As the small party neared the outskirts of Evercrest, the bustling town ahead, Gruff slowed his pace, his eyes scanning the area warily. "Alright, kids," he said, his voice low but firm, "we're almost there. Remember to stick close and keep your wits about you."
Amelia nodded eagerly, her eyes bright with excitement at the prospect of exploring a new place. "I can't wait to see what it's like!"
Tommy remained silent, his gaze fixed on the approaching town with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity. He knew that cities like Evercrest were filled with both wonders and dangers, and he braced himself for whatever lay ahead.
As they reached the town gates, they were stopped by a pair of guards, their armor gleaming in the sunlight. The taller of the two guards stepped forward, his expression stern. "Hold there. To enter Evercrest, there's a fee of 10 copper coins per person."
Gruff nodded, reaching into his pouch and counting out the required coins. "Understood. Here you go."
The guard accepted the coins with a nod, stepping aside to let them pass. "Thank you. Enjoy your stay in Evercrest."
Once through the gates, Gruff led them through the bustling streets, the sounds of merchants hawking their wares and children playing filling the air. Before heading to the traders guild, Gruff decided to stop by a nearby inn to drop off the children.
"Now, you two stay put here while I go take care of some business," Gruff said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Tommy and Amelia nodded obediently as Gruff left, disappearing into the crowded streets. Left alone in the inn, Amelia couldn't resist the urge to explore. Amelia's eyes lit up as she looked out the window and saw children playing outside.
"Come on, Tommy!" she said, tugging at his sleeve. "Let's go join them! It looks like so much fun."
Tommy hesitated, remembering Gruff's instructions to stay put. But when he saw the excitement in Amelia's eyes, he relented. "Alright, but just for a little while."
Stepping outside, they found themselves amidst a group of children who seemed to be playing some sort of game. But as Tommy observed them, he couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right.
Amelia, however, was oblivious to his unease as she bounded up to the children. "Hi there! Can we play too?"
One of the children, a scrappy-looking boy with a mischievous glint in his eye, eyed them suspiciously. "What are you doing here? This isn't a place for rich kids like you."
Tommy bristled at the insult, but before he could respond, Amelia spoke up. "We just want to have some fun. Is that okay?"
One of the children sneered, a hint of mockery in his voice. "Why don't you two go back home to your mommy?" he taunted, his words dripping with disdain.
As the words cut through the air like a knife, Tommy felt a surge of anger rising within him. His fists clenched instinctively as he turned to face the boy who had dared to mock him. "Don't you dare talk about my mother," he spat, his voice laced with barely contained fury. "She's... she's gone, alright? So just shut up about her."
The leader of the children watched Tommy closely, his gaze piercing and searching. When Tommy remained silent in response to his question about his mother, the boy's expression softened, a flicker of understanding passing through his eyes. "I see," he said quietly, his tone surprisingly gentle. "We're all in the same boat, you know. Orphans in a city that doesn't give a damn about us. It's tough out here, and sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to survive."
Tommy's anger ebbed away, replaced by a sense of empathy and solidarity with the other children. Despite their initial hostility, he could see now that they were just like him—victims of circumstance, forced to fend for themselves in a world that had dealt them a cruel hand. "I didn't know," he murmured, his voice softening. "I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I shouldn't have snapped at you like that."
The leader of the children nodded, a faint smile playing at the corners of his lips. "It's alright. We get it. Survival can make you do crazy things sometimes." He extended a hand towards Tommy, a silent gesture of camaraderie and understanding. "Friends?"
Tommy hesitated for a moment before reaching out to grasp the boy's hand firmly. "Friends," he agreed, a sense of kinship settling over him like a comforting blanket. In that moment, he knew that he had found allies in the most unlikely of places, and that together, they would weather whatever challenges lay ahead.
"If you're gonna play with us, you gotta keep up." The boy said before he took off running.
With that, the children launched into their game, a wild mix of tag and parkour that sent them darting through the streets and alleys of Evercrest. As Tommy and Amelia chased after them, a tentative bond began to form between them and their newfound friends, bridging the gap between their vastly different worlds.