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Description

Chapter Two

“The Cloaked Woman.”

    The next morning came and the sun lit up the outpost and city surrounding it. Malstromeda got up as the sun warmed her bed. She swung her leg over the side, enjoying the sun warmed stone under the soles of her feet. She stretched, her muscles still aching from exerting herself the day before. All things considered she felt pretty good.

    The previous day she sparred, climbed around in a burning building, and carried two men on her back. Added to the amount of ale she drank the night before it was quite surprising how good she was feeling at all. She thanked her Thersian biology for something that few humans had. Thersians were solid, healed fast and were incredibly resistant to hangovers. This was something that she enjoyed flaunting over her human companions after a night of drinking. It was one of few physical traits Thersians had that humans were jealous over.

    She put on a robe and headed down to the lower area of the barracks. There was a hot spring down there where water was siphoned off of the main line from the aqueducts. As a Thersian she was not welcome to bathe with the others and this served her just fine. The water they siphoned off was less than went to the communal baths but she was really one of few that used it and that meant it was always clean and still hot. She just had to get to it at first light because if she missed it, they would not prepare more.

    After bathing, Malstromeda got dressed in her leather armor and put her sword belt and gear on. She had a few hours before she had to go on duty and decided she would go into the city and browse the markets. The guards were encouraged to do this in their armor and uniforms as it made it look as if they were always available and present. It was a good idea, though she knew there was little likely to happen other than a pickpocket or maybe a bandit. Malstromeda agreed that either would be something preferable to a boring morning.

    Malstromeda walked through the throng of people up and milling around the market. It was one of her favorite times to be there as it was mostly made up of cooks, provisioners and other people in the keeps service caste. That meant many Thersians and most people would not bat an eye by her presence. In fact, many looked upon her in admiration as she passed by. She was a someone who overcame what she was born as to gain her dream. Though she was only a lowly guard that was something that very few Thersians could do. She accepted some free fruit and juice from one of the sellers and leaned against a post by a well to eat it. Though she longed for something exciting to break up the monotony of her recent life, she still enjoyed some of the simple quiet moments.

    However, as much as she enjoyed it, the quiet was not meant to last as she caught something out of the corner of her eye. It was something simple that many people would not have noticed or paid much attention to. However, Malstromeda’s mind was keen on patterns and though she found it boring to be a guard, she was very good at it. What she saw was a solitary figure, a woman walking through the market. She was dressed in tan colors with a greyish green cloak with the hood drawn up. She was fair skinned and walked with bare feet in tight black stirrup leggings. She was dressed too strangely for a human and lacked the tail or horns of Thersian. She did have small indents on her head covered by the hood but they seemed short and not pointy enough. Her strange look and attire were not however what snagged Malstromeda’s attention, it was the people following her.

    She knew the pattern all too well. One thug would walk amongst the crowd, his singular presence not setting much off or seeming at all out of the ordinary. However, he was just the one who picked the target. This strange woman in her out of place clothes piqued his interest. She seemed to be not from the area and that likely meant she was carrying money to travel. The thug gave a signal and one by one people came out of their hiding places to join him. Some were pretending to shop for wares, some eating or just relaxing. However, as the scout signaled them to the chosen prey, they quickly dropped their pretenses and got into a formation. It was like a dance; all planned and choreographed many times. The other thugs began to get into the path of the target, causing her to move to evade them. Each thug looked intimidating and like they were looking for trouble. They corralled her, getting her to go right where they wanted, bouncing from the path of one thug then the other until she could find a place of safety. That was when she saw it…an alley out of the main thoroughfare, a place to escape the thugs descending upon her. However, this was not a path of safety, this was where the trap would be sprung.

    Malstromeda moved from her spot and got closer to the group. She knew they were looking for pursuit and guards so she had to be careful. She counted three Thersians and two humans. She always marveled how in crime and violence people seemed much more equal. As much as she admired that she was not going to let them strike this target. She moved carefully around stalls and people, staying out of sight of the last thug, the one meant to cover their tracks. If he spotted her then they would scatter. She only needed to stay out of sight until they entered the alley and sprung the trap, at that point it would be too late to flee.

