SUMMARY:
Hollie Kensa has spent the last ten months on the run because of demons from her parents past and enemies she made while trying to start her own adventure. She now finds herself in Beacon Town, meeting Jesse and the rest of the New Order. When Jesse offers to join Hollie on her adventure with the rest of the order, Hollie declines due to the fact she lied about being on an adventure. Her lie is revealed after she is attacked and has to be nursed back to health by her new friends. Once Hollie reveals the truth to The Order, they tell her that they're joining her whether she likes it or not. Hollie worries about her new friends getting hurt and that worry only grows when she realizes how close she's getting to a particular blonde haired author.
As time goes on, Hollie starts to regret letting herself get close to new people because the threats just keep growing and her friends keep getting hurt over and over again… And she can't fight the feelings she has for Lukas any longer.
CHAPTER ONE: WANDERING AXOLOTL
Leaving home is said to be a hard decision, that it takes the average person days, sometimes weeks, to decide to leave their home. Not for me, it was a pretty easy decision. Not because I didn't get along with my parents or hated the town I'm from but because I've grown up on tales of my parents' adventures and wanted to be exactly like them. Then a few years ago the world was saved by a group of kids who were only a few years older than me. They're known as the New Order of the Stone.
They inspired me to start adventuring, take that first step to be just like my parents. I did take that first step and quickly learned that adventuring isn't all sunshine and rainbows. I learned that the stories my parents told me when I was a child were altered to be suitable for a child's ears. I learned that I was too naïve and should have never set foot out my front door. Now, I can't go home and I can't make a new home no matter where I go.
A loud squeak and angry buzzing pulls me from my thoughts. I look up from my journal and see that Saorie, my axolotl, and Fuzz-Buzz, my bee, are fighting again. Putting my journal and quill back into my inventory I get up and go over to the two.
"What are you two fighting about now?" I ask them, my arms crossed over my chest.
"Bzz, bzz, bzzzz!" Fuzz-buzz is shaking angrily then he turns towards Saorie. He explains that he caught Saorie eating the fish I had told him to save for later. Saorie squeaks at me defiantly and turns away from me. I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose.
"Why can't we just rest for five minutes without you two fighting?" I ask exasperated. I pick up the satchel I had the fish in and then I pick up Saorie. "Come on you two, let's go see if we can find a pond or something, maybe some more sweet berries."
Fuzz-buzz buzzes along beside me while Saorie squirms in my arms. I set him down and he starts going ahead of Fuzz-buzz and I. "Saorie, stay close." I tell him firmly. I get a squeak back in, an "I will". I keep my eye on him because my dear axolotl likes to wander off and get lost and make me worry about him.
Sometimes, I'm tempted to put his leash back on him because he wanders off so much but I have Fuzz-Buzz, who will pick Saorie up and carry him sometimes. Most of the time Saorie is curled up in the bag I made for him or in my arms or sitting on my head.
"Bzz bzz." Fuzz-Buzz states flatly.
"Fuzz-Buzz! Be nice! Saorie is not a stupid-head, he's just curious! I remember a certain bee who used to wander off and get lost for hours at a time when he was a baby." I remind him.
"Bzz bzz bzz!" Fuzz-Buzz replies defensively.
"You did so." I argue playfully. Fuzz-Buzz flies over my head and then sits on it and makes a defeated 'bzz'.
A few more minutes of walking brings us to a small clearing. The clearing is full of flowers of all kinds, orchids, roses, poppies, corn flowers, lilies, and tulips. Fuzz-Buzz makes excited noises and launches off my head, flying around the flowers. In the clearing there are also a few sweet berry bushes, no pond though. Oh well, I guess we'll have to keep looking.
I look around for Saorie and he's following Fuzz-Buzz around right now. With those two occupied I head over to the berry bushes and start picking. Memories of picking the berry bushes back home with my mother and father flood my thoughts. The first time I pricked myself on one of the bushes and refused to go near them again until I watched dad do the same thing but continue to pick the berries anyway. How he explained to me that I have to pay attention when picking the berries to avoid being pricked again.
