(First off, let me point out that the character named "Arnissa", who makes her first appearance in this chapter, is in no way named after "Narcissa", Draco Malfoy's mother in the HP books. This is a strange coincidence that I discovered AFTER naming the character. The character Arnissa is actually named after a Celtic town in about 350 AD. Because of there similarity, the name will most likely be changed at a later date.)
Kes banged as loud as she could on the door of a small hut at the end of a village. They had traveled for four days now, sleeping during the day and walking at night, and having seen no signs of any human life up until now. They had found little food and their only shelter had been the trees in the forests. When they first saw the lights coming from the village, they were still a ways off, but the idea of food and shelter had been so comforting to them that they ran the entire way, stopping now at the first hut they came too. They could tell that it was well past midnight already, but neither girl had the patience or stamina to wait until morning. Kes was about to go and try the next hut when they heard a voice coming from inside.
"Who is it?" They heard a female voice question them.
"Please, ma'am. My name is Kestral. My sister and I have been traveling for four days and we need food and a place to rest."
After a moment, the lady opened the door and, upon seeing that two girls were alone, ushered them inside. "Come in, dears. Come in. Oh, you must be freezing- why, you are barely wearing anything at all! Take a seat on the couch, dears. I'll put a pot of tea on the fire. Now, I want you to tell me everything. Start with why you two are out there at night, all by your lonesome."
Kes and Kastalia were somewhat overwhelmed with the woman's quick greeting but never the less, they sat on the couch and Kes began to explain what had happened. She had barely said a word when she heard a baby crying in another room.
"Oh, sorry dears," apologized the lady, "that's my daughter, Emma. I'll just be a moment." The lady disappeared into one of the rooms, emerging a few seconds later cradling a crying baby in her arms. The child looked to be about one year of age and was beginning to quiet now that she was in her mother's arms. The child's mother proceeded to sit down in a rocking chair by the fire, across from the couch on which the girl's sat, before saying, "Now, before you tell me why you are here, we must introduce ourselves. I was so surprised by your appearance that I completely forgot to do this before but now that things have calmed down a bit my manners are returning to me. My name is Arnissa. Arnissa LeRay. And this is my daughter Emma. Before you ask, I will tell you that her father died a few months ago so that is why we are alone here. Now, you said your name was... was..."
Kestral decided this was the proper time to interrupt Arnissa and answer her question, "My name is Kestral, ma'am. Though I go by Kes. And this is my younger sister, Kastalia. Kestral and Kastalia Sorawin, ma'am."
Arnissa became suddenly very curious, "Sorawin, you say? You aren't the children of Lea and Peter Sorawin, by any chance?"
Upon hearing their parent's names, both children became suddenly very solemn. "Yes, ma'am," Kes spoke, finally, "Only... only, both of our parents are dead. They were murdered. That's why we are here."
"Oh my stars," replied Arnissa, "You will stay here with me from now on. There is a spare room you two can have. First, however, I very much want to know what happened. Then you two will go straight to bed." Arnissa had an air of authority in her voice, so neither child argued. Kes told Arnissa the entire story, only pausing once to thank her when she handed her a cup of tea. When she had finished, both children were shown into a small room with one dresser and two beds. Once in bed, Kastalia started to say something to Kes, but both were sound asleep before she had finished.