Rude Awakening

Thumping at the door causes Lee to stir from his sleep, followed by Hael. As the pair of them travel towards the sound, Lee opens the door and they are met with the face of Herald. Behind him rests Marne and Yuler, who remain stationed on the porch, but seem to be slightly disappointed. As Lee and Hael notice this, they look to Herald once more and await what is to come.

"It is with great displeasure that I must request that the Nostrum residing within this abode leave Crater's Crown at once. It is in the better interest of my people that I must make this request, as fear has begun to spread throughout the city."

"Wait, what?" Lee asks, baffled.

"I am most apologetic, dear Nostrum, but it has been discussed greatly since the attack that took place last night and the people have agreed that this is a must."

"We took care of that creature for your people. Why would they want us out now?" Marne wonders, no longer feeling the warm welcome they had once come to know.

"I'm sorry. Word from Maciofim has finally reached our walls, and with it, the tales of those who attempted to destroy The Bethel and all of its work."

"We prevented The Bethel's destruction. What amount of it we could, that is." Lee insists, now feeling the same kind of disbelief as Marne and Yuler. "What can we do to make amends?"

Herald pauses for a moment and looks over the Nostrum before him. Then, he sighs heavily and looks back to a small crowd that has begun to form around them as the curious people of Crater's Crown swarm in on their Tsar's words. Finally, he looks back to Lee.

"You can take me with you."

"What?" Lee cocks his head back as the suggestion is made, not understanding the purpose of such a thing.

"I have spent many years searching for my creator, yet have had no luck in locating him. If you take me with you, my chances would greatly increase, and so long as you protect me from what lurks out and about in this world, you will gain the trust of my people once more."

A murmur begins to take hold of the surrounding citizens, who seem to dislike the idea of such a thing more than they had the beast that attacked the night prior. Yet, their words do not persist as their Tsar raises a paw into the air to silence them.

"These are the terms that I offer you. In exchange for your protection and guidance towards what I hope to be my creator, I will restore your reputation within this city and on top of that, I will also provide you with full access to my articles."

"What use do we have in your books?" Lee questions, slightly irritated by the negotiation taking place.

"Well, that depends on what use you had in The Bethel's books before or during their destruction."

Lee falls silent and lets nothing but a heavy breath leave his nostrils.

"We had nothing to do with the destruction of those pieces," Hael states, "you must believe us."

"It is no longer up to me." Says Herald, who looks to the ground for a moment before returning to Hael's gaze. "It is less about whether or not you had anything to do with the destruction and more about whether or not you attempted to save them."

"We were quite occupied at the time." Interjects Marne, who has now gotten up from his chair and begun stretching out. "It's not every day you ride on the back of a beast for your own safety."

Hael lets out a snort before clearing her throat and raising her chin.

"We did all that we could I am afraid."

"So be it." Herald straightens out his coat and looks over the party one last time. "Do we have a deal, or not?"

Lee begrudgingly sticks out his hand and Herald accepts it with glee.

"Oh, wonderous day!" He shouts whilst clapping. "I will also offer you a wagon of your choice and my finest horse. This way we can reach our destination much quicker."

"Now why didn't you sweeten the deal with that in the beginning?" Lee scowls at the hare as he asks this, then turns away and heads back inside to gather his equipment.

Hael does the same, leaving Marne and Yuler in the presence of the Tsar, who disperses the gathering crowd with a wave of his hand. Once the crowd has vanished and the citizens have returned to their daily activities, he looks to Yuler and smiles oddly.

"Tell me, what is your name?"

"Yuler."

"And you?"

"Marne."

"And what of your friends?"

"The two who headed back inside, or the two who never stepped out?"

"All of them."

*****

With their supplies gathered, food and beverages stocked, and a wagon beneath them, the party begins their journey once more. As they do so, Herald waves off his disapproving people and sits at the front with Lee and Hael, who remain separated by the furry creature. At the rear of the wagon, Marne and Yuler sit on the edge and watch Crater's Crown disappear behind trees and bushes. Behind them rests Samuel and Samara, who seem to have found sanctuary in the shade.

"So, tell me, Lee Fardel-"

"Just Lee will do."

"Of course." Says Herald apologetically. "So, Lee Fardel, what brought you to where you are now?"

"There's not much to tell." Lee blandly states, taking a sip of tea from his flask and flicking the reigns. "I go where Hael goes, and I do as Hael says."

"Not without an argument, of course." Hael smiles in Lee's direction as she says this and Lee smiles back.

"You two make quite the odd pair." Herald claims, looking over the expressions of each.

"Why might that be?" Lee glares at Herald expectantly but remains patient with their new companion.

