OOC: Season of Winter, Day 1, 514
The windows were covered in frost that filtered the sunlight in odd ways as it streamed through his bedroom window. The bead creaked as Koruma shifted underneath his blankets, pulling the thick sheets over his head with a moan. His fingers clutched desperately to the sheet as he squeezed his eyes together and prayed to every god he could think of to make the sun go away. Around him the other beads creaked and he focused on the sound of the other children's breathing. Footsteps came and went in the hall as the staff moved around in the early morning.
A hand pushed at Koruma lightly on his shoulder and Koruma curled into a ball. Again the pressure came, more forceful as a small pair of hands pushed harder at Koruma. "Kor wake up, wake up! Jillene says is breakfast time." Koruma shrugged the boy's hands off his back as he tried to bury his face into the pillow with a groan. Giggling, the boy climbed onto the bed and on top of Koruma, bouncing as he pounded on Koruma's head with his small fists. "Up! Up! Up!" Koruma erupted from his blankets, pushing the child onto the end of the bed in a playful manner. "I'm up! Stop it else you're gonna pound me into mush."
"That's cus you a wus Kor. And I'm gonna steal you're portion." The child bounced off Koruma's bed and sprinted towards the door. Shaking his head, Koruma pulled on his clothes as quick as he could and made for the mad house that was the dining room. Hot, although slim, food awaited the orphans as they chattered excitedly about the first snow of the year. Koruma practically inhaled his portion as he made a mental list of everything he would need to buy. He had outgrown most of his clothes from last winter and was in desperate need of replacements. While his dark pants and cloak had been enough to keep him comfortable during the fall, they would do him no good in the coming season.
With breakfast finished, Koruma grabbed his purse and ran out the door. His dagger strapped to his hip and cloak to keep him warm, the teen ran through the snow stricken streets. Each step caused the light layer of snow to crunch beneath his feet as his legs pumped hard and fast. Each hard breath released a cloud of steam that swept past his cheeks. Koruma's arms pumped and he tried to keep his breath steady as he raced. Yet, despite himself, he slowed far sooner than he would have liked. His racing feet fell to a steady jog as he navigated through the familiar streets. Turning on his heels, Koruma made for an alley that would provide a convenient shortcut to the seaside markets. The snow completely foiled his plans and Koruma went sliding into the side of a house. He didn't even have enough time to brace himself as his shoulder struck the corner and sent Koruma sprawling onto the ground.
Laughter came from behind him as his knees and shoulder stung from the blow. Shaking his head, Koruma scrambling to his feet with the aid of a nearby barrel. One quick check to make sure he still had his purse, and Koruma was off again. Thankfully, the cold had kept many of the miscreants inside and the crowd was thinner than usual. Merchants called out to those who passed by, trying to entice people to grab their wares. Koruma knew exactly where he was going and made straight for the clothing. The sound of barking dogs made Koruma pause, but the chill was enough to keep him from stopping.
Fifteen bells later, and Koruma happily carried a makeshift package in his arms. He had found a fir-trimmed, course wool jacket that was large enough to sustain his growth over the winter. Koruma wore his new wool cap, grateful for the protection of his frigid ears. His new wool pants were also wrapped with the jacket and his boots rested on top of the pile. Everything was in an unenthusiastic brown color, but at least it would keep him warm. The teen was practically humming to himself as he started his return trip when another bark caught his attention. Koruma froze, his ashen eyes sliding over the form of several young dogs and their seller.
His first thought was on how big they were. All three dogs were large. Not big enough to ride per say, but certainly of a fair size. All three were various combinations of tan, grey, and brown. One in particular caught Koruma's attention and he couldn't help but take a step towards the dogs. The vendor smiled, a wide and crooked gesture that should have warded Koruma off. "They are wolves. Raised 'em myself from pups that I caught in the wilds, see. Nine months old and ready for a new master. Each one knows it's name and will learn to love ya after a few feedin' session. They makes good guards too. "
Koruma bit his lip as his chest tightened. Noven said he would help convince Jillene and Red Wolf promised to help him train any animal he picked. But... "I don't have that much money, sor-" Koruma turned to walk away, but the man shot his hand out. "Hey, hey! C'mere boy, you didn't even ask how much theys were. Look, I'll even make yous a special deal. Fifty gold mizas fer a pup and I'll throw in the leash and collar for free. Yous practically robbin' me at that price."
He had it. He had that money. Koruma had been hording away money for years in preparation for the time that he would move out on his own. He had the money. Ashen eyes fell to one of the wolves and he couldn't help but fall in love with her. Her brown eyes practically gleamed like moonlight underneath her brows. She had grey fur on her back that formed a cap over her head, yet her muzzle was the same cream color that covered her legs and belly. Each brow was dotted with a creamy spot. Her ears were a darker color, almost black. As if on cue, she gave Koruma a whine and licked her lips as she shifted her weight and wagged her tail.
"Fine." Koruma felt a hole burn in his pocket as he carried his new outfit awkwardly in one hand and the wolf's thick leather leash in another. Moon walked with him, her ears flicking back and forth as she glanced around at the market. Koruma took her back to the orphanage just long enough to drop of his purse and supplies. After a quick change into his winter garb, he grabbed the leash and headed for where Red Wolf had said she lived.
