((Closed))
Into the fog shrouded street a small girl stepped. For a long moment she huddled in the doorway of the shop she had just exited and stared out at the street in muted fascination. The fog distorted sound and images alike, giving everything a surreal dream like quality. Vaguely the girl wished that time would suddenly speed up and the mid-day sun would burn away the early morning fog.
Hugging her doll Lieka closer to her, she stepped out into the street, her hand clutching the precious piece of paper as if it were a lifeline. I just have to find everything the pretty Lady wrote down, and then no one will be afraid of me anymore. Spurred on by the hopes and promise of avoiding negative emotions aimed at her, she hurried onwards.
“Lieka, the Lady wrote down a lot of stuff on the paper for me. Do you think I need a pack?” The girl whispered to her doll. Her hands loosened their death grip on the doll as it twisted bonelessly in her grasp to look up at her. After a long moment it nodded its tiny, perfect head at her and twisted back to its original position. Beneath the waist-length, dark red spill of hair that often hid her from the world, she nibbled nervously on her lower lip at the thought of talking to another adult today. Perhaps, perhaps the next one will be like the Lady and will be nice. But, where could I get a pack?
For a moment she panicked and looked about. Around her there were homes and shops, but no open stalls that aired its wares to viewers. Stricken, she clutched Lieka tighter as her eyes darted around and then to the people that hurried on their own morning errands. Unnoticed, a dark shape loomed up on her left and swiftly resolved into a towering figure. The impact with the ground tore a soft bird-like cry from her. She looked up through the red haze of hair that covered her face and saw a person unlike any she had ever seen before.
He had crystal blue eyes, messy black hair and skin that was only slightly tanned. The most amazing thing that kept her staring were the wings on his back and the peeks of black scales on his waist where his shirt rode up slightly as he bent over. A soft squeak of alarm forced itself out as she finally realized that he was bending over her.
“N, n, no! Please, I didn’t mean to run into you, Sir!” She pleaded, half expecting the man to get angry and his anger to lash her with its hot needle-like sensation. A quiet chuckle was all the warning she had before hands lightly grabbed her arms and lifted her off the ground before setting her on her feet.
“What have I here?” A low, soft voice rumbled from over her head as he grasped her chin in his hand and tilted her face up. Shaking her head, she fought to keep her chin down. He would see her face, her ugly side, and she didn’t want that to happen. She clamped her eyes shut when he won the miniscule battle of wills. I should have asked the Lady to come with me. I bet she could have kept people from seeing me.
“Young, but so very pretty. You’ll be very beautiful when you grow up.” Hearing something like a smile in the man’s voice, she hesitantly opened her eyes in confusion. Couldn’t he see what was missing? Couldn’t he see how ugly she was? Hesitantly she shook her head at him again.
“I’m not.” She muttered, glancing away from the smiling face and the crystal blue eyes that boared into hers. Another soft chuckle was her reward for her small show of stubbornness.
“What’s your name and what are you doing out by yourself this early in the morning?” She cringed slightly has his fingers stroked the exposed muscles and bones of her face. Her mouth opened to tell him her name then froze as she realized she didn’t know her name.
“I need to find a place to get a pack, but I’m not sure where a shop is.” She hesitated for a moment and offered the first name that seemed familiar to her. “I’m Kyssa. Who are you?” Kyssa giggled as he stood and offered her an easygoing smile along with a silly flourishing bow. She took the chance to shake her head slightly, tossing her hair back into its customary position.
“I’m Dileas. Come, I was heading for a tavern I’ve heard is exquisite, but I’d be honored to help you find a shop.” Kyssa took the offered hand and found herself laughing giddily when he placed her on his shoulder. “Kyssa, whom is it you are holding so fiercely?”
For a long moment Kyssa stared blankly at Dileas before she realized he was talking about Lieka. Hesitatingly, she held out her only comapnion. She began chewing on her lip when he took Lieka and studied her. A small smile twisted the corners of his mouth and a secretive look gleamed in his crystal blue eyes when he handed her back.
“Her name is Lieka, she’s special.”
“That she is, never lose her. Now, tell me what do you need a pack for?” Smiling widely, Kyssa chattered about meeting the Lady, why she needed the pack for the materials, and what the materials were for as Dileas set out to find a shop.
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