Chapter 14 - Starting Anew

Name: Naomi Funai

Level 1

Class: None

Name: Aiko Funai

Level 1

Class: None

Name: Tanner Robert

Level 1

Class: None

Name: Itunu Chuke

Level 1

Class: None

The monk Abu had called what was left of the companions to the shrine. Other monks had gathered there as well when Tanner, Itunu, Naomi and Aiko finally arrived. Not really sure what all of this was about, the four of them remained sullenly quiet as thoughts of the days past lingered in their minds. Approaching them slowly, Abu stopped to face the group with his brown robes rumpled to match his sad demeanor.

“You can no longer stay here,” he said bluntly. “We have decided that you all need to leave and begin life here on your own.”

Aiko’s heart dropped. “Did we do something to make you angry with us?”

Abu shook his head, “No my dear. We monks have been thinking about this for a long time now. You first came to us not knowing our language and starving, we have over the past two seasons taught you our language and supplied you with food and clothes. We simply believe you are ready to be on your own now.”

“This is about Carol’s death, isn’t it?” said Tanner dryly. He looked around the temple compound and saw many onlookers from the shadows dodge his gaze.

One of the other older monks chimed in. “We are not pleased about that, but that was not your fault. We just can’t support you anymore. Our temple runs on donations that pilgrims make to us when they come and worship, and over the past months we have used up much of our extra money to feed and clothe you. We men of peace are not wealthy, though we do everything we can to help someone if they need it.”

Moving in closer and laying a hand on Tanner’s shoulder, he grimaced. “Because of this you need to learn trades of your own. Go to the next city over and earn an apprenticeship, begin your life anew there.”

Abu bowed his head and spoke, “This is all true. We simply cannot support you any more, and are almost out of coin for ourselves. It is true we have an orchard and gardens here to help sustain us, and that has allowed us to keep you here longer than it would have been otherwise.” Looking back up with a sad smile, he loudly exhaled. “We have already prepared parting gifts for the four of you. Please be ready to leave within the next day, and I truly am sorry for this.”

Itunu was the first to respond, reaching out and putting both hands on Abu’s shoulders. “Do not worry friend, you all have already done so much for us. You saved our lives and helped us get onto our own feet, and for that I will always be grateful.”

Tears were shed for both sides that next day as the companions exchanged words with and embraced the monks they had come to like so much. As parting gifts - the monks had prepared packs for each of the four Earthborn. Food, blankets and small amounts of coin were given to each. Women’s clothes including a dress, undergarments and a more practical traveling outfit were given to Naomi and her sister Aiko. The men were given Leather boots, vests and various other articles of clothing as well.

Strapping the packs to their backs they finished their farewells and left out the front gate. Abu had told them to follow the road eastward and then to take the northeastern pass towards the city of Zanic, where they were supposed to find simple jobs or earn the spot of apprentice to a master craftsman. It was supposed to take half a day by horse, but because they didn’t have horses it would probably take them two or three times as long to reach the city. There they were to build themselves new lives, and so began their journey.

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Name: Carol Bon

Level 1

Class: None

A dark storm was raging above her as a clap of thunder abruptly roared to awaken Carol from her sleep. Shivering, her bare body lay halfway on a rocky beach as the river behind her rushed past. Lightning weaved across the sky as the wind picked up, blowing against the trees to send their branches flinging about in a frenzy. Her body was bruised all over and continued to take a beating from the rain as it poured down. The bleeding from her forehead and the back of her skull had stopped, but her head still throbbed as she weakly got to her knees. With a great effort she pushed herself up, feeling her bones and muscles aching to stand against the rain, hair flying about her glistening athletic body.

Back towards the river, something akin to the noise a dolphin made when laughing sounded out above the rage of the storm. Head still pounding while trying to maintain her balance, Carol turned around to come face to face with something she had never seen before.

Across from her and protruding from the river was a mass of water maintaining an amoeba-like figure as it again let out a sound akin to a dolphin’s laugh. Moving towards Carol as the rain beat down into its mass, the watery figure stopped to protrude a portion of its body outwards. Carol didn’t move a muscle, and as the figure embraced and engulfed Carol’s left hand she felt a warmth surge through her. Still shivering from the cold she reached out her other hand to touch the creature. Protruding another portion of its body it engulfed her other hand and arm with warming water, and then it engulfed most of her body as well. Leaving her face untouched and allowing her to breathe the creature came up out of the river and embraced Carol further.

It felt so good.

Carol relaxed and smiled, then remembering the events that had led her to this situation she began to sob and dropped to the ground to lie down. The amoeba-like creature still embraced her, keeping her warm in it’s hold as she calmed down amidst the downpour.

For what seemed like an eternity, she lay there. After settling down, she stood up to wipe the tears and rain droplets from her face as best she could before they were replaced again soon after. The creature then backed away, letting her go and let out a third laugh, to which Carol smiled. Stepping forward she touched her hand to kiss her lips, and then she put her hand upon the creature’s watery mass in a sign of thanks. Silently the creature embraced her hand one more time before slinking back into the river, vanishing from sight as it blended into the torrent of water before her…

She had no clue what the creature was, but what she did know is that for some reason this creature had saved her life. Looking around as the rain continued to pour - she couldn’t help but feel grateful. However, she didn’t know where she was or what to do… so she did the only thing that came to mind: She began to walk down the bank in the direction the river flowed. She had nearly been killed by those two boys, and had no intention of going back after they had left her for dead. Scared, exhausted and injured - she stumbled down the riverbank towards who knew where. Hopefully she would find someone to help her.

