Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait everybody, I was waiting for another review. Thank you, Kerei Kitsune, for that review by the way. Here goes. God bless!!!

Chapter 5

Naqita slowly made her way through town, feeling uncomfortable with some of the stares she was receiving by strangers on their way by. After a few more moments of insecurity, she began to ignore everyone's gaze and look around. She could not see anything but houses and other large buildings at first, but then a hill caught her eye. She began to grin, quickening her pace down the path that seemed to lead up to it. In such a hurry, she did not see the middle-aged woman and her teenage son walking towards her in a hurry as well. The woman came to a complete stop, surprising her son who leaped to the side to keep from running into his mother. Gasping, the mother stared at Naqita.

"My, my, child! What trouble have you gone through to get here?"

The woman quickly grabbed Naqita's arm, spun her around and shook her head.

"You need to get yourself cleaned up, young lady."

The woman smiled, pulling Naqita in the opposite direction she would have liked to go. Naqita, surprised by her strength, followed reluctantly.

"I appreciate your kindness, but I really can not....I need to meet someone up there!"

Naqita pleaded with her, pointing at the top of the hill. The woman shook her head, repeating herself.

"You need to get yourself cleaned up! You do not want to walk around the town like this, dear. Take the word of a woman who's lived here her whole life. It is not one of the nicest places around."

Sighing, Naqita continued to stare back at the mountain as the woman and her son made their way to a small house on the outskirts of the town.

Naqita walked out of another small room in the stranger's house, clean and refreshed. The woman had given her a casual summer dress that seemed somewhat new to wear until her clothes were clean. The young man, who was the woman's son, looked up at her then down at the large pot of stew his mother was stirring.

"You have to get some meat on them bones of yours, young miss."

The young man said to Naqita as he poured some of the stew into a bowl for her. Naqita smiled, shaking her head.

"I do appreciate this very much...and I just wanted to say thank you again."

The woman nodded, telling her that it was quite all right. Surprisingly, this was the first time she truly looked at the both of them. The woman was short and a bit more than the 'average' weight. She had dirty blonde hair that went only to her chin and sharp green eyes, though they showed nothing but kindness. She wore a long, old and worn dress that covered her feet, so Naqita could not catch glimpse of her shoes. Her son, on the other hand, was tall and had a lean frame. His hair was black, though there was a hint of brown in it and his eyes were just as his mothers, green and sharp, although a bit more hardened. Both his pants and shirt were too large for him, but despite this, Naqita could not deny the fact that he was quite handsome.

"Please, take a seat and eat with us."

The young man said as he set her bowl down on the table. Naqita nodded, taking a seat and looking at the two as they got their own bowls.

"I did not learn your names..."

Naqita spoke hesitantly, feeling rude after speaking. The woman sighed after she had said this.

"I am so sorry dear, I was so busy I completely forgot. This here, is my son, Jacob and my name is Ruth."

Naqita smiled once again, continuing to watch them as they sat down.

"I am Naqita."

Jake glanced up at her and Ruth nodded.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Naqita. Now, I am not sure if you do this before eating meals, but we like to thank our God before eating."

Naqita nodded as Ruth spoke and smiled.

"He is my God as well, I believe. There is the Father, Son, and..."

Naqita began speaking until Jake finished her sentence.

"The Holy Spirit."

Naqita smiled and nodded, Ruth doing the same.

"Very good, then we are all on the same page here!"

Ruth exclaimed. Clasping their hands and closing their eyes, they said a prayer of thanks before beginning to eat. Naqita watched her new friends as they spoke of Galicenal Village, the people, and the events that were going to take place soon. Naqita nodded, but her mind was in another place. She couldn't get her mind off the fact that she was still to meet someone upon a large, beautiful hill in the distance.