"Father!" my cry was sweet and playful as I ran through the trees, holding Timcanpy in my small arms. As I broke through the tree line, I looked around the small town ahead of me. It was a small, British village, far away from the major city. I was raised here, of course. It was where I belonged.
My light brown hair fell over my shoulders in small, scrappy, little curls. My mittens where hanging off my light orange jacket, and the yellow skirt I wore went below my knees. I had on tan shoes that had a little button on it to make sure it stayed on tight and I wore my orange hood on my head. The sun was setting below the trees in front of me, and I sighed in delight as I rested my pale blue eyes on my little village hidden in the forest.
Timcanpy wiggled out of my embrace and flew ahead of me. I jumped up and grabbed his tail. "Hey, where do you think you're going, you big ball of silliness?" I cooed as I pulled Tim back to me. He was reluctant to be pulled backwards, but once in my arms, he cuddled into my neck lovingly. I giggled, and began to make my way back home.
"Father!" I cried again as I reached the outer part of the village. A man with slightly graying hair looked me over and smiled.
"Alicia," said the man as he patted my head, resting his rake against his little wooden fence. "What are you doing?"
"I found Timcanpy!" I smugly held out the large golem. "If Timcanpy is here, then my father must be, too! Where is he, Mr. Bottle?"
Mr. Bottle's face held a look of confusion. "Why, I haven't seen your father. If he was here, wouldn't he have sent a message of his arrival?"
I frowned in response. "But, Timcanpy is here…"
Mr. Bottle patted my head once again. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, we'll look around town. If he isn't here, we'll send a small search party to look for him. Is that okay?" I nodded my head solemnly. As he turned away, Timcanpy broke away from me again. He turned to look at me, hovering slightly over my head.
I tried to jump up and catch him, but he flew away from me. I giggled as I played chase with the golem I loved so dearly. I found myself once again at the tree line, looking onwards to the forbidden forest. It wasn't named that for any reason in particular, just to scare away small children so that mothers wouldn't have a heart attack. I followed Timcanpy without a second thought.
I used to play chase with Timcanpy ever since I was three. He never made it easy for me, but I found myself catching on to his tricks and becoming more agile as I moved. He would usually make it hard for me; weaving in and out of trees, flying up so I couldn't reach him unless I climbed on a tree, and suddenly turning around to fly in the opposite direction so that I would lose my momentum. But today, as I chased him through the forbidden forest, I realized we weren't playing chase. Timcanpy was moving in a fast, straight line. He only moved to dodge obstacles or to turn to see if I was still following. Something told me he was trying to show me something. I ran as fast as my 8 year old legs would take me. I didn't stop for a single breath. Timcanpy, realizing that I was going faster, only sped up.
My eyes became wide when I saw a break up ahead in the trees. I had never left beyond the forest before, even when father got on his knees and, seemingly playfully, begged me to join him on his travels. But I never left; I was where I belonged, where I was needed. Yet, as Timcanpy broke through the tree line, I didn't hesitate.
The first thing I noticed when I left the forest was an unmistakable gust flying over my. Something cool and fresh blew over my skin. It was refreshing after my long run, but at the same time, it scared me. Never before had I felt this strange rush of air. The small amount of sunlight that had been left had completely disappeared, and it was darker than the usual night. I looked up, trying to find Timcanpy, when a figure jumped into my vision. "Why are you standing in the middle of this windstorm? Come on inside," the voice cooed to me. I found myself unable to react to the voice. I simply let it guide me into what I believed to be an inn.
