It was hot in the Death Desert. The dry wind blew carrying sand along with it into the dry desert. A man was seen trudging through the desert. His face was covering his face as he continued to push his way through the sand. The he could barely see. He was conscience was telling him to go back but who listened to that thing. After the recent war, he wanted to know more. If there were more people pass the Desert of Death. But of course it wasn't just called the Death Desert to scare people. After traveling for days now his canteen was dried up and his food supply was low.
"I knew I should have pact more." He thought to himself. He looked around, "Where the heck am I now?" his surrounding didn't help much. Especially since it all looked the same…
"Ugh… Nailah you gave me this thing so it would help…" he groaned taking out a map trying to figure it out, "Not helping much…" The sandstorm had died down now and the desert turned back to it's normal self. The man sighed in relief, "At least that's gone…" he looked up noticed it was starting to get dark. "I should find a place to rest for the night…" He noted with that he headed off into the desert.
It was a nice sunny day outside in the village. The little kids ran around chasing each other. Mira, carrying a basket, dodged two little girls who were playing tag. The third one went bumping into her falling to the ground, "Whoops. Are you alright there?" she crouched next to the little girl.
The little girl nodded, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to bump into you."
Mira just smiled, "It's alright. Here." She helped her up.
"Thank you." The little girl thanked as she brushed the dirt off her clothes.
"It's alright. Be careful from now on." Mira replied watching the little girl run off to play.
She walked pass the bakery where the fresh smell of Bread surrounded her.
"Hello Guss, how are you?" she greeted him as she entered the bakery. A man probably in his middle age appeared from the back room. He brown beard was long and looked scruffy.
"Ahh hello there Mira. How's everything at the clinic?" He greeted her.
"The clinic is running well. Though mother is a little ill right now, but she's still healing people." Mira explained.
Guss just nodded, "I saw your siblings and I knew you'd be coming by so I have what you need ready." He handed her a bag.
"Haha thanks Guss." she smiled taking the bag.
"No problem take care now." he smiled as she paid.
"Alright see ya later Guss." Mira nodded heading towards the door.
"Come again!" Guss waved. Mira smiled waving back. She left the bakery looking around. There she saw Her tow siblings. The taller one with teal hair was jumping up and down trying to get her attention. Mira waved back. She walked over to where the two stood in front of the shop.
"Mira is this what mother wanted?" the girl asked. She stood there holding a bag that had a variety of leaves in it. Next to her stood a little boy with light green hair.
Mira looked in the bag the girl was holding, "Yes Nina that's it. Thank you." She smiled.
"Don't thank me. Seth's the one who found it. I just called you over" Nina chimed. Indicating the little boy.
"Oh well in that case thank you both." Mira smiled ruffling the little five years old's head. Seth just smiled up at Mira.
"Well do we have everything now Nina?" Mira asked her little sister. "Ummm we still need some apples!" she replied looking up from the list, "Oh! We just passed that! Come one Seth lets go!" Nina announced running off with Seth right behind her. Mira just smiled following her two energetic siblings. She loved her siblings dearly. Nina was the most energetic one of the two. It was as if she had never ending energy. Constantly chattering, running around, she was full of adrenaline. She didn't like to be ordered around unless it was her sister or her mother, and she liked to do things herself. Seth on the other was the opposite of her. He was a quiet little boy, who didn't speak much. He only spoke to Mira and Nina, sometimes speaking to his mother. Seth was pretty much the follower; he followed Mira and Nina, and always tended to hide behind Mira or his mother whenever strangers came. They were both Laguzes. Cheetahs to be exact. Maybe that's why they were the way they are. Nina got the adrenaline while Seth had the stalking. Mira sighed rubbing her shoulder. For some strange reason she did not get the Laguz part. She was stuck with as a Branded as they called it, but people didn't mind. She wasn't the only one in the village at least.
"Hey Mira are these good enough?" both of them came running back with two bags full of apples. Seth came up to her, giving her the bag, "Apples." He smiled.
"Haha wow good work guys, but mother said that she only needed one bag of apples." Mira chuckled ruffling Seth's hair.
"Oh haha sorry," Nina smiled, "Here Seth we'll take your apples since they look ripper." She decided placing her bag back. Seth just nodded while Mira paid for the apples.
"Ok so that's everything. Lets go home now!" Nina announced skipping. The market was starting to get more crowded. Seth just grabbed on to Mira's open hand as they headed out of the market. Nina was up ahead skipping a little faster then them all. "Nina don't go off too far now, you'll get lost!" Mira warned. Nina just waved in reply continuing on ahead.
