Kira had spent the last twenty minutes attempting to tie her thick dark hair back in her new pretty lime green ribbon, given to her by Jean. Usually Kira didn't give a second thought to how she looked. She pulled her hair in a leather cord threw on the first dress she could get her hands on and washed her face and brushed her teeth. Looks meant very little to her, mostly because she never tried to impress anyone. Never had a need to impress any one, no one ever looked twice at her in her old community. Her twisted leg deemed her "un marriable". Even now she wasn't trying to impress anyone, not really. There was to be a party, in honor of Leader, Her and most of all Healer, Matty, as he would always be to her. The people wanted to express there gratitude toward them for fixing the wrongs they had done over the months. Kira was extremely elated at the prospect of going to any sort of party at all and had immediately asked Jean for a dress. Jean had graciously offered her the most beautiful dress in her closet. A dazzling off the shoulder dress in lime green, which clung tightly to Kira's form, which strangely resembled the hour glass, Kira had found in Leader's Study. Jean had also offered her the ribbon and a pair of green high heels which Kira had to decline because her twisted leg prevented her from wearing anything other than sandals. Herbalist, Leader's mother figure, had given Kira a pair of her daughter's green semi fancy slippers and a bunch of beauty products that neither Herbalist nor her daughter used. Kira was glad for the slippers but didn't know what to make of the beauty products. She'd never used such things in her life. In her old community no such things existed. Jean had taught Kira how to apply them but Kira wasn't sure if she liked the way she looked with them or not. When preparing for today she had decided against them, only putting on a clear gloss so that her lips wouldn't get chapped which they had a terrible habit of doing. Her face looked just fine without the make-up as Jean had called them. Her skin was clear, her eyelashes were long, and her lips were rose pink. She would have been pretty if her skin wasn't so pale and her hair wasn't so dark and thick and kept slipping out of whatever hairstyle she put it up. She sighed for the one millionth times in the past twenty minutes and pulled the ribbon out of her hair, letting her long tresses fall loosely around her shoulders. She studied herself in the mirror that Trademaster had given her as a "gratitude" gift. She looked great; even have potential to be noticed by at least one of the many guys her age that dwelled here if she figured out what to do with her thicket of hair. Sighing again she slumped down on her bed. There was a knock on her door.
"Kira are you dressed?" Her father's voiced boomed from the other side of the door.
Why does he care if I'm dressed or not it's not like he can see me. She thought angrily.
"Yes father I'm dressed." She called back. Her father slipped in the room, he had changed out of his every day attire into something a bit more acceptable. She guessed her father owned very little in the way of nice clothing. Like Kira, Seer didn't think much of looks, but that was because contrary to his name Seer was blind.
"Well come on then, we better get going. Don't want to be late to your first party. Especially when it's held in your honor." He chuckled to himself.
"Alright let me brush my hair." Kira rose from the bed and snatched her hairbrush from her dresser, she ran it through her hair a few times before placing it down on the dresser again and adjusting her stick under her arms turned again to her father.
"Oh I almost forgot." Seer said suddenly and cheerily. "There's a guest in our living room. They'll be accompanying us to the party." Seer turned on his heel and with surprising agility for a man his age and condition strolled out of my room. Curious Kira fallowed him down the hallway. At first she gathered it must be Jean waiting for them wanting to see how the dress looked on Kira till she remembered Jean saying she was going to be accompanying her father Mentor to the party. Then she thought it might be Herbalist, but Herbalist had three kids to get ready and attend to so she doubted it.
It just so happened that the guest was Village's Leader. A man a year or two older her, who had accompanied her to Village after Matty's passing and visited her house from time to time, asking how she was and if she was interested in taking walks with him. He was standing in the living room inspecting the tapestry she had made of Village and her old community with Forest in-between them. He looked up when he heard them approaching and smiled warmly.
"Kira it's good to see you." He said kindly. He was a tall, comely man, and Kira found herself getting unusually giddy when she looked into his pale tiffany blue eyes. Even now just after that simple greeting she felt her blush start on her cheeks.
"It's always a pleasure to see you Leader." She murmured, and then felt her blush get stronger. Well that was stupid. How about "How are you Leader, how was your day?" You sounded like a freak.
"The pleasure's all mine." Leader returned turning again to the tapestry. "You made this?" he asked.
"Yes, a while ago." She answered, looking over her work. It seemed that a few stitches had come undone over a house. Strange. She thought stepping close to examine it. "That wasn't there last time." She took a corner of the wall hanging and rubbed in between her fingers. The stitches were neat and even just as they always had been.
"Maybe Frolic got at it?" Seer offered. "He's been grabbing at everything lately." At the mention of his name, Frolic the spaniel like dog that had been Matty's dog and after Matty passed Frolic had sort of adopted Kira, leapt up from where he had been resting in the kitchen and trotted over to Kira's side, pawing at the pants leg of Leader. The man turned and scratched the dog behind his large floppy ears.
"I doubt it, it looks a little high for Frolic to get at." Kira mused. Leader pointed at a large house in the middle of Village.