    The last of the thugs entered the alley after the strange woman and they knew they had her. The alley looked like it connected to one of the outer streets but it was a dead end just around the corner. A wall from one of the mills cut it off and it was a perfect place to corner someone. It was one of such places in the city and Malstromeda knew them all. She hastened her step, knowing that what was about to happen and it would happen fast. She just had to hope that she could get in and stop them before they had a chance to decide to hurt the woman.

    Malstromeda heard the clash of weapons ahead of her and she drew her sword, but as she came around the corner, she was not ready for the sight ahead of her. All five of the thugs were on the ground, unconscious and wounded but still alive. Their weapons appeared broken, smashed as if cracked by a longsword. The strange woman stood before her, sheathing a sword on her side and hiding it with her cloak. She was strikingly beautiful with brown hair to her shoulders and braids framing her round face. She had a black tattoo that started from the top of one cheek going over the bridge of her nose to the other cheek. She had deep magenta eyes that looked back at Malstromeda as if she was trying to decide whether she was a threat or not.

    “I am with the towns guard.” Malstromeda said as she lowered her sword but did not sheath it. “Thank you for dealing with these thugs. Can I ask you some questions?”

    Without warning the woman moved. She was faster and more agile than anything Malstromeda had seen before. She ran toward the high wall and bounded off of it and got top of the mill wall. Before Malstromeda could even react, the woman vaulted up onto the roof of the nearby building and was gone. Malstromeda put her sword away and walked forward, her gaze still high up where the woman had despaired. Her bare foot brushed against something on the ground. She looked down, expecting to find a piece of one of the thugs’ weapons but instead finding something she could not reconcile. It was a sphere, no larger than a melon, made of bluish silver and light red metal and built with methods she had never seen before. Malstromeda crouched down and picked up the sphere as she heard the shout of other guards arriving, likely alerted by the sound of clashing weapons.

    “Now what are you?” Malstromeda said as she looked at the sphere. “You are something else.”

    After her shift, back in the barracks, Malstromeda examined the strange sphere. It was small and metallic but wasn’t heavy like it was solid. It looked like some sort of container but she could find no way to open it nor was there an obvious seam or hinge. She considered using tools to force it open but she didn’t want to break it. Malstromeda noticed the sphere was tarnished and dirty, looking like it had been some time since someone had cleaned it.

    Malstromeda walked over to her desk and took out her armor maintenance supplies. She gave it a thorough wipe down, allowing the rich colors of bluish silvers and light reds to come out. She took a small brush and went over the details again, making sure to remove every speck of dust and grime from the strange sphere. Once she was satisfied it was clean, she applied a small amount of polish and using a soft cloth began to go over it until it had a glossy shine.

    “There you go.” Malstromeda said as she set the sphere on the desk, carefully balanced on the lid of a jar that Malstromeda thought could be a makeshift holder for the time being. She sat back and looked at it, a curious look on her face as she pondered the person who likely dropped it and what the sphere could be.

    Malstromeda was interrupted by a knock at the door. “Mally, you want to come with us to the tavern in townsquare?”

    Malstromeda paused for a moment, looking from the strange sphere to the door. “Yeah Darric. Give me a minute and I’ll come with you.” She gathered up some things and headed out the door, taking one last look at the sphere before closing the door and locking it.

    The townsquare tavern was the most popular place to drink and dance in the city. It was once a town hall before a larger, fancier building had been built a few blocks away. It had three floors and an open concept area at the bottom for mingling and dancing.

    Malstromeda and her coworkers sat at a small bar area on the main floor, having some drinks and unwinding from the day. Malstromeda could not stop thinking about the strange woman she had seen earlier and the artifact she dropped. She did not look human but she also did not look Thersian. The more she thought about her the more distracted she became. Darric was telling some sort of story about fishing by the north ridge but very few of the words registered.

    Malstromeda stared out into the crowd, some drank, some mingled, some danced. However, a familiar face popped up in the crowd and it made Malstromeda sit up from her stool. It was her!

    Before she could even plan what she wanted to do or say she was heading toward her, trying to get through the crowd to where she saw her. She tried to keep her eyes on the stranger from before but there were just too many people on the main floor. She was held back as a trio walked in front of her and after they passed the strange woman was gone. Malstromeda kept moving, trying to guess where the hooded woman would be based on what direction she was going. She usually was really good at anticipating such things but as she reached the spot that she anticipated she would find her; the woman was nowhere in sight.

