The trip was a long one. It was going to take a while to reach the Snow kingdom. Everyone was doing their own things.
"Kanan?" Dia called.
"Hmm?" Kanan hummed as she looked at Dia.
"How did you meet Maru?" Dia asked.
DIVIDER--
It was a dark and stormy night. Kanan had just managed to escape the prison. She was fleeing into the darkness back to her house. As she ran, she heard crying. Kanan paused and stared at her surroundings. She had no clue where the crying was coming from.
The crying got louder and now a taunting voice joined in. Kanan followed the sound of the voice. It was hard to hear it with the rain making noise. Kanan approached a small shack at the edge of town. There was a man beating up a child.
Kanan clenched her hands into fists. She hated when people picked on the younger children. The man was yelling at the child for stealing his flowers. Kanan growled and ran at the man as he tried to punch the child again.
"Leave her alone!" Kanan screamed as she beat the man away from the kid.
The man soon retreated into his house. Kanan turned around and knelt down beside the child.
"Hi, my name's Kanan. What's yours?" Kanan asked.
"H-Hanamaru." The child hiccuped.
"I'm gonna take you to my house and get you cleaned up." Kanan stated and picked up Hanamaru.
"I'm not a child… I can walk." Hananaru whined.
"You are a child." Kanan stated.
"I'm not. I'm just cursed to remain at this age for eternity." Hanamaru huffed, "I'm over a hundred years old. If anything, you're the child."
"Then why were you bawling your eyes out at that man instead of fighting him?" Kanan challenged.
"I'm not very strong. I'm stuck with the strength of this body." Hanamaru said.
"How are you so old?" Kanan asked as she reached her house.
"I'm a witch." Hanamaru stated.
"A witch? I've never met one of those before." Kanan's eyes sparkled with childish curiosity.
"You aren't afraid of me?" Hanamaru blinked in surprise.
"No. I don't believe those stories." Kanan stated.
"I really should go. It's a bad idea to be around me." Hanamaru tried to leave.
Kanan blocked her exit, "Stay. It's still pouring down rain."
"One night." Hanamaru said.
"One night is fine." Kanan agreed.
That one night deal was a lie. Kanan walked Hanamaru home the next day and then continued to visit her often. Eventually, Kanan moved in with her.
DIVIDER--
"So, you just kinda bugged her a lot and she became friends with you?"
"Pretty much. She was always tense around me. She assumed I was going to turn her in once I gained her trust. After I proved otherwise we started becoming friends." Kanan explained.
"How old is she now?" Riko asked.
"Um… somewhere close to 200." Kanan said.
"Yō, where are you from?" Mari asked.
"Sky kingdom." Yō replied.
"And you left because you were kicked out of your pack?"
"Pretty much." Yō said.
"How exactly did you and Kanan meet?"
DIVIDER--
Kanan was out taking a stroll through the forest. She was enjoying the quiet noise. Suddenly a growl sounded from nearby. Kanan froze in place and looked around. A bear came out of the forest and approached Kanan in a very threatening manner.
Kanan gulped as she backed away. She was shaking in fear as she tried to stay a good distance away from it. The bear kept closing the distance.
Kanan let out a cry of panic as she hit a tree. She had backed into the dense forest that you couldn't fit through. She was screwed. There was no way out.
The bear charged at Kanan. A flash of gray flew at the bear. The bear growled as it turned to attack what had launched itself at it. Kanan soon saw that it was a wolf. The wolf kept growling as it snapped at the bear.
Blood was being shed on both sides of the battle. The bear fled after a while. The wolf collapsed into a heap. Kanan hesitantly walked over to them. The wolf was bleeding badly. Kanan struggled, but managed to mostly carry the wolf back to Hanamaru.
"Maru! Maru!" Kanan called as she set the wolf down outside the house.
Hanamaru rushed out of the house, "What?"
"Can you help this wolf?" Kanan asked.
