I woke with a jolt, my heart racing. Sweat dripped down my back as I looked around.
I breathed a sigh of relief once I saw I was back in my tent.
It was normal to have nightmares, but something was different about this one. However, before I could recall more of the dream, it slipped away from me, leaving only my beating heart to prove it ever existed.
After a few seconds, I stumbled out of bed and crossed the tent. The cold spring air sent goosebumps up my arms.
I slipped on the town-folk clothes I got just the day before, and thought about what needed to be done. The last group of Alternics were returning home today. 'I have to be present for that. Brook would have my head on a stick if I wouldn't show up.', A slight laugh tickled my lips as the thought crossed my mind.
Tents had to be set up for the new arrivals, Water had to be pulled from the stream, and...
Long, wavy hair and gentle hands distracted my thoughts for a moment, but I pushed it away. There were more important things to focus on right now. 'I shouldn't be thinking about a girl I'll most likely never see again. Let alone a HUMAN girl. It was an interesting encounter, though,' I had to admit. 'And what a useful "hobbie" she has. It could come in handy.'
"Yea right,", I scoffed. 'As if that would actually be an option...well... actually...it wouldn't be the worst idea to have someone we can trust in the palace...What am I thinking? I shouldn't even be considering this! I should be thinking about today's activities, not the king's daughter...'
I looked down at my leg, still clean and wrapped tight. Not that I really needed it. My body would've healed by tonight anyway. 'I wonder how much she knows... She doesn't seem like the type to be ok with what's happening under the castle...but then, I don't really know her at all. She might not be who she seems to be. Just cause she helped me once, doesn't mean she would've done it if she knew I was Alternic.'
Voices from outside distracted me from my thoughts. I knew I should be out there with them, making our newest rescuees welcome, and preparing them for their journey home. I didn't feel like socializing yet though. 'I'll sneak out the back of the camp, where nobody can see me. Brook will scold me for leaving without telling anybody -as usual- but I'll be back before they head for Alterna.'
As I opened the makeshift door, light filtered through the leaves, casting sun spots that danced around me. I turned my face toward the sun, savoring the warmth for a few more seconds, before slipping into the trees behind camp. I could hear the group talking around the fire, and even though I couldn't see it, I knew they were all holding a hot cup of Brooks special tea mix. The thought warmed me more than the morning sun did. They were the only family I had, and I treasured them more than my own life.
I felt the presence of someone before I heard their voice,
"Running off again, are you?"
"Brook. How did you know?"
"I watched you leave your tent. You know your gonna get yourself captured or killed one day, and we won't even know where you ran off to! -Or when you left."
"Yea, yea.", I sighed. "I'm going to town for a bit, I won't be long."
"Hahh- Ok, but do try to be careful. Please? For us?", she begged.
"I'll be fine, don't worry."
However, both me and Brook knew that I couldn't promise anything. Simply going into town could be a death sentence for an Alternic if they happen to be caught.
"Ok," she said after a long silence. "But you better be back before we leave. The kid's eager to talk to you one last time. He's been waiting all morning for you to wake up. You'll break his heart if you don't say bye."
"I'll be back in time, don't worry."
I gave her a reassuring smile and started making my way toward town. I thought about the kid as I picked up my pace. Leaf, he had become attached to me in the last few days. In fact, he hardly talked to anyone else, besides Brook. After he found out about our similar childhoods, he'd hardly left my side. 'I don't blame him. If someone had rescued me at that age, and I found out they went through the same things I did, I'd idolize them too.'
After what seemed like no time at all, I could see the city gate in the distance. As I got closer, my body shifted from the thin, scarred Alternic, to the strong, royal guard the princess had seen me as the day before. Nausea overtook me as I did, leaving almost as quickly as it came.
Before the guards could see me, I slipped around to the side of the city wall. I could have taken the front gate, the guards on watch would think I was one of them, but I didn't wanna risk being stopped for small talk. Instead, I walked along the wall all the way to the back, where there was a hidden door leading to a small tavern on the outskirts of town. Only Koa's group knew about the door, save for a few drunks looking for some fresh air.
Though the humans had no idea, this tavern was one of the few places owned by an Alternic. Sky, the owner, has been helping us sneak in and out of the city for over a year now.
The door squeaked as I opened it. Instantly the smell of sweat, vomit, and moonshine hit me, making me nauseous again. The roar of laughter and noisy chatter was deafening. I already missed the clean, quiet air on the other side of the door. 'I'll never get used to this.' I thought. 'I don't know how humans could go here just for fun.' Leaning against the brick wall, I took a few deep breaths, ignoring the stench.
Getting into the tavern was the easy part, since the back door was never watched, but getting OUT was much tricker. This part of town wasn't exactly known for being friendly to palace guards. Especially in the tavern.
So, keeping to the shadows, I slowly made my way through the stuffy room, weaving through the people as smoothly as I could, stepping over a few who were passed out on the floor.