They arrived outside of town in a small field. There was a descent size house there, which used to be a clinic. A forest stood behind the house where they usually went on walks and to get herbs.
"Yay! We're here!" Nina announced running up the pathway. Seth followed behind her.
"Hey you guys bought half of this stuff! Get back here and help!" Mira called out to them.
"Awww but I'm already here." Nina playfully whined. Seth on the other hand came back to help with the bags.
"Thank you Seth." She smiled, handing him the lighter bag. Nina sighed walking over taking another bag from her.
"Thank you Nina. Now you can run up there like a maniac." She joked. Her face lit up and she ran back up the path. Mira and Seth followed at a slower pace.
"Phew finally home… we've been out for more than half the day." Nina sighed placing the bag on the table. Mira and Seth followed in placing their bags in the same place. The place was clean and tidy.
"Welcome back." The heard a soft voice. They looked over and saw their mother with long sky blue hair. She was wearing a long robe and she had a mug in her hand with steam coming out of it.
"Hi Mommy!" Nina greeted her giving her a hug. Seth came up behind her. Their mother just smiled planting a kiss on both of their forehead.
"How are you feeling mother?" Mira asked as she started putting things away.
"I'm feeling better" she replied helping, "just a little nauseous, but I'll be fine."
"You should rest. Nina and I are going out to train." Mira announced loud enough for Nina to here.
"Really? I'll go get ready then." With that she ran upstairs.
"Alright… just remember that your father will be coming home early today." She stated. Mira flinched. Whenever her father came home, there was always chaos in the house. He normally came home drunk, that or pissed. Mira always tried to get everyone to sleep by that time so he wouldn't bother anyone.
"Don't worry we'll be back before he comes home." Mira assured her mother.
Mira's mother smiled, "I know you will."
"I'm back!" Nina announced, she came back downstairs wearing a long black sleeve shirt with khaki shorts and black boots.
"Alright let me put this away and then I'll go get ready." Mira decided.
After putting everything away, Mira headed upstairs to get her weapon. She went her drawer. She opened the top one and pulled out her regular steel blade. There was another drawer but it was locked. Multiple times Mira had tried to open it, but it wouldn't budge. Her mother told her there was something special in it and when she thought the time was right she would open it. She got into her a clean light green tunic and grabbed a white bandana that she favored. And tied her hair in it and headed back down stairs.
"Alright ready?" Nina asked jumping up and down.
"Yep lets go." Mira smiled. Seth grabbed on to her arm as they headed out.
"You three be careful now. " their mother warned, "Don't come back to injured. I don't know if I have the energy to heal all of you."
"Don't worry mommy! I won't hurt Mira!" Nina called out.
"Pfft like that's going to happen… last time you couldn't even scratch me." Mira stated as they walked out. Their mother just smiled at them as they left. They walked into the forest. To the usual training grounds. It was quiet in the forest today. Not that many birds were chirping. They arrived in an opening where the trees formed a circle. Just big enough for a battle ground.
"Alright Mira what are we going to work on today?" Nina asked.
"Lets work on combat training. Both of you." She stated turning to Seth, "It's time you learned to fight as well Seth.
Seth looked a little uncertain. Mira understood why. Seth never transformed into his laguz form. For some reason he never liked to.
"Come one Seth. You have to learn to fight… especially with more and more bandits coming…" Mira stated placing a hand on his shoulder.
Seth just shook his head.
"Mira remember mother said not to force him to." Nina warned. Mira sighed and looked up nodding, "Lets get to work."
"Alright! Lets go!" Nina announced shifting into a blue cat. It looked like a cat because of her young age, but she was really a cheetah. The black spots were small but visible on her fur. She let out a yowl running off into the forest. Mira closed her eyes concentrating on the footsteps. She felt them on the ground and then Seth turned around. Mira opened her eyes turning in the direction Seth had turned. Right then Nina emerged from the trees running towards Mira. She jumped up in the air. And was about to strike down. Mira pulled out her sword at the last second. And Nina ended up biting down on it.
"Hey. Hey watch the sword. You don't want your tongue cut out do you?" Mira joke. She slashed forwards, hitting Nina's leg. Nina jumped back. As soon as she landed, she charged at Mira again. Mira just moved out of the way as she went to strike down. Right when Nina landed, Mira just kicked out hitting Nina's injured leg. Nina hissed out in pain falling to the ground with Mira's sword right above her neck.
"Well that was fast." Mira stated. They heard clapping coming from Seth, who had climbed up a tree not to get in the way.
