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| Ivy Dewshine: | Ryouko Hirosue |
| Adonis: | Ueda Yuuji |
| Randoruun: | Ryoutarou Okiayu |
| Quinn: | Ota Shinnichirou |
| Manasse: | Koyasu Takehito |
| Hiko: | Hekiru Siina |
| Arlen: | Akira Kamiya |
"Ah!
Finally! A market!" Ivy happily gasped, and ran ahead of
the three men. She bolted straight to a stand selling turkey legs,
"One, please."
"Adonis, do you need something?" Randoruun got out his pouch of money.
"Just get me whatever you’re getting " his voice trailed off as Adonis’s eyes searched the market.
"Arlen?" Randoruun asked the newest member of their team.
"I’m fine " Arlen politely declined.
"Alright, Miss ninety silver, please ." The cashier handed her the turkey leg.
Before she took the leg, she felt something brush against her backside, and shrieked, spinning around.
"Sorry, lady " a little boy sheepishly said, and began to work his way through the crowd.
"Try to be careful!" Ivy called out.
"Hurry up, kid!" a burly man called from the back of the line.
"Sorry!" Ivy turned back around, and took the leg, "Ninety, right?" she put the leg in her mouth, "Lessee " she turned to untie her pouch. She turned to her right, Not there she felt around her waist, "What the ?" she turned to see the little boy running across the market square with her purse in his hand, "HEY!!!" she began to shove through the crowd, going after the child.
"WAIT! YOU FORGOT TO PAY!!" the merchant hollered.
Over near a stand selling grilled fish, the three men looked up, "Hmm?"
"Now what?" Adonis said, holding the small fish’s tail in his mouth.
"COME BACK HERE, YOU BRAT!!" Ivy ran around the corner, and finally caught a glimpse of the boy in the distance. Gasping for more air, she switched to her compact fairy size.
"Much better! I can breathe again!" she said to herself as she flew to the child at a remarkable speed. Gotcha! She thought, and turned back to her human size, and tackled him.
The boy shrieked, falling to the ground under her, "Lemme go! I didn’t do anything!"
"Whatever, kid. Just gimmie back my money, and I won’t kill ya," Ivy droned over the boy’s whining.
"Whatever you want! Just stop sitting on me!" the child cried.
Ivy grabbed the ponytail of the little boy, and stood up, "Alright, carrot-top. Hand it over."
Whimpering, the child dropped the money on the ground.
Still holding onto the child’s auburn tresses, she bent down to snatch the pouch, and counted the money as Arlen, Randoruun, and Adonis finally caught up with her.
The boy’s freckled nose wrinkled as tears began to well in his eyes, "Don’t let them hurt me!!"
"Kid, they’re the least of your worries " Ivy tightened her grip on the boy’s ponytail, "Name?"
"Ow!!" he whined, and muttered, "H-Hiko "
"What’s that?" she tugged tighter.
"HIKO!!" the boy shouted.
"Enjoying it a bit much ?" Adonis flatly stated, his arms folded.
"Now we know the real truth " Randoruun quietly muttered, "Merchant by day, torture mistress by night "
"Why did you dare to steal from the ever-powerful Ivy Dewshine?" Ivy’s pitch rose as she began to gloat.
" . ‘ever-powerful’ ?" Arlen repeated.
On the verge of tears, the child began to speak, "I’m an orphan, and I don’t have any food! I’m all-alone and I have nobody to love me! I just needed food, and no one will give me any!"
At that, Ivy gasped, and dropped the child’s ponytail from her grasp.
The child spun around and clung to Ivy’s skirt, sobbing, "I’m scared!"
Ivy glanced to the three men with a devastated expression, speechless.
"She couldn’t be " Arlen muttered to Randoruun.
"We all know what she’s thinking " Randoruun sighed.
Adonis still had his arms folded, "I can’t believe she’s buying this "
"Here it comes " Arlen saw Ivy open her mouth to speak.
"We’ve GOT to take him with us!" Ivy put her hands on the child’s head.
Hiko looked up to Ivy, sniffling.
The three men sighed.
"Who will handle this one?" Arlen massaged his temples.
"We can’t pick up every stray we see, Ivy!" Adonis argued.
"This isn’t an animal! This is a little boy who needs someone to love him!" Ivy argued back.
"What, were you born yesterday?" Adonis leaned over to glare into Hiko’s eyes, "Besides, how do we know this twerp isn’t some squirt con-artist?"
