"I told you, it was just a dream!" I sighed loudly in annoyance with a mouth full of the apple I was eating from my spot on top of my counter. My legs swung back and forth childishly, hitting the wooden cabinets underneath. Death stood across the kitchen, leaning against the oven with his arms crossed, the remnants of a pear on the edge of his mask. Foalen could be heard barking loudly outside as he ran around in what was left of the snow, however everything else was silent.
Death simply shrugged, "You seem to have strange dreams then. Dust would never grow to such a large size."
In my head, ( imagined angrily strangling the kinslayer till he was purple, but I kept my anger at bay, "I don't think you get the concept of dreams while one is sick. They can be very random and I can't even control it. Do you think I honestly wanted to marry you?" This guy could be so dense sometimes.
"Would you stop that?!" Death growled at the noise my feet were making as they hit the cabinets. I sheepishly stopped and looked at his annoyed eyes.
"I knew I should have never told you the dream." With that last grumble, I hopped off my perch and walked back to my room.
Once my fever had broken, it took me no less than two hours after sunrise to be back outside and normal again, and though I still had a scratchy throat, I ignored it.
Quickly, I slipped into some black, thick jeans, a red flannel shirt and my worker's jacket along with my normal boots and scarf. Once I was dressed, I began to pack some of my things into a medium sized, waterproof duffel bag. As I was folding my clothes into the bag, Death walked in.
"Leaving?" He asked casually, sitting on the edge of my bed and absentmindedly observing my alarm clock.
"Yup. Once the snow melts, I have to make a quick trip down the other side of the mountain to look at the herding spot." Death gave me a silent look and I rolled my eyes. "Every year when it starts to get a little warmer, I have to take my goats and sheep to the herding spot. After the winter, it snows less, giving me the opportunity to move my sheep to the fresh grassy area for a period of time while I let the grass here in my field grow back."
"Seems laborious," Death commented as I walked into the bathroom and stuck a brush into the bag and walked out into the living room.
"It was at first, but it becomes a normal habit after a few years," I wasn't exactly paying attention to the conversation anymore as I walked out of the house and around to the back, to a small shed that housed camping supplies. I packed a tent and waterproof blankets as well as pots and pans into the almost full bag and went to turn around when suddenly I slammed right into something rock hard and fell right on my backside.
"You need to watch where you're going," Death huffed, and I could just imagine the smirk behind his annoying mask. I glared up at him as I rubbed my throbbing nose, thanking the lord I didn't break it. I didn't want a broken nose to worry about as well now.
"Honestly, you need to tell me when you're behind me. I can hardly hear your footsteps, Mr. Ninja, and it gets on my nerves." I stood and walked to the front of the house again, setting the bag inside before walking out towards the stables. I heard the loud breathing of Foalen run up behind me and the caw of Dust following as Death and I entered the horses' tall house.
Ruthad was eager to get out and about, and shuffled from hoof to hoof as I put on his blanket, saddle, and bridle.
"I'm going into town to get some supplies. If you want to come, you're welcome to," I offered to the man standing stoically at the stable entrance. I grimaced to myself at the kind offer, mentally slapping myself for asking. Why should I care what Death did. For all I should care he can stay at my house and keep searching for my books!
My eyebrows raised when I heard his response however, "Alright.. I have nothing better to do..." The last part was grumbled quietly as he led the seemingly restless Despair out, but I still heard it. Death almost seemed... Embarassed? I rolled my eyes. He was a human now after all, therefore I would never understand him.. People are weird.. Wait, so now that Death was human, does that mean that he would go through the emotional equivilance to a hormonal teenager's puberty? Oh no..
I shook my head, dismissing my wandering thoughts, "Mkay, it won't take long and it's almost time for lunch, so we can stop at the diner before we leave." I mounted Ruthad and walked him across the field to the dirt road, Death and Despair following. Foalen barked and returned to his frollicking. He deserved a day off, so I wouldn't make him come with me.. or us I guess now.
I stopped Ruthad at the forest's edge, and Death stopped beside us, the long road stretching out before us. It was quiet, except for the occasional Mourning Dove's call echoing around the trees. An idea sprung into my head and my eyes narrows, a wicked ear to ear grin plastered on my face as I glanced at Death. I caught his eye and he looked at my expression.
"What?" He growled suspiciously, and I suppressed a laugh.
"Race you to town," I said, tightening my grip on Ruthad's black leather reins. "Winner has to clean out the droppings from every animal's area, even Coda's."
Death seemed to smirk under his mask, "That is an unfair challenge. You seem to have forgotten that Despair is an 'otherworldly' horse."
I shrugged in response, "YOU seem to have forgotten that you AND your horse are normal now! So it's perfectly fair."
"Despair still has more experience with races and speed compared to your 'work horse'." Death said almost proudly.