"Ugh that hurt Mira!" Nina whined. She had reverted back to her normal form. Her leg was bleeding. Mira walked over to her looking at her leg. The injury wasn't that bad, but it did look like a type that would hurt.
"Here get on." She stated. She helped Nina on to her back and they walked, "Come on Seth!" she called out to him. Seth had jumped down the tree and ran up ahead. They ended up by a pond where they normally went after every battle. Mira place Nina by the edge of the pond, where she placed her foot in the water.
"Ahh that feels better…" Nina sighed. Mira came over with a bag, "Here let me see your foot." She said sitting next to her. Nina rose her foot out of the water placing it in Mira's lap. Mira looked at the gash. She took a wet cloth and dabbed the wound with it. Nina flinched a little as Mira pressed down. She then took out vulnerary and started applying it.
Seth had been quiet the whole time playing by the bank splashing water on Mira.
"Seth! Stop!" Mira chuckled as she finished applying the vulnerary. Seth just giggled splashing water again this time some landed on Nina, "Seth! I'm gonna get you!" Nina exclaimed. Mira just laughed as she tried to block it from getting on her face. Seth just continued to do it. Then he froze up looking up at the sky.
"Seth?" Mira noticed his mood change. She finished wrapping the bandage around Nina's foot. Seth just stood there quietly.
"Seth what's wrong?" Mira asked concerned. She walked over to where Seth was.
"Fathers going to be home soon…" he spoke softly. Mira just narrowed her eyes, "Yea we better get going." Mira nodded. Nina nodded as she got up.
They all headed back to their house where they found their mother upstairs.
"We're back!" Nina announced again. All three of them headed upstairs to find their mother lying in bed.
"Mommy are you ok?" Nina asked. Both her and Seth ran over next to the bed.
"Oh hello you're back." She greeted all three of them smiling.
"How are you feeling mother?" Mira asked coming over.
"I'm fine thank you dear…" she smiled. Ruffling both Seth and Nina's hair, "You guys better get to bed before your father comes home." She warned. They all nodded, "Goodnight mother!" Nina smiled giving her mom a kiss on the cheek. Seth did the same and Mira lead them back to their rooms.
"Nina, go to your room, I'll be right back after tucking Seth in." Mira stated.
"Alright." Nina nodded heading off to her room. She lead Seth to his room where he went jumping into bed. He lied down and Mira pulled the blanket up to his neck, "Sleep well Seth…" she smiled as he snuggled in his blanket. She just moved some hair out of his forehead.
"Good night… big sister…" with that he drifted off. Mira just smiled. She then left his room, closing the door gently. She walked over to Nina's room. It was dark in there but Mira was capable of seeing fine. She saw Nina's figure, lying in her bed, turning towards her.
"You're still awake Nina?" Mira asked walking over.
"Yea..." she replied.
"How's your leg?" she asked sitting on the edge of the bed.
She was about to reply when they heard the door slam open and their father barge
"Hello! Where the hell is everyone!" he exclaimed. He sounded drunk. Nina and Mira jumped.
"Hello dear..." they heard their mother softly greet him.
"Ahh Allia there ya'ar! Where is everyone?" he asked his words slurring.
"They're all upstairs asleep dear." she replied in a calm voice.
"Hmph... those useless children..." He growled.
"Don't say that dear... they help out a lot." their mother defended them.
"Yes they are! all three of them! Especially that branded child and her brother!" he exclaimed. Mira flinched at the last part. That was the scary part about him. A drunk father hating his two children and not caring about the third.
Nina just growled, "Mira? do ever think father will go back to being nice?"
Mira just looked up at the ceiling, "I don't know Nina... I wish he would... but by the way things go, I don't think that will ever happen..." she replied. Nina just nodded.
"Don't worry Nina... Just have faith... and hopefully things will change." Mira assured, "Just go to sleep, luckily father will be leaving for a couple days, and tomorrow we're going to be training."
"Ok good night!" Nina smiled with a jolly face. Mira got up walking over to the door about to open it.
"Hey Mira?" Nina called out.
"Yes?" Mira asked turning around.
"I don't think you nor Seth re useless." Nina stated. Mira smiled, "Thank you. You and Seth are the best siblings anyone could ever have. Sleep well Nina." with that Mira left her room. Outside her father was still going on, ranting about useless things. He seemed calmer today than usual. Must be because he's leaving tomorrow... Mira snuck off to her room. She lied down in bed. Useless Branded child... those words hurt but Mira had learned to bear it. She just turned over and soon fell off into a uneasy slumber.