The warm, morning sun beat down upon the cold ground as the gray light of morning diminished. The only sound was that of soft footsteps and the rushing waters of the cool stream. Sarah walked towards the stone wall that fenced the temples. She began to climb the moss covered wall, being careful so not to wake the others. The rolling green hills stretched to the base of a snowcapped mountain. The sun climbed over the mountain’s peak and blinding light spread throughout the valley. The birds began to wake and sing, driving Sarah from her perch, back down to the real world. Sarah wondered about what was beyond the mountains. She had been told, but wanted to see for herself the bright flashing lights and, horse less carriages called cars, and the people who had grown up in “civilization”. All Sarah knew were the Sun Temples, the dances, and self defense against the creatures beyond the mountain. She also knew she wouldn’t wait much longer to know about the other world. She was leaving today with a person she had never met to a place completely alien to her, away from the only place she had ever known. She heard the mumbles and complaints of the other girls around her and the smell of food from the kitchens drifted down to her. She walked towards the smell, her yellow robes swishing about her feet. Sarah privately wondered if anyone would miss her.

I doubt it... she thought miserably.

Even though Sarah had spent her entire life around the same people, slept in the same dorm, and had the same beliefs, she had only one friend. Maiya was the Sun’s high priestess with dark tan skin and butter yellow hair like silk. They often talked early in the morning about anything that came to mind. Today Maiya hadn’t been able to talk, as she was preparing the ceremony for Sarah. It would be her first time meeting Tessa, the moon girl. That night it was the lunar eclipse, when the sun and moon met and when all those of the moon and all those of the sun came together in their own eclipse to celebrate. The people of the moon would becoming around noon so they could help prepare. She reached the dining hall before anyone else as usual,so she could find a table to sit at by herself, knowing that for lunch and dinner she would have to sit among the others and their useless chatter and listen to Tessa introduce herself. She was not exactly looking forward to it. She said grace to the sun and served herself some egg drop soup. She was a fan of Chinese food, especially the soups. She scowled as voices drifted over to her. She hurriedly finished her soup so she avoid the other girls’ stares and whispers. She stepped outside and headed towards the dorms. She opened the door, flopped down on her bed and fell asleep. She was awoken by the sounds of people working and laughing, there were many things to be done that day in preparation and now everybody had to work. They had spent two hours as usual goofing off—it was permitted of course, and then it was time to work after that. So Sarah forced her groggy self into the waking world. The moment she stepped foot outside the door, Maiya and a tailoress named Hope were pulling her to one of the many dressing rooms to make her robe. Sarah privately thought that this should have been done weeks before, everything else was. She stood still without a word though, and waited for Hope to finish. When she completed the measurements, Maiya took her to a clearing in the forest that bordered the temples and made sure she had mastered the dance. That at least, had been learned the previous week. Maiya reviewed the moves with her, the turns, flips, and arcs until they were pressed firmly into Sarah’s mind.

“Do you think you’re ready, Sarah?” Maiya asked her after they had reviewed the ceremony.

“Yes. I hope I don’t forget it when the time comes. That would be rather ironic, don’t you think?” Sarah replied.

“Hmm... You know Sarah, I will miss you. Here, my amulet. Keep good care of it, Sarah.”

As Maiya said this, she took off her amulet. Sarah had always thought it beautiful, but she had kept such thoughts to herself. It was indeed beautiful, and more so powerful. It was framed in bronze and shaped like the sun. It had a warm glowing middle that was always the color of the sun wherever you were. Like a difficult clock. And at night, its color was black, but flecked with the other suns of the universe.

“Oh, Maiya! I couldn’t!” Sarah shook her head. But Maiya insisted.

After Maiya, had placed it over her neck, the temple bells chimed. It was time for the ceremony to begin. Sarah led the way to the procession, her nervousness growing inside her until she felt she would burst. Maiya stopped walking as Sarah made her way over the bridge right beneath the eclipse. And as she did so, Terra, the moon priestess, simultaneously walked up the other side. The moon and sun chose that moment to completely unite and the both worshipers of sun and moon cheered. The two women joined hands and chanted in the dead language. The language of the stars.

“Good-bye!”

“Bye!”

“See you soon!”

“Do you have to go!?”

Joyous and not-so-joyous cries filled the air as Sarah and Tessa departed. A horse less carriage from the outside world had been brought for them to ride in. The girls had never dreamt of anything so strange and wonderful as this. But their thirst for new sights would be more then quenched when they reached New York.

