The three trolls slept all the way through the day and the next night. Halfway through the next day their sun burned down on them high in the sky from outside the cave. Signless awoke, squinting at the brightness coming from its opening. The Dolorosa was already up and stitching something again. Signless crawled over to his mother, head achy from sleeping.
"Good morning, child." She said, placing a kiss on the top of his head. "Would you mind preparing some breakfast? I would like to finish this." She held up her work. It was a black and gold fabric being sewn together in patterns of lines resembling the Psiioniic's sign.
"Yes mama." He said.
"Also, could you wake Psiioniic? I need to take his measurements before cutting the fabric."
The Signless stood and slowly walked to the other boy who was still asleep. A few quick shakes to his shoulder woke the boy. The two trolls smiled at eachother.
"What time is it?" Psiioniic inquired.
"Still mid day." Signless replied. "Would you go see my mother? She would like to take your measurements." Then he began to walk to the far side of the cave to grab his tattered and ripped robe. Pulling the hood over his eyes to shield them from the sun he quickly moved out of the cave and to the nearby stream. There were strings tied to a tree that lead down to the moving water. He pulled one out and a box emerged from the icy flow. Inside the sealed box were meats and fruits that had already been collected and stored in the cold river to keep them fresh. He set the box next to the tree, its contents now empty.
Signless returned to the cave where Dolorosa held a long string around Psiioniic's waist. She then removed it and painted a number on the paper beside her. Signless held up the food he had retrieved; lusus meat and some papaya like fruit. Dolorosa nodded and Signless got to work.
Soon there was lusus meat frying in a pan above the fire and papayas cut into equal squares. Signless retrieved three chipped plates and brought them to his mother and companion. The jade blood served the gold troll, the ruby troll, then herself. Moments later the food was gone and there were three very full stomachs.
"I will have your suit finished later, Psiioniic." The Dolorosa spoke before she stood and went back to work on the fabric. The golden boy nodded.
"Thank you."
"It's no problem." She smiled and went back into her rhythmic cutting and sewing motions. Psiioniic watched for a moment before turning to the Signless.
"What would you like to do?" Psiioniic asked him. The Signless shrugged.
"We could clean up a bit." He proposed. Psiioniic nodded. The two boys stood. The slipped their dishes into the basket of water and folded up the sleeping mats. They then carried the woven basket not full of dishes and water out to the stream. Psiioniic squinted in the bright light.
They then sat under the shade of the tree where the box waited to be filled. Signless picked up one of the dishes and so did the Psiioniic. Together they scrubbed them in the flow of the water with their hands, it removed most of the meat juices.
"So, what should I call you mother?" Psiioniic asked.
"Her name is The Dolorosa. I suppose you could call her that." The Psiioniic nodded.
After a moment of silence the Signless spoke again. "Would you like to hear a story?"
"A story?"
"Yes, my mother tells me them all the time."
"Stories are for children." Psiioniic spat.
"Are we not children?"
Psiioniic stopped. "Sometimes it feels that way."
Signless watched him for a moment. The gold troll looked very tired although they had both gotten more than enough sleep the night before. He brushed some hair off of his forehead, the heat cause him to sweat.
"Well, you might as well tell it." Psiioniic emptied the dirty water into the river and sat it back in the grass. He then leaned against the tree and sat alongside the Sufferer. He really did want to hear the story.
So the Signless indulged into a story of two troll lovers. He spoke in rhythms of how they grew together, loved together, and taught each other. The ending was tragic, one troll killed and the other forced to live a life alone with no voice. The Psiioniic frowned. He had hoped for a happier ending. It wasn't over yet though. The troll bargained with death, and in exchange for her life she would be with her lover once more. In the end the two were happy and free. Psiioniic smiled sadly. It had actually been a wonderful story.
"That was sad... yet happy." Psiioniic said. Signless nodded in agreement.
"It's one of my favorite tales." Signless said as he stood and grabbed the basket. He dipped it into the water and held it there for a moment before removing it. It was now filled to the brim with water. The two boys returned to the cave and placed the basket back in its spot. Signless turned to the Psiioniic with a smile. "Would you like to paint with me?" There was a smile and a nod and the boys went to work on their works of art.
Faint footsteps sound in the hall. It arches high, golden pillars decorated with fuchsia drapery. The rust blooded female made her way down the hall, hair long, ratted, and greasy. She sneered at the decor. Stupid highbloods. Finally she arrived at the tall golden doors, guarded by large metal beasts. Altough they looked threatening, they let the low blood through.
"Your majesty," The rust troll cowered before the Condesce. She looked angrier than usual after being told that another mutant had gone missing. "I have found the red mutants guardian."
The Condescention's eyes lit up at the thought. A high blood scribe began writing furiously. "Where?" She spoke loudly and excited. "The ugly red one?"
"Yes, in a town on the outskirts of Dakre. She fled to the woods." The rust blood almost had her nose touching the ground as she bowed. The Condesce was especially enthralled, this one had been off the map for sweeps. "Thank you for your service. You may leave." She spoke loudly, a grin covering her whole face. The rust blood slinked out of the room, disappointed in the lack of reward. Just as she left the room a sack of gold fell to her feet.
"Spend it on something nice, low blood." The Condesce echoed out the door as the troll left the palace in a hurry.