Michiko quickly finished the selection of fruits and pastries she had chosen for her meal and picked up a cup of mango juice. Standing up, she walked over to the balcony and out onto the edge of the wooden planks that served as the flooring. A stray oak leaf, its hue a panorama of saffron, magenta, russet and ochre, floated down to her feet and landed on the toe of her suede boot.
“So. You realize I shall beat you this day, sylph.” spouted Jolena from behind Michiko on the balcony. Startled slightly, Michiko turned to face the human girl and squinted, her eyes narrowed as she took in the sight of Jolena standing there in a black suede bodice and a pair of fitted black pants. Letting her eyes fall downwards in a deliberately mocking gesture, Michiko’s small upturned nose crinkled as her gaze fell upon Jolena’s scuffed black leather boots, the ties of which were starting to fray at the ends. Glancing back up to meet Jolena’s gaze, she smirked and responded with “Aye, well..It seems that once again, your clothing has lost out on the battle with fashion. I swear, Jo. You really must learn some fashion sense of some sort. People around here would not know you were a female if it weren’t for that ridiculously red mop of curls on your head and your soft voice.”
Smirking slightly in return, Jolena’s blue and green eyes flashed with humor as she winked at her sister and shrugged. “I spose that in your eyes I should be wearing some frilly skirt or dress with some equally frilly and delicate slippers to match, eh? Well I’m sorry but I highly doubt I could be as agile were I wearing all that stifling clothing. I prefer neat, comfortable, practical clothing over those frilly darned dresses and slippers any day.” With that, she turned on her heel smartly and hid her grin, sauntering back into the house and snatching her cloak, shield and khopesh from the chair. Back still turned, she chuckled and said, “Besides, fashionable or not, I will win this day and you are just scared of that fact.” A loud snort ensued from behind Jolena as Michiko walked over to stand beside her sister, slinging her bow over her shoulder and giving her a look that clearly invited a challenge. “Well then! I spose we shall just have to see, won’t we miss Jo? Come on, girl, daylight’s wasting and we should be out there practicing! And the Gods KNOW you need your practice!” Both girls chuckled as they raced each other out of the house and into the bright daylight, a challenge upon their minds.
To be continued..