"Are you really not talking to me?" Del asked as he watches the brown-haired girl march in front of him, nose in the air.
She huffed and walked faster, but the long-legged man kept up easily, "I said I was sorry. I mean, It technically wasn't even my fault. I'm not the one who vaulted over the table, causing damages."
Amara stopped and turned with her arms crossed, "No, but we would have had more money. If you didn't get our last job's pay docked."
Del shrugged, "How was I support to know that the guy I punch was our client's son?"
"How about not going around punching people?"
"Or, now hear me out, people can listen when some say's no. Which you said multiple times that night."
Amara let out a fond sigh, "I can handle myself, I don't need you to fight for me all the time."
The tall man patted her on top of her head, much to her annoyance. "Oh I know, but how else am I going to justify my violent tendency?"
"Well your 'violent tendency' is what has us walking to the next town! We could be on the train, relaxing right now...You could be napping."
Del looked off wistfully, "It is a blow I'm willing to take." He jokingly winced as he said that.
"Oh, you are just incorrigible," Amara said as she grabbed his arm and pulled him down the dirt road, Del stumbling behind her, trying not to accidentally step on the smaller girl.
As they walked down the road, the sun started to sink into the horizon, the air cooling, and the woods thickening. The closer that night seemed to creep in, the more alert Del seemed to get, his black eyes shifting from the shadows playing in the woods.
"We should find somewhere to camp for the night, We don't know this area well, who knows what is lurking around here," Del said as he stopped Amara, her steps long ago started to drag.
"Can't we go a bit longer? There still light out, I hope to see a town soon."
Del ran a hand through his hair, as he looked at her pleading eyes, "Just a bit more, we need to set up a camp soon."
Amara perked up at that and ran ahead, Del jogging after her, not even trying.
Just as they reached the top of a large hill and Del was getting ready to drag the girl off to find a suitable place to camp, they noticed a small sleepy-looking town that was nestled at the bottom. Surrounded by the forest that had once been woods, the mountains in the backdrop peaked with snow, and the glistening of rivers weaving around the town with one going through it.
Amara squealed in delight, "Yay! Food, and I can take a bath! No more dirt and dust."
Del raised an eyebrow, the place was nice looking. He glanced at the quaint looking sign that read 'Rosewood'
He had never heard of it, but it seemed like a nice place. Probably not much work to be head there though.
Before Amara could go charging down the hill, Del caught the back of her white cardigan, "Sorry to disappoint Short-Stack, but did you forget we don't have any money for a room? Let alone anything to eat?"
Amara seemed to deflate at the reality check, as she hung limply from where Del was holding her clothes, looking almost like a defeated kitten.
He placed her down and ruffled her hair as he walked passed her, "Hey, maybe they have a nice park bench we can crash at?"
Blue eyes narrowed at the amused man, as she grumbled under her breath.
By the time they actually reached the town, the sky was bathed in pinks, purple, and fiery orange. As the occupants of the town seemed to scurry about to finish what shopping they needed and get ready to head home for the night.
Del eyed some of the worried-looking people suspiciously, as they seemed to be a bit spooked as more of the light of the day was gone.
A growl distracted him from his thoughts as he looked to his friend who's face was press against the glass of a bakery, the person at the counter giving the drooling girl an odd look.
He chuckled as he dragged her away, "Come on now, no need to torture yourself like this."
Amara sighed and followed after the tall man, her stomach growling in protest.
The two found a park, just as Del had said, and sat down on the nearest bench. Del stretched his legs out as his head tilted back, his arms draped lazily over the back of the bench. He let out a small 'oof' when Amara dropped her head into his gut as he laid her head into him. The sound of crickets, and other nightly creatures soon started to sing them a soft lullaby, as Del was the lazily drifting asleep watching fireflies flowing about.
He glanced at the relaxed features of the girl who was using him as a pillow, and a slight pang of guilt hit him, It was his idea to leave their village after all, and while its been mostly fun...He hates that Amara has had to go more often then he liked without a meal or proper shelter.
"I can feel your gears turning, If you think any harder you're going to fry your brain." her soft voice startled him, as she cracked on eye open, a soft smile on her face. "What are you thinking so hard about?"
Del looked over her dirty form, with a frown. "Do you ever regret listening to me, and leaving our hometown?"
Her other eye opened and she gave him a confused look,
"It's just that you would have been fine there, there were tons of people ready to make sure you were fine. I whisked you away on a whim, because I thought you would do better to be away. But look at use, were basically glorified, homeless people. Not that I mind, I'm used to this type of life, but you weren't really raised this way."
Amara rolled her eyes, "For someone so lazy you actually worry too much, I've loved traveling and seeing new places and meeting new people. You knew that was something I always wanted to do, and It really did help keep my mind off things."
Del relaxed, before smirking "Even when we get ran out of town, because of dumb reasons?"
Amara laughed "That only happened once, and especially then, I don't remember laughing so much while I ran!"
The two laughed as the reminisced the adventure they've had. The only company of the two were the stars and the sounds of the night.
Just as the two were nodding off, someone startled them awake.
"What are you two doing? This is no place to sleep."
Del started awake with a jerk, causing Amara to fall off the bench and on to the ground with a groan.