I miss my parents, dearly, but leaving home was the best thing that I could do given the circumstances I found myself in. The circumstances that I'm still in. With a sigh I pick a few more berries then turn to call Fuzz-Buzz and Saorie back to me.
"Fuzz-Buzz, Saorie, we're going to continue on now!" I call out to them. Hopefully we can make it to Beacon Town before night falls, I don't feel like facing any mobs tonight.
Fuzz-Buzz comes racing over to me, buzzing at me in a panic. "Woah! Slow down Fuzz." I tell him, putting my hands around his fuzzy face.
"Bzz, bzzzz, bz, bzz." He explains in a calmer tone. I sigh and pat his head. He explained to me that he had turned around for a minute to eat a flower and when he turned back around Saorie was nowhere to be found.
"Let's go find our wayward axolotl. Where were you last?" I ask him and he flies over to the spot and I look around and see the 'shine' of the trail that Saorie left. "Come on, he went this way." What am I going to do with this axolotl?
"Saorie!" I call out for what seems to be the millionth time. I didn't think a tiny axolotl could move that fast. Unless something ate him, or a stranger found him? Something eating Saorie is a possibility but it's an unlikely one. A stranger finding him is more likely, judging by the map I had purchased we're closer to Beacon Town than I had thought.
"Aren't you an adorable axolotl, but how did you get here?" A male voice questions. I hear Saorie's familiar squeaking.
Fuzz-Buzz and I emerge from the trees and I clear my throat. The boy stands up straight and I recognize the short, seemingly naturally messy, brown hair, grass green eyes that make you feel like you can trust him even if you've never met him before, and the friendly smile from the posters that hang at every Adventurer Con in my hometown. The boy is Jesse, the leader of the New Order of the Stone.
Saorie turns around and gives an apologetic squeak. "You need to stop wandering off, Saorie, especially in unfamiliar areas." I scold him lightly as he slowly comes back over to me and Fuzz-Buzz. I look at Jesse with a smile then introduce each of us happily, "Hi there! My name is Hollie, this is Saorie and this is Fuzz-Buzz."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Jesse." He replies cheerily and we shake hands. Fuzz-Buzz nudges my head with his butt then gestures towards the setting sun. "I can accompany you three to Beacon Town and help get you settled in?" Jesse offers.
"That would be much appreciated Jesse, thank-you!" It's been a while since I met someone who was this kind. I'm still cautious though, even if he and his friends did save the world they could still be mean or horrible people beneath the surface.
Jesse starts leading us down the path and I find myself at a loss for what to say. Thankfully I don't have to start the conversation because Jesse does. "Where are you from Hollie?"
"I, um, I'm from Cove City." I answer awkwardly. Jesse's eyes widen and he looks me up and down.
"That's a month away from here if you're travelling on foot!" Jesse exclaims.
"Yeah, I didn't just walk here, there were horses and ender pearls and boats and kind villagers with wagons who helped me get all the way here." I explain and Fuzz-Buzz buzzes in confirmation.
Saorie squeaks up at me so I pick him up and set him on my shoulder. He climbs up onto my head and 'flops' onto his belly, nuzzling his head into my hair. Jesse chuckles, watching the pink axolotl.
"What brings you all the way here?" Jesse asks as he nods and waves to a few townspeople who pass us by. The way he nods at them with a smile that isn't forced, the way he waves enthusiastically, as if he's greeting friends he hasn't seen in a while, it makes me want to reconsider my decision to not stay in one place too long.
"Nothing in particular, really Beacon Town is just a stop in my adventure, I don't plan on staying long." I answer nonchalantly as we reach the town gates. "I mean, I'm a huge fan of the New Order of the Stone but I want to continue on my own adventure." I add quickly, forcing a smile onto my face.
