A Family of Stars

Malakbel was curious why she heard crying in the courtyard. She had never heard crying at all; that was a new sound for her, but she knew that it must have been what she was hearing.

She carefully hid behind a pillar and peeked at what was going on in the courtyard. That is where Malakbel saw Nasiah alongside his parents and Jon with that weird lady he kept on dragging everywhere.

"Are they… camping here?" She chuckled to herself. That was new; Malakbel did overhear they were having a vacation, but to end it here was strange. Why not spend the rest of the evening outside of the temple?

And now Jon was crying, and everyone was hugging him for some reason, too. It was all so wild to her. She was going to get closer to listen in until somebody else spoke behind her.

"You do know that it's quite rude to eavesdrop, dear sister." Duma's voice nearly caused Malakbel to jump out of the way as she sighed.