There but hidden

Part 1

"Look I'm trying to be nice" Raya smiles punching her shoulder softly.

She smiles back but it soon fades.

"How about we take a break, we've been working for a while."

Raya grabs her hand, forcing her to drop the piece of stone and follow her. Looking back at her for a slight moment, seeing her soft smile as she looked back at Raya.

"And where are we going." Namaari asks.

Raya turns her head back to the front and stays silent. They run till they get out of the city and to the grasslands. Out of breath they both stop and Namaari stands next to her.

"What's so special about this place Dep la" Namaari laughs looking around.

"Take off your shoes." Raya responds taking off hers.

She looks at Raya weirdly but does as she says.

"Now grab both of my hands." Putting her hands out she waits till she feels the other princesses hands in hers.
" Close your eyes"

"What are you doing Raya" she questions.

"Close your eyes" Raya says sternly.

She closes her eyes and Raya does the same.

"Listen. Feel the grass on your feet and the crowds chatting. Don't take any of it for granted. Breathe in and out. Take that weight on your shoulders and lift it for a second."

Raya feels Namaari's hands tighten around hers and the silence so beautifully loud. She really liked this feeling. Even though she took a break for Namaari, she needed it just as much.

Namaari breathes in and out feeling her surroundings. The energy from the trees down to the small bugs crawling on the leafs. She feels the grass on her feet. And Rayas hands in hers. The feeling of touch, of her touch, was overwhelming. She tries to distract from the warm and soft feeling of two beings being held together. An energy so strong but not known if one-sided. Namaari opens her eyes seeing the princess in front of her. Raya looked calm and peaceful for once. Her soft hair dancing to the song of the wind. Namaari looks away fearing she had been staring to long. Focusing her gaze down at their hands intertwined and their feet in the grass only inches apart. She looks at her city, a land once full of prosperity. She feels the weight start to come back while she stares at her land torn apart.

"Hey you opened before I said you could."
Namaari hears Raya say.

Raya notices the distressed woman in front of her and snaps her fingers.
"Stop that okay. We're all gonna get the city back up. It's just gonna take a little time."

Namaari looks back at Raya "It's not like any of the other lands actually Wanna help. If it wasn't for your Ba we wouldn't be where we are today."

"Well then thank my Ba because we're gonna get your city back up. The most important thing is that. Worry about peace with the lands later. Plus you won't have the chance without a city am I right?"

Namaari smiles a little and looks back at her home.

Raya could feel the pain Namaari tried so hard to hide. It was an energy that carried her around. After everything that happened with the dragon gem most of the cities didn't trust Fang. Raya didn't blame them, Fang did make the first action, but if everyone wasn't fighting the dragon gem wouldn't have broke. Namaari did help save Kumandra, she has to earn points for that. But even after that Rayas friend group didn't seem to trust her fully. Sisu was really the only one who is looking past the history of her betrayal.

"Do you know where your going to stay." Raya asks trying to change the subject but realizing it just made it more known.

"Well I am the princess. I need to go where most of my people are. The chiefs are holding a meeting tomorrow. They're gonna decide there where the people of Fang can go."