Voice
One...two....three...
((A girl's voice, so soft that it makes it difficult to identify. But whoever it is, the counting paired with deliberate steps echoing off stone make it easy to tell where she is and what she's doing.))
Twelve...thirteen...fourteen...
((For all the suspicion and potential danger that the wishing stairs present, there's promise there as well. The apartments aren't the most cheerful place and there's plenty of time for the mind to wander...for longing to set in.))
Twenty...twenty-one...twenty-two...
((The counting is slower now. A moment is being taken on every step. Maybe she's re-thinking it. Maybe she's preparing herself for disappointment. But she's definitely not wondering what she'll wish for now. No one would take that first step without knowing what it is that they want, what's worth taking a risk for.))
Twenty-six...twenty-seven...twenty-eight.
((And here is the longest pause. It's the last step. Many have counted. There are twenty-eight stone steps leading up to the school.))
Twenty-nine.
((Most of the time.))
Fox, fox. Please grant my wish.
((A girl's voice, so soft that it makes it difficult to identify. But whoever it is, the counting paired with deliberate steps echoing off stone make it easy to tell where she is and what she's doing.))
Twelve...thirteen...fourteen...
((For all the suspicion and potential danger that the wishing stairs present, there's promise there as well. The apartments aren't the most cheerful place and there's plenty of time for the mind to wander...for longing to set in.))
Twenty...twenty-one...twenty-two...
((The counting is slower now. A moment is being taken on every step. Maybe she's re-thinking it. Maybe she's preparing herself for disappointment. But she's definitely not wondering what she'll wish for now. No one would take that first step without knowing what it is that they want, what's worth taking a risk for.))
Twenty-six...twenty-seven...twenty-eight.
((And here is the longest pause. It's the last step. Many have counted. There are twenty-eight stone steps leading up to the school.))
Twenty-nine.
((Most of the time.))
Fox, fox. Please grant my wish.