Act 1: Vaz

Chapter 3: Setting Sun

"Impressive.  You only took a small amount of damage, but otherwise you were flawless in there."

Zira and Cassandra bowed.  "Thank you."

"Do you feel that you are ready for Moon's Fate?"

"I believe so," Zira answered.

"We'll succeed," Cassandra followed.

A small smile crept on the old lizard's face.  "Excellent.  You should both go and rest.  The sun will be setting before you know it."

The two friends nodded and bowed one last time before turning around to depart.  They started for the main plaza, ready to just walk around until it was time.

"Zira," the gatekeeper spoke after the duo took a few steps.  He watched as her head turned slightly, an "eye" now in view.

"Yes?"

He smiled again.  "That weapon."

She turned herself around completely now, her heart beginning to race.  "What about it?"

"Nice work."

"Huh?"

"We have known about your special 'project' for quite some time now.  The guards caught you taking parts from the warehouse when you first started."

Zira couldn't believe it.  She thought that she had made sure that she was completely safe from being spotted in her sneaking.

"You would be surprised to know that we were curious to see where you would go, so we allowed you to proceed.  To be honest, the military had been looking for a way of improving their weapons for quite some time.  They'll be embarrassed to know that a young girl managed to find a solution faster than their best engineers, but I'm glad to say that they should be pleased by what you now carry."

"I..."  Zira was at a loss of words.  She didn't see this coming.  Not wanting to be rude, she shook herself out of her brief trance.  "You give me too much credit elder."

The lizard's smile grew.  "You earned it.  Put that to good use tonight Zira."

She was silent for a moment.  "I will."

"Good.  Now, away with you.  I'm expecting more to arrive soon."

-

Zira chose the perfect time for the two to have their dinner.  There were only a few other students sitting amongst the plethora of wooden tables in the large dining hall.  The two had taken a nice one near a window in the corner, far from the nearest person.  They could look out through it and see the sky starting to turn orange.  The sun was beginning to set.  They turned back to their plates and resumed eating the remnants of the meal, which really wasn't nothing more than sandwiches and milk.  They didn't need anything heavy right now, not before the upcoming contest.  The peace and quiet gave the two a nice chance to just talk.

"Can you believe it?  Only a couple hours away from the end," Cassandra blurted out after taking a sip of her milk.  "It almost hard to believe that we may finally be able to leave this island."

Zira sighed briefly, taking another bite of her sandwich before speaking.  "We got quite a future ahead when we win tonight."

"You think so?  Where do you think they'll put us?"

"Hm..."  Zira took a swig of milk.  It was still just as refreshing to her as when she first started here.  "I'm not sure.  It is a big world outside of this island."

"Do you think...we can still be together?"  There was a hint of nervousness in her voice.

Zira was about to take another bite, but stopped when she sensed this.  She looked up to her one friend, seeing her eyes look down to the stone floor.  The wolf really wanted to be with her even after all this was done.  Was it possible that they had become inseparable during these last few years?  Such a thought never crossed her mind.  She valued her friendship with Cassandra, but always seemed willing to accept that the idea of them still working together after Vaz was unlikely.  Who was she to predict what the future would hold?

She snapped out of her thoughts, returning her focus back to Cassandra.  "I'm sure we'll still work together."  Zira smiled.  "When they see how we work together tonight, there will be no way they can separate us."

Cassandra looked up, staying silent.  She finally smiled and nodded in approval.

Time really does change us.  Memories of how she acted early in her time on Vaz rushed into Zira's mind.  She had really grown over the years.

The memories did not stay with her long.  That familiar sound of a horn echoed in the air outside the hall.  It wasn't the one to signal the start of the contest.  No, it was more of a reminder that it would soon be time.  The horn sounded two more times before silence returned.

Cassandra took one last drink and placed the glass on the table.  "Well, are you ready?"

Zira looked through the window and nodded.  "Let's get going."

They stood up and left their dishes at the table, knowing that someone would come and clean it up.  The two walked a few steps before reaching a set of wooden doors.  Zira pushed them open and was greeted by the light of the setting sun.  It shone brightly, bathing her with its rays.  She kept a door open for Cassandra, who walked out after her.  The two looked around for a bit.  The hall was near the sole mountain on Vaz, near the stairs.  They looked at the pristine steps, then looked upward.  These stairs wrapped around the mountain until it reached the top, ending at Moon's Fate.  It served as representation of their path, allowing those participating to reflect in their thoughts of their time here as they ascended the countless number of steps.  The two returned their view to the start, seeing some already beginning their own treks.  Whether it be a participant or a spectator, it did not matter.

Zira and Cassandra turned to each other.  They both could feel a gentle breeze blow, shifting their hair around slightly.  Cassandra smiled and nodded.  Zira followed the gesture.  Now was the time.  The two shared a brief embrace before separating.

Together, they began their ascent to Moon's Fate.  All these years of preparing have come to this final test.