    “Are you looking for me?” An unfamiliar voice asked from behind. Malstromeda turned to see the enigmatic woman standing behind her. Her eyes were striking and she looked up at Malstromeda, her look piercing deep into her soul.

    “You fought those bandits earlier.” Malstromeda commented. “Are you a soldier?”

    “Something like that.” The woman said in response, her eyes still locked to Malstromeda. “Though I only use my skills when necessary.”

    “I have something of yours.” Malstromeda a commented. “A strange sphere.”

    “I know.” The woman said as she produced the small sphere from her cloak. “Thank you for cleaning her.”

    “How did you get that?” Malstromeda asked in shock, wondering how she could have even gotten into the guard barrack. “Wait…what do you mean by her?”

    “It’s very complicated and you might not be ready for the answers you receive.” The woman replied. “I just wanted to thank you for picking up my…artifact and not trying to break it open as many others might.”

    “There’s so much I want to ask you.” Malstromeda replied. “I am Malstromeda, my friends call me Mally.”

    “My name is dangerous.” The woman replied. “It does not come without consequence.”

    “I’ll risk it.” Malstromeda replied. “Please.”

    “Sila.” The hooded woman replied.

    “Sila.” Malstromeda repeated. “Can I ask you some questions.”

    “I will answer three.” Sila replied. “But not here.”

    “Follow me.” Malstromeda replied as she took the woman’s hand and began to lead her from the crowded hall to one of the entrances. She took her down the street onto one of the bridge houses. It was under construction and Malstromeda ducked under a plank meant to keep people out. She took Sila up onto the tower to a balcony overlooking the city. “No one will bother us up here till at least the morning.”

    “It’s beautiful up here.” Sila said as she looked around. “I sometimes forget to admire the beauty of the simple vistas I see.”

    “I forget too.” Malstromeda commented. “But I am reminded of when I came here with my family when I was very young. It was a happy time before things changed. It was a long time before things started to get better again.”

    “Are they there now?” Sila asked. “Or are you still waiting?”

    “Still waiting I suppose.” Malstromeda admitted with a sigh. “I came here hoping to find a place where I belong. I am mostly still looking.”

    Sila nodded as she leaned on the railing of the balcony next to Malstromeda. “I have been to so many paces but I am still looking for that place. I used to think that was where I came from but as I cannot find either I am still looking.”

    “So, I get three questions.” Malstromeda reminded. “What is that thing that you dropped?”

    “She is not really a thing…” Sila said as she took out the sphere and set it down on the railing. “It’s ok QD, you can come out.”

    The sphere rolled around in a circle, transforming from a sphere into what looked like a small animal made of metal. It had wheels instead of leg and its head had to round circles that glowed for eyes.

    “That’s amazing!” Malstromeda said as she stared at QD. “Is she like a pet?”

    QD made a musical whining sound as if offended by the question.

    Sila laughed. “QD is not a pet…she is kind of like…my assistant.”

    “Is she powered by magic?” Malstromeda said as she reached out a hand and touched QD on the top of her head. QD seemed to lean into her hand as if she enjoyed the touch.

    “Something like that.” Sila admitted. “It is hard to explain it and I don’t want to freak you out. Next question?”

    “Where did you come from?” Malstromeda asked. “You are obviously not from here.”

    “That is a very complicated question to answer.” Sila admitted. “I came from a place very far away. I left it at a very young age and barely remember it and don’t know how to get back to it. I have been all over learning skills and abilities for an order of peacekeepers that was made to keep people safe…like you as a guard but for everyone wherever it is needed. However, I was betrayed by another of my order and I had to leave it all behind. Things have been…not going well and here I am.”

    “I can help!” Malstromeda insisted. “You are safe here.”

    “I want to wish that were true.” Sila admitted. “But the danger that is at my heels is great and even if you could help me, I would not want to burden you with it.”

    “I followed the path that I follow to help people.” Malstromeda replied. “Safety and protection aren’t always fair here. Humans rule here and people like us don’t always get the help we need.”

