“Momma,” I say, pitching my voice so it reaches the shabby but lovingly kept kitchen. “I’m off to the market.”

"You and I both know you'll be gone the night through. Be a useful rascal and take the eggs to the baker while you're gone," she requests... or something similar. Her voice is pitched around a small spoon in her mouth and she juggles two split logs in her arms. Let's just say I know what she meant. Mostly.

She spits out the spoon onto the small counter beside a little bowl that counts as a washing station. "And don't forget the wool for Miss Retha."

“Already done,” I reply, kissing her cheek with eggs and wool in a basket dangling from my arm.

The iron stove smokes around the edges in impatience, not having enough wood to fuel its belly. We exchange a concerned glance. I shrug my shoulders. Fire isn't my specialty. She huffs out a breath, opening the door with one arm and almost tipping over the logs in her arms. I cough as a billow of smoke enfolds the little kitchen, my eyes stinging. Momma chucks the two logs in her arms into the smoke and I shove the squeaking door shut.

Momma wipes her forehead, I hand her the wooden spoon.

She pinches my cheek in thanks, laughing when I roll my eyes and rub the spot.

Her eyes water when she turns from checking the food to escape the smoke still billowing from the stove. She swipes at the ribbons of grey smoke around her face, trails of it following her from the now murky kitchen. I open the front door, taking a deep breath of fresh air to calm my aching lungs.

"Thanks for the help, sweetie. Couldn't you have been two minutes sooner?" She swats my backside with a stained towel in good-natured teasing.

A laugh bubbles from my lips as I dance out of the way of any further shows of mock-ire.

Her smile is both pinched and yearning, and I know we're both thinking of how much needs done before Jill returns in the morning. Guilt curdles my stomach. If I were a better daughter, I would stay and help around the farm with the chores. But that isn't my passion. I need more than this, and so I'll go to the market and the library. If I have time after all that, I'll wonder the streets watching for criminals—which is both a purpose and an escape.

Don't get me wrong, I love my family dearly and wouldn't trade them for the world. It's only.. it's been quite the few years of dealing with a family sickness no one knows how to cure. It has put us in debt more often than not, and I couldn't abandon my mother to deal with the sickness and what it's brought. Not alone.

So instead of leaving like I sometimes desire, I escape into town, researching my sister's symptoms and helping the citizens in the small ways I can. Mom knows, and she understands I must do this for my sanity, even if I leave her somewhat high and dry at home.

Momma gives me a knowing smile, patting her hands on the off-white stained apron layered over her plain wool dress, her rigid edges showing slightly through the worn fabric. We've all become thinner over winter. With spring comes more eggs as the chickens lay and hopefully more coin to pay off our debts to the healer's guild.

"Try to come back in one piece. It's hard enough worrying over your sister. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you." She takes a deep breath and morphs her face into a glowing smile for my benefit, but I see the strain beneath it in the shadows beneath her pale eyes and the way her eyes don't crinkle at the corners like they used to.

If I could choose to keep my sanity without being a trouble myself, then I would. I don't mean to worry her, but I was boiling in a pit of self-pity before I came to use the things Daddy taught me for the betterment of the city. Now I have a purpose.

"Be safe and watch out for those wolves." Her bright blue eyes that are twin to mine twinkle with mischief in her wrinkle lined face. She's not all that old... but life has been hard. Stress will do that to ya. Her hair is prematurely gray, the brown it used to be slowly fading into the silver of wisdom.

“Always!” I say as I head out the door, pulling up my deep red cloak.

“Grandma!” I call as I step through the door.

A deep throaty growl meets my ears from around the side of our quant little cottage. A pure white Timber Wolf, at least my shoulder high at her shoulder, steps carefully through my garden of herbs on silent paws. Her size would be her most intimidating feature, if not for the claws she flexes and retracts at will, along with four-inch saber teeth curling at her jaw. She bares those fangs now, showing huge pearly whites the size of my finger.

I roll my eyes. “Oh, cut it out, Ran. You know your fangs are huge. I know your fangs are huge. Can we just go to the market?”

