When I entered the diner, my eyes were drawn to bouncy blue hair at a table off to the side. Fiella and Kizzi were so absorbed in their own conversation that they didn’t notice anyone else around them.
I made sure to stay out of their lines of sight. I had endured enough for one day and I was drained. And also vaguely humiliated. Skipping in circles could do that to a man.
There were so many bodies in one room–so many hearts pumping hot, delicious-smelling blood through veins andarteries. So many necks vulnerable to being bitten. I took a deep breath through my mouth, cooling the fire in my throat and giving my nose a reprieve from the onslaught. I tried to focus on the food smells, but the cooking vegetables weren’t as potent as the smell of meat, so they didn’t drown out the blood smells as well.
Gods, this is miserable.
I grabbed my bowl of rice and soup to go, promising to bring the dishes back tomorrow, and made my way back to my cottage where I could enjoy my meal in private.
I didn’t have family to talk to here in Moonvale like I had back at home, so there wasn’t much here to entertain myself with besides books. I decided now was as good a time as any to write a letter to my parents back in Sunhaven.
Weeks had passed, and I was sure they were worried about me. I hadn’t been communicating as well as I should have been.
I briefly mentioned that I was doing just fine here, and that they didn’t have to worry about me. I left out any mentions of the massive workload I was juggling here, and that this town seemed to be a disaster. I left out anything that could possibly make them worry or wonder if I had made a mistake in coming here. I didn’t want to cause my Ma any unnecessary stress.
I asked how everyone was doing–Ollie and Wayde, my parents, the shop, the neighbors,everyone. I asked how the weather was, because it was dreadfully cold here. Bone chilling, really. I missed the heat almost as much as I missed my Ma’s homemade blood and beef stew.
I asked if the bad luck had dissipated when I left.
After I finished the letter, which was much longer than I had anticipated, I headed back into town to ask Mayor Tommins about how Moonvale handled letter delivery. I was sure they had some sort of critter or carrier system here, and since the suns were still above the horizon, there should have been plenty oftime to figure it out. I had received a few letters, so surely there was a way to send them to other towns as well.
I wished it was as easy as it had been with my penpal–those letters simply delivered themselves. My insides warmed slightly at the reminder.
It turned out that Moonvale had a handful of carrier parrots available, and I paid to have one dispatch my message. That method was much cheaper than having the letter instantly sent via magical spell, which would cost me a week’s worth of silvers. I would rather save my coins than waste them on convenience.
The town slowed down as the suns sank past their peak. Folk slunk away to their homes– the critters curled into their nests, and the night insects began their chirping.
It was peaceful. I was used to noise and bustle back home in Sunhaven, and the serenity was a nice change of pace. The buildings here were so spread apart, none of them sharing walls and each looking vastly different.
My favorite part about Moonvale was the Greenwood Forest it was nestled beside. The trees were massive– reaching their limbs outwards like fingers, searching for something to brush up against. The air smelled alive, like dirt and fresh blades of grass.
I stuck my hand into a mailbox as I passed by, my fingers encountering crisp, expensive parchment.
I smiled, my mood lifting instantly as I tucked the letter into my cloak.
Ground-dwelling plants swallowed up the cobblestones as I trudged back toward my cottage.
My friend Two,
I hope it is okay if I start calling you my friend.
Things have been slowly looking up. The days are hard, and I often find myself sinking back into the hold of self-pity, but I am trying to stay positive.
I’m telling myself things can only get better from here.
They are getting better. Bit by bit.
And how are you, friend? Has your body been holding up through those long days you told me about? I hear they make tonics for that sort of thing, you should look into finding some. I don’t like hearing that you are in pain.
Your friend,
One
P.S. I appreciate your concern about my stash of silvers, but this was a worthwhile investment.
The suns had not yet set, but I was exhausted. I collapsed into bed with a mystery book so I could read until I fell asleep. A good story would keep my mind occupied and prevent it from wandering.
Mayor Tommins had, unsurprisingly, given me another work assignment for tomorrow. I would be tackling that bright and early.
