The summer sun was burning, radiating heat and light down onto the world. If not for the gentle cool breeze, many would have fled into the comfort of their homes. But when you're traveling, there's nothing to do but keep going. Something about the early summer can be described as magical; the swaying trees and the way the heart leaps for no reason. Less work and more relaxation..more fun.

She remembered lots of smiles that day, which had been rare for so long. It was even more rare that she allowed herself to dance and let loose. She remembered the people she had met. People who had been good people. They existed after all.

Traveling down a small windy dirt road after exiting a forest, dreadfully lost and wandering in no sense of direction, the duo of Aurora and Andre Everette heard music floating on air nearby. Upbeat and almost jazzish, not like the soft dirges of the bards they'd previously encountered that only added to their solemn outlook on their lives. At first, as if on a cue ofcourse, Andre grew wary. But when their eyes adjusted to see the outline of a caravan and a small group of people playing music together, they could not help but smile.

How long had it been? Forever, perhaps. Forever..since they were able to just enjoy life. To not worry. Not fear. Just...to have fun. Fun was nonexistant up until now. Almost shyly at first, they approached sheepishly. The group dropped their music but retained a friendly disposition. A dark skinned older man whose curled hair had just started to gray stepped forward.

"Well look what we have here! My name is Marco, and this is my family." He opened his arms when he turned to look at the older woman and the two young girls huddled in her arms.

"Welcome, please join us in dinner, you look tired." As if by magic, this man had slipped past Andre's overprotective barriers and they had both sat down to a full meal. Conversing lightly, they asked about the music. The old man laughed gently and picked up a saxophone, blowing into it and playing a tune.

She smiled as her mind slowly played out the scene where her, her brother and the caravan family, as she called them, had danced under the stars that night. The air was muggy and bugs stirred but music enveloped her body. If not now, I may never get another chance. And she shook her body in ways she had never moved before, moving to the music while everyone else clapped along. And that's where the memory ends..a long drawn out turn and smile to her brother.

The night twinkled with a few stars, the air tonight was colder now. She sat on a large white rock, her ivory gown flowing down to her ankles as she crossed her legs. Her silver hair blew gently in the wind as her eyes wistfully stared at a crackling fire yards from her. The flames lapped up at the sky; a entrancing mix of reddish-orange and yellow. Some sort of object had been reduced to ashes and rubble. Her elbows rested on her thighs as she leaned over and laid her head on her palms. The smile had faded.

Four small graves laid a few yards to the left of the fire, simply mounds of dirt and a pile of rocks over each one. That morning she had found a single forget-me-not for each grave and had laid them down. Bandits, perhaps had been the ones to raze the caravan family. Such a shame. She sat silently, her wings fluttering now and then but her body never shuddering. Her pale skin radiated under a half-moons cascading glow, but in comparison her eyes appeared dull now. Still no smile.

The pendant of the yin around her neck glowed gently, and nimbly she lifted it in her hands. It glowed all but for the white dot; and she sighed, dramatically letting her eyes flicker shut, holding and then reopening them. It was impossible to tell from this position but she stood around 5'7, tall for such a young age. Or young appearing that is. The gown hid her figure and she appreciated that or rather her brother had, for she had a wineglass shape with voluptious curves in the best of places.

She knew the memories. All of them. Her brother. She had lost her brother. Failed her brother. These words repeated in her head and she tried no longer to force them out. In the end she always lost. So the memories seeped in, playing over and over again like a broken record until she swore she was blinded. Some stung more than others. Her sanity had begun to deteriorate. It had been a month since he had gone to hell. Still no method to bring him back. Hope was dimming and with it, her will to live.

Left in a vulnerable state, weak and fragile as she was, she stayed away from big cities where men were vicious. She stayed away from forests where bandits just as fiendish waited. She was lost in the world without money, a home...not that she needed these things. Of all things she needed....was companionship.