The sand was soft between her toes—not like the blades of grass in the summertime, which happened to be one of her favorite feelings, but like silk wrapped around the delicate nature of flesh. It comforted her in ways she hadn’t expected, and softened what uneasy barbs lingered beneath her skin.

Though their arrival on the island had been…disorderly to say the least, Fen was doing her best to wash away what discomfort still lay atop her tongue at the memory. She would not let their foul words and plays of fear dominate nor taint what was meant for her and her own. The island was the blessing of the Celestial Dragon, and no pharaoh or other could take that away from them.

However, her stubbornness would get her nowhere, and if she allowed herself, the girl would simmer and boil until she burst. For that reason, the princess took to the shore, letting her toes wander across the velveteen sand as her gaze searched elsewhere. Exploring, she concluded, would do her good.

Both for her mind and for her energy.

And so Princess Fen continued to wander until the blurring silhouette of another caught her attention like a flame cast to a field. They were nothing more than a shadow from the speed at which they ran, and like a dog with a bone, Fen was hooked.

Where were they going?

She couldn’t make out any features of who or what they might be, but that did not matter. Not to the Princess.

Atop long legs, Fen raced after the other as a call fled from her lips: Hey! Wait up!