Creative Writing discussion
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Done Stories/Old Threads
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To Accept a Command
Siki had never seen Zen this way before except when he had the fever many years ago. "What mage Zen? There are no trained mages here... Do we need to warn the others?"
Mod
Felway looked in the direction of the town. People were starting to get up and go to work. They filled the streets as the time grew to around 8 o'clock.
Fleway looked at Zen, his eyes were stricken with fear. Felway thought that if something could give someone much older than him, so much fear, then it would be something that Felway didn't ever want to encounter.
"Is it safe to be out in the open? Maybe we should go inside or something. Somewhere without people." Felway suggested.
Zen frowned. "I don't know how to avoid them. We just have to..." He looked troubled, raking a tired hand through his mess of dark hair. "These mages are powerful. More than I have ever seen, but that isn't saying much." He tried to explain, though was having a hard time.
Siki looked anxious looking at the people. "If were going to go, we need to go. If were going to stay we need to stay. Zen make up your mind!"
"What do you mean, Father?" Kia whispered as she looked into her father's warm eyes. A cold chill went through her spine as she saw the fear reflected in them. He did not answer, only pulled her into a tight hug, her body shivering as he held her. Kia began to panic, wondering what her father could have gotten into.
"What do you mean, Father?" she repeated when he finally pulled away. He shook his head, his lips forming a thin line as he furrowed his brow. "Kia--" he raised his hands with a gesture of defeat. "I did not realize what this man was capable of. What he wants me to create for him--" He broke off and shook his head. "I cannot talk about it, Kia. It is not safe for you to know. Go home and go on as usual. I will take care of this."
Kia shook her head, about to protest, when she saw the look of painful determination in his eyes. She nodded silently and gave him another hug before leaving the shop. She walked further into town, her brow furrowed as she thought about the stranger from last night and her father's client. She shook her head, wondering why everything had to go wrong right now.
She just wished things could be the way they used to be.
"What do you mean, Father?" she repeated when he finally pulled away. He shook his head, his lips forming a thin line as he furrowed his brow. "Kia--" he raised his hands with a gesture of defeat. "I did not realize what this man was capable of. What he wants me to create for him--" He broke off and shook his head. "I cannot talk about it, Kia. It is not safe for you to know. Go home and go on as usual. I will take care of this."
Kia shook her head, about to protest, when she saw the look of painful determination in his eyes. She nodded silently and gave him another hug before leaving the shop. She walked further into town, her brow furrowed as she thought about the stranger from last night and her father's client. She shook her head, wondering why everything had to go wrong right now.
She just wished things could be the way they used to be.
((Sorry, I had a minor allergic reaction and blah blah movies blah blah blah.))Zen closed his eyes, leaning his head back. His shoulders slumped and posture defeated, he was a sore sight. "Siki, go get ______ from the barn." ((Sorry, I forgot his horse's name. I'll edit it later.)) He instructed, trying to take things a step at a time. Sweat and blood created a glimmering sheen that covered his forehead before he interrupted it with the back of his hand. Shaky fingers relaced his boots and situated his weapons, with no need for sight Zen kept his eyes closed. "Get ready." He told Felway, raking his hair back from his face and positioning a bandana.
Mod
Felway was a little scared himself. The quivering in Zen's voice told Felway, that there was much more to fear than Felway had though. The people that did this to Zen are probably going to try and attack again. And if someone of 19 years in age, like Zen, couldn't take them on... Felway was sure that if he encountered them, he wouldn't have the luck as to get away from them.
Kia fretted as she walked down the street, heading back towards home. She hugged her shoulders, worried about her father. She had just reached the edge of the village when a rough voice called after her. “Kia,” it barked at her. “Help me with this monkswood.” Kia sighed and turned to look at Madge. She groaned internally and took the bundle the old woman handed to her and followed her obediently.
Madge was not someone you disobeyed. She was highly respected in the community, being one of the villiage’s only midwifes. She did everything from delivering babies to setting broken arms to ailing diseases. She was a squat pudgy old woman, but one of the most intimidating members of the community. She wasn’t a mage, but she seemed to work magic with all her knowledge of herbs and natural remedies. She seemed to always know the answer to everything.