He looked to see a tall, darkly tanned woman, her slender frame tense, and her narrowed shoulders braised as if ready for a fight. Dark brown hair in a tight bun, and almond-shaped blue eyes narrowed in suspicion at them. The scar on the side of her face making her look slightly more intimidating.
He eyed the bags that where draped on her arms, who would be shopping out this late?
Amara sat up rubbing ar her head, "That was not fun." She glanced at the tall woman, and smiled at her. "Oh, hello!"
The woman blinked at the bright greeting, and relaxed slightly, but not much, "Hi? What are you two doing out so late? Are you lost, I can guide you to the nearest Inn."
She offered, as she shited the bags in her hands.
Del relaxed as he melted back into the wood of the bench content to doze off again, as Amara looked sheepish, "Oh well, we aren't really lost. We don't have any money to rent a place to stay for the night. We got into town pretty late too, so we couldn't head to the mayor, and see if he had any quests or small jobs need doing."
The woman hummed as she thought, but was broken out of her thoughts by the growl of Amara's stomach, who blushed at the sound of it.
"Oh, Umm..Sorry, we did not really get anything to eat either." Amara laughed nervously.
Del opened an eye, as he watches the woman seem to soften even more, before he watched her sigh, "I see...Well you two can't really sleep out here. So how about I offer you a room?"
Amara's smile was bright as she stood up quickly, "Really? We would love to wouldn't we Del!"
"I don'-"
Amara kicked him in the shin, as he went to say something sarcastic, and he hissed in pain, "Nope, yep, sounds swell."
The woman's lips twitched as she chuckled lightly, "Good, let's get going."
She turned to leave, but was startled by Amara who grabbed lightly at some of the bags, "Here let me help."
"Oh, Thank you." She turned to look at Del who had his hands in his pockets following behind the two women, She frowned at him, and pursed her lips.
"My name is Amara, by the way!." the friendly girl said as she shoved a bag at Del to grab, "And this lazy man is my best friend Del."
Del nodded to her, as he held lightly to the bag, if a strong breeze came by it would lightly knock it out of his hand.
"Oh, I'm Cadi Jadviga. It's nice to meet you both."
The three walked in relative silence, only being broken by the two women. They soon came to a nice looking home, as Cadi fumbled lightly with her keys to open the door, soon the two guests were ushered into the house, the lock sounding behind them soon after.
Del glanced around the what seemed to be the living room, it had a homey feel to it, a couch with a knitted blanket draped over the back, and a love seat with a basket of knitting supplies next to it. Huh, who would have thought the tough-looking woman like kitting?
Cadi, turned on a few lights as she walked into the adjoining kitchen, the two following behind like ducklings.
"I know it isn't much, but it's home." She said as she started to set the items from the bags into the proper places, Amrar helping where she could, as Del leaned against the doorframe watching.
"I like it, It's very homey!" Amara said as she handed the older woman milk to place into her fridge. The woman smiled fondly as the girl.
Once they were done, Cadi pulled out some containers, that held food, "It isn't much, but If you like you can have some of my leftovers." She offered as she made herself a plate.
Amara grinned as she helps herself, before turning to Del who looked to be asleep standing up, "Do you want anything?"
He yawned, and shrugged, shuffling over to sit in a dining chair.
With a roll of her eyes Amara started to put food onto a new plate already knowing what he would want to eat.
After eating, and Del getting stabbed by a fork for stealing food off of Amara's plate. Cadi showed them to the small guest room, "This is all I have to offer, one of you will have to take the couch in the living room though, sorry. I can also take you to the Mayor tomorrow if you'd like."
Amara yawned, "This is great, thank you for all of your help."
Cadi smiled at her, "Everyone needs a bit of help from time to time."
Del started to head into the room, but was stopped by Cadi, "Where do you think you're going?"
He raised an eyebrow, "To bed?"
"You're going to make Amara sleep on the couch? Shouldn't the lady get the bed."
Del smirked, "Yeah, sure. tell me when you see one though."
Cadi glared at his joke, and he held his hands up in defenses, "Okay, okay. Off to the couch I go."
He patted Amara on the head as he left for the living room.
As Del stared into the darkness of the quiet house, he couldn't help but think. While this town looked nice and peaceful, there seemed to be more at play. The people were jumpy, and seemed to be ready to run at any moments notice. Cadi was the first person who looked ready to throw down if need be, and he guesses if the Rune Knight medial hanging by the mantle of the fireplace was any indication, he had a good idea way. He was sure that once they met the Mayor tomorrow they would have a job, what he wasn't sure, and honestly wasn't looking forward to it.
He let out a sigh as he thought of all the work ahead of them...
I'm so happy with the characters I've gotten so far! I hope that woe Cadi well.
Let me know what you think.
Characters in the story so far...
Del-Male-Sensory Magic, and Kinetic Energy Magic: by Starless Knights
Amara-Female-Speed Magic, and Light Magic: by Starless Knights
Cadi Jadviga-Female-Thread Magic, and Takeover Magic: by Torsa
Characters to come Not in any particular order
Olga-Female-Requip, The Amazoness: by MaMcMu
Kalya Balfour-Female-Illusion Magic: by ShadowWolf223