Hiko glared back, and stomped on Adonis’s foot.
Adonis yelped and jumped back, while Hiko once again buried his face in Ivy’s skirt, "He’s scary!"
"Yeah, I know he is ." Ivy cooed, stroking to boy’s hair, "But he really is a wimp ."
"We should give up," Randoruun sighed.
"There isn’t anything in the world that women love more than knowing they’re needed," Arlen turned around.
"Sick," Adonis muttered under his breath, glaring at the two youths.
"Come on, you two " Randoruun called, and began to follow Arlen.
"Alright!" Ivy cheered, and took Hiko’s hand, "Come on, I’ll get you something to eat, and I’ll tell you my story, okay?"
Hiko giggled, "Okay!"
"This is far more difficult than its worth, my lord," Pilot was kneeling to the ground in a dark cave, lit only by two torches in the wall.
"As far as you know, Pilot," a voice from the darkness calmly murmured, "It seems that this plan is in her favor, however. I may need to seek help from my more powerful allies."
Pilot lowered his head, "Would it delight you for me to call on Manasse, my Lord?"
There was chilling silence for a moment.
" .yes. Yes, get Manasse on the job. If he can do it, there’s no need to hire mercenaries."
"Then at your dismissal, my lord," Pilot humbly requested his leave.
"Of course. Go."
Pilot stood, and quickly made his exit into the shadows.
The torches flicked as Pilot’s master let out a huge sigh, "Never ask an elf to do a vampire’s job "
Hiko clung onto Ivy’s hand, swinging it back and forth cutely. In his other hand was a candied apple, which he snacked on, giggling.
Ivy beamed proudly as she happily pranced alongside the little boy.
Sweatdropping, the three men trailed behind.
Hiko skipped ahead of Ivy, and walked backwards, smiling cutely at Ivy.
Ivy waved and smiled back, enjoying every bit of attention she was getting from the little boy.
Hiko ran back to Ivy, and threw his arms around her waist, "You’re so nice to me!" he rested his head on Ivy’s hip.
Ivy glanced to the guys, smiling happily, misty-eyed, "He’s so cute!"
Adonis felt a growl deep in his throat, "Alright! That’s enough! You’re slowing us down, kid!"
Hiko sent the cat-eyed man a quick glare, and buried his face in Ivy’s skirt, and shouted a muffled, "I love you!"
Ivy grinned insanely, and looked at the three men, "See?"
Adonis turned red in the face.
"Now, Adonis " Arlen nervously tried to calm Adonis down.
"It’s just a little boy, Adonis. Be more tolerant," Randoruun sighed.
"Something about that brat--!" Adonis clenched his fists, "It just isn’t right!"
"You say that about everyone!" Ivy teased, and stuck out her tongue, "Biiida!"
"Biiiiiida!" Hiko did the same.
"Why, you--!" Adonis ran over to clobber the child.
Hiko shrieked, "Miss Ivy, save me---!!!!" and leapt up onto her.
"Wha-?!" she looked to Hiko, and looked up, getting hit straight in the face with Adonis’s fist.
Randoruun and Arlen both stared with their mouths gaped open. Hiko looked up from where he clung onto Ivy.
"Miss Ivy ?" he peeped.
Adonis still had his fist in Ivy’s face, " "
There was a moment of dead silence, until Adonis sighed, and turned around, shrugging, "I guess my aim was a little off ."
Arlen and Randoruun both blinked, and looked at Ivy’s face.
Ivy stared blankly into space, her nose bleeding. A red mark where Adonis’s fist was beginning to form. Tears began to form in her eyes.
"Uh-!" Adonis turned around.
"Man, are you in for it now " Randoruun coldly muttered.
"I didn’t MEAN to make her cry!" Adonis defended himself.
Hiko let go of Ivy, and Ivy fell to her knees, sobbing, "OWWWWWWW!!!!!"
Arlen and Randoruun sighed, and Arlen crouched down to her level.
"Now, now " Arlen got out a handkerchief from his back pocket, "It’s okay, he didn’t break your nose."
Ivy hiccuped, "He better’ve not "
Arlen chuckled, and gently wiped some blood off of Ivy’s face, "He gotcha pretty good, didn’t he?" he dried her eyes, and began to pinch her bleeding nose.
She sniffled, "He’s a big baby."