Kia followed Madge to her hut where the older woman puttered around, stringing different herbs and hanging them from the ceiling. Kia looked around with slight confusion, wondering why Madge had brought her here. Suddenly, Madge took her hand and studied her palm. “You have the touch,” she murmured quietly, gently pulling Kia down to sit at the table. Kia shivered, not liking where this was headed. “I should go,” she said quickly, trying to pull away. Madge held her fast, keeping her seated. “The dark gift is nothing to be afraid of,” she said quietly, looking up at Kia. “Only when it is warped is it truly a bad thing. It is magic, just like what your father uses.”
“No.” Kia said firmly. “I don’t have it. You’re wrong.” Madge just clicked her tongue and released her hand. “It is not something to be afraid of unless you cannot control it. You must learn how to use it properly before it controls you, or someone convinces you to use it poorly. There are bad people in our world, Kia, and they want the power you possess.”
Madge was not someone you disobeyed. She was highly respected in the community, being one of the villiage’s only midwifes. She did everything from delivering babies to setting broken arms to ailing diseases. She was a squat pudgy old woman, but one of the most intimidating members of the community. She wasn’t a mage, but she seemed to work magic with all her knowledge of herbs and natural remedies. She seemed to always know the answer to everything.
Kia followed Madge to her hut where the older woman puttered around, stringing different herbs and hanging them from the ceiling. Kia looked around with slight confusion, wondering why Madge had brought her here. Suddenly, Madge took her hand and studied her palm. “You have the touch,” she murmured quietly, gently pulling Kia down to sit at the table. Kia shivered, not liking where this was headed. “I should go,” she said quickly, trying to pull away. Madge held her fast, keeping her seated. “The dark gift is nothing to be afraid of,” she said quietly, looking up at Kia. “Only when it is warped is it truly a bad thing. It is magic, just like what your father uses.”
“No.” Kia said firmly. “I don’t have it. You’re wrong.” Madge just clicked her tongue and released her hand. “It is not something to be afraid of unless you cannot control it. You must learn how to use it properly before it controls you, or someone convinces you to use it poorly. There are bad people in our world, Kia, and they want the power you possess.”
((oh! I am sorry! i didn't see that there where any new posts! It never said their were! I am very sorry!!!))Siki ran down to the barn, grasping the horses rains, and then looked at the young pretty black horse in the next stall. Siki loved riding, but they didn't have time! It was almost sunrise! She ran back up the hill, breathing hard, and giding the horse.
Mod
"Zen, do you think that horse could hold all of us?" Felway asked.
Zen didn't look him in the eye. "He should be." He sated.
Siki road up the hill and dismounted the horse.
"Com'on guys, let's get going." Zen said forcefully as if commanding it.
"But Zen," Siki started to protest, "what about your cuts? Don't you want to get them cleaned before we-"
"Just get going." He said and climbed on giving the two younger kids a hand up.
Zen road in the middle, Siki in front, and Felway in the back. They galloped out of town first thing. Only a few people saw them, but Felway knew, that none of those people cared about him.
Zen kept saying that Siki's hair was flying in his face, so finally she gave up, grumbling, and tied it. "Better?" She growled."Much." He replied cheerfully. She liked being free as she rode. Riding without a saddle, and her hair flying behind her. But this was an adventure, and nothing was going to stop her now.
"Felway- hey can i can you Fel? Fel, where are we going exactly anyway?"
Kia stood and looked to the door nervously. "Uh, thanks, Madge, but I better get home." She headed to the door, wishing people would stop talking to her about black magic.
"It's a great gift," Madge said quietly as she reached the door. "But has to be cultured. Used properly. If you don't, the consequences are black."
Kia shivered, slamming the door behind her before she ran towards home. Her eyes stung with unshed tears, not wanting all this talk. She didn't want it to be true. She just wanted everthing to be normal.
She saw Brom leaving through the front door and ran to him, hugging him as he wrapped his arms around her. "What's wrong?" he asked, bewildered. She just shook her head and cried against his chest, clinging to him because he was solid and familiar.
((okay, Kia's storyline is ready to mix with you guys :P))
"It's a great gift," Madge said quietly as she reached the door. "But has to be cultured. Used properly. If you don't, the consequences are black."
Kia shivered, slamming the door behind her before she ran towards home. Her eyes stung with unshed tears, not wanting all this talk. She didn't want it to be true. She just wanted everthing to be normal.
She saw Brom leaving through the front door and ran to him, hugging him as he wrapped his arms around her. "What's wrong?" he asked, bewildered. She just shook her head and cried against his chest, clinging to him because he was solid and familiar.
