Of Dreams and Nightmares
Disclaimer: No…
Chapter 5: Memories
A small campfire crackled softly, its cheerful flames gently illuminating the four faces surrounding it.
"Give me that!"
"I saw it first, Morok!"
The two Selkie twins squabbled noisily over the last scrap of meat they had cooked that night.
"We're not going to get any peace tonight, are we?" Nitaren grumbled, swiveling from her seat upon the to stand and face the pair as the rest of them shook their heads wearily with a prompt chorus of dismal sighs.
"Oi, you two! Keep on like that and we'll have every monster and animal out here upon us!" she shouted, fists clenched at her sides, her bold voice equally loud.
"What, are you scared, Nit?" Morok sneered, whipping his attention back to his scheming sister as she took advantage of his distraction, snatching the juicy morsel from his grip.
"I'm not afraid! And quit callin' me Nit, flea bag!" The headstrong Liltie scrambled after him as Morok chased hastily after his twin once again.
Chuckling along with Rema and Beron, Arashi sipped at the warm, soothing tea she now grasped, looking back at their first day as caravanners with a smile.
:Flashback:
"Be careful, young ones… come home safe to us…" the elder said, quietly bidding the group farewell.
They stood upon the bridge just before the borders of the village, the sounds of rushing water nearly drowning out his kind words.
Arashi stood beside the covered wagon that had earlier been prepared for them, the Liltie on her right, Beron her right.
They offered their thanks, turning and stepping forward, into the miasma.
Arashi closed her eyes, half expecting the poisonous atmosphere to fill her lungs. But nothing came, and she opened them, looking up and about at the glimmering barrier protecting them. Drowned in the magnificent sight, Nitaren had to nudge the girl, as she had stopped and was about to be left behind.
Snapping back to reality, walking still beside the Liltie.
"It is kind o' pretty, isn't it?" Nitaren observed, her voice gruff, but certainly female.
"Aye, but don't be dreamin' no more missy, don't want ya to be getting' caught in the miasma, and have the life sucked from ya by the poison fumes." Morok stated in a cheerful tone, now walking on Arashi's left, amusement dancing in his azure pools.
Arashi arched an eyebrow, the emotion not going unnoticed, about to reply, but was interrupted by Klo as the girl chuckled dryly.
"That's right sweet heart, wouldn't want to be killed merely five minutes into our journey." All the while she had been expertly whirling her paddle-like weapon in one hand, the other resting lazily upon her hip.
A frown twisted its way upon Arashi's full, peach lips, eyes flashing in anger.
"I assure you, that won't be happening."
"Heh, you sure? You like to be an ordinary country gal to me… never fought a day in her life…"
Face flushing in resentment, Arashi was about to retort, but yet again found herself being cut off, this time by the Yuke boy.
"No… she is a well trained warrior, Klo."
"Oh? How do you figure that?" the Selkie asked, boredom lacing her tones, not even sparing a glance towards the mysterious character.
"On her hands… there are many calluses from handling weapons. She is well muscled, and walks with grace, quite aware of her surroundings. This entire time she has been watching everything going on around us. I would hate… to be an opponent of Arashi's…" Beron skillfully pointed out, his tone neutral and soft, voice deep and slightly raspy.
Arashi smiled slight, averting her gaze to the wide dirt path.
Klo, on the other hand, scowled and turned towards the Yuke, gazing darkly at him for a few moments, face contorted in frustration, and then finally muttering in defeat, "I was only joking…"
The next few hours progressed in near silence, Arashi and Nitaren the only ones to ever speak, chattering comfortably with each other and quickly becoming friends.
Arashi found that they both had plenty in common, and as a result, an endless amount of topics to discuss presented themselves.
"… But he's such a pest! He follows me around all the times, bugging me and asking the stupidest of questions!"
Arashi smiled warmly as her new friend spoke of her younger brother, taking a moment to look up at the distant horizon and finding that the skies had become painted in orange, rays of sunlight slipping over the earth, preparing to set.
Nitaren followed her gaze, and stopped, speaking out. "We should stop and set up camp for tonight."
The rest agreed, and they soon had a fire going, meat cooking over it, flames licking hungrily at the slabs.
:End of Flashback:
'Not a lot has happened today… but I love this job already…' Arashi thought looking up to gaze across the fire at Rema, who had only uttered a few sentences over the course of the entire day.
A now panting trio took their seats at the fire, both Morok and Klo holding half of the food, which had been split by the sudden voice of reason, Nitaren.
Several times had she seen the now quiet boy, actually much more than several. Every day at the training grounds…
:Flashback:
"Hya!" came her short yell as the twelve year old Arashi expertly performed a series of thrusts, parries and slashes at the air with a particularly heavy sword, face set in a disagreeable scowl.
"You're getting much better Arashi." Grunted the weapons master, a tall, muscular man with a short, gray beard and a balding head, the only man Arashi could ever remember that praised her actions.
The young girl smiled, almond eyes flashing in fierce determination. She turned as someone else's shouts filled her ears. The boy Rema, his lanky body tall and thin, was training as well. His strength overpowered her own, but he certainly did not move with as much speed, his motions not quite as fluent.
The weapons master turned as well, observing the young with scrutiny. Arashi glanced up, and on his face saw the half frown that often appeared upon his features when the burly man approved of something or someone.
:End of Flashback:
"Arashi… Araaashi… Arashi!"
The said girl looked up with a start, seeing Morok looking down at her with a frown.
"You all right?" he asked, concern tainting his tones and expression. But it faded as she offered him an assuring smile.
"Yes…"
"We should all probably get some rest, we'll be traveling all day tomorrow." Klo pointed out, and the rest of them agree with a few yawns of exhaustion.
As Arashi laid her head gingerly upon a blanket, which was rolled to serve as a pillow of sorts, and pulled another blanket over her body, she smiled contentedly, letting her eyes slip shut and a light slumber sink in as Beron offered to take the first watch…
"There it is…"
"River Belle Path…"
The group looked upon a blot looming in the distance, its fortified walls barely recognizable. It was their second morning, and finally they had reached the area, where their first myrrh tree would lie.
Arashi sat upon the back of their covered wagon, enjoying the ambling pace as it quickly sped up, for they wished to be there by at least midday. In her hands, she ran her slender fingers over the fresh leather cover of an empty book.
:Flashback:
"Arashi?"
"Yes, mother?"
Mintra, quickly blinking away tears that threatened to spill, thrust a book towards her daughter, gaze averted to the ground.
Carefully taking the gift in her own grasp, Arashi pulled it open; flipping through the delicate pages to find that each was blank. Her eyes lifted from the object to her mother, a questioning glint piercing chocolate pools.
"The elder is sending with the caravan, a journal for all of you to record your adventures in. But I thought… I thought it might be nice if you had your own…" she said softly as a smile brewed upon her jaw. What Mintra did not say, showed clear through her eyes, not going unnoticed by Arashi.
"Thank you…"
:End of Flashback:
Closing now moist eyes, Arashi hugged the precious item to her chest tightly, shoving tears further into her heart as she stood, balancing easily upon the wooden, rocking ledge, and ducking into the caravan, sinking to the dusty floor across from a Klo.
I got this chapter up a bit early, but you can still probably expect another on Monday or Tuesday. This would have been up yesterday, but my wireless network thing was being idiotic and wouldn't connect. Now, I command thee to reveiw!
Momo