Arlen smiled, "He is, isn’t he? Maybe you should ask him to help you take care of the young Hiko."
Ivy sniffled again, and glared at Adonis through the corner of her eyes.
"Now, don’t sniff. That’ll prolong the bleeding," Arlen pinched her nose a little harder, "Let’s see if I can clean off the rest of this blood "
"Am I gonna have a bruise?" Ivy whined.
"It’s a little early to say, but I’d bet on it," Randoruun bent over to look at Ivy’s face.
"Aw, no !" Ivy groaned, devastated.
Arlen let go of Ivy’s nose, "There! All done!" he stood up, "The swelling will probably stop once you get some cold water on it."
Hiko hugged Ivy, "I’m sorry, Ivy. This is all my fault," he kissed Ivy on the forehead.
"You almost make it worth it, sweetie," Ivy stood up.
"Are you feeling better now?" Randoruun asked Ivy.
"Yeah, I’ll be fine " Ivy gingerly touched her red nose, and began to raise her voice, "AS LONG AS YOU KEEP YOUR FRIEND UNDER CONTROL!"
"I SHOULD’VE AIMED FOR THE THROAT!" Adonis loudly stated.
"What kind of man punches women and kids!?" Ivy shot back in the same tone.
"Oh, GET OVER IT!" Adonis shouted at the top of his lungs.
Above them, one a tree limb, a beautiful man hid in the leaves. His empty, gray eyes reflected Ivy sticking her tongue out.
"This is the girl?" the man asked, his soft voice matched his smooth facial features.
"Correct, we want you to apprehend her. Do not kill her, though," Pilot quietly answered.
"That’s it?" he sighed.
"Easy for you to say, Manasse even if you’re a spiritual vampire, your nature is the same—don’t play with this one," Pilot slipped further into the darkness.
"Don’t be distasteful," Manasse scoffed, only to realize that the elf had departed. He returned to watching the travelers.
"Was your apple good, Hiko?" Arlen asked Hiko.
"Yes, sir!" Hiko sweetly replied in a syrupy-cute tone.
"I would’ve liked some of it," Adonis moaned, "It’s almost dinnertime, and I’m already starving!"
"I’d never share anything with anyone that hits Ivy!" Hiko stuck out his tongue.
"You’re always hungry, Adonis," Ivy sighed, "Why not enjoy the scenery? It’ll keep you from thinking about food."
Adonis heaved a sigh, and looked at the landscape. The summer sun shone through the blooming tree branches, "Hey, Randoruun when will we be getting to the next village?" he noticed two butterflies flying from flower to flower, " .Randoruun?"
Ivy, Hiko, and Arlen all turned behind them and stopped. Adonis turned around, "Rando, are you alright?"
Randoruun’s face was gleaming with sweat. His eyes were lowered, and shadowed over. He opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly collapsed.
Ivy made a shrill gasp, and ran over to his side with Adonis, "Randoruun!!!"
"Randoruun, what’s wrong?!" Adonis cried, nudging his friend gently.
Hiko and Arlen ran over.
"It looks like fatigue " Arlen stood over Randoruun.
"But look at his mouth " Hiko looked over Ivy’s shoulder, "His lips are suddenly chapped and dry that’s vampire work."
Ivy looked at Randoruun’s lips, He’s right "How did you know?" she asked.
Before Hiko could answer, the culprit appeared as though out of thin air.
"Well, it would’ve been easier to not have been caught and just pluck you off one by one " Manasse stood, his arms folded. His empty, gray eyes where now an electrifying silver.
"Thanks, Mister Complainer " Ivy muttered.
"Would you rather have had his plan succeed?!" Adonis snapped.
Manasse blankly stared at the two glare each-other down. He cleared his throat, "Ridiculous," he glanced over to Arlen, "You’re next."
Arlen took a step back, anticipating an attack. The blowing wind went still, and Arlen cried out, falling to his knees.
Ivy ran to Arlen, and tried to help him up, "Stop it!" she yelled to the vampire.
"What, and ruin the fun?" Manasse smiled, "And I don’t want the risk of them coming after you once I get you."
Ivy’s eyes widened, and she backed up a little bit.
Adonis clenched his teeth, and knocked Manasse to the ground from behind, "You’re awfully confident."
Manasse kicked Adonis from below, and tripped him on the ground. Manasse quickly pinned Adonis to the ground, and lunged for his throat.