I fought to hide the smile rising on my face and instead pointed to an area near us in the forest, "Ok, how about this. Over there is an entrance to a pathway that will take us to-" I cut myself off as I suddenly kicked Ruthad with the stirrups, causing him to sprint forward and down the road. I let out a full hearted laugh as we rocketed down the smooth road, and I could imagine Death's stunned face as we left him in the dust.
My little cheated victory didn't last, however, as a white figure began to crawl into my peripheral vision. I turned my head in shock as Despair inched his way next to us, his thin legs kicking up dirt as he matched Ruthad's speed. I shared a competitive glance with Death as I let Ruthad speed up. As the two horses raced down the road, I smiled at the feeling of absolute freedom that began to blossom in my chest. The cold wind blasted both mine and Death's black hair back, and all I could hear was the wind and the thunderous beating of hooves. Ruthad's heightened endurance began to slightly overpower Despair's speed, and we inched ahead ever so scarcely. I stood barely on the saddle's stirrups and I swear I felt as if I was flying. My smile grew as Ruthad and Despair's hooves began to pound in synchronized beatings. It was like a drum. The noise reverberated in my chest like a bass, and I glanced over a Death to see if he was feeling the same joy I was. His eyes were bright and almost excited looking, and he was absolutely focused on the road ahead.
The town entrance soon came into view, and I silently urged Ruthad to inch a little faster. I gasped, however, as suddenly Despair let out his strangled neigh and he surged ahead with an amazing burst of speed. I dismissed the feeling of defeat as we both had to slow our steeds to a stop in front of the supermarket. Ruthad and Despair were panting madly, and their head hung low as they caught their breath.
I noticed Death look at me as I pat Ruthad's neck approvingly. I almost expected the horseman to say 'I told you so' but I guess that was just too out of character for him. Hmph. Guys..
"Well done.." He praised silently, and for a moment I thought he was talking to Despair until I saw he was still looking at me.
I force down the rising heat that wanted to show on my cheeks and nodded, "Uh, thank you. You too..." I laughed lightly, "I guess I honestly had no real chance against a century old Horseman and his horse, huh?"
"I tried to warn you," He teased, and as Ruthad and Despair had finally gathered their bearings, we began to walk down the street. A few cars honked at us, and I noticed vaguely that more cars were filtering through our small town than usual. As we stopped just outside the hardware store, and dismounted our tired horses, an older gentleman approached us.
"Hello Mr. Shoss," I greeted kindly, shaking his hand and exchanging a small smile.
"Hey Iris. How are things going up at your place?" He asked, shoving his hands into his coat pockets.
"Everything's fine sir, thank you for asking," I heard Death sigh behind me and subtly elbowed him. I knew he might be bored, but I hated it when people were rude to old people.
Mr. Shoss nodded and narrowed his eyes at Death, "Yeah, I couldn't help but notice this fellow with you, Iris. You and him were coming out of the forest like bats out of hell. Everything ok?"
Death snorted and I suppressed a smile, "Yes sir, everything's fine. We were just racing."
The old man raised an eyebrow and turns away from me, pulling Death with him. I sighed. Oh no...
Mr. Shoss looked the kinslayer up and down, "What's your name?"
"My name is unimportant," Death replied simply. He knew telling these humans his name was Death would not settle well.
"Son.. Are you and Iris.." Mr. Shoss trailed off, glancing between Death and the unaware Iris with a suggestive look.
Death felt a light heat rise to his cheeks as he glared, "Mates? No, and you are a fool to even consider that."
I butted in, "Death, stop being rude.." I trailed off as Mr. Shoss gave me a thumbs up.
"He's a keeper," He told me, and I felt myself blush immediately.
"Uh, s-sir! We're not... we'd nev-"
"You don't have to keep your secret from me!" He was barely listening to me, and I sighed.
I quickly cleared my scratchy throat, "Uh, Mr. Shoss, do you know why there are so many people driving around here?"
"Well it happens every year. It IS the holiday season, after all!" Mr. Shoss said as he walked away and I raised an eyebrow.
"Holidays?" Death asked as we watched the old man leave.
I shrugged, "No idea.. But whatever, I need to get supplies.." With that, I walked into the almost empty supermarket and picked up boxes of canned food and oatmeal. After paying the bored looking new cashier, Death and I found ourselves sitting in the diner awaiting our burger and soup. We both sat in an awkward silence as I twiddled my thumbs and Death glared around in annoyance. The diner was filled with tourists, most being families with frustrating little kids and crying babies, and I could see why Death was getting impatient. My brows furrowed as I looked outside to see people beginning to set up wreaths along the street lights as well as christmas lights.
As the waiter brought us our food, I stopped her before she left, "Excuse me, but... What is the date?"
She checked her phone quickly, "December 14, why?"
I sat there in silence for a moment, "Just.. Curious..." She shrugged and walked away, and Death looked at me in confusion as I squealed and bounced up and down in my seat.
"What is so special about December 14?"
I looked at him in excitement, "It's almost Christmas! My favorite holiday!"