"Y´Nara" by Maleah Schmitke

The sea roared below the balcony every time it struck the jagged rocks as if it were furious that it was barred from entering the world of the healers. On the balcony a brunette stood breathing in the salty air and savouring the cool breath of the wind on her face as she contemplated the lands beyond the healing complex. Her dress, nearly as red as a drop of blood, billowed about her legs.

“You’re trying to make yourself ill so that they’ll send another, aren’t you?” She turned as a short, plump girl with straw-coloured hair joined her on the balcony

“I just needed to take some air.”

“Mmm hmm.” The other didn’t sound wholly convinced, “You know, you’re lucky, Y‘Nara” she then said, “not many of us get selected to go out anymore.”

“Perhaps not, but I don’t feel ready.”

“The high healers believe you to be.”

“True, but this is my home, Talla, my family is here, everyone I know…”

“You’ll meet new people -- perhaps even other healers. You should open that school and hospice we talked about and when I’m deemed ready I’ll join you.” Y’Nara smiled

“Maybe I’ll do just that.”

“Are you going to bid Vaelyn farewell?” Y’Nara tensed visibly.

“Why?”

“Well…he’s your friend and he likes you…”

“You’re imagining things, Talla.” The blond smirked.

“Mmm hmm.”

Y’Nara had always thought herself as plain and ordinary as the sparrows that fed on the seeds left out for them during the cold winter months. There wasn’t much remarkable about her. She was pale of complexion with plain mousy brown curls and an ordinary face. The one thing striking about her were her storm-grey eyes that at times seemed to indeed have storm clouds rolling across them and at other times seemed to be silver as when the full moon struck the calm ocean water just right.

“He doesn’t think you’re ordinary in the way you do,” Talla told her, “He’ll be hurt if you don’t wish him farewell.” Talla turned and headed inside, “I’ll help you get the rest of your things together.”