Adonis grabbed the vampire’s wrists, and hollered, "Ivy! Take the kid and run!!"
Ivy looked around for Hiko, and gently set Arlen down, "Please, be careful."
"We’ll be fine " Arlen staggered to his feet.
Ivy grabbed Hiko’s arm, and began running into the forest in the roadside.
Manasse glanced quickly to Ivy, and immediately began to follow her.
Branches and thorns scratching her face and legs, Ivy tried to keep Hiko close by her.
She could feel the vampire gaining on her; she knew it in the pit of her stomach.
She suddenly felt a sharp, painful tug by her hair, "My hair!" she cried out, "Hiko, help me!"
Hiko stopped running, and ran behind her, "It’s caught in a branch!" he began to try to untangle it.
Ivy got more nervous, until she heard a piercing scream.
"Hiko?!" Ivy tried to break off the twig her hair was caught on, but it was too thin, and it had thorns. She cried out as the thorns pierced her hand.
Manasse walked in front of her, smiling, "Now the hard part’s done "
Ivy tried to kick him, but missed. She tried again, but the man grabbed her ankle.
"You have spunk," he leaned in towards her face, and almost touched foreheads with her, his silver eyes glistening, " oh, drat .I almost forgot " he stepped back a few steps, "You escaped more than death, my dear. I’m afraid that the one who wanted me to apprehend you wants you untouched."
"Who wants me apprehended?" Ivy tried to find her pocketknife in the back of her belt.
"You’ll see," Manasse walked up to her again, and reached behind her, "How convenient of you to get caught. It saved me much trouble."
Ivy flicked open her knife, and paused, looking for a vulnerable spot. There! She looked at the middle of his chest, and went for it---
"Hold it right there!" an attractive voice hollered.
Manasse quickly turned around, and Ivy fell face forward with her knife, "Now what?"
A tall, slender young man stood a few meters away from the vampire and girl. His gleaming sword reflected the sunlight. His long, jet black hair brushed his broad cheekbones lightly, and lay just above his bright blue eyes. His confident smile was followed by a laugh deep in his throat. His blouse-y white shirt loosely cuffed at his wrists, and his navy pants met with black leather boots, finely polished.
Ivy pushed back her now-free hair, and wiped the dirt off of her face, Now what? I almost had him .she spotted Manasse’s challenger and sneered, Now who the heck is THIS guy?! She looked him over from behind Manasse, Whoever he is, he’s trying too hard she got to her feet, He’s probably going to need my help she drew the sword she took from the market.
"I didn’t see you with the girl earlier " Manasse folded his arms, "What do you want?"
The man lowered his sword, and closed his eyes, smiling, "My name is Quinn, and I want the assurance of the young maiden’s safety," he opened his eyes, "And I want to challenge you to a duel. For the girl."
Ivy put a hand to her chest, blushing, and suddenly snapped out of it, "W-wait a second! You don’t have any idea what this guy is!"
"Class A spiritual vampire. Feeds on souls and lives by sexual lust " Quinn raised his sword.
Ivy sneered in disgust, "Eyuu " she suddenly rose her voice again, trying to regain her composure, "How do you know?"
"Enough chatter!" Manasse took out his sword, "To the death?"
"Don’t be vulgar, of course not " Quinn shrugged, "Unless worse comes to worse ."
"I think it will ." Manasse swung his sword, and Ivy shrieked.
"Look out!" Ivy screamed.
Quinn quickly dodged the swing, and ran across to Ivy, swinging at Manasse. Manasse turned around to face the two, and lunged at them.
Quinn grabbed Ivy, and leapt away from the attack. Once Ivy’s feet touched the ground, she ran to Manasse, lunging her sword at him. Tripping over a stone, she screamed, and fell face-flat once again in the dirt.
Manasse sighed, and shook his head, "I still can’t believe that idiotic Pilot wasn’t able to capture this girl ." Mockingly, he asked Ivy when she stumbled up, "Do tell me, why didn’t you give this much of a fight back with your friends?"
Muttering a spell in a foreign tongue, Quinn took his sword once again, and this time, it glowed with a blue flame.
Ivy lifted her sword once more, and it felt usually heavy in her arms. What ? She looked at her wobbling sword, then to the vampire.
Manasse had a small smile on her face. His silver eyes sent a chill down her spine.
