Rising early, the bird that nests outside my window screeching before the sun rises keeping me punctual, I roll off of the futon and crawl over to my robes, letting out a low groan as my joints pop and crack at the movements as I clamber to my feet.

Wandering outside on silent feet, I pad over dew-coated grass toward the river where Cedar and River live.

I'm not entirely sure if the spirits will be asleep, if they even do sleep, but it would be best to get this out of the way early. It will take time to prepare a festival, and there are only a few months left.

I pick up my pace as the sound of rushing water comes into earshot, my eyes scanning the forest like the pair will materialize.

And they do...sort of.

Cedar comes bounding out of his tree, leaving River to step out of the water with a heavy sigh.

"Hey Shiori~" Cedar coos, wrapping spindly arms around my small frame and nuzzling his nose into my cheek before River pries him off of me using practiced ease.

"What do you want."

Not really a question but okay.

"Master Naga told the red god that he would be holding a festival on the annual temple visit but I don't know what his festivals entail, but since I'm the Head Priest it's my responsibility to organize it." The words spill out unbidden and halfway to a plea.

Cedar hums softly, leaning against his partner's chest. "Well, I don't think we've ever had a festival before. At least not since I've been here." River nods in agreement which is saying something.

"Without temple staff, you can't exactly hold a festival." the dark-haired spirit agrees.

"You can always check the tomes. I bet if there were records anywhere it would be there."

I blink.

"The tomes?"

Cedar nods eagerly. "We didn't mention them last time you asked because, well, we didn't know if we could trust you yet. But if Naga gave you a position, Head Priest no less, then I think it would be fine."

With that, Cedar pulls himself free and launches himself over the river, darting through the underbrush without caring whether or not we're following, laughter echoing through the trees.

I blink once. Twice. Three times before wading through the knee-deep water after the small blond.

River follows silently, much more accustomed to his lover's behavior after decades together and leading the way in his stead.

My brow furrows impeccably as we approach the sound of a waterfall. Is this...?

The forest falls away to reveal a clearing, the same clearing the duo brought me to when I first arrived to show me the rainbows and gave me such a prickly reaction about when I asked what was behind it.

So the tomes are behind the falls then. It's a good spot to hide important valuables-- out of sight but not in an obvious location like the temple.

Cedar's waiting impatiently, bouncing in place next to the large waterfall, eagerly beckoning us closer.

As soon as I get close, he darts behind the falls. Sending a low energy pulse out, I look for the entrance. The water is beating down much too hard for me to risk just walking into it, so there must be another way.

And there is.

A tiny pathway that would keep me out of the water's spray, not at all noticeable if you don't know what you're looking for.

But I do, so slipping into the cave is far easier than either of the spirits expected.

Cedar pouts, likely disappointed that I didn't come stumbling through the waterfall dripping wet, but doesn't seem entirely surprised.

"So these are the tomes?" I ask softly, eyeing the walls lined with scrolls and other treasures. The pair nods as River walks past me to get back to Cedar's side.

"Everything about Nagas should be on the history shelf." Cedar points to the wall in the far back of the cave.

I wander over to it, trepidation growing in the pit of my stomach. Scrolls. The history of the nagas are written texts. Of course, they are, I chide myself silently, what else would they be?

I swallow hard. If I can't read the history of Naga festivals, how can I plan one for a few months from now? I can't disobey an order, and I don't want him to sell me if I can't do it, but I need to tell him, right? I need to tell him that I can't plan the festival.

"...iori? Shiori?" I snap back to attention, head whipping around to catch Cedar's violet eyes.

"Are you okay?"

I take a slow breath. "I can't read." My voice comes out softer than intended, less composed.

"And if I can't read I can't plan the festival and if I can't plan the festival Master Naga will be displeased and he'll punish and sell me." It's barely a whisper, but even River looks distinctly uncomfortable with my catastrophizing.

"Okay, so you can't read. That's no big deal! We can read, and I bet Mia would be happy to teach you how to do it on your own. No one has to be sold!"

Cedar makes a small shooing motion in the corner of my peripherals and River slips out of the cave.

I nod weakly, eyes still locked on the scrolls I can't read like staring will somehow make the squiggly lines make sense to me.

"I know you're worried, but wearing yourself out won't help anyone. Why don't I read to you until Mia gets here?" His voice is impossibly gentle, far more mature than the childish antics I've grown accustomed to while being here.

"The Naga are a class of semi-divine beings who..."