The Threats, Finally

Prince Qui continued on his stories about the time that they were in the shack. The Empress Mother had been curious about her daughter's adventure outside the wall. She had asked earlier if it would be alright if she would pick some flowers. Prince Qui nodded at her and offered to hold the flowers for her. Now he had an armful of different scents that somehow wanted to attack his nose.

"I didn't think that she would complain that much," said the Empress Mother as she tore another flower by the stem. This one was in the color of her daughter's eyes, a vibrant violet.

"So do I. But I've been away for a year, I guess something changed."

To that, Empress Mother straightened up. "You think that she had been acting different?"