Disclaimer: Obviously, I do not own anything in the series. If I did, same-sex pairings would be an option. Lookin' at you, Iris. ;)
The spring wind blew gently through the trees that lined the mountain path. Still early in the season, the chill of winter faintly remained and tickled her arms. Goose bumps prickled in defiance against her fingers as she tried to rub them away and she silently cursed herself for not accepting the shawl that Grandma Eda had offered her. She let out an audible sigh and paused in the middle of the road. With the sun freshly peaking over the horizon she could clearly see the shine of the dew that carpeted the grass just off of the trail.
This is all so beautiful.
Her face melted into relaxation and she shut her eyes, allowing the corners of her mouth to form a gentle smile. It felt right. The air was sweet as she inhaled deeply, holding her breath ever so slightly in order to savor the flavor of the mountain. It was light and fragrant from the abundant foliage while also maintaining rich, earthy notes from the many bountiful farm fields in the area. It was beyond anything she had experienced before; even the farms of her hometown lacked such a decadent natural scent.
Perhaps moving to Oak Tree Town wasn't such a crazy decision after all…
The reassuring thought dampened with the memory of home, but a soft snap to her left summoned her attention toward the tree line. A small rabbit was searching around for food, with no success aside from nibbling on grass. Slowly, the young woman set her pack down and rummaged around for a fresh turnip to give the small creature. Vegetable in hand, she held her breath and took small steps towards the rabbit. It froze upon sight of her and tensed, as if to bolt. A few feet from the frightened fur ball, she knelt down slowly and rolled the turnip away from her. She stood again and backed up towards where her bag still lay on the path.
Come on… It's all right. Just try it.
She silently willed the creature to partake of her offering, not realizing that she had begun to hold her breath in anticipation. The rabbit sniffed at the air, intrigued. After a few tentative hops and few more sniffs, the rabbit locked eyes with the girl before starting its assault on the turnip.
Yes!
A wave of relief washed over the girl and her breath escaped in an excited huff. She smiled brightly, reveling in the small feeling of acceptance that the rabbit had given her. Careful not to disturb the bunny's breakfast, she lifted her pack and turned to continue towards the town.
Now I can… !?
Her eyes immediately locked onto the tall figure just a few meters away and her breath caught sharply in her chest. Startled, her heart fluttered and her eyes widened as she surveyed the man before her. He stood silently on the path down the hill, watching her with steady golden eyes and a slight smile. He held his hands behind his back in a formal pose that seemed too proper for the countryside, and yet so comfortable for him. With a few smooth strides he closed the gap between them.
"Good morning. My name is Klaus Wölfel. May I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"
In an attempt to regain her composure, she cleared her throat softly and smoothed out her apron to grab the sides of her dress with the tips of her fingers. Bowing her head slightly, she gave him a polite curtsy and took a deep breath. Quickly straightening her form, her bright hazel eyes met his deep amber ones and she smiled.
"My name is Leyna."
Thank you very much for reading! This is the first piece I've written in years, and the very first time ever posting on a public-style site. I hope you enjoyed it and will stay tuned for future updates!
tootertay: Yes, I absolutely adore Klaus and plan on marrying him in the game. Don't get me wrong though, Reager is quite the cutie as well. He just seems like such a player. Thanks for your review and follow/fav! Means a lot to know that someone out there likes what I've written and wants more!