The grass was damp with dew and the chill of early morning still hung in the air. Nami breathed in deeply and felt the energy that a new day always brought. She stretched and slung her rucksack over one shoulder. After leaving home several years ago, she had never quite settled in one place. No matter how nice one village, town, or city might seem, she always felt restless staying in one place for more than a week. There were too many sights to see and people to meet for her to glue her feet to the ground.
Today she found herself heading leaving the mountains for a valley where there seemed to exist a small village. She walked down a traffic worn trail leading to the village. It seemed she was just in time to watch it come to life. A large woman stepped outside and stretched he arms widely giving a rather forceful yawn.
"What a beautiful morning. Marlin, Celia, get a move on. We have work to do."
"Good morning, Vesta," a cheerful brown haired girl came trotting out behind. It wasn't until the girl noticed the red head standing on the path that crossed through the farm and smiled a greeting, did Nami proceed into the village center.
It really was a small village she thought as she came to an inn. The sign was carved with the words The Inner Inn. She stood for a moment outside the inn before proceeding inside. It was a cozy place decorated with a collection of rare and artistic items.
She looked around; no one was at the counter. Then she heard the clatter of dishware through a doorway to the right. Nami entered what was apparently the kitchen. There was a portly woman at the sink washing breakfast dishes and singing quietly to herself as she did. Not wanting to startle the lady, she knocked on the wall next to the doorway where she stood.
The woman stopped singing and turned around with a gentle smile, "Welcome, you're a new face. Would you like to rent a room for your stay?" Nami just gave a curt nod and stated that she would not be staying long and rented a room for the night