She whines, getting down on her belly to crawl over, thick muscles made for climbing and shredding now used to beg me. Her big brown eyes look up at me in complete pouting as only a special sort of—pet—acquires for their arsenal. If you own a dog or cat or wolf or rabbit (do not let Ran see your rabbit, she considers them a delicacy)… you know every sense of willpower disappears with those big, adorable eyes.

“Oh, alright. Make it small,” I concede, knowing full well I shouldn't.

She hops up and spins in a complete circle three times, while thoroughly treading my mother's dahlias, “Watch… the flowers,” I say. Too late. “Why me!” I ask the sky. I merely get a vague sense of humor in return.

“Oh, sure, Great King, don’t answer. I’ll just keep a big bad wolf as a pet because she turned up at my grandmother's home when I was supposed to be visiting my grandmother. Instead, I feed a WOLF, whom I have been warned of for ages, my very own blood, somehow bonding us for LIFE!”

“You done yet?” Momma asks from the doorway, humor coating her voice.

“I am now.” I sigh.

“Love you, sweetie. And don’t forget to walk your sister home from Becca’s.”

“Will do. Love you, too, Momma.”

I then look over at the gigantic wolf still spinning circles on my mother's flowers. I can’t help a small, begrudging smile at her excitement that I both see and feel deep in my soul. Whatever I may say, I wouldn’t change what happened for the worlds.

“Come here, beaut.” She yips and comes running full tilt.

“Easy now, just a small hug—that’s all I agreed to.” She gently barrels me over with her shoulder and licks my face. Gooey slobber tickles my cheeks and neck, the warm liquid reminding me of warm, slimy egg yellows. Yuck.

“Hey… HEY!” I shout. “That’s quite enough.” I scowl, even as I bite my tongue to keep from laughing.

She gives one last, leisurely lick for good measure, then steps back, panting, her tongue lolling out the side of her mouth. I sit up, drool dripping off my chin. Double yuck.

I flick slobber at her. “That… is always gross. But I still love you.” She yips and sends her version of love and undying loyalty through the bond.