He’s .he’s draining out all of my strength! Ivy’s legs became weak, her knees felt like jelly. With a moan, she fell to her knees. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she felt her chest hit the ground. Clutching onto her consciousness, she listened to the men’s conversation.
"Now the girl is out of the way," Manasse’s voice became even more confident.
"It only makes it easier " Quinn’s confidence seemed to match the vampire’s.
Ivy couldn’t remember much of the fight. Actually, she lost consciousness before it even started.
She felt a hand brush across her face as she gained her consciousness again.
"She got beat up a bit, didn’t she?" she heard a young voice.
"Hey, her face is twitching a bit! I think she’s coming to!" a slightly older voice said, as she felt a shifting of whatever she was laying on.
She felt a sharp pain on the bridge of her nose, where Adonis punched her earlier. She quickly sat up, and her eyes snapped open, "Oww!!"
Randoruun and Adonis were sitting on each side of her.
"She’s awake," Randoruun stood, "Arlen, do you mind? We really need to be going."
Adonis stood up as well, "We can alternate, but would you start out?"
"Of course," Arlen walked over to Ivy.
Ivy rubbed her eyes, "What? Do what?" she looked around, and spotted the mage next to Hiko.
Arlen got on one knee, and gestured Ivy to get on.
"Y-YOU!" Ivy hollered, pointing at Quinn.
Quinn stood, and flashed a confident, perfect smile.
"Mister Quinn saved you, Ivy," Randoruun said as Ivy got on Arlen’s back.
"It was the least I could do for a lovely young lady in need," he shrugged, still looking awfully confident.
He sounds so phony Ivy rested her head on Arlen’s back, I wonder what he really wants
"You sound like a phony!" Hiko remarked, "If you want something, ask for it already!"
"Hiko!" Arlen quietly scolded.
Quinn laughed it off, "It’s alright," he walked up to Ivy, and lifted her chin, "To know that such an exotic maiden is once again safe for the world to enjoy is reward enough."
Ivy grimaced, Jerkface groggily, she managed to slur out, "Get lost, slimeball. You’re givin’ me the creeps."
Ivy wished she had the energy to laugh at the magician’s shocked expression.
Adonis laughed, "Even when half alive, she’s still nasty."
Snobbishly, Quinn "hmmph!"-ed and tossed his hair over his shoulder, "You need to work on your sarcasm, my dear."
"She wasn’t being sarcastic, you creep!" Hiko kicked him in the ankle.
Quinn laughed, and Adonis threw Hiko across his shoulder.
"Randoruun, how much longer `till we get to the next town?" Adonis ignored Hiko’s kicking and pounding.
"We should arrive at Fort Grant any minute," Randoruun looked into the horizon, and pointed ahead, "The sun will be setting soon, and lamps will be coming on right about there."
Arlen turned to Quinn, "Why don’t you join us for dinner, Mister Quinn? It’s the least we can do."
Ivy moaned, and Quinn smiled slyly, "I’d love to."
" .nooooo ." Ivy groaned.
"Have you forgotten who’s paying for our meals?!" Hiko hollered.
Arlen smiled, "I’ll pay tonight’s tab, not Ivy."
Ivy moaned and tried to object to the idea, but soon drifted off to sleep due to exhaustion from the attack.
"Ivy. We’re here," she felt a squeeze on her upper calf muscles.
"Mmm?" she opened her eyes as she saw a fairly well lit building.
Adonis was now carrying her on his back. He looked over his shoulder to talk to her, "Time to get up."
Ivy set a foot down on the ground, followed by the other. Rubbing her eyes, she walked a bit towards the door, "We’re here?" She didn’t feel hungry, but she’d try to eat anyway.
As the group walked in, Quinn held open the door for Ivy. Utterly unamused, Ivy turned up her nose in the air, and walked in with a "hmmph!".
Ivy walked into the stuffy restaurant. Although it was noisy, it wasn’t completely full. Once the group sat at a table, Ivy felt a small twinge of hunger in the pit of her stomach. She lay a hand just below her ribs, as though to calm her stomach.
A young girl walked up to their table. She was probably the same age as Ivy, maybe a bit older, "Hi! May I take your order?" she smiled sweetly.
Quinn’s eyes lit up, "Dear girl " he flashed his confident smile once more, "Do tell me, with the excellent taste you much have, what do you recommend?"
Hiko rested his head on the table, and groaned.
Wha-!? I thought I was the girl he was interested in! Ivy peeked angrily over her menu.