    “I have noticed that the…humans here seem to be in power.” Sila agreed. “Though I must admit that I am not a Thersian.”

    “What are you then?” Malstromeda asked. “That is my third question.”

    “If you are sure?” Sila asked. “I don’t want you to freak out. I am sure you have never seen my kind before.”

    Malstromeda nodded. “I promise.”

    Sila reached up and pulled her hood back. The markings on her face under her eyes were revealed to be on her skin like a birthmark. She had short cropped auburn hair that went almost to her shoulders behind the braids at the front and her ears were on the top of her head instead of the side. Her ears were thin and triangular with fur on the outside like an animal. From behind her cloak a long striped furry tail slid out and Sila grinned, revealing large canine teeth.

    Malstromeda looked at her with curious eyes. “You look like a raccoon.”

    “I have been oft likened to similar animals.” Sila admitted. “I’m sorry if you find my appearance too strange.”

    “Not at all.” Malstromeda said with a kind smile. “I have been treated badly enough for being different that I would never do it to another. I in fact think your quite striking.”

“You are much too kind.” Sila replied. “It has been far too long since I have met someone that I have felt even a little safe around.”

    “I’m glad.” Malstromeda said as she leaned closer. “I have never met anyone like you and that’s not about what you are.”

    Sila leaned in, tenderly kissing Malstromeda on the lips. It was a light affair, and almost immediately she pulled away. “I’m sorry. That was very presumptuous and very much not something I usually do!”

    “I liked it.” Malstromeda replied. “Very much in fact.”

    “I am not used to being able to be free with my emotions.” Sila admitted, “And there are many, many things in the way of any sort of commitment to my heart.”

    “You don’t have to sell me your soul Sila.” Malstromeda admitted. “It can just be a kiss and we let what happens happen.”

    Sila leaned in for another kiss, this time Malstromeda was ready, kissing back passionately as she put her hand on Sila’s cheek. The pair kissed under the stars on the empty bridge house. In the stars above there was another shooting star, almost seeming like it was coming from the heavens to meet them on the ground.

-

Description

Chapter Two

“The Cloaked Woman.”

    The next morning came and the sun lit up the outpost and city surrounding it. Malstromeda got up as the sun warmed her bed. She swung her leg over the side, enjoying the sun warmed stone under the soles of her feet. She stretched, her muscles still aching from exerting herself the day before. All things considered she felt pretty good.

    The previous day she sparred, climbed around in a burning building, and carried two men on her back. Added to the amount of ale she drank the night before it was quite surprising how good she was feeling at all. She thanked her Thersian biology for something that few humans had. Thersians were solid, healed fast and were incredibly resistant to hangovers. This was something that she enjoyed flaunting over her human companions after a night of drinking. It was one of few physical traits Thersians had that humans were jealous over.

    She put on a robe and headed down to the lower area of the barracks. There was a hot spring down there where water was siphoned off of the main line from the aqueducts. As a Thersian she was not welcome to bathe with the others and this served her just fine. The water they siphoned off was less than went to the communal baths but she was really one of few that used it and that meant it was always clean and still hot. She just had to get to it at first light because if she missed it, they would not prepare more.

    After bathing, Malstromeda got dressed in her leather armor and put her sword belt and gear on. She had a few hours before she had to go on duty and decided she would go into the city and browse the markets. The guards were encouraged to do this in their armor and uniforms as it made it look as if they were always available and present. It was a good idea, though she knew there was little likely to happen other than a pickpocket or maybe a bandit. Malstromeda agreed that either would be something preferable to a boring morning.

    Malstromeda walked through the throng of people up and milling around the market. It was one of her favorite times to be there as it was mostly made up of cooks, provisioners and other people in the keeps service caste. That meant many Thersians and most people would not bat an eye by her presence. In fact, many looked upon her in admiration as she passed by. She was a someone who overcame what she was born as to gain her dream. Though she was only a lowly guard that was something that very few Thersians could do. She accepted some free fruit and juice from one of the sellers and leaned against a post by a well to eat it. Though she longed for something exciting to break up the monotony of her recent life, she still enjoyed some of the simple quiet moments.

