The Storytellers
Most of Star*port was resting when Ashlyn, Conner, and Delfina arrived in the shallow water along one of the city's beaches. Ashlyn and Conner invited Delfina to stay with them for a while, but Delfina was weary and eager to rest in her hammock again, so they parted ways at the water's edge with open invitations to one another.
"Let's visit Ellie," Conner suggested.
"It isn't even dawn yet," Ashlyn replied. "Shouldn't we let her sleep?"
"She's missed you, and she's probably been worrying terribly," he answered. "She'll appreciate the wakeup, even if she grumbles at first. We owe it to her for that to be our first stop."
Ashlyn giggled, amused by thoughts of her best friend's reaction to being roused so early. Already, Star*port was working its magick on her; she felt good to be home.
The pair raced up the beach and down the well-lit streets. They moved gingerly through the winding corridors of the neighborhoods, wary not to wake anyone.
Star*port structures were built in such a way as to put a window in every room, should the inhabitants desire to gaze upon their lovely city with its clear sky, fine scenery, and excellent architecture. In fact, architecture was one of the city's primary arts. Arches, glowing structures, and various other architectural accomplishments made even the most trivial alleys a sight worth seeing.
Elisa's home was a small building that winded partially about a courtyard. Several houses were built around the particularly courtyard, one of many in Star*port. In the center of the courtyard was a fountain pond with a variety of resident creatures as well as a couple capricious water faeries, around which Elisa and Ashlyn spent much of their early childhood together.
Conner and Ashlyn paused at the back of the house, the arced side that faced the courtyard.
"Do you need a boost?" Conner whispered.
"Are you kidding?" Ashlyn answered incredulously. "I've been making this climb since I was half this size."
Elisa's bedroom had a connected balcony, which extended to create a covered porch before the backdoor. The balcony was only one floor above ground level, supported by both the house's exterior and two elegantly carved stone pillars.
Ashlyn easily scurried up one of the pillars, finding supports for her hands and feet in the nooks and protrusions placed there in its carving, and slipped over the sturdy banister. With a bound, Conner caught the bottom of the balcony and hoisted himself up that way.
Quietly slipping past the drapes through the doorway, which Elisa kept open since safety was not an issue and Star*port was known to have good weather almost all the time, Ashlyn moved almost soundlessly to the side of the bed where her best friend rested peacefully. Then she tackled her.