Hopefully.

***

After days of walking Carol’s feet had begun to blister. Having no clothes during these cold nights had made her sick, and not having any food didn’t help her either. As if in a trance she had just kept on going until she would collapse from exhaustion and sleep. Then she’d get up and do it again, and again. Many times she questioned whether or not she wanted to keep going, or if she just wanted to sit down and let the afterlife take her. Time began to mix and blend together as if there was no beginning or end.

It was early in the morning when she spotted a large dirt road coming upon the opposite side of the river. Still exhausted and starving, she jumped into the river and swam across. Upon reaching the other side she stood up to wring her hair out and then continued upon her trek.

Reaching a bend in the road alongside a tree-covered hill, she saw a wagon approaching. Too tired to do anything but stand there upon the brink of death, she waited in silence as water dripped down her slender form.

Twenty meters from her the wagon eventually stopped, and a man hesitantly called out. “Hello? Are you alright?”

Looking up from the ground again Carol saw that the man was somewhere around the age of 55 or 60. A woman who looked to be his wife of about the same age sat next to him, both of them wore simple peddler’s clothes. A single brown workhorse that looked like it ate too many apples pulled their wagon, which was carrying various types of textiles. Carol didn’t know what to say or how to respond, as the dim morning light filtered through the trees to grace the presence of the three people there.

“Hun, are you alright?”

Getting down off the wagon, the older gentleman went around to grab something from the back; then came around and walked out towards the shivering girl. Carol sneezed involuntarily and looked back towards the ground when the man stood nearly three feet away. After pausing for a moment, the man walked up to her and wrapped a blanket around her - and taking her by the hand he led her back to the cart. Carol’s stomach rumbled loudly, and in response the woman who had hustled back to the end of the wagon reached into a sack to pull out a vine of grapes. Giving her a half loaf of bread as well - the older couple watched as Carol devoured the food ravenously and then silently lay down in the back of the wagon.

The old woman sighed and got up to enter the back of the wagon herself, and putting the board back in place to keep things from falling out she took a rag to wipe down Carol’s drenched body. Looking down lovingly, she said: “It’s ok sweetheart, you’re going to be fine.”

Unable to suppress the tears for much longer Carol buried her head in the woman’s lap and silently began to sob. The man left to get on the front of the wagon, and minutes later they were off again.

“What is your name, hun?” asked the old woman who cradled Carol’s head softly.

It took Carol a while to reply. Eventually looking up at the woman, Carol whispered back: “My name is Carol.”

***

That night they set up camp along the river not far from where another family had settled for the night.

“Are you feeling any better now hun?” asked the older man smiling gently as he held his wife’s hand in his own. “Shawni said you have a cold.”

The older woman passed a bowl of warm soup over the campfire to Carol who took it graciously. “My name is Shawni by the way, and this is my husband Ferald.”

Carol nodded. “I am feeling much better, thank you.”

“You have a strange accent Carol, where are you from?” asked Ferald as he set his bowl down.

Carol hesitated, glancing over to the other campfire a dozen yards away - where the other family of travelers were laughing and singing together over ale. “Well… It’s a long story but I am from a very far away place, or so I was told by some monks.”

Shawni nodded, fiddling with a trinket in her pudgy hand. “You don’t have to tell us what happened if you don’t want to. We understand, but don’t be afraid to let us know if you need to talk about it. It’s been awhile since we’ve been in the company of someone so young... Our sons are off fighting in the civil war, or are already dead. We don’t know for certain.”

This caused Carol to frown, and she took a sip from her bowl before setting it in her lap. “Civil war? What do you mean? Yorr is at peace isn’t it?”

Raising his eyebrows, Ferald leaned forward. His gut protruded a bit, and he grunted as he adjusted his pants. “My dear, you are no longer in Yorr. You are in a kingdom to the south of Yorr. This is Shrubeth, many miles from the border.”

Carol straightened up slightly and stretched, feeling a little better that she’d distanced herself from the two who’d put her in this situation and tried to kill her. “I didn’t realize, I am sorry.”

“Not a problem Carol. So what are your plans? Where are you headed?” asked Ferald with a small chuckle.

Carol didn’t respond, staring blank-faced at the fire... and this drew concerned looks from the older couple.

“Do you have somewhere in mind Carol?” Ferald repeated softly.

Carol shook her head. “I have nowhere to go. I don’t really know what I’m going to do.”

There was a long pause, but Shawni frowned outright. “That is most unfortunate, though we would be more than happy to have you along with us until you find out what you want to do or where you want to go. We can even give you a job if you’d like one.”

“Yes I agree!” bellowed Ferald while slapping his thighs. “A pretty lass like you would make a great addition to our business! With looks like those, you’d bring in a lot of business!”

The old woman angrily jabbed her husband in the ribs.

Skeptical, Carol eyed them both wearily. “I thank you for the hospitality, but I will not be part of any brothel if that is what you intend for me.”

With a guffaw, Ferald lifted himself up. “No lass, we own a pub.”