I smile and return the feeling. “Let’s go, beaut.”

~~~

The capital city has a bustling market filled with anything you can ask for, even a place you can buy animal dung, aka fertilizer, for crops. Yup. Everything.

Ran and I skirt a wide berth around the “fertilize” supplier. A well-dressed lady holds a delicate hand over her mouth, but still gags in revulsion as she scuttles past. I can’t help smirking as her lofty head is lowered to the rest of us commoners with but a smell.

Otherwise, the place smells decently of fresh bread, sweet flowers, baked fish, saltwater, and now and then, the stench of unwashed bodies. If we near the main street, it would be a bombardment on my senses as the hawkers hawk, buyers buy, and all kinds of screwy people inhabit it.

When they can get away with it, they'll steal and kill and rape if it gets them something... no matter if it hurts someone else. Ran and I have stopped quite a few such instances. I have combat skills of my own, but that’s hardly needed when a wolf as large as a small horse stands there and growls. Most scarper off screaming their heads off, only later whispering of monsters inhabiting the back streets of the city.

I reach a main board, offering the current news to all who stop by. This is off the main fare, so few hardly dare to visit back here. Who knows who updates it... but for some reason, someone keeps it up. Go figure.

There are tales of a girl and a wolf who prowl these back alleys, looking to devour those who would prey on the innocent and weak—so I hardly ever see anyone back here. Contrary to popular belief, we haven’t eaten a person, but I would debate it for a few of those we have run across—if we had been able to catch the hooligans. You’d be amazed at how fast a man can run with a monster on his tail.

The people of this city have gotten to calling us the Guardian. Don't ask me why. It seems quite the frivolous name for the few things we've done over the last few years. It's not like I'm some caped crusader fighting for the innocent. Well... maybe somewhat. But not really. I just let Ran growl and the criminals give up rather quickly.

Night settles as I glance at the posted board. Cow for sale, dog for free, missing horse, stolen maid, run-away child, thinly veiled calls for sell-swords to protect wares across country, more animals for sale, competition for a Prince Protector, yada, yada, yada…

WAIT.

A competition to find a Prince Protector? Who would be stupid enough to want that job? Much less compete for it. You couldn’t pay me enough to deal with those stuck-up peacocks daily.

Based on this, the tournament begins in a couple of weeks. It'll be the event of this generation, a phenomenon that draws people from all over Iresia. Maybe even the continent.

Which means more riff-raff who doesn't know who keeps the peace around here. Some who will need to be taught a lesson on why you don't kill and steal from innocent folk trying to make a living. I sigh. More work. Why couldn't they have put it off for another year? Or, better yet, forever.

I shrug it off. Maybe I’ll visit and see if any of the traveling venders have venison. Ran adores venison, but I can’t often find the meat for her. She hasn't had it in years, and I doubt I'll be able to afford any... but perhaps some of the skin or bones or entrails will get thrown out and I can poach it from the trash.

This portion of the country is ripe with people; which means they hunt the woods to death in winter. Especially the peacocks, who hunt for sport. I need to feed my family and here they are, bringing back heads for trophies to pad their already lined stomachs. Ugh.

Nothing else strikes my fancy, so we continue. I stop by both the baker’s and the seamstress's shops before moving to the city square.

This is where the hawkers hawk and buyers buy. It's noisy, boisterous, smelly, and just plain awful. But, if one could stopper the ears and nose and not be bothered by a great multitude of moving parts, it's quite beautiful. The many colored flags denoting the wares each person is offering flap in the wind, many sparkling with golden and silver lettering. With the white stones of the buildings as a backdrop, it makes the colors stand out all the more.

But people aren't my favorite. I much prefer the quiet back alleys.

Most stands are made with carts or ramshackle tables covered in a cloth to make the items more appealing. The square is kept tidy-ish by officers who rent out the spaces in alley rows. Many officers are out and about today, their black top hats helping them stand out in the crowd. They are most likely getting ready for the tournament and the festival it's going to usher in.

More guards are stationed about with the greater amount of people—I suppose hoping to prevent crimes.

A quick pause behind a few of the silver garbed men with helmets gives me a little more info on the goings on in the town. Nothing truly strikes my fancy until they speak of the prince.

"The prince is putting up a fight. Doesn't want a protector, according to Sussie."

"You still seeing the little palace maid? She's a cute thing."

"Don't go getting any ideas."

"Be quiet. You know I'm happy with Bonnie. She's a good lass."

"She's also a dog."

"Eh. You hear about the Guardian?"

I can almost hear the second guard perk up. I roll my eyes behind the barrel in the alley. The two guards are clustered at the head, watching the crowds mill in front of them. This is the perfect place for an ambush... if I were interested more in attacking than only hearing the latest news.

"What about 'im?"

"It's said he and the Timber are about more than normal. The captain said to keep a lookout."

"Should we be the ones to bring them in..."

"Keep dreaming. If the Honour Knights can't, ain't no way—"

I've heard enough. The voices grow faint as I duck further back into the alley and climb over a low wall on the opposite side from the guards, taking a circuitous route and turning my cloak inside out before darting in and becoming part of the crowd once more. One side of my cloak is a deep red, the other is a dark, nondescript grey. A gift from my father. I highly doubt he thought I'd use it to be what the rumormongers of Risia call the Guardian.

I skirt the crowd, buy a few minor items I pack into Ran's harness when I meet her in an abandoned side alleyway, and get out of there as quickly as my legs will carry me.

For being a white wolf that should stick out like a sore thumb, Ran is reasonably proficient at hiding in dark shadows. Plus, no one questions the girl with the enormous wolf, even if they do spot us. I’m just sure to keep my hood up and face down.

A few we meet along the way give us nods of respect, even as they keep as wide as wide a berth around us as possible. Huh. Suppose we are doing something good around here. But the especially shady others only glare at our backs until a well-directed growl from Ran sends them hurriedly on their way.

I smile. This is the life.

Now to see about helping my sister. To the library we go.