    However, as much as she enjoyed it, the quiet was not meant to last as she caught something out of the corner of her eye. It was something simple that many people would not have noticed or paid much attention to. However, Malstromeda’s mind was keen on patterns and though she found it boring to be a guard, she was very good at it. What she saw was a solitary figure, a woman walking through the market. She was dressed in tan colors with a greyish green cloak with the hood drawn up. She was fair skinned and walked with bare feet in tight black stirrup leggings. She was dressed too strangely for a human and lacked the tail or horns of Thersian. She did have small indents on her head covered by the hood but they seemed short and not pointy enough. Her strange look and attire were not however what snagged Malstromeda’s attention, it was the people following her.

    She knew the pattern all too well. One thug would walk amongst the crowd, his singular presence not setting much off or seeming at all out of the ordinary. However, he was just the one who picked the target. This strange woman in her out of place clothes piqued his interest. She seemed to be not from the area and that likely meant she was carrying money to travel. The thug gave a signal and one by one people came out of their hiding places to join him. Some were pretending to shop for wares, some eating or just relaxing. However, as the scout signaled them to the chosen prey, they quickly dropped their pretenses and got into a formation. It was like a dance; all planned and choreographed many times. The other thugs began to get into the path of the target, causing her to move to evade them. Each thug looked intimidating and like they were looking for trouble. They corralled her, getting her to go right where they wanted, bouncing from the path of one thug then the other until she could find a place of safety. That was when she saw it…an alley out of the main thoroughfare, a place to escape the thugs descending upon her. However, this was not a path of safety, this was where the trap would be sprung.

    Malstromeda moved from her spot and got closer to the group. She knew they were looking for pursuit and guards so she had to be careful. She counted three Thersians and two humans. She always marveled how in crime and violence people seemed much more equal. As much as she admired that she was not going to let them strike this target. She moved carefully around stalls and people, staying out of sight of the last thug, the one meant to cover their tracks. If he spotted her then they would scatter. She only needed to stay out of sight until they entered the alley and sprung the trap, at that point it would be too late to flee.

    The last of the thugs entered the alley after the strange woman and they knew they had her. The alley looked like it connected to one of the outer streets but it was a dead end just around the corner. A wall from one of the mills cut it off and it was a perfect place to corner someone. It was one of such places in the city and Malstromeda knew them all. She hastened her step, knowing that what was about to happen and it would happen fast. She just had to hope that she could get in and stop them before they had a chance to decide to hurt the woman.

    Malstromeda heard the clash of weapons ahead of her and she drew her sword, but as she came around the corner, she was not ready for the sight ahead of her. All five of the thugs were on the ground, unconscious and wounded but still alive. Their weapons appeared broken, smashed as if cracked by a longsword. The strange woman stood before her, sheathing a sword on her side and hiding it with her cloak. She was strikingly beautiful with brown hair to her shoulders and braids framing her round face. She had a black tattoo that started from the top of one cheek going over the bridge of her nose to the other cheek. She had deep magenta eyes that looked back at Malstromeda as if she was trying to decide whether she was a threat or not.

    “I am with the towns guard.” Malstromeda said as she lowered her sword but did not sheath it. “Thank you for dealing with these thugs. Can I ask you some questions?”

    Without warning the woman moved. She was faster and more agile than anything Malstromeda had seen before. She ran toward the high wall and bounded off of it and got top of the mill wall. Before Malstromeda could even react, the woman vaulted up onto the roof of the nearby building and was gone. Malstromeda put her sword away and walked forward, her gaze still high up where the woman had despaired. Her bare foot brushed against something on the ground. She looked down, expecting to find a piece of one of the thugs’ weapons but instead finding something she could not reconcile. It was a sphere, no larger than a melon, made of bluish silver and light red metal and built with methods she had never seen before. Malstromeda crouched down and picked up the sphere as she heard the shout of other guards arriving, likely alerted by the sound of clashing weapons.

    “Now what are you?” Malstromeda said as she looked at the sphere. “You are something else.”

