Yasmin:

Yasmin curled her upper lip at the dank room. It was small, dingy, with a musty scent that tickled her nose. Orion smiled at her apologetically. 

"I'm sorry. This was the only place in the whole town." She waved him off and cleared some dust off a three-legged, wobbly table in the corner with her forearm.

"I'll do anything to be free," she pursed her lips at the room. "Even stay in a closet." Orion laughed, a melodious baritone. His strong arms encircled her waist and he pecked her on the cheek fleetingly. 

"That's why I love you," he murmured. Fire burned every inch of her and Yasmin shivered in delight. "We need to go out. Food and I want to know how to leave this town." He took a step back from her and reached for his cloak. Yasmin grabbed his wrist.

"But what's after that? Where do we go? You and I both know our clans will do practically anything to get us back, including coming into the human world. They'll be sending hunters after us." The chills she got once again were cold, crashing through her. "Our scent is easy to discern in a crowd of humans."

Orion put the cloak back on the rusty coatrack.

"What do you suggest we do, Yasmin?" Yasmin bit the inside of her cheek, hard enough to draw delicious blood. The warm, salty tang calmed her raging nerves. An idea, albeit a shaky one at best, sparked in her mind.

"Remember the tale our parents told us about? Fontana Obtove? " she asked him eagerly, mind whirling and spinning. 

He twisted his lips to the right, scrunching his face adorably like he always did when he was thinking. 

"The Fountain of Renewal?" he asked dubiously. "You want to go find the fountain?"

She nodded. "Think about it. My parents always told me that if you looked in the right places, you would find it. What if this is the place? The legend came from the human world, correct? We need to go back to the roots to find the truth about the fountain. And here we are." A beautiful, genuine smile lit up Orion's face and he smiled at her with a strong admiration. Yasmin never thought she would feel like she did with Orion. The euphoric, hazy emotion was something Yasmin would never let go of. 

"Alright then. Fontana Obtove it is. I'll go ask around," Orion turned but Yasmin darted in front of him, perching a hand on her hip.

"No, I'm going."

He snorted. "No, you're not."

"Orion, you will draw attention to yourself. I won't. I'm not some squealing lamb that needs protecting. I can fight for myself, if it comes to that. And any human that dares to cross me will regret it. Believe me."

"Oh, I do," he said with a smirk. But the expression melted into one of concern. "I don't want you to get hurt. Please, please be careful, Yasmin." With a nod, she wrapped her cloak around her and obscured her face. 

She slipped effortlessly out of the sleeping inn and walked into the bustling main street. This tiny town only had one main road and the majority of the town consisted of farms. But the street was cute, picturesque. Women and men alike sold their wares on rickety carts and beautiful creations shimmered in windows. Yasmin could almost picture she and Orion living here. He would be a farmer, she would cook and sew. Strolling along the scenic main street, laughing and just being happy and normal.

Don't be a fool, Yasmin. 

Yasmin pulled her cloak farther up, her shield. The cobblestone path was uneven beneath her feet and she stumbled more than once. Cursing, she veered off the main road and opened the door to the bakery silently. The boulangerie also seemed to be a pastry shop, and a butcher's shop all wrapped in one. The heavy smell of fresh meat, warm spices, and inviting scents drew Yasmin in.  A portly, friendly woman smiled wildly.

"Hello!" After a moment, Yasmin slipped off her cloak. The lady gasped.

"Well, mighty me, aren't you a beauty!" she gasped. Yasmin blushed slightly but cleared her throat.

"Can I get some bread, please? And three beef legs, if you will." The lady nodded, making lighthearted conversation as she did.

"I'm Milly. I don't notice you. Are you new here, love?" Yasmin nodded briefly.

"Well, I love new people. And people who have good taste in food." Milly winked and hefted a large loaf of bread and her meat, strong for a woman of her age. Milly saw her expression and laughed.

"I may tiny, but I am mighty. Is that it?" Yasmin hesitated. This seemed like the kind of person who talked to everybody, about everything. But Yasmin was drawn to her.

"No, it isn't. Do you know the tale of Fontana Obtove?" Milly brightened.

"Course I do. Best tale I've ever heard. And I've heard a lot," she said with a short laugh. "What about it?"

"Well, me and my partner are looking for it." Yasmin bit her already sore lip again. 

Milly studied her for a minute. "I had a family member of mine seeking it. Never came back. All I can really say is that you should go to Pamukkale. Follow the North Star. But child," Milly ducked her head. "Once you go in, there is no coming back. The effect of the Fountain of Renewal cannot be reversed." 

"I'm fully aware of the outcomes. But this is something we-I-have to do," she said, looking at her hands. She started when Milly placed a hand on her shoulder.

"What are you still doing here, then? Go on, now!" Milly waved her hands with no indication of their previous conversation. Yasmin ducked past two young men and ran back to the inn, trying hard to keep her cloak from flying off. She had found what they were looking for and now they could leave. The idea of finally being released from the other world, the one that had nothing but death waiting for her, put an extra bounce in her light steps. She was so close. And she would find the fountain because if she didn't, unimaginable hurt was in her future. In Orion's future. And Yasmin took an oath to herself that she wouldn't let anything happen to him. Clutching the warm meat closer, Yasmin flew down the path, gracefully dodging the running children and multiplying carts. 

Her breaths became labored and Yasmin frantically increased her pace. The soft sunlight had begun to fall away, making way for the dark night.

No, no, no, no!

They had completely forgotten about the solstice.