Post by Coli on Oct 5, 2006 3:17:13 GMT -5
This was on the last guild so I thought id just pull it over here. Ill just post a chapter (very small) a week but if u want to read more its on the other guild like I said. Enjoy!
Chapter 1 - Morning
The streets were filled with a musky smell, dung mixed with the ever-present smell of sweat. Teams of men marched through the city daily so it came as little surprise that the stench drifted on until seconds before the men came again the next day.
The sun cut through the darkness and the city came to life once again
Two girls sat on a step outside a bakery, their nostrils filled with the aroma of fresh bread rather than the reek of sweat. The younger was stretching her head to the sky, just like every other day of her miserable youth, trying to capture the smell in each breath she took. The older girl let her cause herself embarrassment. No one rushing past noticed the two urchins, so she let the girl stretch backwards trailing her dirty blonde hair in the dust.
The older girl wore a tunic of a once clear peach, now masked in dirt; she blended in well with the houses. Her hair showed the same uncared for picture-a tangle of deep brown tied on top of her head out of the way.
She turned slowly to the little girl, life was calling to them, and she couldn’t put it off any longer
“Marie.” She called to the little girl who seemed to have fallen into a trance, caused by the rich smells. She opened her eyes revealing the only full of life character she had, a startling icy blue shone in the morning sun and she smiled slightly as she nodded and pulled herself away from the stairs.
The older girl remained seated, this was Marie’s job; she would just wait. She sat and observed the many by-passers that she knew by face, but never was acquainted with. They were a whole other world away and so she remained contented to just sit and ponder over their busy lives.
A woman passed by wearing a casual summer dress of mint green. The girl knew the woman, though not personally, and fondly nicknamed her “fish”. She rushed past holding her basket and carrying a mackerel, the girl never knew why but everyday, every morning, without fail, fish would walk past and the girl would smile. She was a predictable person and to see this clockwork action comforted the girl; it was so different to everything she knew.
An hour passed by and still the girl sat watching the crowds rush past, then he came. This was the highlight of her day. A young man casually strolled down the street; his ringlets of chocolate brown glinted in the sunlight from the oil he used. He had the most handsome chiseled face and eyes to match his hair. The girl’s eyes followed his every movement as he wandered past and she thanked the stars Marie was away for this part of the day or she would tease her continuously about her feelings for the young man.
Marie returned shortly after, skipping her way back from the market like every other day. She sang a song as she danced along which was earning her glares as she passed through the crowds. Marie had picked up this new song from the bar near their den; the girl blushed as yet more profane words poured out of the little girls mouth. Marie however did not notice, or refused to, she enjoyed music and the tune had firmly seeded itself in her mind, growing like a ground plant to cover any other tunes she had learnt in life.
The sun had now reached over the house opposite the bakers and the older girl sat basking in the sunlight, waiting for the little girl to finish her twirling amongst the crowds, her olive skin glowing in the sun. The little girl finally came to a halt in front of the elder girl who was now leaning back against the previous step.
“One for you,” she said, handing the older girl a roll of sorts, “and one for me.” She completed, plonking her scrawny self down on the step, further dirtying her lemon tunic, which was starting to appear brown.
“Erica?” the little girl said after a while as if without thinking, “Why does the scary woman chase me when I get our breakfast?” she looked up into the older girls eyes, the naivety of the young girl was almost tangible, and took a bite of her roll.
“We’ve been through this before, Marie.” Sighed Erica, the truth was difficult to tell a six year old and would most likely interfere with what she was doing, so she kept to the child’s version. “The big, old, mean woman chases you every day because she's jealous of your looks. But your not allowed to stop going to see her because we were told that we have to make sure she’s well, she was a dear family friend. Just make sure your not caught because if you are she'll cut all your hair off and steal your eyes!” Erica ended her well-rehearsed speech and felt slightly as if she was betraying Marie, but on the other hand she was always protecting her from death. She finished her roll and licked her sugary fingers.
Marie sat without a sound; her eyes glazed over in thought, just the same as when she last asked the question. She wasn’t questioning Erica’s answer instead when her sister finally asked her one day what she was thinking about she replied, “I like my eyes...”
Erica hated putting her sister at risk but she was the one who got lunch, dinner and anything else they needed. The crowds knew her too well and when she was spotted in the market it was difficult for her to get away with the throng of people, Marie was light and small, it was her job. Theft was a way of life, when Marie was ready to learn that Erica would be the first to tell her.
