A Spinme and Tsukarin Collab- part 1
The rain fell thick and cold, she ran through the forest with the basket under her arm. Even though she was breathless, she continued. Until she reached the next city, she couldn't afford to stop. To stop would only mean death. She didn't know where to run to, only blindly stumbling through the woods alone. The crow cawed making her jump. Tucking a loose strand of hair that escaped her bun behind her ear, she looked around nervously.Was she alone?
'At this rate, I wouldn't get to the city before nightfall.' She thought worriedly.
She paused for a moment to look around and get her bearings. She had a vague idea as to where the city laid beyond the valley, but was clueless as to what she'd find on the way. These woods were not familiar to her.
She examined the darkening cliff-face as the sun began to drop beneath the treetops. She sighted a small cave opening that promised shelter for the night and decided to head for it.
She wasn't all that fond of dark places, but it would have to do. She slid into the cave and listened out for any creatures that roamed at night. She dug around and closed her eyes, praying that no one came after her. That night, she slept uneasily on the cave floor which wasn't as comfortable as the bed she had at home.
The next morning she woke up shivering, cold and sore. Her throat was parched. Reaching into the basket, she pulled out the only container filled with water and drank it down. Something was tickling her nose and she sneezed. She was sick, and this realisation brought with it a sense of urgency to find the next town. She knew if she were to stay another night outdoors she may never make it to town at all.
She stepped into the chill morning air and carefully trod the path back onto smoother ground. She sneezed again, her polite 'achoo!' echoing through the damp valley.
'Keep going,' she thought to herself. 'The town is the other side of that hill, I'm sure.'
Crack. She whipped around in horror and held her breath, not moving an inch. She looked down, but found no broken twig beneath her foot. Her heart raced and she studied the woods again, looking for movement between the tall trunks. Nothing. Silence.
'Run!' she told herself, and she pivoted on the ball of her foot and raced down the hillside. She grasped at trees and bushes on her descent to stop from slipping on the wet soil, and glanced over her shoulder when she heard a rustle. Yet, every time there was nothing there. Regardless, she continued running until she rounded the base of a ridge and could see swirls of chimney smoke in the distance.
'The town!' She thought happily but she was still far from her destination. She needed to find some way to get down and she needed to be quick because out of nowhere, came the sounds of the horse's hoof against the road. Before she could throw herself into a nearby bush, she heard someone call out to her.
"Are you alright there?!" sounded a deep, ragged voice.
As a horse and cart drew closer, she stared at it wide-eyed. The man whom the voice belonged to wore a dark blue cloak, and his hair was pushed back behind his ears. He pulled on the reigns of the horse out front and brought the fruit cart to a halt.
"Kind sir, do you think you could show me the way to the town?" She asked, keeping her eyes down.
"Well it's just down this road a short way, m'lady," he grinned, "but I'll take you there if you like? If you don't mind my company, that is."
"Would you kind sir? I fear my soles have been worn out from my journey."
"Yes, I noticed you'd done some travelling," he replied. "If it weren't for the leaf in your hair I would've thought you'd stuck to the road. Climb on board."
She turned red at his comment in embarressment and climbed in the cart.
"Can't promise you the smoothest ride back there," the rider called to her. "There's room by me, if you would prefer it?"
"I thank you for your kind offer sir, but I think I would prefer being back here." She insisted.
"Funny preference, but who am I to judge?" he smiled, then yelled to the horse and flicked the reigns. The pale white horse neighed and began to trot along the bumpy, sodden road.
"Where are you from, sir? You don't look like you are from the area as well." She plucked the offending leaf from her hair and fiddled with it as she asked.
"How did you know? Let me guess, it's my accent, yes?" he asked, but didn't give her a moment to respond. "I'm a farmer, from well beyond the valley. How much do you know of the surrounding lands?"
"I fear that I do not know much my dear sir, only except that the land beyond the valley is called Dellue." She turned to face the man but kept her eyes down just in case. Even though she knew he would have to keep his head front.
"That's the one, m'lady," he replied, sighing. "Dellue, Dellue. The crops grow tall and the sky is blue!" he looked over his shoulder and cracked a smile.
She quickly turned away. " I see. Dellue, is it far from this town?"
"It's a fair way," he said. "And what about you? You look like you've walked the whole highway."
"I come from the deepest part of the forest...I mean from across the mountains." She caught herself before she could say anything about the castle and sneezed.
The man nodded. "Ah, bless you," he said, and nothing more. The outer houses of the city drew towards them and were soon followed by the bustling sounds of the market. The rider steered the cart into a side street by the doctor's clinic.
"This is your stop," he said.
"Thank you,kind sir. I hope the crops will sell well here." She was about to bow deeply when she realised that she didn't need to anymore.
"Oh, they will," he smiled. "Hope you feel better soon. Ah - I didn't catch your name?"
"My name is Edlyn of the Cas- I mean Edlyn Caston. Sir." She hoped that he didn't catch her slip up on her identity.
"Edlyn?" he eyed her. "... nice name. I'm...John," he added.
"May we meet again someday Kind s- John. I would be going now." She turned and went through the crowds while thinking of the next step now that she was in town.
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