Outside Seven's Chamber
A stinging slap connected with the back of Kiran's head, causing her to stumble forward with a surprised yelp. She whirled around, mismatched eyes wide with indignation, to find a small elven girl glaring up at her with arms crossed.
"What are you LOOKING at, you deranged squirrel?" the girl demanded, her pointed ears twitching with irritation. Despite her diminutive stature, her presence commanded attention. Her moss-green hair was cropped short around a heart-shaped face, and the ritual markings on her skin seemed to shimmer with an inner light, even in the dim palace corridor.
"LILY!" Kiran squealed, rubbing the back of her head dramatically. "SO RUDE! So VIOLENT! Did you bring me a PRESENT to make up for your TERRIBLE manners? A finger? A toe? A SHINY ROCK?" Her voice echoed off the stone walls as she bounced on her heels, seemingly unperturbed by the assault.