"That's my house right?" He asked. Kira nodded slowly. "Then if that's my house, the house with the snag in it is Trademaster's."
"The man that gave me the mirror?" Kira asked. Leader nodded still examining the undone stitch and frowned. "His daughter's just fell ill."
"Really, do you think she got it from Ramon and Claudia?" Seer asked. Leader shook his head fiercely.
"No, Trademaster made sure Adele stayed away from both of them, I think he knew they were going to get sick."
"What does Herbalist say about it?"
"She doesn't have the slightest clue what it may be."
"Do you think………" Seer trailed off his blank eyes getting a winsome look in his eyes.
"Do you think what?" Kira prompted, but Seer shook his head.
"Never mind, Come on were going to be let for the party."
"Right, right the party." Leader shook his head again and then turned to Kira. "You ready?"
"Do I like nice?" she asked. Leader looked her up and down for before flashing a heart warming smile.
"You look lovely."
"You're not just being nice?"
"Kira you look exquisite and that's the truth." He offered his arm, and Kira took it gratefully. Leader escorted her out the door and Seer fallowed after mumbling about being the one to escort his daughter to her first party.
The party took place at the Gathering Hall which was for the most part used only for special occasions, like birthdays and weddings and such. When they arrived Leader and Kira were swept up in a crowd of happy, kind hearted, Villagers. Kira recognized Mentor the school teacher, Gatherer's widow who for one did not have a melancholy look in her eyes, Trademaster (though his wife and daughter were not there) and Matty's friends Ramon, Aaron, Abby and a few others. Jean was there and was pleased with how nice Kira looked in the dress. Others introduced themselves to her. One girl caught Kira's eye was a girl named Olivia. She was about Matty's age and bore a shocking resemblance to Herbalist. When Kira inquired Leader about it he laughed and answered.
"Well that's to be expected, she is Herbalist's daughter."
"Oh!" Kira wanted to hit herself for being so stupid. Olivia bore the same long wavy strawberry blonde hair and breathtaking stormy gray and emerald green eyed gaze that seemed to penetrate into your very soul as her mother did. Clinging to the beautiful girl was a little curly haired blonde boy, whose face seemed fit to be an angel's. He chattered on to a little girl about his age and by the way he kept throwing his hands around Kira could tell he was excited.
"Who's the boy with her?" she asked.
"That's Gabriel, Herbalist's son." He chuckled a little as he watched the boy chat. "He's a handful."
"He has such a beautiful face." Kira murmured in disbelief.
"Don't let his innocent face fool you." Leader winked at her and she felt her face flush a little. "He's a little devil that one."
"So, her kids are here but I don't see Herbalist." Kira scanned the crowd of faces for the kind warm one of the Villager's caretaker.
"She's not here." Trademaster answered, seemingly appearing out of no where. Leader may have been tall but Trademaster was impossibly tall. Some short people like Kira had to lean back on there feet to see him, and with his dark glinting eyes, wild array of dark curls and sharp nose he was an imposing looking man. Kira could see why some people feared him.
"Where is she?" Kira asked.
"She's with Aileen and Adele, Adele's sick and she's trying to figure out with what."
"Oh I'm sorry." Kira had forgotten about Trademaster's daughter in the ecstasy of the party and the people, and with the privilege of having Leader by her side.
"Don't be, it isn't your fault she sick, and I'm sure Herbalist will find what's wrong with her, she's very talented."
"So I've heard." Kira answered, throwing a look at Leader who spoke very highly of the woman's abilities. She turned back to Trademaster.
"I want to thank you again for the mirror it's very lovely."
"Ahh yes, I wanted to ask you about that." He smiled, his brown eyes glittering. "You are getting good use out of it?"
"Very much actually." Kira laughed. "I'm such a vain woman."
"You vain?" Trademaster arched an eyebrow "I doubt that."
"Trademaster, I need your opinion on something." A young woman interrupted gently, coming to stand beside the man. Kira swore she felt Leader stiffen a little beside her.
"Yes of course Bridget." He gave Kira a charming smile. "See you around Madame." He nodded his head and slipped into the crowd after the woman. Beside her, Kira felt Leader relax a little. She turned to him, his blue eyes met hers.
"Is something wrong?" She asked. He shook his head.
"No why?"
"You seemed nervous when that girl came up."
"Bridget?" He gave a wry smile. "No I wasn't nervous that's for sure."
"Then what were you?" she asked.
"I was…..never mind. Do you want to meet Gabe?"
"I'd love to." Automatically she began to look for the glorious child and found him still standing beside Olivia. Leader led her to the two calling out to them. They both turned almost in perfect harmony with one another and there faces lit up.
"Leader." Olivia gave the man a hug. "It's good to see you."
"And you, doing well I hope?" He asked.
"As always." She smiled warmly. Leader turned to Kira.
"Olivia, Gabe this is Kira, Seer's daughter."
"I've heard so much about you!" Olivia gushed taking her hand and shaking it. "It's nice to finally meet you in person."
"It's nice to meet you too." Kira was taken aback at Olivia's eagerness.