"Yes. Bring them inside." Hanamaru nodded as she frowned at the state of the wolf.
Kanan picked up the wolf and moved them inside the house. She set them down on a small blanket. Hanamaru quickly got to work using her magic to seal up the wounds. Kanan watched from close by as she knelt down by the wolf's head.
DIVIDER--
"Why did you save her?" Mari asked.
Kanan shrugged, "I don't really know. It's just, she saved me and all, so… it felt like I owed her for it."
"How come Maru didn't say no to your request?" Yō asked.
"She trusts me to know what I'm doing." Kanan replied.
"You brought a wolf to her and she didn't even question it?" Mari asked.
"All she asked was what happened. She didn't question anything else." Kanan nodded.
"That's interesting. To think she trusts you that much…"
"Are we going to be talking about our pasts today?" Kanan asked.
"I think it'd be a good way to pass the time. We can get to know each other better." Dia stated.
"Fine. I guess there isn't much else to do." Kanan sighed.
"So, how'd you and Chika meet?"
DIVIDER--
Kanan was taking a walk through the town late one night. She heard some kids laughing. Kanan carefully walked closer to them. She didn't know what they were doing, but it was suspicious for kids to be out this late.
Kanan found them and looked at what they were doing. She saw that a cat was in between them and they were kicking the cat. Kanan clenched her fists at the sight. The cat had done nothing to deserve the beating.
"Hey! Get lost!" Kanan yelled at the kids and walked toward them.
The kids scattered. Kanan walked over to where the cat was lying. She frowned at how bloody and broken the cat looked. Kanan carefully picked them up. She cradled them close as she walked back into the woods. The cat was still conscious. She purred weakly and nuzzled into Kanan's shirt. Kanan smiled bitterly at the cat.
"I promise I'll get you some help." Kanan told her.
Kanan soon made it back to the house. She walked in and walked over to where Yohane was sitting and working on something.
"Yohane. I need your help." Kanan said as she gently set the cat down on the desk.
"You want me to heal her?" Yohane guessed.
Kanan nodded, "If you could."
"I can." Yohane nodded and started healing the cat.
DIVIDER--
"Where is Chika from?" Riko asked.
Kanan shrugged, "She never told us."
"She doesn't want to remember that place." Yō stated, "It's not something she wants to think about."
"Alright."
"So, let me guess. You wanna know how I met Yohane next?" Kanan guessed.
They all nodded. Kanan retold that story as well.
"So, can I ask something now?" Kanan asked once she finished.
They nodded.
"How'd you and Riko end up meeting. It's obvious Riko isn't from the Diamond kingdom." Kanan asked.
Riko and Dia looked at each other. That was a story no one knew. They always had lied about how they had met.
"I guess we can trust you with it." Dia said.
DIVIDER--
It was late at night. Dia was unable to sleep. She sighed and sat up. Dia looked out her window. It was a full moon. She realized that meant the black market was in town. Dia had always wanted to see the black market.
She dressed in ragged clothes and put a hood over her face. She couldn't be identified. Dia snuck out of the castle and walked toward the location where she was told the market was at. Dia found it and walked inside.
She stared in awe at all the illegal goods and acts going on. It was amazing to her. Dia saw a large crowd of people gathered by what looked like a stage. She walked over to it. There were children, mainly girls, chained up on the stage with very little clothing on.
Dia realized what this was. It was an illegal slave trade. She stared at the girls. She didn't know how to feel about it. Dia didn't like the thought of this practice. She turned and walked away. That was not something she wanted to be a part of.
Dia left the market after a while. She made her way back to the castle. Along the way, she felt like she was being followed. Dia paused and looked around. She couldn't see anyone.
"Is someone there?" Dia called.
A figure hesitantly came out of hiding. Dia examined them to find it was a girl who looked a little younger than her. Dia realized where she was from. She was one of the girls that was supposed to be sold.
"Why are you following me?" Dia asked as she cautiously approached the girl.
