The streets appeared bare for the next few blocks. The two women had managed to find the only portion of town uninhabited in hopes of remaining out of trouble. What disaster could befall the two if they remained away from all others? That was their reasoning, yet the whispers of the empty path said otherwise. Disaster always lurked around unsuspecting corners. And they were magnets that summoned it from the most unlikely of sources.
Rather than dwelling on the potential dangers though Sera remained preoccupied. Staring at the vast expanse of sky that was now finally clear, it had been raining the night before. Pouring was perhaps a better term, but now there wasn’t a shred of evidence. The dirt surface of the roof she was occupying was littered with nothing more than leaves. It was approaching cooler weather, however still warm enough to wander around without some sort of cloak. She wasn’t sure why she had decided to laze about rather than assist her companion inside; staying had been a last minute decision on her part. The blonde had urged the group to go on, yet Sera couldn’t help feeling concerned. The other woman was too kindhearted to leave on her own. She supposed that the woman could take care of herself; Sera’s conscience just wouldn’t let her go. In the worst case she imagined the blonde’s kindness being taken advantage of. She was already overworking in this petty town full of greedy people.
A falling leaf landed on the laying girl’s stomach, dragging her attention to the forest just beyond the town’s edge. Here it was approaching winter, but she knew the forest was different. This forest she recognized. If one were to travel through it they would reach a point where time almost felt still. An area where time seemed to slow and leaves never fell from the trees. They were always an eerie green her old village had always remarked. It was a reminder that they weren’t the only ones who lived there. Snow would fall, but the forest life continued undisturbed. White flecks refusing to fall inside the village and the rest of the area. Leaving was unthinkable to its occupants and the villagers’ denial ran deep, only their hatred deeper, so they made it work. Even after all these years Sera could still remember the depth of their hatred. But they never took it out on the environment, even though it was the one place that was sure to get their hatred across. That may have been due to fear of the consequences, but the villagers would say it was tradition.
“But if it was tradition they would still love them…”
Those silly people were beyond her understanding. Logic escaped them when it didn’t suit their purposes. Crunching the darkened leaf in her gloved hand the woman sighed. A breeze tossing the shreds to the ground below. The gesture only reminding her it was around that time again. She remembered the leaves from when she had left her village the first time. The memory of the uncomfortable way they crunched under her bare feet still raw. Still vivid and dripping wet from the lake. Sera hadn’t truly seen them before then. Of course she knew what they were and had seen them at a distance, but then they had represented something completely different. She used to look at them with so much hope, now they were a reminder of her solitude. Her blonde companion’s words ran through her mind for an instant. Recalling when she had reminded Sera she still had their odd little family. At least if she wanted it. She had been so quick to grasp at it, but moments like these it was hard to forget what she once had.
She had managed to remain silent throughout the entire trip. Besides the usual bickering between herself and Vahni, but even that remained slightly off. She was sure he had picked up on it, yet no one chose to say anything. For that she was grateful, they seemed to dwell on the present. While she remained in this particular town though, the idea felt foreign. It was too close. The forest rubbed at her senses reminding her of the location. Leaving an irritating call of nostalgia, no doubt from her cursed blood. As if it were not bad enough it left her feeling connected to most bodies of nature. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like if she was fully bloodied. The whispers were bad enough. A language beyond words that no one else could hear. As if she weren’t separated enough from normal people by her hands. Then there were the differences between her mixed blood and the Sokiv. She couldn’t get any sort of reprieve. Nor would she bring it up in conversation, she had long learned in childhood it wasn’t something to discuss. Explaining it required a belief most people lacked. Even her once caring village rejected it, calling it an overactive imagination.
Now it was professing it’s longing, for what she couldn’t make out. The term was nothing she was familiar with, so she could only assume it belonged to the forest’s other occupants. Nothing to concern herself with, yet it still repeated itself. Almost like it was seeking and answer or waiting.
“What is it you want from me?”
The girl responded, rubbing her temples. If she stayed here much longer she was going to develop a headache. The doors below were thrust open, an older voice offering pleas of thanks. Sera sat up from her position, looking down at the entry way. Her companion was smiling with a familiar kindness. Saying words that Sera could hardly stand listening to. It was a wonder how she could be so kind to everyone. Serena had explained it to her once, but she never stopped finding it ridiculous. Sera could feign kindness to the point of perfection, but never could she imagine being so selfless in reality. It served no purpose and would get her killed. She already had enough issues with her size and appearance.
Seeing the other woman accept her money Sera decided to make her presence known. The building truly wasn’t that far from the ground. A feat easily managed with practice and experience, getting down just as easy.
“Serena!”
Awaiting the woman to turn, while she slipped down from the building. Sera was extremely agile considering she was wearing a dress. Another typical short white one that fell along her shoulders, sleeves sliced open by a slit, waist decorated by a dark brown corset embroidered with silken purple flowers, black leggings, and a new pair of brown boots. The previous she had been wearing had needed replacing from their last trip. A quick steal in the new town had rendered that problem fixed.
Stretching her limbs she approached the blonde, ignoring the odd looks the petite woman was getting from her friend’s customer. She was far too accustomed to them to feel bothered. Curly locks brushed aside as she decided to pay him no mind. He didn’t seem like a threat, just an annoyance. He reeked of judgment. Fortunately she was used to it in all of its forms. Sparing the man a glance, she watched him flinch. An odd occurrence considering the small girl was the furthest thing from intimidating. Most couldn’t fathom the woman causing anyone harm. He was staring, as if he knew. The man quickly diverted his attention back to her companion though. Making her wonder if she had imagined it. There was no reflection of it in his features anymore. How odd…now who is ignoring whom?[/color]
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