((okay, Kia's storyline is ready to mix with you guys :P))
Mod
"We are going to my home town. My sense of direction isn't as good as others might be... But i know there is a town just east of here. Maybe we could stop and get accurate directions there,and perhaps also get food?"
Felway said.
"And for the time being, why don't we give _______[horse] a break." Zen said and stopped _______ [horse].
It had only been about 3 hours since they left the city. There were few tree filled areas, some hilly areas, and a couple of rivers they needed to cross. But they remained by road so they knew where they were going.
"Sounds like a plan." Siki muttered, wondering how long it would take. This adventure thing wasn't getting to be as intresting as she thought it would be.
Brom held Kia patiently while she cried and didn't leave her sight the whole day. Kia claimed she was just lonely and needed company and Brom was happy to spend the rest of the day with her. That night, Kia lay in her bed and stared up at the stars through her window, feeling more alone and lost than ever. "Where are you, Felway?" she whispered to the night, missing her best friend. Getting an idea, she hopped out of bed and dressed quickly.
Mod
The horse drank water while Zen brushed it. Felway and Siki stood by a lone tree that was nearly 50 yards form where Zen was.
"So how long have you known Zen?" Felway asked Siki.
"As long as i can remember." She answered.
There was a pause but filled with thought. Neither of them thought the moment discomforting.
"So he's been like a big brother to you, huh?" He asked.
"Oh yes. He protects me and i can always rely on him to protect me if i am in any danger."
Felway nodded.
They waited in thought for a while more. The sun indicating that the time was 3 oclock or so.
Felway got up and started to walk over to Zen was, wondering when they would get back to traveling.
Wind rushed as he started to walk. The leaves on the tree blew quick and the scream of Siki was short and cut off.
Felway spun around but she was gone. "Siki!?" Felway yelled. "Siki where are you?!" He looked. "ZENNN!" Felway yelled and started running for Zen.
Zen got on his horse and looked over the horizon. There was a black figure on a horse, with a girl mounted (lol) under his arm.
Siki wasn't easy to grab like that. And her mouth wasn't the nicest at that moment either. She was screaming every nasty word she ever heard and kicking the man. Then just when she thought she would make it out, he took something hard and starting hitting her on the head. It hurt so bad. Then there was red. And then black, and she was out.
Mod
They made it to the top of the hill where the man was. But now they were riding down the valley and heading for a forest.
"No..." Zen said softly to himself.
Zen feared that they would go in there. That forest. He had heard stories of that forest; stories that the woods were filled with monstrous versions of wolves and cliff edges that plummeted to a vapid paced river that would drown any soul that had the misfortune to come in contact with the waters.
"Do you think we can catch them, Zen?" Felway asked.
Zen took in a deep breath and started to charge for the man and Siki. He didn't think they could catch them. [Horse] was tiered and he needed a longer rest then the one that he got. And with a tiered horse, they wouldn't be able to go fast enough to catch them.
As they road as fast as they could, Felway thought of how the man even got a-hold of Siki. He was pretty sure that they would have been able to hear the horse’s feet as it approached. But that didn’t even matter now.
They eventually reached the edge of the forest and saw the leaves of bushes ruffle as if being brushed past. Zen tried to lead his horse into the forest, but at the first command at the reins, the horses front legs buckled and the horse couldn’t get up. Felway started to run to the forest to try and get in there but was grabbed by Zen.
“Don’t even think about it.” Zen said.
Felway turned fiercely. “What do you mean?!? Siki just got carried away! We have to find her she could be in real trouble and possibly be hurt.” He yelled.
“You don’t think I know that!?” Zen yelled. “But getting us hurt and lost by going in that forest isn’t going to help Siki either!”
Felway’s eyes lightened but he was still mad. “Then how is that man going in there and not getting attacked?”
“They are probably not even in the forest anymore. He probably used magic to transport them out of there. That is how I’m guessing he was able to get her in the first place,” Zen said.
Felway finally let any anger he had fade to sadness.
“I need to get [horse] some place proper to rest… Please just follow me to the nearest city. It’s only a couple of miles north of here. We can stay the night and try and find siki later,” Zen offered.
Felway nodded, and slowly walked alongside Zen leading his horse north.
That night Zen and Felway stayed the night at hotel. Not much was said to each other. So they went to bed early that night.
“Where are you, Felway?”
The words rang in his mind while he slept. For sure he was dreaming, but the voice sounded so familiar.
