How dare she? How dare Nomura lecture me – like she knows anything! Joan stormed out of the keep and into the surrounding caves. But… is she actually angry with me…? Will she throw me out? She kicked the tunnel wall and cried. Why do I have to ruin everything? No, this is Nomura's fault!
Two dozen twists and turns later, she stopped and wiped her eyes on her sleeve. Should I… apologize to Nomura? I don't even know how to do that. She shook her head and wandered further into the tunnels.
Later – two, maybe four hours; she wasn't sure – Joan found a little shelf carved into the wall. She curled up and slept. When she woke, she didn't know what time it was. Without the help of the sun, it was always hard to tell if it was day or night.
I've gotta go back… Joan gritted her teeth and ran her fingers through her thick hair. She got up and started home. Every step seemed heavier than the last, and she hung her head. The knot in her chest tightened as she neared the keep.
When she stepped through the door, she whispered, "N – Nomura? You there?" She searched the space, but the keep was empty.
Oh, no! She is angry with me. Is she out in the city? Should I go look? But she travels on roofs and in sewers… Joan called again, "Nomura? Nomura, look, I'm sorry! I didn't mean what I said. I just – I was frustrated, okay?"
No response.
"NOMURAAAAA!"
Quick, heavy footsteps echoed behind her. "Joan?"
She swallowed and turned to see the Trollhunter. "Jim. Have you seen Nomura? I said some… things… Bad things… I… guess… I mean…"
"What? And right before–" Jim sighed. "Look, I'm sorry. Nomura won't be back for a while. She's gone on… erh… this… mission – kind of."
"What mission? Where?"
"Arcadia Oaks," Jim said. "There's this friend of our who's under attack, and he asked Nomura to help him. She left the moment she got his call." He sighed. "I wanted to go too, but our friend said I shouldn't come."
"Arcadia Oaks? I've never heard of that place. Is it far?"
"It's in another state – on the other side of the country," said Jim. "But it's all right. Nomura can handle herself, and she'll be back. Until then, why don't you bunk with me and Claire." He beckoned her to follow him out of the keep.
"I… don't know…" Joan took a step back.
"You all right?"
Joan looked away.
"You don't look so good. If something's wrong, you can tell me – or Claire if you want," he said. "I guess girls are better at that kind of thing anyway."
When Joan didn't reply Jim laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Come on. It's all right," he said as he led her out of the keep.
Joan went.
It was a five-minute walk to the little hut Jim shared with Claire.
Neither the Trollhunter nor his girlfriend knew quite what to do with their odd guest. Two days later Joan still sat on her borrowed mattress, legs crossed, arms folded, her face twisted in frustration.
Jim and Claire realized they knew precious little about Joan – just that Nomura reportedly saved her life. The girl's dark chocolate skin and raven hair were striking, and she was still as skinny as the day Nomura brought her to New Trollmarket. Joan expressed little desire to go outside even though she was curious about her surroundings, and occasionally – like now – she isolated herself for reasons neither Jim nor Claire could discern.
"You think her parents miss her?" Claire whispered to Jim.
"Blinky said her own tribe turned on her… That's what Nomura said too, but I don't know what that means," Jim replied.
Claire approached the brooding girl. "Joan?" She knelt beside her. "Do you want me to give a message to your parents – tell them you're all right? You haven't been outside for nearly a month."
Joan didn't reply.
"Erhm… Do you not have parents?" Jim tried.
Still no reply.
"Okay, whatever it is, it's fine," he assured.
Joan stretched out on her mattress and turned her back to them.
"Joan?" said Claire.
"I don't want to talk! Can't you understand that?" Joan bit back.
"Oh… Okay. I mean… That's–" Claire sighed. "If you change your mind, we'll be here. Come on, Jim." she took his hand and led him out of their hut.
Great! Now I made Jim and Claire mad at me too. Everyone's mad at me! That's how it is. People are nice in the beginning, then they hate you. Stupid… stupid… stupid… stupid… She pounded the mattress as angry tears filled her eyes.
Through the hut's thin walls Joan could hear passing trolls as they laughed and talked. But then one said something she didn't understand, "Thank God the impure left! Let's hope she stays away."
Impure? That doesn't sound very nice. What do they mean?
Another troll snorted. "And the impure dragged in another human. Can you believe it?"
Wait… Are they talking about… Nomura?!
As the trolls moved on, Joan puzzled over that word – impure. What did it mean?
This chapter has been editted by Dtill359