Chapter 1 (continued)

Ava's vivid blue eyes widened at the sight before her. Surely she wasn't dreaming, but how could she be awake?
She stepped back from the stone window and turned to see her sister and best friend- Jessie- stretched out on the one couch in the girls' shared dorm.
"Jessie!" Ava said eagerly. But there was no response, as her sister was totally captivated by the story in her hands. "Jesse!" she called again, louder this time. She glanced out the window to make sure the birds were still perched on the same branch. In legend, Ava knew, they didn't fly away until dusk, but one could never be sure. Nevertheless, they were still exactly where they were the first time she had looked.
Again Jessie ignored her sister's persistant cry for attention, and Ava gave vent to an unnaturally loud sigh before crossing the room and snatching the book away from her.
"Hey!" Jessie cried injuredly, making a cat-like swipe for her book. As Ava held the book out of her reach, she gazed longingly at the window and said urgently;
"You need to come see something- now!"
"No! Gimme back my book!" Jessie protested, frowning.
"Just look!"
"C'mon, Ava," Jessie whimpered. "Let me read. I'll look later. I promise." Her eyes- wide and pleading- reminded Ava of a stray dog hoping for a scrap of meat.
"Just come look for five seconds. It's important." Ava told her sister firmly.
"Fine." Jessie stood up and crossed the room to look out the window.
Outisde, the town was doused in a golden late afternoon sunlight. Merchants and townsfolk haggled prices, fishermen hauled in nets that gave evidence of a succesful trip, and free lance musicians played on the street hoping for a coin or two from those passing by. Further on there was the streetside houses were small children played by the road and even smaller children sat in the arms of their mothers, babbling stupidly about nothing. It was as typical as every other day. Pretty, to be sure, but nothing less than ordinary.