Strange Love 98 Snack Before Bedtime

The heavy set barmaid slid two trays across the bar and crossed her plump arms. "I'll not be servin' ya. Ya can carry it yself." She cast a glare out the window to the corner table where the tiny girl sat on her knees petting Arei's large head that hung over the railing. "I don't serve animals in this bar," She said with a heavy accent and snide glare, "or horses."

Orion arched a brow at the woman before tossing some coins on the counter and grabbing the trays. He carried a tray of drinks in one hand and a tray of mixed roasted veggies and hot meats in the other. He pushed open the saloon doors with his backside. "The hospitality of this place is far less than last night..." He said setting the trays on the table and eyeing the girl. "Speaking of which, I could have sworn I saw you there last night. How did you get this far so fast?" He pa.s.sed out the drinks, setting a sweet fruit drink in front of the girl and a pint of ale in front of the horse before setting his to the side. He then placed the empty tray in front of Arei and began separating out a portion of the food.

The small girl giggled as she watched Orion fix a plate for the horse, but her amus.e.m.e.nt was quickly s.h.i.+fted to silent fascination when Orion pushed the tray toward her. "Take what you want." She tilted her head as she continued to inspect the foods. "You've had roasted vegetables before, yes?"

Her wide, large eyes met his and she shook her head no. Arei nudged her with his nose and lifted a carrot from his tray and began eating it, letting out a pleased horse noise as he chewed. She looked back to Orion who nodded in approval and grabbed a carrot and began eating it. She followed their example taking tiny testy nibbles. Finally she looked up and nodded to both. "Yum!"

Orion and Arei exchanged glances. "Are you familiar with this area?" Orion asked. When she nodded he smiled. "That's good. What if I offered you coin to show us around... My horse and I." He nodded toward Arei who let out an agreeable neigh. She nodded again as she took half a piece of roasted potato. "Good, we shall be here for a while, it would seem. Maybe you know of a place we could stay." The girl looked at him thoughtfully before smiling and nodding again. Orion took a large chunk of meat and sat back watching her as he ate. The child appeared to be somewhere around the age of ten, but it was hard to tell with her emaciated state. Her large, lively eyes twinkled with wonder as she tried different things from the tray. On every so often she would reach over and pat Arei as he leaned down for another bite, giggling loudly every time the horse would lift the bottle of ale and take a long drink. Arei seemed to enjoying her laughter as he continued doing little, silly things to make her laugh more.

After only a few bites of potatoes and carrots and no meat, the girl sat back crossing her hands over her lap. "Are you already full, little one?" Orion asked.

She shrugged but didn't say anything or move for more food. When Arei nudged the tray toward her, she simply laughed and shook her head patting his muzzle lightly.

Orion arched his brow. "Are you ready then. He glanced back and forth between the girl and Arei." The girl nodded and busted out into laughter as Arei replied by turning up his bottle and chugging it. Orion shook his head when the horse then sat the bottle down and turned up his upper lip in a toothy smile. "Always the show off." Orion snickered as he pushed up from the table. "I'll be back." He walked back inside and asked for a sack to put the leftover food in.

"Ya be regretting making that as a friend soon enough." The barmaid snarled as she glanced over where the girl and horse stood.

Orion narrowed his eyes. "What do you have against a child?" He asked s.n.a.t.c.hing the sack from her hands. Before the woman could answer he through up a hand silencing her. "You know what, I don't want to hear it. I've been enough places to see how the less fortunate are treated. I don't need to hear your excuses for it here." He turned and headed toward the door without a single glance back.

"Ya be regretting it." the barmaid called out as he pushed the doors open.

He let the doors slam behind him. Leaning over the table he put the contents of the tray she'd been eating from into the sack. He walked around the round table and held his hands out for her. She tilted her head and stared at his outspread hands. "Come, I'll lift you back onto the horse." She nodded and stood up on the chair giving him better access to her tiny body. He carried her around the railing and sat her atop Arei. "Alright then where too, Little... Um... what is your name, Dear?" He asked looking up into the child's bright eyes. She shrugged and turned her attention to the thick black mane at the base of Arei's long neck. Orion let out a sigh as he exchanged another glance with his brother. "I expected as much..." He shook his head sadly as he turned his attention back up to her. He handed her the sack of leftovers and asked. "Where to first then?"

She pointed farther into the town. "Home." She said simply.

Orion arched a surprised brow her way. "You have a home?"

She nodded. "You need home, yes?" She placed a tiny hand across her chest, "Take you there. Share." She stated.

