[Meadowfield City - Ariana's Family Home]
Ariana's father, Takeshi Sterling, was a slim man with the same sharp features his daughter had inherited, his black hair streaked with silver.
Her mother, Yuki, was gentle-featured with kind eyes, her hands showing years of artistic work through minor scars from sculpting tools.
And their youngest daughter, Sakura, was fourteen years old – the same age as Luna – with her older sister's facial structure but softer and less hardened by combat training.
When Ariana's frantic call came, they'd reacted immediately.
Takeshi grabbed Sakura and practically threw her into a hidden closet they'd installed years ago during some chaotic times.
"Stay quiet no matter what you hear. Don't come out until we tell you it's safe."
His voice carried finality that made Sakura's protests die unspoken.
The closet door closed with the hidden panel sliding into place, making it look like a solid wall.