"That's understandable but since you're only passing through, how about I give you a tour of Beacon Town and bring you to the Hall of Treasures and introduce you to everyone?" Jesse offers and waggles his eyebrows at me.
A laugh escapes me and I nod. "I would love that, Jesse! Who knows, maybe I'll come back and make a home for myself here!" I answer, genuinely feeling happy for the first time in months.
"Great! For tonight I will take you to the inn and then in the morning I will come get you and take you around town then end the tour with the treasure hall and you'll meet the others there!" He sounds so excited, it's endearing. I almost forget that he's a few years older than me just by his mannerisms. "Here's the inn, Hollie!" He opens the door for me and I head inside, Jesse follows behind me.
"Hey Jesse!" A female voice greets. I take in my surroundings, the spruce walls and black concrete floor. The beautiful indoor plants and the lovely banners that have pictures of Gabriel, Jesse, and Reuben. I hear a gasp come from the woman. "Hollie, is that you?!" The woman exclaims.
I turn to her and I'm greeted by shining, electric blue eyes and rosy cheeks framed by hair as black as coal with lips as pink as a rose. My eyes widen realizing who it is. I never thought I'd ever see her again.
"Aunt Lynna?!"
"Sure is, what brings my favorite niece to Beacon Town?" She asks. I raise my eyebrow with a small smirk on my face.
"I'm your only niece, Aunty. I'm just passing through on my own adventure!" I answer, forcing the enthusiasm but hoping aunty buys it.
"Oh well, let's get you settled into a room for tonight!" She replies and turns around to the keys of the rooms.
I turn around to face Jesse and he has a bittersweet smile on his face while he stares at a banner honoring Reuben.
"Hey Jesse," he turns to me expectantly, "thanks for walking with me and thank you in advance for tomorrow." I thank him softly and he gives me a blinding smile.
"You're welcome, Hollie! As of now you have a new friend, I hope tomorrow we can get to know each other better before you leave!" He enthuses. "Goodnight Hollie, I will see you tomorrow!"
"Goodnight Jesse! See you tomorrow!" I see him out and I wave at him as he heads away from the inn.
"I can take you up to a room now, Hollie." Aunty gently taps my shoulder. I head back inside, closing the door behind me.
I follow aunty up two flights of stairs and she lets me into a room that has light yellows and shades of beige in every corner of it. The bed is brown and the rug in the middle of the room is yellow. Fuzz-Buzz shoots over to a 'high up' pet bed and nuzzles right into it. Saorie is asleep on my head so I gently lift him and cradle him in my arms.
"Thank you, Aunty. I will see you in the morning." I yawn as she hands me the key to the room.
"Goodnight Hollie." She kisses my forehead and leaves the room. I close the door and lock it, just to be on the safe side.
Heading over to the bed I set Saorie down on one of the pillows. I sit on the other side of the bed and pull out my journal and quill.
The three of us have reached Beacon Town after running into the leader of the New Order of the Stone, Jesse. We've settled into an inn for tonight which appears to be owned and operated by my Aunt Lynna. I am happy to see her again but I need to watch what I say because even though it's been two years since I've seen her, she still knows how to read me and knows when I'm lying.
I've told her and Jesse that I'm only passing through because I'm 'on my own adventure' but that's not entirely true. I started out on said adventure a year ago, but two months into that adventure things became much more than I ever intended them to be. Two months into the adventure I made the decision to not return home because it was the best way to keep my friends and family safe.
My parents are probably worried sick about me but I'll return to them as soon as I fix everything. I'll return home and meet my baby siblings, who have probably been born by now. I wonder if I have baby brothers or sisters? Or maybe one of each? God do I miss home.
Hopefully I won't be gone much longer. I'm close to my destination, only a few days away now. Once I reach said destination I should be able to clear everything up and return home.