Slipping silently into the night, Kia dove into the forest. She had a passing thought of the stranger, but wasn't worried about him. If he wanted to see her again, he would have contacted her by now. She hurried through the trees, making her way to her and Felway's clearing. Finally reaching it, she layed down in the soft grass and looked up at the star. In her hands she held a small knife that Felway had given it to her a while ago. He had made a sheath for it and had been proud of the workmanship. She loved it dearly because it made it feel like she always had a part of him with her. "Where are you Felway?" she whispered again into the night, the knife clutched to her chest. "So much has happened and I feel so alone without you. Please be safe, wherever you are."
Mod
"I'm coming back... But we are in danger. My new friend is missing. Please help."
Kia gasped as she bolted upright, her head turning quickly into the trees as if Felway were there. Her heart pounded, aching slightly when she realized it was only magic. She closed her eyes as she lay back down and concentrated on the connection she had with Felway. "What can I do?" she asked softly, wondering how she could help them.
Siki peeled her eyes open. Her head hurt like crazy. She started to sit up, slowly because she was feelign nausous. She felt a stange wight on her left hand and felt over to see she was chained to a wall. The light was dim. "Hello." A man's voice said, as he came into the light. He was a big man, strong and dressed in black. Siki scowled and glared at him, which hurt a lot. "Little girl, i need something from you. if oyu give that to me, i will let you go."
"Your pretty dumb!" Siki said back, wondering if she still had her knife. "Why would i give anything to YOU! I don't have anything you want!"
"Stuipid girl!" The man roared, coming up to her, fast, then stopping himself. "Tell me where he is!" He hissed in her face. She could smell his leather rising gloves.
"I don't know what your talking about!"
"Tell me!!" He smacked her across the face hard.
"I don't know!" Another smack. Siki spit in his face.
"You ignorant girl!" He roared grabbing her arms. "Where is he?!"
"I. Dont. Know." Siki said, trying to stop her spinning mind, and trying not to shake. "Let go of me!!!" She screamed. "You have the wrong person!!! Let go of me!!!"
"No! You are the right person. Siki Myong! You live with your mother, father and sister, Cassandra! You have a friend Zen and some other boy named Felway! You have an uncle who i want! Now TELL MEE!!!!" Siki starred at the man, her vision effected by the light and fear. "You.. wouldn't want anything to happen to Cassy now would you Siki?"
That was when Siki lost it, trying everything she coukd to fight back against him, kicking punching spitting. "IF YOU TOUCH HER ILL KILL YOU! ILL KILL YOU!! ILL KILL YOU!!!" She screamed.
Mod
Felway awoke. It was still night, but her voice, he knew it was her but he wondered how she, or he, contacted the other. "Make sure everyone is alright." He said to himself hoping that Kia would somehow hear him but knew that she wouldn't be able to because he was no longer dreaming. He sat awake until sunlight shone through the window.
Zen woke and looked over to the bed where Felway had slept. Felway had kicked all the covers off and held his knees close to him while he had his back against the head-board.
"Rough night, huh?" Zen asked.
Felway gave no response.
"Listen, Fel." Zen started but Felway continued to not even acknowledge that Zen was talking to him. "I just want you to know that she will be alright. I promise that i will save her."
Felway started off into the distance and he waited a good long time before he responded, "how do you plan to save her?"
((Kat needs to help write))
((hehe thanks))((oh! In another group Kat said something about being gone sometimes in the summer... i don't remeber when though.. ))
Mod
And also, i recommend sending a sign to Zen and Felway at least let them know where you are.
Or you could write something about cassy, we haven't heard from her in a long time.))
((oh yea! okay! I got an idea!!))Cassy looked up at her mother, who was working some magic into a plant. "Mama?" she asked.
"hmmm?"
"How can i talk to Siki? Like you do to Daddy when he's gone?"
Her mom stopped and looked at her. "Why do you want to talk to Siki?"
"I miss her." Cassy said, 'and i have a prickly feeling on the back of my hands' she said in her mind. Her mom looked at the plant and then at the bookshelf. She went over and took a book off.
"I have to finish this Cassy, but i know your a smart girl, you can read this." She smiled that kind smile she always did. Cassy threw her arms around her.
"Thank you Mama!" she cried, and took the book and ran to her room and started to read it. Her mom watched her with her hands on her hips.
"What are they up to?" She said shaking her head.
