It's You. [Crow, Otter]

The town was always bustling with people. Otter had always loved the sound of horses trotting along the cobblestone path. The scent of fresh bread coming from the old baker’s open windows filled her nostril. Ferrah held onto the basket as they waltzed through the town. Otter often dawdled saying “Hi” to each passerby and chatting with the children.

The two were ogled at, just as many Sunites were. Though Otter was fairly used to it, she was still surprised that someone like her foster father could accumulate more stares than everyone in the Temple of Beauty combined. It amused her, though chased away the boys she had been interested in.

As she stood idle, lost in her thoughts, she felt an odd pang in her chest. She pressed a palm to her heart, her eyes instinctively scanning her surroundings. Something was different, though she couldn’t place her finger on it just yet.

Ferrah tore her gaze away from the fresh produce to look at her companion. “Is anything wrong, Otter?”

The aasimar shook her head. "N-no! I’m sorry for making you worry. Let’s see, what do we have here?” She jumped to her companion’s side and gazed at the assortment of greens.

Her thoughts however, drifted somewhere else. Somewhere more…familiar.

As Ferrah promptly paid for the vegetables, Otter’s attention was brought to a small stand in the middle of the marketplace. Behind the stand sat an old woman, her long white curls almost masking her face. Although she didn’t see her directly, Otter could tell she was staring right at her. Or through her.

Otter blinked. "I’ll be back in a moment, Ferrah-dear. There’s something I must see.” She patted Ferrah’s arm and gave the half-elf no moment to respond. Instead Otter walked towards the old woman.

As she approached, she could see the fine assortment of trinkets on the woman’s table—a standard crystal ball used for scrying, a bunch of cards, and a few good luck charms. Otter believed in magic, everyone did. But no one would dare do anything so risky. Still, it was always fun to have your fortune read.

“One gold a readin’, dearie.” The old woman smiled, revealing a set of crooked yellow teeth. Her long robe clung to her scrawny body, and in this heat, Otter could only imagine how uncomfortable she felt. “But for a pretty girl like you…the prize is almost free”

"Almost?” Otter repeated, perplexed by the woman’s statement. How could something be almost free?

“For the small price of a lock of your hair, my dear.” She grinned again. It seemed fair. It was just hair after all. “I can guarantee Madame Kezia sees all.” She pointed to her eye whimsically.

"O-okay then. It’s just hair…” Otter uttered, instinctively twirling a few strands of hair on her fingers. Madame Kezia rubbed her hands together before producing a small set of shears. Otter hesitantly took them before snipping away a small lock of hair.

As she handed it over to Madame Kezia, the strands vanished and the old lady grinned. “Excellent, now let us see what the cards have in store.” The woman shuffled through her deck of tarot cards and spread them out for Otter to choose.

“Choose three, pretty dearie.” She motioned to the cards and Otter closed her eyes, allowing fate to guide her.

The back of the card was standard. A purple deck with a symbol of a silver eye. Otter turned it over, greeted by a simple picture of a sun.

“What a lucky child we have here.” The old woman rubbed her hands together. “The sun will shine for you today, little one. And you will experience new beginnings. Whether good or bad, I can assure you, you will shine through them, though it may mean leaving everything behind here to pursue bigger dreams.” Madame Kezia grinned, gauging her to draw her second card.

This time Otter drew a card with a beautiful woman, a crown sitting atop her head. On her neck was a bright golden cross. “The high priestess.” Madame Kezia commented. “It makes sense to follow after the sun. Answers you have thought were lost will be found, and everything will fall into place soon. A surprise awaits you too.”

Otter had an inkling that today was going to be a good day, and the cards she had drawn seemed to indicate that. She had flutters in her chest as she drew her final card. On it was a strong male figure sitting on a throne. Madame Kezia laughed and Otter looked at her quizzically.

“You may want to keep this card.” Madame Kezia beemed.

"I-I do?”

“The emperor symbolizes what is coming for you, what is coming to you, and how you should react. Acceptance is the best way, child.”

"And what makes this card special?”

“It means, young one—” Madame Kezia rubbed her hands together. “—That you will receive what you most desire.”

”Otter!” Otter turned her head to the direction of Ferrah’s voice. The card was still pressed between her delicate fingers, the picture of the emperor burned into her memory. Otter had many desires: one of which was Sergio raising her allowance so that she could buy more sweets.

She had to play it coy though.

She beamed at Ferrah. "Whoops! Did you miss me for a bit? Hee..hee.” She said, awkwardly giggling. The half-elf rolled her grey eyes and sighed.

“You’re always dawdling.” She scolded, before noticing the card in Otter’s hand. “What do you have there?”

"Madame Kezia gave it to me…” Otter replied, but as she turned to look for the old woman, she was gone.

“We have a lot of work to do when we get back. You’re on garden duty today!” Otter laughed. She was always on garden duty. The flowers sprouted as she walked barefoot after all, and she loved filling Sune’s home with many beautiful flowers.

"I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She smiled as the two headed back to the temple.

She kicked off her boots and stared up at the bright blue sky. She could imagine the image of the sun on the tarot card staring down at her. Was it really her luck that brought sunshine to the day? Otter never considered herself to be especially lucky, however the circumstances that brought her here made her feel incredibly grateful.