I close my journal and put it and my quill back in my inventory. Pulling back the blankets I crawl under them. No friends, not until this is said and done. No matter how much you want to make friends with The Order. The less people involved the better it will be...just in case things don't work out. I think to myself as I close my eyes, the long day catching up with me, pulling my eyes closed.
Knocking at my door pulls me out of my dreams. I was dreaming about The Order and going on adventures with them. That would be cool but probably won't happen any time soon. I shove the blanket off and get up, pushing my hair back out of my face.
Unlocking and opening the door I am face to face with Jesse. "Good morning Hollie!" He greets me. He seems to be in a chipper mood. I blink at him a couple of times with a blank face.
"Give me like five minutes and coffee, I just woke up." I reply, groggily. I step away from the door but leave it open for him to come in. I go into the bathroom and I brush out my hair and make sure that I'm presentable. I could use some new clothes, maybe I'll pick some up before leaving today.
"How did you sleep?" Jesse asks, then I hear him baby-talking Saorie. I smile hearing Saorie happily squeaking in return.
"I slept really well! What about you, Jesse?" I reply before splashing my face with cold water. Honestly, I slept better than I have in the past ten months.
"Same, actually I was thinking about how you said you're on an adventure." Jesse answers as I exit the bathroom.
"Oh?" I question while gently poking Fuzz-Buzz to get him up.
"Yeah, I was wondering if you'd like company on your adventure?"
I don't want to raise any suspicion of declining his offer right off the bat and I also don't want to come off as stuck up. "Um, I'll think about it. I would like to meet the others before I decide anything for sure."
"That's fair." Jesse gets up and heads to the door. I grab Saorie and put him up on my head and he makes happy squeaks. "Is that his favorite place to be?" Jesse asks, amused.
"Yup, has been since he was big enough to." I answer cheerfully. Fuzz-Buzz flies over and sits himself on my shoulder, still looking like he's half-asleep.
"Come on, I know the best place to get breakfast for all of us!" Jesse heads out of the room. I find myself wondering how someone can be so alive this early in the morning. I don't feel that way until after I had coffee and food, even then it's not until late morning that I actually feel ready to start doing things.
I follow Jesse out of the inn and down the street to a building that has amazing scents wafting through the air. My stomach rumbles, loudly. Jesse chuckles as I blush. I waste no time heading into the restaurant and I see the Please Wait to be seated sign and I stop myself.
I bounce on the balls of my feet as Jesse comes in behind me, laughing. "What? I'm super hungry!" I defend and he holds his hands up defensively. I haven't had a decent meal in a couple of weeks, just eating rations here and there.
A host comes up to us and Jesse steps forward. "Table for two, please."
"Right this way." The host leads us to the outdoor part of the restaurant and seats us beside a window, right under a hanging planter that has a wide assortment of flowers growing in it. Lazily Fuzz-Buzz flies up to it and starts investigating the flowers.
"Today your server will be Kory, he will be with you shortly." The host sets menus down in front of us then leaves. I sit back in the chair as I pick up the menu and start browsing.
"How long have you been travelling, Hollie?" Jesse asks as he looks over the menu.
Do I lie or is this one thing I can get away with telling the truth and not cause worry and suspicion? I ask myself, looking up over my menu, studying Jesse's face. I decide to tell him the truth this time.
"Ten months." I keep my voice level and my tone nonchalant.
He drops his menu and his eyes shoot up to me. I meet his eyes and search them for any hint of suspicion. There isn't any but there is curiosity and worry.
"Have you been alone this entire time?" He questions and I paste a smile on my face and shake my head.
"No, of course not, I've had Saorie and Fuzz with me the entire time."
"Hollie, I don't doubt they're good company but every human needs other human interaction." Jesse points out, his concern evident.
"I've interacted with people along the way, besides I enjoy travelling alone." I lie through my teeth, keeping the forced smile in place.