That night Cassy put her hand on the ground and whispered, "Mirror mirror come alive, let me see the other side, me to them, them to me, please let me, let me see my sister, Siki." She whispered. A thin mirror came out of the ground, letting Cassy see her reflection for a second before changing into Siki's image, her hand chain to the wall, trying everything she coukd to fight back against a man, she was kicking, punching, and spitting.
"IF YOU TOUCH HER ILL KILL YOU! ILL KILL YOU!! ILL KILL YOU!!!" She screamed. Then her eyes flickered behind him, she saw a long mirror, with Cassy's horrified face in it. She was okay, she knew she was okay, she could tell, she was in her bedroom! He can't hurt her! She thought fast, if Cassy was trying to talk to her, then she could do the same to Zen. The man slapped her hard, again, and she looked at him. "Zen will find me. Zen will know where this cave is, and where this forest is. Zen will find the cave with the moss on the outside." She growled in his face. "AND HE"LL KILL YOU!!"
Cassy stopped the mirror images. Siki wasn't on an exploration! Someone got her! She stuffed her hand inside her mouth so she wouldn't scream. She knew was she had to do. She let out a quiet cry. Siki was all bloody and that man was trying to hurt her. "I hope Zen kills you." she whispered, brunging up the next mirror with Zen. "Zen?" She whispered.
"Cassy? Are you okay?
"No, Zen-."
"What's wrong?"
"You have to find Siki!" She cried. "Some guy has her in a in a cave in a forest and the cave has moss on it. You have to kill that man Zen! Or hurt him really bad! oh Zen he has Siki! Please find..."
The mirror stopped, Cassy lost the stregnth. She crawled into her bed, so that she wouldn't wake her parents, and cried herself to sleep.
Zen, made a grunting noise, kicking the floor and not even grimzacing at the pain that shot through his ankle. "Dammit." He muttered, hopping Attis was up for a trip. He wasn't strong enough to generate a transportation for two people and a horse after locating Siki. But he couldn't help admiring Cassy's skills of the mirror. That inspired him to continue in the similar fashion. Taking out a small pendant, flipping it to the silver reflective side he murmered something in a poetic manner."Cassy was smart and brave,
Siki is close to death,
Locate her in the caves,
Before she reaches her last breath."
The silver rippled like a stone dropped in a stagant pond, and an image of Siki appeared. The image enranged Zen and he felt his hand shaking and almost bending the metal.
Closing his eyes, he swallowed down hardly.
"Thank you for the favor,
Just one more.
Draw back to the map,
and please hold the door."
Rolling out a piece of paper, he set the pendant on it. The same ripple effect occured, a map of the world laying in front of him. A red dot throbbed like a pulse, indicating the location of Siki and the mystery man. A yellow dot was stationary in the spot of Zen, as he tucked away the pendant and stood up. Carrying the map with him he got a drink of water, this kind of location spell drained a little of your energy day by day. But famine was easily avoided by slightly bigger portions and only slight longer sleep. As he moved throughout the room the yellow dot barely quivered, but never completely moved. Tucking away the precious scroll, he pondered his options. Teleporting would be drastic, and once they got there he'd have to rest a night before assisting her. But her capturer could escape in that time. They'd have to get closer to rescue her, to teleport short distances and still have energy to fight.
Mod
Felway glanced at the paper. "Siki is all the way over there? And we have to fight against that man? What if he has backup?" Felway kept asking questions. "How will we defend ourselves. You ran into someone evil like that and even with all your magic training you still couldn't take him." He paused. "Zen, what did that man want Siki for? Is he someone to be feared, and how will we get her back."
After the words left his mouth he rethought them. He didn't care how they got her back, he just wanted to know if they could get her back.
((omg!!! I missed all these posts too!!! I AM SORRY!!!!))Siki woke up against the hard stone wall again. The man wasn't there. She breathed out. She head hurt like crazy. There was only a dim light in the room. "Ohh." She murmered, seeing that her knife was taken away. She looked around. Her wrists were all scabbed up now from when the man had threatened Cassy. She swore under her breath, curring the man and everyone he worked for.
Mod
((are you not busy yet?!?! It's almost been a MONTH!!!! :'( ))
John wrote: "((they are still in the hotel room, aren't they?))Felway glanced at the paper. "Siki is all the way over there? And we have to fight against that man? What if he has backup?" Felway kept asking q..."
