The morning sun began its slow climb into the sky, marking the beginning of the day as it yawned over a forest. Even so early, a heavy, humid stickiness clung to the new summer air and settled on the lush grass and trees. Light and shadows pooled around a large, four story mansion filled with spires and iron decor around the wood of the house and clay timber roofing. A wraparound porch created a nest for shadows trying to flee from the oncoming day.
	But even the shadows quaked, startled, when noise erupted through the mansion.
	“Up, up, up!” strong voices called through the halls as the bare feet of the various day staff padded the floors.
	Groans and moans of protest erupted from the orphans slumbering in their beds. Roommates snapped at each other as they tried to blame the others playfully for keeping them up with snoring, or talking in their sleep. A pillow war broke out in one of the boys’ quarters, a few feathers flying before a fully grown kobold brought it to an end with a booming, “Knock it off, and git ready for yer day! The sun’s a shinin’ and the day’s a burnin’!”
	On the other side of the house, a small group of young girl elves tittered in a corner, already up and dressed for their day.
	A woman Halfling, the elven girls only a couple inches shorter than her, eyed the group of three suspiciously.
	“What’re you three up to?” she inquired, crossing her arms and trying to look as intimidating as she could.
	The girls only beamed back at her.
	“Just getting ready for classes!” the youngest, a petite girl who moved with the grace of her race, answered sweetly.
	The woman’s eyes narrowed further. “Go on, then,” she said slowly after a moment. “Get to breakfast.” She jerked her head toward the door, and the three girls headed out while a lizardgirl rolled out of bed and landed on the floor with a loud [i]thud.[/i]
	Upstairs, in quarters crawling through the uppermost spires, Thayva groaned and let out a loud yawn. Her serpentine tongue stretched out of her mouth, before she licked her lips.
	“It’s morning already?” she muttered, glancing out one of the many windows and regretting staying up late the night before. Her mind, still fogged with sleep, finances, and names, took a moment to fully register the fiery rays streaking across the sky.
	Checking to see if her husband, Serapis, still slumbered, she decided to grant him a couple extra minutes of rest before trying to arouse him. As quietly as she could, she got out of bed and quickly got ready to tackle whatever joy and mayhem the day would bring. After all, today marked the first true day of summer.
	Once she finished with her morning routine, she returned to Seprapis’ side of the bed and sat near him. She placed a gentle hand on his scaly back and leaned toward his head.
	“It’s time to get up, dear,” she whispered soothingly. “The day awaits!”