Maris' heart almost flew out her chest when she jerked, but she held her chest and prevented that.

"I can explain." Maris sprang up to her feet, holding up her hands in a surrendering manner the moment she and Sanna locked gazes. "I'm not here to kill-"

Maris was halted in her tracks because Sanna unexpectedly pulled her in for a hug, saying, "I missed you."

Firstly, Maris' body was stiff and her hands hung lazily beside her body. Slowly, after blinking a couple times, she hugged Sanna back. It felt as if Sanna was the big sister she never had, Sanna had this aura of maturity that always hovered...