"I… I just… I saw you at the market…" The girl mumbled, "I… I ran away from it…"
"And why are you telling me this?" Dia questioned.
"I'm begging you, please help me. I don't want to be there… I can't stand it…" The girl started crying.
"I don't know what I can do to help you."
"I'll do anything! I'll do whatever you want…" The girl pleaded, "Please, just don't let them take me back…"
Dia felt sorry for the girl. She wanted to help her. She just didn't know how to.
"Come with me." Dia held out her hand to the girl.
She took it and let Dia lead her away. Dia took the girl back to the castle with her.
"W-why are we here?" The girl froze and refused to move.
"I'm… I'm one of the princesses…" Dia mumbled.
"You… are? But, why were you at the market?"
"I was curious. I always wanted to see it." Dia replied, "Now, are you coming?"
The girl hesitantly nodded. Dia led her through the secret passages she had found and made her way back to her room. Dia changed into her nightgown and then offered a spare one to the girl.
"What's your name?" Dia asked.
"R-Riko…" The girl replied.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Dia. I promise I'll keep you safe from them." Dia smiled at her.
"How?"
"Become my personal servant. I'm sure they'll let you. That way, you'll be safe. I'll never hurt you, I promise."
"Okay…" Riko agreed.
Dia laid down on her bed and motioned for Riko to join her. Riko shyly laid down beside her.
DIVIDER--
"You were a slave?"
Riko nodded.
"How'd you end up there? If you want to tell us."
"I… I don't really remember much… I was so young. I think my family took a loan from them and never paid it back, so they took me as payment." Riko said quietly.
Dia pulled Riko close to her. Riko curled up into Dia's side.
"You've been through a lot…"
"I guess…"
DIVIDER--
The carriages stopped at night. Everyone got out and stretched. They sat around a fire and talked until they all decided to get some rest.
Dia approached Hanamaru, "Can we talk for a minute?"
"Sure." Hanamaru nodded.
The two of them went somewhere private to talk. Everyone else started settling down. It took a while before Dia and Hanamaru came back. Dia went and laid beside Riko. Hanamaru didn't move to lay down yet. She stared off into the distance.
A few seconds later, Yohane came into view. Hanamaru smiled and walked over to her. They hugged. Yohane led Hanamaru to a makeshift bed. They laid down together. Hanamaru snuggled up next to Yohane. Yohane held her close.
DIVIDER--
Early the next morning, Dia woke up. She clutched her stomach as she felt a wave of nausea overcome her. She shot up and ran into the woods. The movement woke up Riko. She stared at where Dia had vanished with concern. She stood up and walked over to her.
"Dia? Are you alright?" Riko asked as she knelt down beside where Dia was crouching.
"Yeah… just a little sickness. I'll be fine." Dia reassured her.
"Can you walk?"
"Yeah." Dia pushed herself to her feet.
Riko and her walked back to the camp. They laid back down on their bed.
"You sure you're alright? This has been on and off for a few days now." Riko asked, "Should I get someone to look at you?"
"I'm fine." Dia shook her head.
"Alright." Riko sighed.
"I promise it's nothing to worry about." Dia reassured her.
Riko said nothing in reply. She just curled up closer to Dia. Dia pulled her into a hug. Riko hugged her back. She was worried. She wished Dia would let someone examine her.
DIVIDER--
When the sun finally rose, everyone got up and moving again. They all went back to their respective carriages. The journey had only just begun. It would still be a long journey until they reached the Snow kingdom.
The conversation of the day turned to random stories. Everyone shared some crazy stories they experienced. Riko kept watching Dia closely. She didn't look ill, but Riko was still worried.
The pattern of her sickness continued. Almost every morning, Dia would end up throwing up. Riko was pleading with her to get someone to check her out. Dia finally relented, but insisted it be Hanamaru who do it. Hanamaru just told Riko the same things Dia had been telling her.
Riko was getting suspicious about it.