    After her shift, back in the barracks, Malstromeda examined the strange sphere. It was small and metallic but wasn’t heavy like it was solid. It looked like some sort of container but she could find no way to open it nor was there an obvious seam or hinge. She considered using tools to force it open but she didn’t want to break it. Malstromeda noticed the sphere was tarnished and dirty, looking like it had been some time since someone had cleaned it.

    Malstromeda walked over to her desk and took out her armor maintenance supplies. She gave it a thorough wipe down, allowing the rich colors of bluish silvers and light reds to come out. She took a small brush and went over the details again, making sure to remove every speck of dust and grime from the strange sphere. Once she was satisfied it was clean, she applied a small amount of polish and using a soft cloth began to go over it until it had a glossy shine.

    “There you go.” Malstromeda said as she set the sphere on the desk, carefully balanced on the lid of a jar that Malstromeda thought could be a makeshift holder for the time being. She sat back and looked at it, a curious look on her face as she pondered the person who likely dropped it and what the sphere could be.

    Malstromeda was interrupted by a knock at the door. “Mally, you want to come with us to the tavern in townsquare?”

    Malstromeda paused for a moment, looking from the strange sphere to the door. “Yeah Darric. Give me a minute and I’ll come with you.” She gathered up some things and headed out the door, taking one last look at the sphere before closing the door and locking it.

    The townsquare tavern was the most popular place to drink and dance in the city. It was once a town hall before a larger, fancier building had been built a few blocks away. It had three floors and an open concept area at the bottom for mingling and dancing.

    Malstromeda and her coworkers sat at a small bar area on the main floor, having some drinks and unwinding from the day. Malstromeda could not stop thinking about the strange woman she had seen earlier and the artifact she dropped. She did not look human but she also did not look Thersian. The more she thought about her the more distracted she became. Darric was telling some sort of story about fishing by the north ridge but very few of the words registered.

    Malstromeda stared out into the crowd, some drank, some mingled, some danced. However, a familiar face popped up in the crowd and it made Malstromeda sit up from her stool. It was her!

    Before she could even plan what she wanted to do or say she was heading toward her, trying to get through the crowd to where she saw her. She tried to keep her eyes on the stranger from before but there were just too many people on the main floor. She was held back as a trio walked in front of her and after they passed the strange woman was gone. Malstromeda kept moving, trying to guess where the hooded woman would be based on what direction she was going. She usually was really good at anticipating such things but as she reached the spot that she anticipated she would find her; the woman was nowhere in sight.

    “Are you looking for me?” An unfamiliar voice asked from behind. Malstromeda turned to see the enigmatic woman standing behind her. Her eyes were striking and she looked up at Malstromeda, her look piercing deep into her soul.

    “You fought those bandits earlier.” Malstromeda commented. “Are you a soldier?”

    “Something like that.” The woman said in response, her eyes still locked to Malstromeda. “Though I only use my skills when necessary.”

    “I have something of yours.” Malstromeda a commented. “A strange sphere.”

    “I know.” The woman said as she produced the small sphere from her cloak. “Thank you for cleaning her.”

    “How did you get that?” Malstromeda asked in shock, wondering how she could have even gotten into the guard barrack. “Wait…what do you mean by her?”

    “It’s very complicated and you might not be ready for the answers you receive.” The woman replied. “I just wanted to thank you for picking up my…artifact and not trying to break it open as many others might.”

    “There’s so much I want to ask you.” Malstromeda replied. “I am Malstromeda, my friends call me Mally.”

    “My name is dangerous.” The woman replied. “It does not come without consequence.”

    “I’ll risk it.” Malstromeda replied. “Please.”

    “Sila.” The hooded woman replied.

    “Sila.” Malstromeda repeated. “Can I ask you some questions.”

    “I will answer three.” Sila replied. “But not here.”

    “Follow me.” Malstromeda replied as she took the woman’s hand and began to lead her from the crowded hall to one of the entrances. She took her down the street onto one of the bridge houses. It was under construction and Malstromeda ducked under a plank meant to keep people out. She took Sila up onto the tower to a balcony overlooking the city. “No one will bother us up here till at least the morning.”

    “It’s beautiful up here.” Sila said as she looked around. “I sometimes forget to admire the beauty of the simple vistas I see.”

    “I forget too.” Malstromeda commented. “But I am reminded of when I came here with my family when I was very young. It was a happy time before things changed. It was a long time before things started to get better again.”

