The Carnival at Moonbright

Lyla grabbed a dart from her pack and slid across the floor on her back, throwing the dart across the room. She pushed her feet up as Myla used them to step up and flip through the air, her dagger flying symmetrically with the dart. Lyla stood up as Myla moved to a back-to-back defensive position.

Across the way, a male dwarf with long brown hair in a braid, and a Viking’s attire of leathers and helmet, pulled a handaxe from his side and launched it in front of him. An elven woman of similar clothing and blond hair spun behind the dwarf, dropped to one knee to face him, and fired her short bow. The arrow hit as it knocked the axe away from its target.

“You two are so good at this!” the elven woman told Lyla and Myla.

“You two aren’t so bad yourself,” Myla answered back.

“Yeah, but we would have won in a real combat scenario. Nonliving targets don’t move,” Lyla stated as she puffed up, then exited the tent.

“She doesn’t like losing, even after all this time, huh?” the dwarven man asked Myla.

“No, she still doesn’t like it, Rotkyl. She’s getting better every time, though. Gilra, I’m impressed that you managed to knock Rotkyl’s handaxe away with your arrow.”

“Why, thank you, Myla,” she said as she smiled. “I work hard here, at the carnival. Can’t have people believing they can beat me at this game.”

Myla grabbed her dagger and Lyla’s dart from the target they were aiming at. With a wave to the dwarf and elf and a slight nod to Safire, the female halfling that ran the tent’s gambling section, she headed out to catch up with her sister.

The sun’s heat pushed through in the afternoon air on the fall day. Myla looked around, hoping to find her sister, who had already disappeared. If she wanted to, it would be easy to ask for help.

Have you seen a young woman my height, same brown hair, same gray eyes, and light olive skin? You know, have you seen someone that looks exactly the same as me?

In reality, the only distinction physically between the sisters was their birthdays. While technically twins, Myla was born at sundown, while Lyla was delivered the following day during daybreak. Myla might be the oldest, but it was never a competition over seniority. They had other things they could compete over; their abilities with weapons, Myla’s artistic skills versus Lyla’s woodcarving, and of course, Lyla’s many claims at being just half an inch taller than Myla (though Myla knew it wasn’t valid).

Thankfully, it didn’t take long to find Lyla. About forty feet away, Lyla was in what looked like an intense wrestling match with a child. Myla ran over to see what was happening and heard the child laugh as Lyla dramatically fell to the ground.

“You won! I admit defeat, oh fearless one!” Lyla spouted out in a strange accent.

The child laughed, then was picked up by her mother, Nix. Nix was a fantastic contortionist, but Myla was still determining if it was due to her practice or changeling heritage.

“Enough playtime Megara. Let’s get you to Valas, and he can watch you for a bit while Mom has some work to do.”

Nix smiled and waved at Lyla and Myla. Lyla and Megara made silly faces towards each other, then smiled and laughed. Lyla glanced over to her sister, and they spoke to each other through telepathy as they walked towards the main tent.

Honestly, play-fighting with a child is a lot harder than it looks.

I can imagine, Lyla. I’m glad your feisty attitude is gone.

Yeah… I think I’m going to rest up for a few. People are starting to pile in, and I want to be ready for tonight’s show.

Okay. I’m going to check on the platforms and targets. I want to make sure they’re okay. I heard that one of the backdrops might also need a touch-up, so if you need me, I should be there.

They both gave each other a short nod, then parted. Myla slowly walked to the main tent, looking around her as performers readied themselves for their acts. It felt so strange and yet so comforting, being here. While she missed her guild, this is where they belonged for now. Yla could have some ideas of their future and tell them later, but they had no reason to leave for now.

The sounds of animals and people met in a cacophony of noise inside the main tent. Observing her surroundings, Myla saw a firbolg walking two bears on leashes in a circle around the stage, letting them sniff and check the area for comfort. Torra was a tall woman, standing over seven feet tall, with grayish-blue fur and short brown hair. She was soft-spoken, but her yellow eyes pierced through you as if staring into your soul to search for the intent behind every word you spoke. Her bears, Koda and Artos, were her two closest friends. She found them as cubs and raised them into the hundreds of pounds they are today. Still ferocious and dangerous creatures, they listened to every word Torra spoke.

In a folding chair next to the stage, with his feet on a large wheeled pedestal, sat Master Elysium himself, Torra’s partner and the ringleader of the Arcana Emporium. Elysium, who had no last name, was a relatively attractive human with a bright smile and soft blue eyes under the tangled mess of red hair. While complex to explain to those who have never met Elysium, he gave off an aura of general kindness. He was a protector of the carnival troupe and a friend to anyone he met.

As Myla started trying to decide the first task of many she wanted to do, she was immediately surprised when a gnomish figure tapped against her arm.

“Meat Shield!” The creature happily exclaimed at Myla.

“Excuse me?”

“Meat Shield! I found you!”

“I am not a shield for your meat, you perverted little man. What is wrong with you?” Myla shouted out with a disgusted look on her face. Torra stopped walking, and she and Elysium looked over to see the commotion.

“What are you talking about, girl? It is me, Leaf. Do you not remember?”

“I don’t know you. Do you do this to random people? Who are you?”

“It’s Leaf like I said. Wait… Do you have a sister?”

“Yes, but I won’t let you talk to her this way either.”

Leaf stumbled on his words momentarily, then stopped, breathed slowly, and spoke again.

“Your sister, Lyla. I’m looking for her. Do you know where she is?”

At that moment, Rhokhishi, Mr. Muffins, and Gisela all walked into the main tent, talking amongst themselves. They stopped at the front entrance and watched as Elysium stood up and made his way over.

Leaf looked around, backing up towards the entrance with his hands in front of him.

“I’m just looking for her,” Leaf stated once more, turning around to find himself starting to be surrounded by the carnival troupe. As he felt the nervousness kick in, he looked past the entrance and into the thoroughfare. Maybe a hundred feet out, he saw Myla’s similar brown hair and stature walk by, realizing they weren’t just sisters but twins.

“There she is! Goodbye.” Leaf said quickly and ducked out of the tent and into the crowd.