The windows were covered in frost that filtered the sunlight in odd ways as it streamed through his bedroom window. The bead creaked as Koruma shifted underneath his blankets, pulling the thick sheets over his head with a moan. His fingers clutched desperately to the sheet as he squeezed his eyes together and prayed to every god he could think of to make the sun go away. Around him the other beads creaked and he focused on the sound of the other children's breathing. Footsteps came and went in the hall as the staff moved around in the early morning.
A hand pushed at Koruma lightly on his shoulder and Koruma curled into a ball. Again the pressure came, more forceful as a small pair of hands pushed harder at Koruma. "Kor wake up, wake up! Jillene says is breakfast time." Koruma shrugged the boy's hands off his back as he tried to bury his face into the pillow with a groan. Giggling, the boy climbed onto the bed and on top of Koruma, bouncing as he pounded on Koruma's head with his small fists. "Up! Up! Up!" Koruma erupted from his blankets, pushing the child onto the end of the bed in a playful manner. "I'm up! Stop it else you're gonna pound me into mush."
"That's cus you a wus Kor. And I'm gonna steal you're portion." The child bounced off Koruma's bed and sprinted towards the door. Shaking his head, Koruma pulled on his clothes as quick as he could and made for the mad house that was the dining room. Hot, although slim, food awaited the orphans as they chattered excitedly about the first snow of the year. Koruma practically inhaled his portion as he made a mental list of everything he would need to buy. He had outgrown most of his clothes from last winter and was in desperate need of replacements. While his dark pants and cloak had been enough to keep him comfortable during the fall, they would do him no good in the coming season.
With breakfast finished, Koruma grabbed his purse and ran out the door. His dagger strapped to his hip and cloak to keep him warm, the teen ran through the snow stricken streets. Each step caused the light layer of snow to crunch beneath his feet as his legs pumped hard and fast. Each hard breath released a cloud of steam that swept past his cheeks. Koruma's arms pumped and he tried to keep his breath steady as he raced. Yet, despite himself, he slowed far sooner than he would have liked. His racing feet fell to a steady jog as he navigated through the familiar streets. Turning on his heels, Koruma made for an alley that would provide a convenient shortcut to the seaside markets. The snow completely foiled his plans and Koruma went sliding into the side of a house. He didn't even have enough time to brace himself as his shoulder struck the corner and sent Koruma sprawling onto the ground.
Laughter came from behind him as his knees and shoulder stung from the blow. Shaking his head, Koruma scrambling to his feet with the aid of a nearby barrel. One quick check to make sure he still had his purse, and Koruma was off again. Thankfully, the cold had kept many of the miscreants inside and the crowd was thinner than usual. Merchants called out to those who passed by, trying to entice people to grab their wares. Koruma knew exactly where he was going and made straight for the clothing. The sound of barking dogs made Koruma pause, but the chill was enough to keep him from stopping.
Fifteen bells later, and Koruma happily carried a makeshift package in his arms. He had found a fir-trimmed, course wool jacket that was large enough to sustain his growth over the winter. Koruma wore his new wool cap, grateful for the protection of his frigid ears. His new wool pants were also wrapped with the jacket and his boots rested on top of the pile. Everything was in an unenthusiastic brown color, but at least it would keep him warm. The teen was practically humming to himself as he started his return trip when another bark caught his attention. Koruma froze, his ashen eyes sliding over the form of several young dogs and their seller.
His first thought was on how big they were. All three dogs were large. Not big enough to ride per say, but certainly of a fair size. All three were various combinations of tan, grey, and brown. One in particular caught Koruma's attention and he couldn't help but take a step towards the dogs. The vendor smiled, a wide and crooked gesture that should have warded Koruma off. "They are wolves. Raised 'em myself from pups that I caught in the wilds, see. Nine months old and ready for a new master. Each one knows it's name and will learn to love ya after a few feedin' session. They makes good guards too. "
Koruma bit his lip as his chest tightened. Noven said he would help convince Jillene and Red Wolf promised to help him train any animal he picked. But... "I don't have that much money, sor-" Koruma turned to walk away, but the man shot his hand out. "Hey, hey! C'mere boy, you didn't even ask how much theys were. Look, I'll even make yous a special deal. Fifty gold mizas fer a pup and I'll throw in the leash and collar for free. Yous practically robbin' me at that price."
He had it. He had that money. Koruma had been hording away money for years in preparation for the time that he would move out on his own. He had the money. Ashen eyes fell to one of the wolves and he couldn't help but fall in love with her. Her brown eyes practically gleamed like moonlight underneath her brows. She had grey fur on her back that formed a cap over her head, yet her muzzle was the same cream color that covered her legs and belly. Each brow was dotted with a creamy spot. Her ears were a darker color, almost black. As if on cue, she gave Koruma a whine and licked her lips as she shifted her weight and wagged her tail.
"Fine." Koruma felt a hole burn in his pocket as he carried his new outfit awkwardly in one hand and the wolf's thick leather leash in another. Moon walked with him, her ears flicking back and forth as she glanced around at the market. Koruma took her back to the orphanage just long enough to drop of his purse and supplies. After a quick change into his winter garb, he grabbed the leash and headed for where Red Wolf had said she lived.
