Wishes and Lost Hope
Chapter One
Beginnings
The young woman shifted uncomfortably on her bed. The nightmare that engulfed her mind shifted its form but was always the same in principle. Kill or be killed, and by a friend, no less.
The small furry form that tried to curl against her to keep warm found her constant shifting a hindrance. The rabite soon found it dangerous as well. With a squeal, the creature bit the hand that carelessly smacked against him in the darkness. It was just enough to wake the girl.
Bolting upright, the woman turned and pushed the blankets away with her feet as she pressed herself against the wall of her bed compartment. The old quilt, sheets, and rabite fell softly to the floor. The rabite chirped as he tried to free himself from the pile of cloth.
With an agonized cry, the woman dug her pet out and trilled to him, trying to calm him. It was more effective towards her nerves, as the rabite put up with it only for the warmth. His mistress' distress was something he did not understand; they were warm in the winter with enough good food. Why distress?
In the darkness, the girl felt tears begin to trail down her face. She let them. No one else was around, but the rabite and her cactus. The cactus was not close enough to see her in the dark.
She had not meant to. A year ago she had sent a friend to the underworld. It had been a lucky strike, and probably saved her life. But he had died.
Since her visit to the Tree of Mana, dreams had begun to haunt her of many things. Memories of things she had wished different. Images of friends trapped in hell. They wanted revenge. No, just him. He wanted her dead.
No sleep tonight.
oOo
"Athena?"
Lisa crept down the stairs, followed by Bud. The twins were always awake with the sun, yet somehow they were always preceded by Athena.
"Yes?" the woman yawned.
"Good morning," Lisa said. She was never sure what to think about Athena's recent habits. The little mage was worried.
"Geeze, man," Bud said, oblivious, "You look terrible, maybe you should get some sleep."
"Thanks," Athena smirked, placing the mages' morning meal down on the table, "But I've got things to do."
"Like what?" Bud asked. He hoped whatever it was involved adventure, and that he would be able to somehow wheedle his way into it.
"I've got to go to town," Athena replied, finishing up the last of her various morning chores.
"Anything fun planned?" the little mage dropped all sense of concealment.
"No, just some shopping," The blonde woman lied. She began dressing in her casual clothes. She had already gathered her armor and her favorite weapons. She had them hidden just out of sight on the path to Domina. One weapon she could have gotten away with, two would have made her charges suspicious, and two with armor meant fun to the little mages.
She bid the children goodbye, and left with the rabite on her heels. She picked up the parcel containing her equipment and carried it on the way to town.
Where she used to be a stranger to Domina, she now was as well known as any of the inhabitants. She smiled a greeting here and nodded one there as she made her way towards the tavern. She had to force herself to walk through the doors; she was not in the mood to talk to anyone today.
She scanned the dark and dusty room for any sign of her friend. There were quite a few people in the tavern. She eventually found the man she was looking for on the loft.
"Hey, Athena," Elazul said, smiling every so slightly, "You're late."
"Smiling? Elazul?" Athena sat down at the table and looked around suspiciously, "Goodness, soon we'll have you saying, 'please,' 'thank you,' and 'excuse me.'"
"Not damn likely," the Lapis Knight's smile turned into a slight grin, "You look hungry, or do you just like the sight of my lunch?"
"Sorry," Athena diverted her gaze away from the half-eaten meal, "I didn't have time to eat this morning. Too busy trying to get here on time."
"Which you didn't even do anyway,"
"I had a lot to do," Athena said defensively, getting up, "Excuse me a minute."
The Jumi watched as the woman left and dashed down the stairs. He stared in disbelief when she returned with a tray overflowing with various kinds of food.
"So," Athena placed the tray on the table and sat down, "What's the news anyway?"
"News?" Elazul asked distractedly.
"Did you find me any jobs or not?" the woman asked, picking through the food. As hungry as she was, she did not really feel like eating.
"Oh, nothing so far," the Jumi replied, "Maybe if you had been here earlier we might have found you something. But there is little work for a mercenary these days."
"Goddess be damned," Athena sighed. She needed a job badly.
"Maybe if you weren't so generous with your earnings," Elazul chided, "You wouldn't be in this situation."
"Maybe," the woman looked over the balcony to the floor below, "But not much I can do about it now. There's nothing? What about with the Jumi?"
"No, we're efficient enough to handle our own business," Elazul said, "You might be able to find something farther out, but then there's traveling expenses."
"Thanks anyway," Athena said. She would never ask her friends for money. If worst came to worst, she could always sell some of her things. Treant could grow fruit, at least enough to keep her and those living with her alive for a little while. She could invest the little she had in her blacksmithy...
When it came down to it, she did not want to. She was a warrior. That was what she wanted to be and do.
"You could always sell the rat," Elazul said, indicating the rabite curled up on Athena's lap.
"No, I don't think... Danae!" Athena called out, surprised to see the woman- cat on the floor below. She stood quickly, much to the rabite's irritation, and leaned over the banister.
"Uh, Athena?" Elazul asked nervously as the woman leaned a bit far over the railing. "Athena!" He made a clumsy and unsuccessful grab for the girl's legs as she fell over the edge and towards the floor below. And people called him reckless.
