CHAPTER 3- Meet The Family
They walked for a long time, just talking about each other, sharing news about friends and family. Kira had been reluctant to go with him anywhere much less his home. But after some coaxing and reassuring from both him and the voice, she had agreed to follow him. She knew that she was being naïve and that she didn't really know anything about this man, but the voice told her that it was ok, and for whatever reason, she couldn't help but believe its words. She just hoped that she could trust that feeling not to betray her. Hiro it turned out, came from a town not far away, and was training to become a swordsman, following in his family's military footsteps. Kira couldn't tell him much about her past, and didn't feel confident enough to confide in him about her dream, so he did most of the talking; cracking jokes, and sharing stories the way friends do. They walked for what seemed like hours, Hiro pointing out and naming all the numerous birds and other little animals to her as they walked, and eventually reached Hiro's hometown, Willowstone Village. His mother Kimiko was the owner of the local tavern and he had grown up, helping her at the bar to earn a few Bronze Ferytes (1 bronze is equal to about 35pence) She welcomed Hiro back with a hug and a kiss and then noticing Kira, gave a squeal of joy and ran over and hugged her too. Kira guessed that she was well known to her. She saw Hiro roll his eyes apologetically but was too busy struggling for air. Hiro's mother was a giant of a lady, plump, with curly brown hair and a perpetual smiley grin. It was obvious to Kira from whom Hiro had inherited his great sense of humour.
Over dinner Hiro re-introduced Kira formally to both his mother and father, who was a soldier part time, and worked as a lumberjack. She explained her situation to them and was so welcomed into their hospitality that it was dark before they realised the time. Knowing that she had no-where else to go, and how dangerous the island could be at night, Hiro had little trouble convincing his parents to let her stay. She told them her story, as short as it was, about waking up on the beach, and all of the events that she could remember since then. She decided to try to evade the inevitable question of how she escaped the Draken with a laugh, hoping that the subject would not be dwelled on for long enough to become awkward. As there was not much else to do they carried on talking well into the night, and it was late when she went to bed. She had been lent one of Hiro's old shirts as a nightdress, and it was ridiculously large for her. She laughed when she saw herself in the mirror, she looked tiny! Sliding into bed, she curled herself into a little ball and was instantly sound asleep.
The
wind whipped through the rigging of the vessel, howling like some
enormous creature in pain. There was a splintering crunch that could
be felt as well as heard and the ship visibly lurched inwards. Its
keel had been broken, and it was sinking fast. Some of the crew
escaped over the side, but were drowned by the merciless tide. The
central mast was falling straight towards the stern of the ship, and
a young girl, not more than 17 looked over her shoulder in horror.
She saw the mast falling towards her like a stone, and her eyes
widened like those of a rabbit caught in headlights. Something inside
her gave the storm behind the mast a face, a face grinning evilly at
her with carnivorous rage. She stood stock still, transfixed and
unable to move. The mast missed her by bare centimetres and awoke her
from the nightmares racing through her mind. She stared out to sea,
saw and felt the dark waves tossing the little ship about like a
plaything. She saw yet another wave, it's claw-like crest almost as
high as the second mast, sweep it's way towards the ship with
ominous rapidity; and she screamed as the wave swept over the side
onto the deck and dragged the wrecked little ship into the murky
depths. The girl tried to escape the grasp of the ocean,
but her foot was caught in the rigging of the doomed vessel.
Desperately she cried out as she went under, but in vain, for her
voice was all but drowned out by the thunder. She swallowed a lungful
of the raging tide and panicked further, arms and legs flailing in an
uncoordinated striving for life. In her last moments she prayed a
silent plea of help to any God or Goddess that could hear her.
Frantically she tried to free herself from her bonds, but to no
avail, and she was pulled into oblivion along with the rest of the
crew. She saw the waves crashing overhead one last time, and then
blacked out.
It was late when she woke up for, despite
the nightmare, the mattress was not nearly as hard as the ground, and
she had missed the sunrise. There was the delicious smell of meat and
eggs wafting up from the kitchen below, and she quickly dressed. She
intended to wash again at the spring after breakfast, but still
determined to hide herself, and her clothes better this time. She was
hungrier than she could ever remember, and both she and Hiro piled
their plates high with food.
While she was still
finishing breakfast, Hiro hurried her away, pulling her along by her
good arm. "C'mon I got something to show ya!" He grinned
excitedly "You're gonna love it!" She had wondered what he had
been up to over the last few days, as he had been disappearing
mysteriously early in the morning and not coming back to the house
until late at night, bathed in dirt and sweat, and occasionally
blood. He had reassured her that it was not his, and she had calmed
down. She ran after him eagerly, wanting to see what he had spent so
much time on. When they reached the clearing Kira's eyes widened as
she saw a large hut surrounding the hot spring. It even had a door on
it. "Oh that's so sweet, thank you!" she cried, and kissed him
lightly on the cheek. He was surprised by the kiss, but pleased that
Kira was happy.
"Yeah, I thought on the morning that I met you
that you'd be interested in some privacy whilst you're washing."
He laughed; "It was no big deal really, just something I knocked
together over the last few days" He added modestly. "…And also
as a kind of 'sorry for nicking your clothes' thing" he added
with a rueful smile. Kira slapped him gently on the wrist
"And don't let it happen again!" she scolded in mock anger,
laughing. Then she noticed the size of the building. "Hey
you made it much bigger than the spring. I could live here!"
"That
was my plan." Admitted Hiro. "After all it's not far from the
village, and I've already waterproofed the roof with animal skins.
I decided to leave the interior decor up to you. Anyway I
gotta go do the chores, but I'll be around later okay?" He turned
around and started jogging up the path. Kira replied, "Yeah,
okay, and THANK YOU!" Hiro turned around and waved, and she waved
back. By the time she turned around and closed the door she was close
to tears.