"I knew your friend." Gabe said then, he was gazing at her with large intoxicating blue eyes, the exact same shade as a robin's egg. He was even more angelic up close. Kira thought it looked like the faces of the heroes of old time, who always had paintings of themselves doing impossible things. Kira wondered if he was spoiled, because how could anyone possibly say no to a face like that?
"Matty?" She asked.
"Yes miss. He taught me how to fish." He wrinkled his perfect nose. "I didn't like it very much."
"Yes well, you don't like many things Gabe my dear." Olivia teased, and then turned her attention back to Kira.
"Matty and I were in the same class together, I'm sorry to say though I didn't spend much time with him."
"Is that so?" Kira pushed a strand of hair behind her eyes. "He mentioned an Olivia once."
"He did?" She cocked her head the side. She really did have a pretty face. It wasn't the classic sophisticated beauty Jean had, but more of a wild natural beauty and Kira decided that she liked that style of beauty better.
"Well I don't think he said Olivia, but I do remember him referring to a strawberry blonde whom he had gone strawberry picking with once."
"Ah yes, that was a while ago, we were almost twelve." Olivia giggled at the memory.
"Can you read?" Gabe quipped suddenly narrowing his eyes. "Cause some women can't read when they come and Mentor has to teach them."
"Gabe." Leader warned.
"No it's alright." Kira reassured. "Yes I can read and write to."
That pleased him, they spent a while talking to Olivia and Gabe. Kira decided she really did like Olivia. She was friendly, smart, and had a good sense of humor. She and Kira had a few good laughs. Gabe was smart for a boy his age, in fact he was very clever and he was polite, later Leader told Kira he must have liked her a lot because Gabe was very a reserved boy when he met people for the first time. Later Leader introduced her to many other Villagers who for the most part seemed friendly and pleased to have her among them. She spoke again with Trademaster and decided that despite his dark exterior he was a sweet man and she liked him. She also met Bridget, who seemed a little self centered but kind enough. Kira noticed her give Leader flirtatious looks every now and then, though to Kira's relief Leader seemingly ignored them. When the party was over they found Seer and the three began home. Seer was chatting on and on about Gatherer's new son when Kira heard a loud booming voice shout.
"Leader, Leader please come quickly!" it was Trademaster.
"What is it?" Leader asked concerned.
"It's Adele, Herbalist finally diagnosed her."
"With what?" Seer asked.
"It's Scarlet Fever, but I'm afraid she dose not know how to cure it."
"Scarlet Fever?" Kira had heard of the sickness before in books that her friend Thomas had owned, but she'd never known people could still get the sickness.
"What does Herbalist want with me?" Leader asked.
"She wonders if perhaps a book in your library would have a cure for it." Trademaster answered then chewed on his lip "And that's not all, it seems that her daughter Esther and Midwife have it as well."
"How could three people come down with the same sickness?" Seer asked. "I mean it happens in other places, but here?"
"Well Esther did spend all day with Herbalist in our house." Trademaster admitted. "And Midwife was there to helping Aileen with preparing for our second child."
"They must have picked it up there then. There's no way an epidemic could be here in Village."
"We can hope." Leader said with a sigh. "Even Village isn't perfect."
"But everyone here is so clean, so careful."
"Yes I know." Leader glanced at Kira his eyes worried. Kira frowned, she hadn't even been near Trademaster's house, and there was no way she could be infected.
"I'll come and visit you tomorrow; I mean if you don't mind?" He looked hopeful. Kira blushed again.
"Of course you may."
"Well then till tomorrow." He gave her hand a quick squeeze before walking away with Trademaster there heads bowed low, talking in whispers. Seer was silent for a moment before smiling.
"Looks as if someone has a beau." He teased.
"A beau?" she'd never heard of the term before. Seer chuckled.
"You know, a beau, a boyfriend?"
"Oh." Kira felt her whole face turn red and hot and she was glad her father couldn't see. "Oh no nothing like that, Leader's feelings are just friendly I assure you that father."
"How can you be so sure?" Seer asked. "You must admit Kira he stops by to see you a lot."
"We're friends." Kira insisted.
"Alright, if that's what you want." Seer opened the door to the house and helped Kira through the door.
As Kira undressed and prepared for bed that night she began to wonder on what her father had said. It was true that Leader did seem to take a keen interest in her. Up until that moment Kira had always just gathered that liked every other Villager Leader was just being friendly and well meaning. Were there other motives that drove to Leader to visit with Kira nearly every day? Could it be possible that a man such as Leader admired a woman like Kira? A woman who bore now unique beauty, who was just your average looking woman? Who had a twisted leg and mess of unmanageable raven colored hair? Was it even plausible? Kira studied herself in the mirror again. She shook her head and sighed. She didn't want to dwell on such thoughts. She wished her father a god night and blew out the candle by her night stand. As she crawled into her bed she suddenly wished she could have Matty to talk to. Matty always knew what to say when she was thinking to hard. She hoped that wherever Matty was now he was happy and enjoying himself. She hoped suddenly there was a heaven and that Matty was there reunited with his old dog Branch and they were free to run around and do as they pleased. These thoughts fallowed her as she fell asleep and she dreamed of such a place.