Rivalry

''I don't know what made me turn against her. Something about her face....those sweet brown eyes and her childish face, made me hate her. We are going to turn into rivals, I knew. I felt it in my skin when I first laid my eyes on her.''

''For the next five years, when she grew up and was taught by our mother, I drifted away from her. I didn't bond with her. I didn't believe she was my sister. Out of intense hate, I started to show off and outdo her.''

Prologue
A Question of Why

Lilac stood with her mother at the farthest end of the grove, her attention focused on her sister, Laurel, who stood on the platform with the Council of Cloven Elders, swaying gracefully with the hymn of the pipes she was playing. The satyrs and tree nymphs were wide-eyed with awe and wonder at her skill. Her music was so beautiful, it made the harsh beams of the summer sun fall gently and illuminate the beauty of nature. Lilac smiled encouragingly at her sister when they came face to face, but Laurel frowned at her and turned away.

Frustrated, Lilac looked up at her mother, who had seen the whole thing. Juniper just sighed and shook her head. The little girl turned back to the platform when Laurel finished her song and bowed. There was entire silence until the whole grove broke into thunderous applause, and a satyr showered Laurel with rose petals out of admiration. She drew herself up proudly and looked at her father, Grover Underwood, Lord of the Wild, Hero of Olympus, whose whiskery beard shivered and his brown eyes shining with fiery pride.

Even Maron and Silenus stood up and acknowledged Laurel as if some kind of hero. Maron finished clapping and held out his hand for quiet. The satyrs and dryads fell silent.

"Now, that is how to play the pipes, Rumfinn." Maron bellowed heartily, referring to a satyr near the platform, who must be a terrible pipe-player. The satyr blushed and covered his face with his hands in embarrassment as everyone laughed. Grover stood and walked towards Laurel. Everyone hushed up again, and Grover smiled.

WIP!