

"I don't get what I'm looking at…" Fauna remarked.

The morning sky was perfect for cloud watching and the early spring weather was welcomed. So while they were technically here to give some of the Heroes room to do whatever (the castle courtyard wasn't big enough for playing dragons, after all), Sharena voted the group went to the stargazing hill—a bit further than what Anna had permitted them to go, but as long as she made sure none of them set anything on fire, she didn't see a problem with it.

"It's a bunny. Look, there's its ears, over there's the legs, the tail is—"

"Still don't see it," Fauna interrupted, frowning. "It just looks like a cloud."

"Jeez, it's obvious this was not your hobby of choice." Sharena paused. "Either that or you're just really uncreative."

Fauna shrugged. "Cleaning was my hobby of choice; there's always something that needs to get cleaned with two little kids in the household. I didn't exactly travel very far from home, nor did I really have time to sit down and stare at the sky for hours."

"You didn't seem to have a life, either," Sharena mumbled. "I mean, who hasn't done this before?"

"Guess that's what happens when you're a part of the working class." Fauna got up. "I'm going to check on the Heroes."

Sharena sat up. "Fauna, wait." She sighed, watching Fauna go. "Great going, you screwed up that conversation," she scolded herself quietly.

They hadn't really talked at all since Fauna gave Sharena the letter (which she still hasn't read nor replied to—just confirmed that it was from her mother), and she was beginning to wonder if Fauna had something to say about yesterday. Either that or she just decided it was time for an uncalled for cold shoulder. Whatever the cause, it was oddly strange given the fact that she was never really seemed to try this hard to avoid Sharena before.

"Little dreamer…so full of fear."

That wasn't any voice she recognized. And it almost felt like it was trying to taunt her, but also trying to sound inviting all the same. She couldn't really figure out where it was coming from, either.

"I wish we could chat more, but I really can't stay… Promise to actually talk next time?"

She stayed silent. The voice didn't talk again, either.

Sharena barely noticed Fauna coming back and standing in front of her. "Are you even listening?"

"What?" She didn't bother trying to ask Fauna if she'd heard that too—it wasn't hard to guess what her answer would be. "I was distracted."

Fauna held out her hand. "We've got to go soon; it's been a few hours and, I don't know about you, but I'd rather not spend the day sitting around." She gave her a little smile. "Anna's probably waiting for us, anyway."

Sharena got up. "Let's gather up the Heroes now, then."

…

They dispersed as soon as they got back. Fauna used the general excuse of "making more cookies," but declined help. Sharena ended up carrying training supplies while Anna pointed out Natheniel's lack of focus while fighting—she was even brave enough to poke him (though with the end of one of the wooden lances, just about as far away as she could be) while he was trying to show them his ability with magic to prove her point. Suffice to say he got distracted and wasn't even able to finish.

"Gods, I hope you never have to fight to the death," Anna remarked. "Because you'd get murdered. Effortlessly. A thirteen-year-old Sharena could've beaten you."

"Hey!" Sharena frowned. "I wasn't that bad. I think."

"You guys are really being supportive," Natheniel retorted sarcastically.

Anna shrugged. "Sometimes you've got to be given the cold, hard truth. That includes making sure you understand when you suck at something."

"It's nice to know you never changed. Mostly." Natheniel gave them a wistful smile. "And also it's a little hard to concentrate with you two there. I swear I was much better back when I actually practiced on a normal basis."

"If you say so." Anna took the practice tome out of his hands and unceremoniously dropped it in the pile with the others. She said something else after that but Sharena wasn't really listening.

Standing beside Natheniel was a wispy, faded figure. They almost shared the same height and build, but while Natheniel was talking to Anna, it had its hand outstretched towards Sharena in a welcoming yet unsettling gesture. It smiled at her, causing her to drop what she was holding and earning her a concerned look from the other two.

"Sharena?" Anna's hand on her shoulder brought her back to reality.

She tried quickly thinking of a way to avoid answering what Anna was really asking. Eventually she took too long and there wasn't much point in making an excuse.

Thankfully Natheniel spoke up before she had to make any form of an answer. "There's one more thing I want you two to know before I leave. Just the two of you—someone can tell Alfonse when he gets back." He paused. "Preferably not in the courtyard. It's really not something that concerns anyone else."

Anna gave him a skeptical glance but motioned towards the castle anyway. "I'll be there in a minute."

(A/N: Fauna's just upset because Sharena told her basically the same thing Ethen always told her. Probably...)