Chapter 1 - Morning
The streets were filled with a musky smell, dung mixed with the ever-present smell of sweat. Teams of men marched through the city daily so it came as little surprise that the stench drifted on until seconds before the men came again the next day.
The sun cut through the darkness and the city came to life once again
Two girls sat on a step outside a bakery, their nostrils filled with the aroma of fresh bread rather than the reek of sweat. The younger was stretching her head to the sky, just like every other day of her miserable youth, trying to capture the smell in each breath she took. The older girl let her cause herself embarrassment. No one rushing past noticed the two urchins, so she let the girl stretch backwards trailing her dirty blonde hair in the dust.
The older girl wore a tunic of a once clear peach, now masked in dirt; she blended in well with the houses. Her hair showed the same uncared for picture-a tangle of deep brown tied on top of her head out of the way.
She turned slowly to the little girl, life was calling to them, and she couldn’t put it off any longer
“Marie.” She called to the little girl who seemed to have fallen into a trance, caused by the rich smells. She opened her eyes revealing the only full of life character she had, a startling icy blue shone in the morning sun and she smiled slightly as she nodded and pulled herself away from the stairs.
The older girl remained seated, this was Marie’s job; she would just wait. She sat and observed the many by-passers that she knew by face, but never was acquainted with. They were a whole other world away and so she remained contented to just sit and ponder over their busy lives.
A woman passed by wearing a casual summer dress of mint green. The girl knew the woman, though not personally, and fondly nicknamed her “fish”. She rushed past holding her basket and carrying a mackerel, the girl never knew why but everyday, every morning, without fail, fish would walk past and the girl would smile. She was a predictable person and to see this clockwork action comforted the girl; it was so different to everything she knew.
An hour passed by and still the girl sat watching the crowds rush past, then he came. This was the highlight of her day. A young man casually strolled down the street; his ringlets of chocolate brown glinted in the sunlight from the oil he used. He had the most handsome chiseled face and eyes to match his hair. The girl’s eyes followed his every movement as he wandered past and she thanked the stars Marie was away for this part of the day or she would tease her continuously about her feelings for the young man.
Marie returned shortly after, skipping her way back from the market like every other day. She sang a song as she danced along which was earning her glares as she passed through the crowds. Marie had picked up this new song from the bar near their den; the girl blushed as yet more profane words poured out of the little girls mouth. Marie however did not notice, or refused to, she enjoyed music and the tune had firmly seeded itself in her mind, growing like a ground plant to cover any other tunes she had learnt in life.
The sun had now reached over the house opposite the bakers and the older girl sat basking in the sunlight, waiting for the little girl to finish her twirling amongst the crowds, her olive skin glowing in the sun. The little girl finally came to a halt in front of the elder girl who was now leaning back against the previous step.
“One for you,” she said, handing the older girl a roll of sorts, “and one for me.” She completed, plonking her scrawny self down on the step, further dirtying her lemon tunic, which was starting to appear brown.
“Erica?” the little girl said after a while as if without thinking, “Why does the scary woman chase me when I get our breakfast?” she looked up into the older girls eyes, the naivety of the young girl was almost tangible, and took a bite of her roll.
“We’ve been through this before, Marie.” Sighed Erica, the truth was difficult to tell a six year old and would most likely interfere with what she was doing, so she kept to the child’s version. “The big, old, mean woman chases you every day because she's jealous of your looks. But your not allowed to stop going to see her because we were told that we have to make sure she’s well, she was a dear family friend. Just make sure your not caught because if you are she'll cut all your hair off and steal your eyes!” Erica ended her well-rehearsed speech and felt slightly as if she was betraying Marie, but on the other hand she was always protecting her from death. She finished her roll and licked her sugary fingers.
Marie sat without a sound; her eyes glazed over in thought, just the same as when she last asked the question. She wasn’t questioning Erica’s answer instead when her sister finally asked her one day what she was thinking about she replied, “I like my eyes...”
Erica hated putting her sister at risk but she was the one who got lunch, dinner and anything else they needed. The crowds knew her too well and when she was spotted in the market it was difficult for her to get away with the throng of people, Marie was light and small, it was her job. Theft was a way of life, when Marie was ready to learn that Erica would be the first to tell her.