A young man with black hair and golden eyes, wearing a work uniform, approaches us. His energy exudes confidence, and that probably draws in every person he meets. "Hello, I'm Kory, I'll be your server for today, can I get you started with drinks?" He asks with a sweet smile on his face.
"Actually, Hollie, are you ready to order?" Jesse asks, closing his menu.
"Yeah, I am!" I close my menu and Jesse takes it from me, setting it on top of his.
"Lovely! What can I get for you two?" Kory's smile radiates happiness, it's infectious.
"Can I get a bacon cheeseburger with large fries, gravy on the side and chocolate milk to drink?" I place my order and then look up at Saorie who still sits on my head. "And raw fish if that's possible?" I ask and Saorie makes happy squeaks.
"Of course! And for you sir?" Kory turns to Jesse who orders a beef brisket, large fries, and coke soda to drink. "Your food should be out shortly." Kory turns and heads off to the kitchen.
"What made you want to start on your adventure? Especially one this long?" Jesse is just firing away with the questions this morning. At least this answer is one I don't have to think twice about giving.
"My parents. They used to be famous adventurers before I was born. Marylynn and Ryor Kensa are my parents." I answer, proudly. I see Jesse's eyes widen and I chuckle. "I grew up on stories of their adventures and I've wanted to be just like them for as long as I can remember. Oh and then the New Order of the Stone was formed and I heard all of their stories and so they partly inspire me as well." I add with a crooked smirk.
Jesse has a proud, smug expression on his face now. I laugh as our drinks are brought out to us, as well as a pitcher of ice-water.
Why don't you stay, Hollie? Why don't you tell him and the order exactly what's going on? You haven't smiled this much or felt this happy or relaxed in months.
I push those thoughts aside, burying them. No matter how tempting that is, I will not put other people in danger because of my fuck up.
"I really hope you consider my offer for company on your adventure, if it helps it won't be just me. I think the rest of The Order would like to go on another adventure, it's been a while since we've gone on one." Jesse explains, hopeful.
"Like I said Jesse, I'll think about it and I want to meet the others first." Once again, I'm lying. I decided the second he offered, hell I decided months ago that I wasn't going to drag anyone else into this mess.
We've finished our food and are getting ready to leave. When Kory came back to us with the bill I was about to pay for my portion but Jesse was faster than me and he paid for the entire thing.
"I feel bad now." I mutter as we exit the restaurant.
"It was the least I could do, Hollie." He smiles at me and it's such a sweet smile that my guilt about lying to him doubles.
"Thank you." I reply as I set Saorie down on the ground.
"You're welcome Hollie, now let's get started on that tour." He offers me his arm and my cheeks heat up. He chuckles upon seeing my blush. "That's a cute blush." He compliments and my entire face grows warm. I take his arm but look away from him. "Art, Music, Smithing, or Literature?" He asks while chuckling again.
"Hmm, music!" I answer enthusiastically.
"Right this way, milady!" He motions ahead of us and it's my turn to laugh.
He takes us down the street to a building that has a music disc on the sign. Below that sign there's one that reads Iyan's Melodious Musics. Jesse leads me inside the store and there are discs and instruments and music books lining the shelves. I let go of his arm and slowly turn in a circle, in awe.
"Hey Jesse! Who is your lovely new friend?" A male voice asks.
"Hey Iyan, this is Hollie, I'm showing her around town before she continues on her adventure!" Jesse answers as he leans against the counter.
"Miss Hollie, do you play any instruments?" Iyan asks and I nod.
"The violin." Speaking of which, I spot a gorgeous violin sitting on one of the shelves. I reach out to touch it but refrain from doing so. It's a shiny white with light purple etchings in it. "How much is this one?" I ask, whipping around to face Iyan. There's a grin on his face, as well as on Jesse's face.
"90 emeralds." Iyan answers and I turn back to the violin. I turn back to the violin and think about how many emeralds I have. I go over to the counter and pull out my pouch of emeralds and place 90 of them on the counter.
