A couple more weeks had come and gone easing them into the fall weather and a slight chilly breeze at night.

"Your birthdays are coming up, have you given any thought as to what you'd like?" Serena's mother asked with a smile, something she hadn't done very often the last couple months.

"No, not really…I sort of thought I'd just forgo it this year…"

"WHAT…you CAN'T do THAT…you CANNOT JUST forgo your BIRTHDAY!!" Mina's sudden shrill of an out cry cutting through the small cottage. Her high pitched voice echoed, causing both Serena and her mother to try and cover their ears. "Luna…you agree with me right?!"

"My goodness Mina you need to stop doing that…I would have thought by now you'd outgrown that pitch." Mina blushed in slight embarrassment as Serena laughed at her getting scolded. "She does have a point though Serena."

"Well I don't really see why it's necessary, I don't see the big deal but…"

"HOW can YOU not see IT as…" From the look on their faces she could tell her voice was getting a tad to loud once again, so she calmly took a deep breath and let it out as she spoke. "…a big deal?"

"WELL as I was TRYING to say MINA…I don't Care WHAT we do!" She shrilled back with annoyance causing them both to plug their ears at the screech.

Suddenly Mina's face lifted into a huge smile. "Good I'm glad besides, we always do our birthdays together. Although really mine should be before yours after all I am older…but see that's how much I love you, I'm willing to share."

"OH puh-lease not that again, you're barely a day older."

"Soo what's your point…I'm still older."

Luna quickly spoke up on a more serious note. "You know turning eighteen is considered of importance in the village…you'll both be adults allowing the tie that binds you to me Serena and Mina to your parents to release…please make sure you give yourselves time to think about what this all entails." Just as quick as it came it had been replaced with another smile. "Now hold still Serena so I can finish the hem on your dress, before my birthday comes.

Two weeks later their day had arrived, the small village of people began setting up for the celebrations mid afternoon. Turning eighteen was always a cause for festivities it allowed choices…freedom. Not that the life they had was something to run away from but knowing that there was something beyond them. That there was excitement, fear, something new, change…those are what allowed them freedom.

"You're going to burn a whole through that dress if you keep staring at yourself in the mirror."

"It's just so beautiful."

"You look surprised…did you think your dear old mom couldn't come through?" Luna asked with amusement as she watched her daughter twirling in front of the mirror, gazing at her reflection. The dress itself was a soft blue that nearly touched her ankles with long sleeves and a comfortable fit around her slender figure.



"Oh mother, you know that's not true…I love it so much." She hugged her mother tightly. Luna kept her in an embrace as she whispered in her ear. "Jade would be happy to know his little sister has finally become an adult."

Even as she spoke, listening to her own words it brought both women to tears for missing their loved one. Since her brother's passing Serena always had her mother add something blue. It was his favorite color and she liked thinking apart of him was still there even if it was something small.

Shortly after their moment of bonding Serena finished getting ready knowing she'd be meeting up with Mina shortly. Every year since they were twelve they would smuggle a glass of wine and although tonight would be no different it just happened to be they could drink actually get away with it.

"I'll be lookout, you grab it."

"Wait…why can't I bee lookout, and you grab it?"

"Because Mina, you're the one who wants to be sneaky about it. When we could just as easily go up and take it."

"It's going to take all the fun out of it, we have to stick with our ritual."

As Mina tip toed to get a bottle of wine, Serena waited with little patience knowing that they are now of age to drink in moderation.

"Got it let's go."

They made their way to the pond, as they arrived that all too familiar tree in the crevice where Serena usually rested was a rose. To get a clearer view of the color she held it in the moon's light and saw that it was lavender. Both girls almost drunkenly so gazed about trying to figure out where it came from, neither had a clue.

It seemed as though finding that rose wasn't the only strange thing to occur that night. When they had finished their small bottle of wine they nestled further into the tree as though it were their bedding as sleep over took them.

As they delve further into their slumber dreams began to stir.

Serena slept with ease as small snores escaped her mouth. She was surrounded by an endless amount of trees hidden behind one as she aimlessly looked ahead trying to make out a blurred vision of someone…from what she could make out it appeared he was bleeding his hand covered in blood while attentively holding his neck as he slowly tried running.

Serena started to restlessly sleep while Mina dreamt of traveling into a small town accompanied by her sleeping companion. They excitedly and cautiously roamed around trying to not bump into anyone so as to not bring more attention on them as possible. Suddenly her eyes focused on something and whatever it was that caused her to open her eyes.

Almost in unison both girls sat up with slight ragged breaths, both girls held the look of confusion, neither knew exactly what to say other then they had unusual dreams.

"Maybe it's the wine…we drank more then usual Rena."



"I guess so…it just felt…so real."

They continued to lie against the tree quietly and patiently waiting for the sun to rise. Soon after it rose they headed home, going their separate ways. To sleep off the hangover they had acquired for the first time.

As Serena snuck in quietly to her room she began to remove her clothing as she remembered to check her pocket. She gently pulled it out as though it might crumble in her hands as she openly admired the lavender rose she had found the previous night.

Nothing that resembled this particular flower grew in that area…So where did it come from she wondered briefly as she set it down on her dresser then quickly fell into bed letting a peaceful sleep overcome her.