Postby Wolfsong » Mon Feb 25, 2013 5:08 pm
OOC- okay, thanks, Twister, but what about Romani Ranch?
Cremia sat in front, like she always did. Romani sat in the back, her bow clutched tightly in her hands. She glared out into the twilight sky, just daring anyone to attack their wagon. Not that it had happened for a while, but best be safe.
"Romani," she heard Cremia say. "Do you see anything?"
Romani shook her head. "Nope. Nothing, unless you count grass."
Then she heard it- loud whoops and cries. The donkey hee-hawed, and she heard Cremia talking soothingly to it. Romani switched to a crouching position, fitting an arrow to her bow. "Ride, Cremia!" she shouted. "Get that donkey going now!!!"
She had to grab the edge as the donkey lept forward, as fast as Cremia could get it without risking breaking the precious bottles. Romani watched as two men, on some sorry looking horses and wearing dark hoods, caming riding after them. Quietly, she drew back the bow and shot. It only grazed the rider's side, and he came closer. The next shot caught him in the leg, and he drew back somewhat. The other rider had come up while she was busy with the first, and was trying to hit the jars. Her shot caught him right in the shoulder.
"Hurry up, Cremia!" she shouted.
"We're almost out!' came her sister's reply. Romani nodded grimly and fired again.
After a few minutes of frantic shooting, they escaped the ambush and reentered the main road. Romani smiled, then collapsed to the floor, starting to laugh. Cremia glanced back worriedly, but Romani shook her head. "I'm fine. Just...wow...I did it!"
"You did great," Cremia agreed warmly. Romani smiled back at her, and they reached Clockwork City.
Romani and Cremia lifted up the huge bottles and entered the town. Cremia, being the older and more experienced, led the way to the bar. Romani some how managed to open the door without dropping her precious burden, and they entered the bar.
"Heya, Ralof!" Cremia said in greeting. "I have the next delivery."
Ralof smiled at her from across the counter. "Wonderful!" he came around the counter, rubbing his hands. "Top quality, as ever?"
"Have I ever cheated you, Ralof?" Cremia asked, sounding somewhat tired as she carefully put the crate down. Ralof shook his head.
"Sorry, didn't mean to offend you or anything." He opened the crate and inspected the milk with a experienced eye. "Yes, very good. Better than the last, in fact. I'll add two hundred rupees to the agreed payment."
Romani bit her lip to keep her mouth shut, while Cremia wordlessly agreed. The rupees exchanged hands. "How are things in town?" Cremia asked.
"The same as they've been. The ancients still rule, and the keatens are still on the loose. Did you really think anything would change?"
"No," she sighed. "I suppose I hadn't. How's Anju?"
"She's doing really well at the inn. By the way," he added, as he brought the crates behind the counter. "She was here earlier, and she asked me to say hello."
"That's nice of her," Cremia said, smiling. "I'll probably drop in and see her before going back. Have a good day." and they left.
Romani whirled around, heatedly saying, "That man practically swindled you! That crate was our best, and worth so much more than that!"
Cremia shook her head. "We've no room to bargain, really. Its enough to survive on, Romani. Just leave it."
"I...I can't! Its not fair! Its so wrong!" Romani began to back away, hands clenched. Pent-up anger was building in her, and she felt like screaming. Her sister gave her a direct look. "Romani, don't! Just calm down, and go back to the wagons. I'll go see how Anju's doing, and then we'll go home, alright? Now go!"
Romani stomped toward the main gate, fuming. Just because Cremia was the older sister, it didn't mean she was always right! When she reached the door, she suddenly felt very rebelious. She hated it, hated Cremia's 'lie-down-and-accept' attitude! Enough was enough!
She looked quickly around, then bolted into the crowd, intent on getting lost. "Sorry Cremia," she thought, unrepentent. "But its time something changed here, and if you won't help, then I'll do it alone."
"Roshca!"
he whirled around, startled out of his thoughts. His sister, Amily, smiled up at him from the water. She was growing up into a singer just like her mother. Her voice was beautiful, and she was already very much admired.
"Roshca, help me up, will you?"
He bent down, grabbed her outstetched hand, and pulled her up. She wiped some water from her eye, and smiled brightly at him. "Why the long face, Roshca? You look like you've been unable to swim for months."
"I was thinking about mother," he replied sadly. She blinked, then quickly said, "She's fine, I know it! She's just out there, somewhere, hiding for some reason. She's probably trying to protect us from something."
He smiled faintly. "I suppose." After a moment, he decided to get his sister's smile back. "Hey Amily! Race you to the shore!" and he dove into the water.
"Hey, no fair!" he heard her shout, and felt her enter through the ripples in the water. But it didn't matter, he was already moving. His body moved with the waves, and it was effortless to keep a lead. All zoras were at home in the water, but Roshca seemed to become part of the water when he swam. He soon reached the shore, and he turned to see where his sister was.
She was on the bottom, he could see, and struggling with something. He feared a like-like might have attacked her, and instantly dove in.
It wasn't a like-like, but a pair of rocks she had somehow got caught in between. "I was trying to get ahead," she mouthed. "Then they suddenly closed up. Help!"
He nodded and began pushing against the rocks. Slowly, resentfully, it came away, and she swam to the surface for a fresh breath of air. He went up to join her, and they laughed at the close call.
Suddenly, a dark shadow fell over them. Roshca turned to see the huge prow of a ship. Before they could move, they were suddenly caught in the web-like tangles of a net. They helplessly struggled as the net was slowly hoisted aboard. Before Roscha could do anything, something hard hit his head, and all went black.
OOC- do you mind? I wanted to do something with the pirates, but I can change it if you like.
Talk about long-posts....boy do I feel like a windbag.