The waitress giggled coyly.
Slut. Ivy scornfully thought.
"Say, Ivy " Randoruun opened his menu, "What will you order?"
Ivy glared at Quinn as he flirted with the waitress, "Do you do takeout?" he winked.
"Stop it!!!" the waitress giggled wildly.
"Hey " Adonis nudged Ivy’s thigh.
"WATER PLEASE!" Ivy jumped in her seat as the felt the dragon’s hand.
"Yes, ma’am " the waitress stopped giggling and wrote it down, "What can I get to drink for the rest of you?"
"Water " Adonis, Arlen, and Randoruun answered.
"I’d like some juice!" Hiko said.
"A glass of your house wine for me," Quinn smiled once again.
The waitress giggled and went back into the kitchen.
I’m gonna kill him, I’m gonna kill him, I’m gonna kill him ! Ivy clenched her fists, her face turning red.
Adonis and Randoruun discussed the restaurant entrees with Arlen, who had his two cents on each of the entrees.
Hiko fiddled with his fork, obviously bored.
Quinn stared across the table at Ivy.
Hiko looked next to him at the fuming Ivy, and then to Quinn. Grimacing, he taunted, "Stick with the other lady, pal."
Quinn rose his eyebrows, and gave the child an annoyed glare, "Are you through?"
The waitress came back with their drinks, "Okay " she set down a glass of wine for Quinn, "House wine juice " she gave Hiko a cup of orange juice, " oh, my .did I forget to give you a fork? Sorry!"
Hiko smiled, "It’s okay!"
"I’ll get you one in a second, okay?" the girl smiled, "Now the waaaAAAAHH!!!" the waitress shrieked as she felt a caress on her hip. She tried to steady her tray, but failed.
Ivy’s red face turned pale as she was drenched with the cold water. She suddenly snapped out of her fuming state, and yelped at the cold water running down her legs and arms.
"Oh my gosh!" the waitress gasped, Quinn chuckled.
Adonis stood up and tried to get some napkins, "H-here "
"I’m so sorry ma’am!" the girl flustered.
Ivy silently—but abruptly—stood, and stormed out of the restaurant.
" Ivy " Hiko quietly stared at the door as people at other tables, who stopped earlier due to the pell-mell, went back to their dining.
Randoruun silently stared at the door as well.
"I’m so sorry I’ll clean this up right away " the waitress stammered, "Let me get you a new table "
Ivy watched the last sliver of sunlight sink into the horizon. She rubbed her arms and shivered. She looked at the goose-bumps on her wet legs. Her drenched hair clung to her face, which burned with anger, and embarrassment.
She sniffled and rubbed her nose, "Ow!" she hissed. It was even more tender than before. The pain triggered tears to well in her eyes. She sniffled again and rubbed her sleepy eyes.
"Please don’t cry " Ivy heard a voice behind her.
Ivy folded her arms, "I’m not crying."
Arlen sat on the steps to her entrance, next to where Ivy sat, "You should eat a little something"
"I’m not going back in," Ivy felt anger well up in her chest again, and tears began to sting her eyes.
"You don’t have to," Arlen set a plate on her lap, "I don’t know what you like, but I hope you’ll find this suitable," he handed her a fork.
Ivy slowly took the fork, and looked to the dish. Pasta scallops and a creamy red sauce Ivy tasted a scallop, "Perfect " she quietly murmured, and turned to Arlen, "Thank you."
"It was nothing " Arlen smiled, "I can see why these events have upset you. It’s not right for a young girl to have to go through being hunted down like a fox."
Ivy quickly polished off her dinner, "Who does this Quinn guy think he is?! Geez makin’ me look like chopped liver or something " she pathetically pitied herself, "In front of everyone!"
Arlen sighed, and put his arm on Ivy’s shoulder, "No one in there think you’re chopped liver, Ivy. And if anyone does, they’re no better than that vampire."
Ivy sighed and rested her head on Arlen’s shoulder.
Adonis was watching through a crack in the open door, while Randoruun watched him from the table.
Ivy put her arms around Arlen and closed her eyes, "I’m cold."
Arlen put both of his arms around Ivy’s tiny body, and sighed.
Thank you, Arlen Ivy thought, I miss my mom and daddy but you’re here, and that’s okay.
End Installment Three
Installment
Four : Dangerous Encounters: Steaming Tides of Hot Springs!