CHAPTER 3: Fate, Or Something Like It
The next morning, Ferin awoke with a start as daylight flooded through the small, single pane windows. She didn't ever remember falling asleep…she must have been extremely tired! She decided that today she would look for this Jak guy and make a proposition to him. And if he didn't accept it, she would make him accept it.
But then she realized something. She had no idea what this guy looked like! Ferin smacked the palm of her right hand against her forehead. "I am such an idiot!" She exclaimed to herself. But then she thought for a moment and said, "It can't be too hard to find out outlaw with unreal powers. I'm sure he'll stand out." She stepped out of her dark and dingy home and into the dim alleyway near the pub.
As she walked through the crowded streets of the slums she examined the stands selling food. She saw one that was selling good-looking bread…and was also very crowded. She stealthily crept be the crowd and right behind the counter, without being noticed. She snuck back into the storeroom and gazed in awe at the amount of fresh baked bread piled on the shelves. Why had she never hit this place before? She pulled her burgundy red cape away from her side to reveal a medium-sized leather pouch tied to her belt. She opened the flap and began to grab small loaves from a shelf and stuff them into the pouch. Her eyes widened and she licked her lips as she moved loaf after loaf from the metal rack into her pouch. She froze mid-move when the plump storeowner waddled into the back room and noticed Ferin immediately. And of course, she noticed that she was a half-breed. The woman dropped the tray she was carrying and began to shriek. "GUARDS! I'M BEING ROBBED!" She paused for a moment, and then continued, "BY A HALF-BREED!" That would get the guards there in seconds. They got bonuses from the Baron for capturing half-breeds.
Ferin slapped her pouch shut and dashed out the back door into a dim alleyway. The guards showed up in the storeroom moments later and the woman pointed out the back door. Ferin ran as fast as she could through the weaving maze of cobblestone city streets. When she seemed to have lost the guards, she skidded down an alley. She kept running down the alleyway and looked over her shoulder to see if she was alone. All of the sudden, she smacked into someone who was standing in front of her. Ferin fell to the ground and her pound spilled across the ground, covering most of her loot in dust. "Hey, why don't you watch where you're going!" She shouted as she scooped the loaves off the ground and dusted them off with her cape.
"And what about you?" The stranger replied in a deep man's voice. "You stole those, didn't you?"
"That's none of your business!" Ferin snapped at the man. Suddenly she saw a hand held out in front of her. She took it and was helped up by the man. She brushed herself off and then finally took a good look at the man standing before her. He was average height, and he was a pure blood elf. He had spiked blond hair with green roots and a small goatee on his chin that was also green. He had goggles on his head and he wore rather unusual clothing – he didn't look like a typical citizen of Haven City. And there was something about him that was different – like a sparkle in his eye. Something that only comes from breaking a few rules once in a while. Could he be?
"Hey…is your name Jak by any chance?" Ferin asked the man.
"Yeah, who wants to know?" He replied.
"Me, of course. My name's Ferin. And it's a good thing I ran into you! I need your help with something rather important."
"With what, getting away from those KG?"
"Um, maybe, but that's not what I was getting at."
"Then what is it?"
"I want to kill the Baron." Ferin replied bluntly.
"Well, you certainly do get right to the point." Jak commented. "Why do would you want to do that? You're just a kid. I mean, how old are you, twelve?"
"I'm 16, dammit! And I have my reasons, believe me. Don't underestimate me, spikey." Ferin snapped.
"Now, that was insulting. I think my hair is very stylish."
"Oh, shut up, already. Will you help me or not?" Suddenly, the two heard heavy footsteps belonging to the group of KGs that has chased Ferin earlier.
"Did you guys check down here?" One of them asked the rest.
"Not yet, boss." Another responded. "We're on it."
"Shit!" Ferin exclaimed and the group of KGs started down the alleyway. "Answer my question, Jak!" She shouted at him.
"Hey! She's down here!" The leading KG shouted to the others. "And she's with the outlaw!" The guards started running down the alley towards Ferin and Jak.
"I'll help you get away from the KGs, but I'm not guaranteeing anything else right now. We'll talk about the rest when we're out of here." Jak grabbed Ferin's wrist and started running down the alleyway with the half-breed in tow. Jak rounded the corner at the end and hopped on a parked single-seater hovercar, swinging Ferin onto the back. "Hold on, kid!" He shouted as he started the hovercar's engine. The two soared up into the sky, leaving the pursuing group of Krimzon Guards far behind.