"I will need someone to get it down for me, I'm kind of short." I point out and a moment later the violin is beside me.
"One step ahead of you Hollie." Jesse smiles at me and I return the smile.
"Thank you, Jesse!" I pick up the violin, admiring it.
"You're welcome, Hollie." Jesse leans back against the wall and Iyan puts a bow on the counter.
"This is the bow that goes with it." He states. I gingerly pick it up and examine it. It's as beautiful as the violin itself. Same shiny white and same intricate light purple etchings.
"Thank you, Iyan." I put the instrument in my inventory.
"No, thank you! I hope you enjoy your tour and your adventure is met with good fortune!" He replies joyfully.
I look at Jesse and once again he's offering me his arm. This time I grin and take it happily.
"Art, Smithing, or Literature?" Jesse asks as we exit the shop.
"Smithing!" I answer enthusiastically. I look around for Fuzz-Buzz and Saorie when they don't immediately come up to us. "On second thought, I have to find where Fuzz and Say went." I sigh.
Fuzz-Buzz comes racing over to us, buzzing at us in a panic. "Fuzz! Slow down!" Jesse urges, holding up his hands. Fuzz buzzes at a slower pace and I groan, pinching the bridge of my nose. "Does Say wander off a lot?" Jesse asks, looking around the area.
"Unfortunately, he's about to get himself confined to the bag for the rest of the trip." I answer as we start walking, looking in every direction.
"I see him!" Jesse gently pulls me over to where Saorie is.
My bright pink axolotl is getting head rubs from a boy who is wearing a black leather jacket, a soft, warm smile rests on this boy's face. The small movements he makes emphasize his softness but there is also a firmness to them that screams safety.
"Hey Lukas!" Jesse calls out as we get closer to him.
You mean, Lukas of The New Order of the Stone?! That's this boy?! As Lukas stands up, he picks up Saorie. "Hey Jesse, I found a new friend and it seems you have too!" He greets. His voice is smooth like honey and makes the butterflies in my tummy go wild.
"Yeah, this is Hollie, the girl I was telling you all about last night, and that axolotl is her friend, Saorie." Jesse replies. Lukas meets my eyes and his are a deep blue that wash over me like the deepest waters, but I don't mind drowning in them.
"Hey Hollie, I'm Lukas, it's a pleasure to meet you." He comes over and offers his hand. I take it and shake it.
"The pleasure is all mine, I'm kind of a huge fan, I've read every single one of your books." I confess and his cheeks turn a bright pink. That's the cutest damn thing I've ever seen.
"Here is Saorie back." Lukas holds Saorie out to me and I take him and place him on my head. Lukas pauses for a moment and then laughs.
"He likes it up there and this," I motion to Fuzz-Buzz, "this is Fuzz-Buzz." I introduce and Fuzz buzzes happily and nuzzles Lukas' head.
"It's nice to meet you Fuzz-Buzz!" Lukas greets him, patting his head. "I'm guessing you two are in the middle of the tour?" Lukas asks, looking between Jesse and I.
"Actually we just started it, I was about to take her to the smithing shop when Fuzz-Buzz came to us informing us Saorie had wandered off." Jesse answers.
I'm too busy admiring Lukas. I notice I've been calling him and Jesse boys when they're fully grown men now. The only kid here is me, I'm only seventeen. I'm pretty sure Lukas and Jesse are in their early twenties.
Lukas turns to me, catching me staring. I look away and my cheeks grow warm. Looking up through my eyelashes I see a crooked smirk on Lukas' face, that only makes the blush grow.
"Lukas, why don't you join us?" Jesse offers and the butterflies in my stomach go crazy and my heart feels like it skips a beat.
"Sure! I have nothing else to do!" Lukas answers. Be still my fangirl heart!
"Next stop, the smithing shop!" Jesse announces happily.
Updates every Wednesday and/or Thursday.