Horrors Left Better Unknown [solo]

[Lena Estelain]

Arin kicked her awake when the Caravan started to rise. As she did every morning. She had come to trust her always being awake before dawn. Lena never saw the child sleep, she was the last to lay down and the first to rise but whenever Lena would get up to relieve herself at night. She was always sitting up, staring off into the darkness. She looked harmless enough, walking alongside the wagon with bare feet, in her tattered rags. Lena had asked for better clothes for the child. But most of what they had was for the markets and anything they had to spare was for someone twice her size. And since the only seamstress among them died from a snake bite weeks ago, no one was there to mend anything. She offered the young girl her cloak, but she refused. And so she sat atop her horse. Watching Arin march along with the rest, as other children her age shouted and screamed, running up and down the column. Unaware of the gloomy forest around them. Completely oblivious to the danger they were in. Had she ever been so careless? Was there a time when worry didn't constantly weigh down her every step? She liked to think so. But something inside of her knew otherwise. She was Denvali, born in harsh and unforgiving winters. Struggling every day to make the harvest what little they could grow to see them through the winter. She had never known ignorance such as this.

[Lena Estelain]

"How goes the babysitting?" Aonghas, one of the few Denvali also not interested in a long journey over seas to Zelvita, called out as he came trotting up on horseback. "She's quiet." Lena said indifferently, there wasn't much more to say about the girl. " Always knew you'd end up with a little brat, always thought it'd be mine though." He said with a grin. Lena stayed still as heat crawled up her neck. Aonghas and Lena played together as children, as did much of Denvali youth, it being such a tiny place. But as they grew older things became more than friendly. One day her mother caught them "playing" together, and beat her bloody for it. After that she tried to avoid him as best she could, but never lost the crush. "And a Vantha no less." "So Fyren just stuck you with her, huh? Tough luck that. But at least you got someone to fetch things. She's even starting to look like you a bit." "Don't start with that. She does fetch well though." Lena wasn't surprised Arin didn't turn around, even though she was a few yards away. She heard it, she had to. But she didn't seem to care. "Quiet little thing isn't she. Hey girl!" Before Lena could stop him he rode off toward Arin. She watched tensely as he talked to her. With the sound of hundreds of people, horses and carts around her. She couldn't make out what they were saying but Arin seemed to be ignoring him like she did everyone else.