"Kid, I'm not that strong, but I am clever. We're not going to go raging into that place ass-first, I'll tell you that much. And they wouldn't have just captured Siki to kill her, they're psycotic but not stupid. They want something, and Siki is somehow, knowingly or not, linked to it. She holds power, or her life, over the possesion or owner." He explained quietly, studying his ring for a moment.
Siki studied her wrist shakles, if only i could reach them together, she thought. Her ankles wern't chained but nothing was near her she could grab. This man really thuogh this through, he must have, or i wouldn't be here right now, she thuoght. She looked around some more, and caught a sent. Rassberries. There was a bowl of them, about eight yards away. Her stomach growled, and she looked down. "Great." she said, thuogh it wasn't as angry as she wanted herself to be. "Just.. great..."
Mod
He thought while Zen just sat on the bed. 'Kia'. The girls name rang in his ear like the bells of a church on Sunday.
"I don't know. And the faster we leave the earlier chance we have of finder her." Zen said, breaking Felway's chain of thought.
"Okay, let's go." Felways said.
---------
As they walked through the town to go get Zen's horse, Felway focused on contacting Kia. 'Kia... Everything is going wrong. My grandmother(?) is dead and a friend is missing... I'm coming home, but not until i find the girl. Find me, if you can, come and find me.'
Felway thought to her, even if Kia couldn't hear it, Felway still had hope, and the made him feel better for the time being.
((SORRRYYYYYYYY i am always busy it seems, but if you would like to move the story for Siki, then just have the main kidnapper dude go out and try and kill zen or fell or kia. or take of the character of angle and try and work her in the story.))
((ok!!! I hope you get some time soon!!!! but have fun whatever your doing!!!))oh sugar.. ill edit this later when i have tiem!!
((HIIIII! I miss this story :( We should revive it! Are you guys still out there?))
((Hi... Um... Hi! Sorry I'm really busy nowadays and stuff. With piano and skate and religious education and french homework and such things like having fun with my non-virtual friends. :P I lahve you guys, and you know it.))
Zen grabbed the reins of Atticus; the black mare neighing with delight at the thought of a nice ride. The horizon was clear, and the air was crisp. A perfect day for riding. But it wouldn't exactly be a leisurely ride today. Zen clapped his hands twice; startling Felway. "Snap out of dreamland, boy." He commanded in a thick Irish accent.
Siki woke up to a banging. Her kidnapper was standing over her, banging to stone together over her head. "You ready to talk?" he grumbled. Siki licked her dry lips with a dry tongue. Her mouth felt like it was full of dry cotten. "I don't know anything." she managed horsly.It was hard to talk with such a dry throat. This was her second day without water. She didn't know how much more she could last. She felt to weak. Like just the weight of her head could collapse her.
"Wrong answer." he said, taking out his canteen, and holding it like he was going to give her some, but then chugged the whole thing himself. "You are one stuipid girl. Maybe your sister will be smarter."
Siki managed a growl, like a rabid dog.
((We need to get this going again :( ))
Mod
((yah!!! Break wooo!!! ... im stuck.. we need another good story again!!))
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
As each of her family members left one by one for their work and errands, Kia stayed behind to clean the house and do her chores. With her family gone, her thoughts strayed back to the stranger and his talk of dark magic. Her mood became darker and darker as she worried about his implication and what it could mean for her.
She was almost afraid to leave the house in case she would run into the stranger again, but she was going stir crazy in the house. She had cleaned every surface possible and finished all the laundering. Setting her resolve, she headed out the door and made her way to town to see her father in his shop. She looked around suspiciously as she walked down the road, but she saw no one.
She was beginning to feel a little better by the time her fathers shop came to view at the edge of town. She was about to enter when she heard raised voices inside--one of which belonged to her father. She frowned, reaching for the door when it suddenly burst open. She gasped, flinching back so it wouldn't hit her. A man strode out, pulling a cloak around himself. She didn't see his face, but the way he carried himself you'd think he was the king. She frowned after the regal stranger before turning to the shop. Her father's back was turned to her, already returning to his work.
"Who was that?" she frowned at her father, coming closer to him inside the shop. Her father jumped slightly as he turned to her. "Ah, Kia, I did not expect you today." He wiped his brow and she noticed his hand trembled slightly. "That was no one. Just a client. He is no one." Kia frowned, not buying it. She took his hand between hers, feeling how shaky he was. "Father, what's wrong?"
Her father looked at her sadly, quiet for a long moment. "I have made a mistake, Kia," he said sadly, raising his other hand to stroke her cheek gently. "One that might be the end of me."