    “Are they there now?” Sila asked. “Or are you still waiting?”

    “Still waiting I suppose.” Malstromeda admitted with a sigh. “I came here hoping to find a place where I belong. I am mostly still looking.”

    Sila nodded as she leaned on the railing of the balcony next to Malstromeda. “I have been to so many paces but I am still looking for that place. I used to think that was where I came from but as I cannot find either I am still looking.”

    “So, I get three questions.” Malstromeda reminded. “What is that thing that you dropped?”

    “She is not really a thing…” Sila said as she took out the sphere and set it down on the railing. “It’s ok QD, you can come out.”

    The sphere rolled around in a circle, transforming from a sphere into what looked like a small animal made of metal. It had wheels instead of leg and its head had to round circles that glowed for eyes.

    “That’s amazing!” Malstromeda said as she stared at QD. “Is she like a pet?”

    QD made a musical whining sound as if offended by the question.

    Sila laughed. “QD is not a pet…she is kind of like…my assistant.”

    “Is she powered by magic?” Malstromeda said as she reached out a hand and touched QD on the top of her head. QD seemed to lean into her hand as if she enjoyed the touch.

    “Something like that.” Sila admitted. “It is hard to explain it and I don’t want to freak you out. Next question?”

    “Where did you come from?” Malstromeda asked. “You are obviously not from here.”

    “That is a very complicated question to answer.” Sila admitted. “I came from a place very far away. I left it at a very young age and barely remember it and don’t know how to get back to it. I have been all over learning skills and abilities for an order of peacekeepers that was made to keep people safe…like you as a guard but for everyone wherever it is needed. However, I was betrayed by another of my order and I had to leave it all behind. Things have been…not going well and here I am.”

    “I can help!” Malstromeda insisted. “You are safe here.”

    “I want to wish that were true.” Sila admitted. “But the danger that is at my heels is great and even if you could help me, I would not want to burden you with it.”

    “I followed the path that I follow to help people.” Malstromeda replied. “Safety and protection aren’t always fair here. Humans rule here and people like us don’t always get the help we need.”

    “I have noticed that the…humans here seem to be in power.” Sila agreed. “Though I must admit that I am not a Thersian.”

    “What are you then?” Malstromeda asked. “That is my third question.”

    “If you are sure?” Sila asked. “I don’t want you to freak out. I am sure you have never seen my kind before.”

    Malstromeda nodded. “I promise.”

    Sila reached up and pulled her hood back. The markings on her face under her eyes were revealed to be on her skin like a birthmark. She had short cropped auburn hair that went almost to her shoulders behind the braids at the front and her ears were on the top of her head instead of the side. Her ears were thin and triangular with fur on the outside like an animal. From behind her cloak a long striped furry tail slid out and Sila grinned, revealing large canine teeth.

    Malstromeda looked at her with curious eyes. “You look like a raccoon.”

    “I have been oft likened to similar animals.” Sila admitted. “I’m sorry if you find my appearance too strange.”

    “Not at all.” Malstromeda said with a kind smile. “I have been treated badly enough for being different that I would never do it to another. I in fact think your quite striking.”

“You are much too kind.” Sila replied. “It has been far too long since I have met someone that I have felt even a little safe around.”

    “I’m glad.” Malstromeda said as she leaned closer. “I have never met anyone like you and that’s not about what you are.”

    Sila leaned in, tenderly kissing Malstromeda on the lips. It was a light affair, and almost immediately she pulled away. “I’m sorry. That was very presumptuous and very much not something I usually do!”

    “I liked it.” Malstromeda replied. “Very much in fact.”

    “I am not used to being able to be free with my emotions.” Sila admitted, “And there are many, many things in the way of any sort of commitment to my heart.”

    “You don’t have to sell me your soul Sila.” Malstromeda admitted. “It can just be a kiss and we let what happens happen.”

    Sila leaned in for another kiss, this time Malstromeda was ready, kissing back passionately as she put her hand on Sila’s cheek. The pair kissed under the stars on the empty bridge house. In the stars above there was another shooting star, almost seeming like it was coming from the heavens to meet them on the ground.

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