Finally, I got to the door, but before I could open it, a hand firmly grasped my shoulder. My heart quickened as I turned around, expecting to see some drunk peasant wanting to get revenge on a palace guard. My muscles tightened as I prepared for a fight, but when I turned around, I only saw Sky, with the usual happy grin on his face.
"Heyyy, Ko-Ko! Long time no see! How'ya doin' pal!?" He pulled me into an embrace before I could stop him. I smelled the spirits on his breath, which probably explains why he didn't remember us coming by the day before.
"I'm fine Sky, I can't stay though," I said as I tried to peel his arms off me.
"Always in a rush aren't ya? One day you gotta stay here for a few minutes, have a drink and chat with some of these nice fellas. You and your friends! You're always welcome you know. You guys are always in and out, in and out, but you never stay! Can't we just sit somewhere and hang for a bit, like the old times? Those were some good days, weren't they? When we used to-"
"Listen, Sky, I'd love to stay and chat, but Im kind of in a hurry. I have to meet someone in town, they're waiting for me." I didn't like lying to him, but I knew if he started one of his rants I would be here till sundown, and probably longer.
"Ok, ok. I hear ya. Just promise that you'll come by at some point. I miss you guys." His glossy red eyes started to tear up, and for a moment, I thought he was going to cry. Then his smile returned.
"We will, I'll tell Brook to visit you. She likes it here. Other than the- you know, people..."
"Well, she'll have to get used to that if she wants to be in town. No way to get around it, is there? Unless I guess, there's an apocalypse or something. But then, I don't think she'd want to visit during an apocalypse, especially if there's no one left. What would be the point?"
For a second I thought of what an apocalypse would be like, 'kinda nice actually...' but then the reality of it hit me; dead bodies littering the street, left to rot since there would be nobody to pick them up. Caged animals, slowly dying with no one to set them free. The rancid smell of decaying crops waiting to be harvested. Or last year's crops left to spoil in storehouses. Scenario after scenario played through my head as Sky talked on.
"Anyway! I won't hold ya, I know you oughta be on your way."
"it was nice seeing you Sky."
"You to Ko-Ko! Hardly see enough of ya these days! Remember to send Brooks this way when you see her next! After hanging with all these humans I could use some Alternate company if you know what I mean! HA! HAHAHA-!" Sky laughed drunkenly at his own joke. I could still hear his hoarse laugh as I stepped out into the fresh air once again.
It wasn't as refreshing as in the forest, but it beat the putrid smell in the tavern. 'I don't know how Brook can handle being in there. She says she gets used to it, maybe she's half human or something.' I laughed openly at the thought.
'Now, time to do what I came here to do.' I wasn't entirely lying when I told Sky I had to meet someone. She's just not expecting me.
After leaving the far side of town, I made my way quickly through the heart of Sinia, the kingdom known for its beauty. However, I saw no beauty in what I looked at. Only a fake mask that carefully hid the darkness underneath.
Finally, I got to a long alleyway, with a small wooden door at the end.
I knocked twice...once...and three times so she knew who it was.
'I hope it's not a bad time. I should have told her I was coming. She might not even be home.' Thoughts raced through my head, and I was considering turning back when the door swung open.
"Koa, I've been expecting you. Come in." Without waiting for an answer, she grabbed me by the arm and pulled me inside, taking a quick look around before slamming the door shut. Her strength surprised me, as it did every time.
"Tabitha. How did you know I was gonna stop by?"
"Well, I thought you might want to talk to me about something.", she said as she picked up a flower from the table. When I looked closer, I saw that it was a pink lily.
"Umm, yea. Actually, I wanted to talk to you about getting more of the Heavenly Blue serum. I know you just harvested a fresh batch of Morning Glories, and-"
"Koa, I know you didn't come to buy something from me. How about we talk about your visit to the palace garden, hm? I know you didn't stop there just to smell the flowers."
"How did you-?"
"I know more than you think I do. What did you think of the king's daughter? She's a fine one isn't she?" She brought the flower up to her lips and smelled it softly.
"She's human. And royalty. She's probably involved in the dungeons in some way." I felt as if I was trying to convince myself as well as Tabitha.
"She's not.", she said quickly, almost before I had finished my sentence.
"Apart from one encounter she's still trying to forget, she doesn't have a clue what's going on."
"And exactly how do you know that?" Even though I knew I wouldn't get an explanation, I had to ask anyway.
Tabitha grinned but gave no answer.
"I was thinking she might be useful to you. Having someone you can trust in the palace could help a lot. Not to mention her...what did she call it? Hobbie? She's quite a useful piece if you ask me."
"Are you kidding me? We can't do that! We have no clue if we can trust her, or how she'll act when she finds out what's going on, or if she'll work well with us. She could expose us! Get us all captured again! And probably get you arrested! It's way too risky." Again, I felt like I was trying to convince myself, rather than Tabitha.
"I know she's trustworthy. I've been watching her, and I truly think she's what you need to win the battle against the humans...I think she'll play her part perfectly..."