Bastion forced Alex's face from his mind, turned on heel where he was halfway down the center aisle. He stormed back to the flimsy door at the front of the building, little tufts of dust puffing up with every slam of his boot. As he strode out the door, back into the harsh afternoon sun, he passed a girl with tan skin, and long silver hair down to her waist held into a high ponytail.

“Bastion!” The girl gasped in surprise, her voice like a wind chime in a light breeze. Her face change from surprise to confusion as she studied him, and then looked at the sky. “Why….you’re late!” She exclaimed.

“So I’ve heard.” He rolled his eyes and waved a hand over his shoulder as he walked on down the road, away from her giant, lavender eyes. She arched a dark eyebrow as she watched him just a moment longer- his cloak in his left hand slung back over his shoulder, and black trousers tucked into dirt encrusted once polished boots. He was not exactly what she had been expecting. With a chime of a giggle, she entered her home to find her uncle waiting just inside the door to greet her. She smiled up at him as he put an arm around her shoulder and they began walking toward the kitchen door behind the high table at the end of the church.

“Uncle, I wasn’t early. So that means Bastion was late?” She asked, her naturally wide eyes widening even more.

“Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to, Saia?” He chuckled, and her laughter like bells on the wind danced with his bass drum.