Dawn- An age of Darkness

Brenda cuddled the little thing with her fingers and I was hoping Biteria would bite, but she didn't. With great disappointment, I devoured the big apple pie in front of me before even realizing it. I was always a big eater but never actually paid attention to my surroundings when I ate. It was probably my greatest weakness.

"That was for all of us, you know," Brenda whispered.

Seriously?

Instead of apologizing I puffed my chest and declared," I was feeling a little hungry. Thus I ate it. Don't expect an apology!" My speech sounded all formal and majestic. Even I was surprised at what I said.

They looked at me with seriousness and then looked at each other.

Maybe I should have apologized? No! They laughed at me first!

To my horror, instead of getting angry all three of them burst into laughter. If they had gotten mad, then it would have been fine with me but now I looked like an actual joker if I wasn't one already.

I finished my breakfast quietly and waited with patience. It had nothing to do with me being too embarrassed. Nope, not even a little….not at all.

The old man held his head in his hands. "Let's get down to business then. It'll be a three-day trip to Elicaane. We'll probably get there before sunset of day three if we went through the Blackthorn forest."

"You are aware that, that forest has an impossible amount of undead, correct?"Jowy said.

"Yes, but that's why we will go through that forest at day time." The old man flashed a grin. He did have a point. During the day, the undead weren't much of a threat.

"As long as you know," Jowy said.

"But I thought there weren't any forests nearby this city?" I asked. It was just my hypothesis but I kind of hoped for that.

"There ain't, at least not close enough to pose any problems but it's still pretty dreadful." The old man looked a little down as if remembering a distant past.

"Is there any special reason, it's called a blackthorn forest?" Brenda asked.

The old man chuckled. Damn, that geezer always bounced back quick. "Because the forest turns pitch black at night and there are thorns everywhere."

"That's so generic," she said.

She was hard to please. It was a forest covered with thorns and looked black. What was so generic, about that? Would it have been more fun if man-eating sirens or bunnies were there? I would have preferred the latter though.

"Alright, so the three of us would travel to Elicaane starting this afternoon?" I said. Remembering these city names was a chore though. Why would people think of these kinds of names to torment travelers? I had no idea.

Brenda glared at me with discontent. "What do you mean three of us? Could it be that you can't count?"

That to be honest pissed me off as well. There are certain things you shouldn't say to college students, and that was one of them.

I grinded my teeth. And tried to smile. "Me, old man, and Jowy. Three!"

"What about me! And Biteria!" Brenda whined.

"What about you?" Then it finally sunk in. So that what she meant! I should have seen it coming. I had some suspicions though. "I don't know what you're game is but I don't think you should come with us. We aren't going for sightseeing you know! And besides, you finally-"

"Huh! Don't give me that. Why do you think I'm even bothering to come with you? Be grateful that I'm considering traveling with you." Now she started acting all high and mighty.

I didn't want her to come with us, as I didn't want her to get hurt again. The pirates or rather the captain was everything to her. She just lost her everything. I didn't want her to suffer. "I think I'd rather not…" I had a good reason to decline her. Besides, she didn't have a good reason to stick with me.

Why is she bothering with us? Wouldn't it have been better if she embraced a normal life? I suppose I shouldn't meddle with someone else's business but...

"Give it a rest boy, the more the merrier. At least we'll have some extra food for the monsters." The old man laughed sarcastically.

"Hey! What is that supposed to mean?" Brenda whined again.

We all laughed and the breakfast ended like that. Nothing got resolved.

The food was good but old man Bonkarin's food was much better!

"I think I'll head out now. Where should we meet?" I said.

"Meet at the north gate before as soon as you get your sword," the old man said.

"Alright!"

I dashed outside. Looked around and headed straight for the old man's shop. Little did I know, two questionable beings were also following me. Also little did they know, that I'd already noticed a long while ago.

One of them was a fluffy angel and the other, not so much. It took me some time before I noticed, but when I did notice, I started to dash at the right moment.

Why the hell are they following me?

"Why the hell are you running?" she yelled.

I didn't answer. Boy was this woman fast.

She caught up to me. It was none other than Brenda. Biteria was hiding in her hair as usual. I tried my best to not be caught, but she was definitely a fast runner, no doubt.

Damn it!

Being caught wasn't really that bad apart from being forced to come up with an excuse.

What am I supposed to do now?

"Gotcha!" She grabbed my shoulder without letting go.

She wasn't that angry; instead, she was smiling. I calmed myself and we started walking.

Might as well apologize while I still have a chance.

"Sorry," I said. My mouth twisted. And I had to look away.

"Why?" She pondered with a smile.

This woman is oblivious!

I didn't know if she was pretending to be oblivious or just playing coy with me, but one thing was for certain. She was having fun.

"Nothing. Why are you here?" I tried to pretend that nothing was wrong. It was hard, very hard.

"Same reason as you. For food!" She struck a pose.

Didn't you gulp down two plates back at the inn? I didn't have the guts to say it out loud though.

Brenda followed me like an apprentice yet again. There was no going around it. We continued walking and eventually reached old man Bonkarin's shop. Wonderful aroma drifted in the air and made its way into my nostrils. It almost made my mouth water.

"Old man, give me two of those sticks along with some sauce!" Finally, my enthusiasm was back.

"Right away my boy!"

He gave me my portion and I started to eat. Meanwhile, Brenda was picking what she'd have. Too indecisive if you asked me.

But just as I finished my first stick, Biteria jumped on the old man's cart and started to go wild. She was eating everything in sight.

Oh no!

"Stop her! We can't pay for all that!"

Money was the top of my concern. Each stick went for five coppers and I had just 29 coppers but in the heat of the moment, I couldn't even begin to wonder the amount this little rascal would end up devouring. Brenda eventually caught the devil, but before being caught she ate more than seven full sticks of meat. It was just shy of 40 copper.. I was screwed.

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