"You are obviously a man of pure will and clearly give off a headstrong attitude, whilst Hael here is more docile and capable of remorse."

"Are you saying that I am not?" Lee raises a brow in the hare's direction as he asks this, now beginning to lose his thinning patience.

"Of course you are, just not to the same extent."

"How can you be so sure that you know us so well when you've only just met us?" Hael wonders, placing her hands against her knees.

"It's a gift." Herald gives a wink and looks behind himself, as if to be looking through the walls of the wagon. "Just like those two in there. A youthful woman still seeking the life that every girl dreams of, and a boy who wishes to fulfill those dreams for her."

"Who might that be?" Hael looks over her own shoulder and then back at Herald, who does not waver.

"They know."

Marne brushes away rosey cheeks and looks off towards the sun. With his mask still hanging loosely around his neck, he turns towards Yuler and takes a deep breath, expressing a smile.

"You know it to be true, don't you?"

"Pardon?" Yuler looks to Marne with oblivious eyes and he comes to realize that she had not heard a word that Herald spoke.

"It's nothing. Forget it." He then outstretches his arms and rests them behind himself, using them as a means to prop up.

"Smooth." Whispers Samara from behind him.

Marne does not respond. Instead, he continues to regret his current existence and looks back towards the sun. Then, to Yuler, who also looks off into the distance.

"Perhaps I and my sister should venture outside the wagon for some time." Suggests Samuel, who taps at the shoulder of Samara. "Catch a breath of fresh air whilst we still can?"

"Oh, most certainly." Samara smiles in Marne's direction, then slides to the edge of the wagon, then off; Allowing the soles of her shoes to clop against soil as she does so. Samuel then follows her out and the pair of them begin walking a short distance behind the wagon.

Now feeling that a great amount of pressure has been placed on his shoulders, Marne looks to Yuler once again, just as she looks to him. Locking eyes, they smile at one another and turn away once more.

"So what of your future?"

"What of it?" Marne kicks his feet loosely off the edge and allows them to sway as the bumpy road ahead falls behind them.

"You never got to tell me of it. Has anything changed since last we spoke on the topic?"

"No." Marne fibs, allowing himself a deep breath before continuing. "All the same."

"And what is the same?"

Marne pauses for a moment, now realizing that he has forgotten what he once wanted, as new desires have begun to take hold. Shrugging, he pulls at his tricorn and allows the brim to fall below the bridge of his nose, nearly covering his eyes entirely as he lays back and folds his arms behind his head.

"You know."

"Do I now?" Yuler giggles, surrendering to the stubbornness of the man beside her. "Very well."

"So... what do you make of Herald's word?"

"I believe he knows all that he can, even if what he knows isn't truly correct."

"Does that mean you believe we are headed towards another wall?"

"Of course we are." Yuler sighs and leans forward, allowing her elbows to rest on her knees. "I doubt our capability to crack such a long-standing tale in such a short amount of time."

"A fair outlook, I suppose."

"Still, I do feel that we are close to... something."

"Such as?"

"Answers, just not answers to the questions we've already got."

"What questions might we have?"

"Plenty, if someone were to count yours." Giggling once more, Yuler tugs her mask away from her body and folds it up neatly. Then, tucks it away in a coat pocket. "No, but truly, we must learn as much as we can if we are to ever find the Moon Children. Whoever they are."

"For all we know, they could be anyone." Marne offers, now looking to the ceiling as rays of light pierce the cloth cover. "Living ordinary lives like the rest of us, just wanting to escape it all."

"Provided they are alive, that is."

"Why wouldn't they be?"

"We can't be sure they will truly live forever, or that they can't be killed, such as the stories that have been told. Perhaps, we should question whether or not we should be speaking of them in the present tense, or the past tense."

"I'd rather not get involved in grammatical aspects."

"Is it too advanced for you?"

"Indeed." Marne grins as he says this, then lets his eyes fall shut.

"Tired already?"

"Tired always, is more like it."

"Perhaps we should walk awhile; Let the Decwicks have the bed."

"I just found comfort." Marne argues, his eyes still resting shut.

"Come." Yuler slaps a palm against Marne's thigh and allows it to linger for a moment before pushing herself off and pulling at his hand. Begrudgingly, he gets off his back and joins her on the firm earth.

"Come to join us?" Samara asks.

"We've come to replace you, if you'll allow it."

"By all means, Miss Yuler." Samuel waves for them to take their place and the twins return to the wagon. Once again leaving Marne and Yuler to their own devices.

"There, now that you're up, you have to talk with me." Yuler's cheeks redden as she insists, but she doesn't allow it to show for long as she returns her mask to her face.

"Your word is my command." Marne says, offering her his own affections.