• Maruru sat on her bed, staring down. She clutched her pillow close to her chest. Her father had turned off the lights in the palace. He was furious about his daughter, the way she kept leaving the home and attempting to ride an Aier so many times. The opened sky was dangerous; so many thieves roam the area with swords and guns. Just recently, the most famous and dangerous sky thieves, Fallen Star, raided the Capton Ine. It is—or was—the biggest cruise ship in the sky. The Fallen Stars blown it up and stole the treasures.
    I don’t care about that, Maruru thought. Who cares about the dangers of thieves? Not even the threat of death can make anyone not ride the wind.
    She turned to face the window. It was midnight and the silver glow of the moon shone into her room. What ruined it all were the bars that locked her in. It was in front of the window and it really bothered her. It made her feel like a trapped animal in a cage. Even her door was locked but from the outside so she couldn’t get out.
    He’s really making things more difficult, she thought. Now there’s absolutely no chance of leaving.
    Maruru slumped onto her back and rolled to her side to face the window again. Right in the center of the moon was a shadowed figure riding on an Aier. It was getting bigger and bigger. Three other figures came up behind.
    It almost looked like…seems like…it was…
    Maruru jolted up, eyes wide. Those people were coming towards the palace. She could see their hair flowing, glowing, and their skin gleam under the stars.
    They must be cold, she thought. They’re all shirtless except for one which was wearing a tight shirt that exposed the belly—it was a girl.
    Then there was an explosion. Her entire wall crumbled into nothing. Maruru coughed, her eyes watering from all the smoke and dust that engulfed her room. Shouts of excitement came from the night riders she was watching, she was sure of it. Wind came gushing at full force where the wall used to be. It was so strong that Maruru had to shut her eyes to keep it from drying.
    “Her!” one of them shouted, a man.
    Maruru opened her eyes and looked up. All the dust cleared and the wind she felt was coming from their Aier’s. One of them grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him. He wrapped his other arm around her waist to bring her closer.
    They’re going to kidnap me, Maruru thought. Fine, go ahead and do it.
    She placed her hands on his shoulder for balance as they took off into the night sky.
    “That was easy!” one of them whooped. He ran a hand through his flame red hair.
    “Well duh! This kingdom is one hundred percent defenseless” another said, laughing, his green emerald eyes shining with joy.
    “So how much do you think the king will give us?” it was a girl, the only girl in the group. She looked like a vicious warrior ready to fight.
    “Don’t know” the guy that was holding Maruru said. “But I won’t give her up for anything less than a million”
    “Yeah!” the others agreed. They turned to look at their precious hostage. Maruru was quiet. She wasn’t even struggling to get free or clinging on desperately for her life. That composed reaction to all this changed their quick eager glance into a confused what-is-wrong-with-her stare.
    “So where are you taking me?” Maruru finally says, staring at the palace as they fly farther away.
    “Somewhere, just stay quite and don’t freak or we’ll hurt you” the girl hissed, trying to scare Maruru.
    “Okay” she says. Her eyes were bleak and emotionless. She could see a tiny figure in her wrecked room—her father. She could tell he was looking toward them even though they were too far way to see his face. Then he started yelling, shouting frantically, but she couldn’t tell what he was saying.
    I bet he’s calling my name, she thought. Cause he always does.
    “The king’s crying for you” the guy that was holding Maruru said quietly so that only she could hear him. When she didn’t answer, he said, “Don’t you even care?”
    No, she said in her mind. Why should I? He’s just someone who likes locking up their child for their own satisfaction. He’s nobody to me.
    She shut her eyes as the palace became nothing more than a speck in the horizon.
    “I like riding on Aeirs” Maruru said to him but it seemed like she meant it to be for no one.

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