My village had a single inn, and it was nothing but a rundown shack compared to this place. There was a counter, and behind it were shelves filled with wine bottles of many different verities. There was a hallway that seemed to lead to a kitchen, and a stairway that must have lead to many rooms. I was in awe of many of the painting and decorations on the walls, but mostly at the finely carved stairway. Its delicate designs curved and swirled around, but I could not find a way to describe them. If I could, I would say it resembled that cursed gust of sudden air that whipped around me relentlessly outside. The figure that led me here took off its oversized overcoat and rested it on a hook on the wall. I turned to see a man standing there. He was wearing a uniform of black and red that seemed to be of high rank. I recognized the uniform, but I would not make note of it to the man in front of me. He turned to me and smiled. I made note of his spiky red hair, how it was held by a neat headband and the way it seemed to complement his attitude, though I had not seen it yet, I could read him like a book. He was happy, playful, and energetic, but I'm sure anyone would guess that. Something I would not forget about him was the eye patch over his right eye.
"Hello," he said, his voice making me even surer that my assumptions about him were right. "I'm Lavi. What is your name?"
"I'm not supposed to talk to strangers. My father told me so," I crossed my arms in defiance.
The man chuckled. "You've already failed at that. You in fact DID speak, and you also told me something about you. So, you listen with your father?" The man mused. I felt my face warm up at his words. He bent down to my level, and I jumped back as I realized he was closer to me. "I also just helped you out of a terrible windstorm. All I ask in return is your name,"
I pouted, but I didn't argue. "Alicia," I murmured to the man. He smiled in return.
"Alicia. Does that come with a last name?" I shook my head. Even the people in the village didn't know my last name. I was simply Alicia. "Okay, well," the man named Lavi pulled out a notepad. "I was wondering if you could help me. I've interviewed just about everyone in this town, but I haven't seen you around. Are you new here?"
"Just arrived," I answered truthfully, not seeing the point of lying to the man. He nodded in response.
"Okay, where are you from?"
"A place that has never had a storm like this," I turned to my right to look out the window. I held onto the railing of the stairs as I sat down. "What is that?" I questioned as I glared at the unseen whipping and curving of an invisible substance that I could only think of as being air.
"The wind?" Lavi looked at the window. "You've never come into contact with wind? No wonder you were frozen out there," he wrote down something on his pad. "But how could you not have experienced wind?"
I shrugged. I wouldn't answer more on that. I may be 8, but I liked to consider myself as smart child. I knew better than to give away too much information.
"Okay, well…" Lavi flipped up a page. "Have you seen anyone dressed like me before?" I nodded. Lavi seemed to become excited. "Really? I- uh…" he scratched his head with his pen, and a little black creature wiggled out of his hair.
"Buzz. Buzz."
"Oh, a call from HQ?" Lavi stated more than asked as he reached for the golem. Instinctively, I jumped up and grabbed it. "Hey!"
"Wanna play chase?" I asked the small golem excitedly. After losing Tim in the storm, I did miss him terribly. It didn't respond to my words, it just gave another buzzing sound. Lavi plucked it out of my hands.
"Hey, it's not a toy!" he whined as he began walking to the back room. I followed him like a lost puppy, not really sure of what else to do. He lifted a wire from the phone, and hooked it to his golem. I stared at him and his emotionless golem… he didn't even call it by a name. 'It's not a toy!' he had said to me. I knew that. I always knew that, but the golem always wanted me to play with it. I thought any golem would want a companion.
'It's lonely,' I thought as I looked at Lavi's golem. 'It wants companionship, but it's not automatically programmed to know it…'
Lavi signed and hung up the phone. If there was any communication, I missed it. "Well, that's a letdown. So, Alicia," Lavi turned to me with a smile. I ignored him and grabbed the golem again. "Hey!"
"You don't have to be afraid," I cooed to the golem. "I'll be your friend. I won't hurt you at all, I promise. You can ask my golem," I smiled sweetly at the small bat like creature. It fidgeted in my palm, as if trying to calculate the equation for what had been said.