Sarah glanced over to Tessa. She was absorbed in a book on inventions of the 20th century. Sarah wished she had brought something to do. She was bored out of her mind and the moon girl didn’t seem to be interested in striking up a conversation.

Even if she was she’s probably the type to talk about the shrines and what we believe in. And brag about all the stuff she knows about New York and the people and the way they acted.

“We’re almost there,” the driver said rather monotonously.

Sarah looked out her window for the first time during the trip and gasped. Large gray buildings towered above their heads and men and women bustled about in their strange attire which was so very foreign to both girls. The driver pulled into the parking lot of a big luxury motel and opened the car doors. Tessa closed her book and stepped out. Before their chauffeur could even get around to Sarah’s side, she had opened her door and stepped out. She followed Tessa inside and nearly ran the other girl over when Tessa stopped and gasped. Both girls stood in awe at the large hanging chandeliers, grand staircases, fancy elevators and the way people bustled along through the many corridors, in and out and doors and never seemed to get lost. A man noticed their looks of confusion and awe and decided to help them out.

“May I help you, ladies?” he asked.

“Yes, thank you. We were wondering how you got a room here. You see, we’ve nev—”

The man interrupted. “Oh. Okay. Follow me.”

Sarah followed close behind, embarrassed that Tessa could be so formal about getting lost. Tessa however followed slightly reluctantly. Something about the young man unnerved her. As if his very being was filled with evil, like poisoned chocolate. Sweet and tempting on the outside, dark and venomous on the inside. He led them up to the counter and introduced them to an employee named Carrie. They checked in and followed the man to their room on the 7th floor. Both girls shrieked when the elevator started up and Tessa made a remark on how strong the workers pulling them up must be. The man gave her a strange look.

“Thank-you for showing us around Mr...” Sarah started.

The man smiled. “Call me Onyx.”

“Okies, Mr. Onyx!” Tessa did a quick little bow and ran into the room. Even if she didn’t like him, she could fake her usual attitude to disguise her insecurities.

Sarah smiled and nodded in assent. She then stepped in her room and shut the door. She was rather stunned at Tessa’s actions. She had thought the girl would be a total book worm(which in Sarah’s opinion would have been much better),but she had a carefree attitude. Tessa was already unpacking her stuff and was busy putting it into drawers. Sarah saet her luggage down at the foot of her bed in the second room. She didn’t really feel like unpacking, even if they were staying for a month. She knew the hotel had to be very expansive and she was grateful that shrine maidens were welcome for half off. But Sarah and Tessa had “earned” the money from their teachers by working at the temples. Sarah heard Tessa squeal with delight. The sound didn’t come from the girl’s room, but in the entertainment room. At first, Sarah had figured that it was like a stage where live performers came to entertain you, but when she saw what Tessa was going ballistic over, her previous thoughts were swept away faster than her breath at the large screen television resting in the corner of the room, high on top of a sturdy table. Tessa was pressing buttons on the bottom of the t.v. looking at all the different moving pictures on the screen. She stopped when she found a cartoon that caught her interest. It was an anime. She sat back and watched as girls with abnormally big eyes kicked evil monster but in cute little sailor costumes and high-heels. She sat grinning as the leader of the five sailor scouts stepped up and introduced herself as Sailor Moon.

“Sailor Moon? Where’s Sailor Sun? Is she the one in the orange?” Sarah demanded.

“No! That’s Sailor Venus! You see? They’re all introducing themselves now. Sailor Jupiter! Sailor Mercury! Sailor Mars!” Tessa sang out.

Sarah sat down. “That isn’t right! First there’s no Sailor Sun who gives life to the earth and there’s NO Sailor Earth!”

“So? It’s cool anyways. Can you beat up evil monsters with your magic powers?” Tessa giggled.

Sarah let out an axasperated sigh and looked at her. “No. It’s a... a... it’s not real!”

The two girls stayed there bickering until the end of Outlaw Star. Sarah yawned and told Tessa they should get dinner. Tessa shook her head, but her stomach grumbled, revealing her hunger. Sarah dragged her new friend up off the floor and they headed for the exit.

“Do you have the key?” Tessa asked.

“Yup.”

Tessa nodded happily and bounced down the corridor, drawing the attention of many of the other guests. Sarah followed quickly behind, an unexpected feeling of dread clutching at her.

~~~~~~~~~~~
MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! The amazing power of cliffhangers! This thing took a little over 3 pages on Claris Works. It would’ve gone on for two more pages if I made this an action packed chapter. Too bad for you! Back...