She had a family, and although they would never replace the one she had lost, it was still nice to be loved and accepted somewhere.

Her toes curled as the soles of her feet pressed into the warm soil, grass tickling her feet. She threw her arms up in the air, dancing in the grass and allowing sunlight to bathe her. Little by little, small flowers sprouted from the garden, little bulbs of different coulors colouring the once bare field.

What did she most desire?

She already knew the answer and it made her heart ache even thinking about it.

Him. Always him.

They say when twins are born, they’re created with a special kind of bond, a red string of fate that ties them together, never breaking, only stretching, tangling, and one day, snapping back together. The bond for aasimars were similar, yet more intense, especially for these two devas.

The deal they made lasted a lifetime, and though Otter could not retrace those memories, she knew that in every lifetime there would be Crow. Crow and Otter, two sides of the same coin, but she knew she would be nothing without him.

This world was composed of happiness and sorrow. Like piano keys their song was one that was bittersweet, yet the wheel of fate played it over and over again. His was the first love she had ever known. He was her only family even before the world had existed.

And she felt him here.

It wasn’t in the metaphysical sense. She could actually feel his presence. The number of aasimars Otter had encountered in her short life was next to none, but Crow’s presence always felt familiar. And now she was certain it was him.

She turned towards the temple of Sune, scared to move from the garden. She was certain he was in the vicinity.

But she was scared.

Yet Otter took her first step. And then her second. And then her third.

Still barefoot, her soles pressed against the warm cobblestone path, a trail of flowers growing in her path.

She sprinted into the temple, graceful hands pushing at the intricately designed back door. If Otter had wings, she’d be flying, but she was only an angel with a halo and eyes that seemed to stare into one’s soul.

The temple was grand, and Otter knew she’d run into trouble possibly before she ran into her brother. It wasn’t hard to find her, the flowers that grew in her path marked her location. Why had she forgotten to wear shoes?

As she tried to sneak past the other clergy members, Otter simply followed her heart and the familiar tugging feeling. His presence. Him. How Otter longed for him for so long.

They all told her she was dead.

She had never believed it.

She darted through the large temple, dancing from room to room avoiding eyes that stared at her. She had done this many times as a young child, when she was first brought here.

When they had been torn apart by the fire that killed their family.

In a few moments, she hoped they would be reunited. She stared at her surroundings for a moment—a grand temple filled with beautiful hedonists. Otter had no clue where her brother had grown up in, and she feared the worst: that while she was enjoying the fine luxuries of life, her brother was on the streets suffering.

Tears formed in the corners of her eyes and she stopped in her tracks, her fingers hesitant to open the next door. Would he really want to see her after all this time? What if he assumed she stopped looking for him?

That she abandoned him?

She opened the last door that lead to the long hallway, the hallway before the entrance. Her heart was beating so wildly in her chest. Butterflies danced around in her stomach, fluttering so wildly Otter wanted to throw up.

She moved slowly.

What if he didn’t recongnize her? She was no longer the chubby cherub he’d watch chasing frogs by the small pond of their childhood home as he sat perched on the tree, his face buried in some book.

He was always much more reserved than she was, even though it had just been the two of them.

She walked across the hallway, towards the large temple doors. Could he be outside?

She pressed palm to the door, her eyes closed. She could not open it, in fear of disappointment.

Are you there brother?

Otter could feel her heart beat rapidly in her chest like a caged dove seeing sunlight for the first time. With every second that passed, every set of eyes that watched her every move—Otter felt the world spinning around her.

She took a deep breath.

And then another.

What if he wasn’t outside?

What if she had just been fantasizing as she had for years.

Was this really the day?

Brother…

The cards were laid out. They were in her hands. The emperor’s eyes bore into hers.

It was now or never…

And with a deep breath, she pushed the doors open.

Otter was stunned. All she could do was stare. He had grown so tall, he easily towered over her. Those eyes—a blinding grey, almost white that reflected stars when the sun fell, long silver hair that somehow made him look threatening yet angelic all at the same time, soft skin that Otter used to pinch when they were children.

She could not help it.

As hot tears threatened to fall from the corners of her eyes, she ran the short distance between them and hugged him. She hugged him with all the strength she had and called onto the divine to give her more.

She buried her face into his shoulder. He was the same, yet so different. He was tangible, unlike the memories she simply sifted through over and over again.

"It’s you...” She whispered, trying not to sob. "Brother, it’s really you.”

She would have held him for an eternity if she could. She lingered in his warm embrace, her eyes shut, allowing her to feel every moment of their reunion. Years had gone by since she’d last seen him, and she deserved to have this at least.

It was Crow. Had he come to stay?

"They told me you were dead brother…” She whispered, still refusing to let go. "But I always knew, I always knew you were still here with me.”

She pulled away slightly to look up at him. She smiled, she couldn’t help it. He had grown so much and so did she. She wasn’t as tall, she was tiny compared to him.

"Have you come to stay brother? Please say yes.”

She melted. Oh they had so much to catch up on! She gave him a tight squeeze, followed by a soft peck on the cheek.

But where were her manners!

Taking his hand, Otter excitedly pulled him into the temple. "Come! Let me make tea and you can tell me all about your life!”