"You're a strange… hey!" Lavi kneeled down to my level again. "You have a golem?" I blinked at Lavi. Maybe that wasn't supposed to be said aloud. But it was too late, so I nodded in return. "What does it look like? Does it look like this one?" he pointed to his golem, and I immediately began to feel worried. If he knew what Tim looked like, then would he try to take Tim away? I decided to lie. I nodded at his question. Strangely, he seemed disappointed by my answer. It was then that I realized he WAS looking for Timcanpy. I was pleased with my decision to lie.
"Well then," Lavi straightened up and cracked his neck. "Guess we should hit the hay,"
"Where will I sleep?" I asked as I tilted my head. Lavi smiled at me.
"I'll buy you a room for the night. The storm should quiet down by morning anyway," I nodded at Lavi. He patted my head. "And I promise ill get you back to your father tomorrow, okay?"
I smiled at his kindness, but I shook my head. "I don't think my father is in town,"
Lavi frowned. "Did you run away from home or something?" I laughed at his observation.
"No, sir. I was just following… a friend. I got separated from him when I felt that… wind,"
"Well, I guess I'll take you home tomorrow. If we can find it," he turned me around and pushed me forward slightly. "Now, let's go get you a room,"
My room was a comfortable size. It had a nice comfy bed, a desk at the side, and a nice little rug for a homey touch. Lavi's golem had followed me secretly, unsure of what to do. I took it my hands, petted it lightly, and then let it fly again. It seemed pleased. I took off my little tan shoes and stepped on the rug. "Oh, it's so warm," I smiled at nothing as I dug my toes into its warmth. I walked over to the desk and sat in the chair. I ran my finger along the top of the desk. No dust: it was well kept. I smiled as I looked through the empty draws, and the little golem rested itself on my head. I didn't even have a desk at home. I probably never could afford a place like this. Mr. Lavi was a nice guy.
I jumped into bed clothes that the innkeeper had provided me with, and jumped into bed when it seemed late enough. The golem nuzzled my neck and powered down, turning into a little black ball. I was about to close my eyes when there was a tap on my window. Looking over, I saw a large dark ball continuously bumping into the window, as if it couldn't understand why it wasn't flying through. I smiled as I walked to the window and opened it. Timcanpy's golden colors were seen as it flew into candle light. I grabbed the big ball from the air and closed the window. When I made to get into bed, Tim wiggled out of my grasp and flew around in circles frantically. "Tim?" I murmured to my beloved golem. Tim looked at me for a moment, then opened his toothy mouth and showed me a hologram.
'Timcanpy, please go look for Alicia for me,'
"Father!" I screeched just above a whisper. I leaned forward on my knees, listening more intently.
'The wind here is too strong, and I can't break through. I think it could have something to do with innocence residing in Alicia's village. Please, Timcanpy, I know she won't leave without a reason. If she won't follow, you have to get her to-'
A large explosion caused the image to shake. I saw father's left eye turn red and a scope appear before his eye. I gasped at the sight. "Father? What-"
'Go, Timcanpy! Hurry! I don't want her there if there's innocence involved! I will not stand for it! She will not be put in harm's way!'
The image disappeared as Timcanpy closed his mouth. He began flying around frantically, and I knew I had to leave. I felt bad for wasting Mr. Lavi's kindness, but I knew I had to find Father. The image of him was still fresh in my mind. His white hair was touching his shoulders slightly, the look on his face more serious than ever before, and his scar, still a deep red, around his left eye like a haunting tattoo.
He was my father, that man in the image. His name was Allen Walker, the destroyer of time, the beginning, or end, of the world. He wouldn't tell me his occupation, he wouldn't tell me about his life, all he ever told me was that he wanted me safe, out of harm's way, and forever to be his little girl. I knew I couldn't be anything less, but I always wished I could be more. So as I jumped out of the second story of the inn, into the cold, unforgiving wind that whipped around me, I set out to be his savor. I wanted the respect and gratification of leaving the place I called home for so many years, to respect his own wishes, and be by his side. Not as his helpless little daughter, but as more of a companion, who may even one day save his life.
