Sole had gone ridged when he heard the commotion behind him. He was sure that he'd lost the guards but they'd somehow found them. He swore beneath his breath and pushed his sister into the shadows. Another voice met with the clamor of the guards, sending them in the opposite direction. He didn't know the nature of the voice but the volume and stress sounded intentional, it reminded him of the way the palace cook spoke.

The pairs breath trembled as they waited before slowly creeping out from the shadows. Sole spotted the strange man first and tried to stop his sister from following him but he was too slow.

Luna dashed around her brother and held out the instrument that he'd stolen for her, as if to return it so that Sole didn't get in trouble. Her hands were trembling while tears gathered at the corner of her eyes. She didn't want them to get hurt again and in her own way, she was protecting her brother the way that he always tried to protect her.