Aria watched as Elara disappeared down the path, her red hair catching the last rays of afternoon sunlight before the trees swallowed her up completely. The garden felt quieter after she left, though not in a bad way. Not empty, exactly. Just... still. Like the air itself was holding its breath, waiting to see what would happen next.
Aria sat back down on her blanket, the fabric bunching slightly beneath her. She picked up another yarrow stem from her pile, turning it over in her fingers before beginning to tie it with the others. Her fingers moved on their own, going through the familiar motions without needing any thought. Her mind was somewhere else entirely.
