Crystal sat on the dewey ground. The village had all gone to sleep; the sun had set long ago. A few torches still burned here and there, but for the most part, the only light came from the stars and moon. Crystal found her eyes being drawn to the moon, the full, bright, and brilliant moon that hung above the land. Staring at it, she wondered if it was watching her, just like everyone else in the village.

I sound like the protagonist of that book I read last year she thought to herself. I need to stop being so melodramatic. Worrying about all of this won’t help me. Even as she chided herself, she couldn’t help but be brought back to the council room. Why would Claudia and Philemon speak out? Claudia has always been bitter, but Philemon…I thought he wanted me to succeed. Why would he try and stop the ceremony?

Crystal fell to her back and stared at the stars. The tips of the mountains surrounding Velestot seemed to reach up to the heavens as if they were spears, trying to bring the stars down from the sky. Do the mountains protect us or isolate us? Crystal thought. No, stop thinking like that. It does not matter.

Letting out a deep sigh, Crystal sat back up. She brushed grass and dew from her hair. As she did, she brushed her hairpin. Carefully, she removed it. Shaped to look like a dragonfly, the pin felt familiar in her hands. She had worn it ever since she was little. Ever since Violet gave it to me. Crystal couldn’t help but smile. She remembered how proud Violet had been to give her a symbol of the village’s chiefdom. “It’s just like your mom’s,” Violet had said. Crystal let out a small chuckle. Violet had been so crushed when she realized that she had colored it wrong. Chief Isla’s dragonfly pin was green, but Violet had colored Crystal’s purple.

From down the path, Crystal heard steps approaching. Crystal knew those steps too well, and she gripped the small barrette. Why right now? The steps did not stop. She could feel someone walking up behind her, but she didn’t turn around. Instead, she said, “I’m sorry, Violet.”

“You damn well better be,” Violet declared, plopping down next to Crystal.

They sat in silence for some time. Crystal could not manage to turn back towards Violet, so she continued staring up at the stars. They sparkled like little flakes of hope. Crystal found one in particular that seemed a slight bit brighter than the rest. She focused on the star and watched it glisten.

Suddenly, a hand laid down on Crystal’s shoulder. She gave a slight start before realizing it was just Violet. “Crys, you know you can stand up to them, right?”

Crystal nodded, but she didn’t speak. Violet sighed. “You can’t let them walk all over you.”

Once again, Crystal simply nodded. Violet let out a low growl. “Say something, dammit.”

“What do you want me to say?” Crystal asked, still staring at the stars. “I am sorry, but the council already has a low enough opinion of me. I don’t want them to have more reasons to disregard me.”

Violet stood up and moved to stand over Crystal. Crystal looked down at the ground. “First off, the council as a whole doesn’t hate you. You had two idiots speak out against you. The rest supported you. Second, you are the chief. They are the council. Their job is to assist you, but you are in charge. You can tell them whatever you damn well feel like.”

“I’m not the chief yet, and it’s not that easy,” Crystal argued.

“I think it is,” Violet asserted. “Your mom tells ‘em off everyday.”

“I am not my mom,” Crystal whispered.

Violet’s face softened. She sat back down and put her hand back on Crystal’s shoulder. “I know you’re not your mom. But you are Crystal. Look at me.”

Crystal turned and met Violet’s eyes. Violet continued, “You need to be strong, Crys. You can’t let them walk all over you. They are not more important than you. You need to be a strong chief for these people.”

Deep inside, a fire was lit inside of Crystal. She nearly let it out, let out all of her frustrations, all of her anger on Violet. But she caught herself. Instead, she took a deep breath, turned away, and said, “I know, Violet. I am trying.”

“Then do something about it,” Violet demanded.

The fire roared again, but Crystal was prepared. She asked, “What do you want me to do?”

“Tell the council that Phineas sucks at his job,” Violet said.

Crystal let out a small chuckle. “You are not wrong, but I need the council’s support. I cannot—“

“To hell with their support,” Violet declared, moving to one knee. “Their support won’t matter if you end up dead because Phineas ran away at the first sign of danger. Your life is more important than the council’s ‘support.’”

“I’m not some helpless damsel,” Crystal pointed out.

Violet snorted. “You’ve never been in a real fight, Crys. For that matter, neither has Phineas.” Violet’s face hardened. “I have. I know I can protect you better than that spoiled brat. Please, tell the council that I’m your bodyguard. They can’t overrule you.”

“Technically, they can,” Crystal pointed out. “If my mother agrees with them…”

“She won’t,” Violet asserted. Violet moved in front of Crystal again, and ash placed both of her hands on Crystal’s shoulders. “Please, Crys.”

Crystal met Violet’s eyes. Worry shined clear in those brown eyes, crumbling Crystal’s resolve. Crystal closed her own eyes. “Fine. I do not expect them to be very happy, though.”

Violet smiled. “I don’t really care.”

Crystal smiled as she swallowed her fear. This should be interesting.