Kara Brooks's Arc

Chapter 3 of 3

Kara woke to the sound of someone moving in the cave. Tyra still slept beside her under the dark sheets. Kara slipped off the bed and followed the noise toward the spring. A slim woman with pink and white hair crouched by the water, soaking a lace dress in the basin. Kara recognized her at once. Luna. The boutique girl who had used the spring in secret to test her wet designs. Kara and Tyra had caught her weeks ago and promised not to tell. "You came back," Kara whispered. Luna wrung the dress and held it up. The dark lace clung and went clear. "I need a favor," she said. She nodded at a camera on a tripod near the wall. "I have a buyer. One good photo. I can't hold the fabric and shoot at the same time." Kara glanced back toward the bed. This was her chance. One day in, and already someone needed her, trusted her. But Tyra was still asleep. If Kara left to help Luna, she would wake alone. The new bond was one night old. Kara feared breaking it before it set. "I can't," Kara said. "Tyra will wake up. I don't want her to think I slipped off." Luna's face stayed flat. "Then wake her." She said it plain, like it was obvious. Kara froze. She had been so busy guarding Tyra's attention that she forgot a third person could simply join. She went back and touched Tyra's shoulder. "Luna needs us," she said. "Both of us." Tyra sat up, blinking. When she saw Luna, she grinned and stretched. "The boutique girl. Good. I love a project." They moved to a quiet chamber where a soft waterfall fell into a calm pool. The light there was even and clean. Luna put on the wet dress and stepped under the spray. Tyra held the fabric smooth against Luna's back. Kara worked the camera, framing the shot the way Luna asked. "Chin down," Kara said. "Now." The shutter clicked. Luna checked the screen. For once she smiled. "That's the one." She looked between them. "I'll tell the buyer two people made it work." She paused. "Three." Tyra laughed and pulled Kara and Luna into a wet hug. Kara felt the fear drain out of her, as Luna and Tyra kissed her cheeks. She had not stolen Tyra away, and she had not lost her. She had learned to add instead of choose. Luna packed her camera and the dress. At the cave mouth she stopped. "Next week," she said. "Bigger shoot and pieces for you both. I'll need you again." Then she was gone. Kara stood dripping between Tyra and the quiet falls. One friend was turning into two. But now there was a standing appointment, a commitment she had made for both of them without asking Tyra first.