Arei kept a slow pace as she pointed out places along the path and Orion guessed their purposes. She would either nod or shake her head in response until finally the buildings became few and far between and the trail narrowed becoming lined with thick brush and tall tropical plants. She pointed up to several tall palm trees that bared fruit and a few pastures that had heads of cattle grazing along with other animals. The foilage grew thicker and the sound of running water sounded in the distance. Orion took the lead as the path narrowed to nearly nothing. He held back several large branches so that Arei and the girl could make it through unharmed.

The sound of the water grew louder as they made their way farther and farther into the tropical forest. Orion was the first to step out into the clearing and his breath caught in his chest. A lush covering of brightly colored plants canopied a lovely cove nestled into the bends of the lagoon they'd landed on earlier. A wide waterfall fed the pool below creating a splattering of s.h.i.+mmering ripples to break up the perfect reflection of the now setting sun. "Oh wow." He whispered taking in the sight as Arei emerged.

The girl clapped her tiny hands, the bag of leftovers resting between her slender legs. "Home." She held her hands out to Orion to lift her down.

He struggled to take his eyes away from the tropical haven that was before him as he turned toward the girl. He lifted her down and she eagerly took his hand and began skipping off toward the falls. She didn't hesitate as she stepped through the curtain of water into the hidden cave behind it. She turned toward Orion, watching as the horse stepped cautiously through the water. "Home." She said looking back and forth between the two of them. "You stay." She said, her twinkling eyes moving back and forth between Orion and Arei.

Orion nodded as he looked around at the meager furnis.h.i.+ngs placed around the cool shadows of the cave. He watched as the tiny girl took the sack and placed it on a old wobbly table. "Is it okay if I go find some firewood for us, for tonight?" He asked trying his best to fight the sadness that her living conditions caused.

She nodded to him as she pulled out a old mismatched busted chair. She sat in the chair resting her hands in her lap as she had at the bar earlier.

He smiled, "Alright, I wont be long." He nodded toward Arei as he walked back toward the curtain of water. He walked quickly down the beach putting as much distance between himself and the damp cave as he could. Irritation merged with anger as he recalled the barmaid from earlier. "Surely there is someone in this forsaken world to have mercy on the less fortunate." He kicked a sh.e.l.l as he stomped through the sands.

Arei galloped to catch up. "You're not serious about staying here are you?" He asked.

"Why not?" Orion asked as he marched toward the heavy forest of trees.

Arei let out an irritated noise, "May complicate things don't you think?! I'll be stuck like this the whole time!"

Orion bent to pick up some fallen branches. "She needs help. The people of this town isn't going to do it." He growled as he began stacking up the wood.

"What makes you say that?" Arei asked moving over to help gather wood the best he could.

"The barmaid... and others we past in town today..." He huffed as he worked. "They looked at her as if she were less of a human... Poor thing can't help her less than favorable circ.u.mstances."

Arei let out a low chuckle, "Always the soft spot for women and children... Fine if this is what you want, but we're switching regularly. I can't spend this entire hunt in horse form."

Orion looked him in the eyes. "Fine, but we agree on one thing... the girl is to be left alone. She's still very young."

Arei rolled his eyes. "Of course, that goes without saying."

"And we teach her what we can, how to survive on her own..." He lifted the wood. "Things like that."

Arei nodded, "So be it." He followed Orion back listening to the growing plans his brother had for the child. He remained outside enjoy the rise of the moon over the waters as Orion went back inside and started a small fire. At some point he must have drifted off to the lull of the gentle, steady flow of the waterfall because a splash nearby woke him. He perked up his large ears as he surveyed the waters. Just as he was about to shrug it off another splash sounded, this time closer. He stood up and trotted closer to the calm pool. As he leaned his head down toward the s.h.i.+mmering waters, something shot out. Shock filled his eyes as he realized they were tentacle and several of them. A hooked barb sank into his flanks and began to pull him toward the waters. Arei struggled to get out of its grip tugging, biting, and kicking, until finally a sharp blade severed the barbed tentacle. A shrill cry echoed from the waters. His eyes followed Orion's panicked gaze across the waters.

"She's missing... What was that thing? You don't think it got her do you?" Orion continued scanning the waters like a worried mother hen.

Arei's eyes caught on slight movement by the mouth of the cave. A tiny body emerged from the waters clinging to one hand. "Ry..." He watched the sopping wet child fell onto the ground before pus.h.i.+ng herself back up several time as she struggled to get back to the cave. Dark stains saturated the sands where she'd fallen. "Ry... I think the girl is the creature... Possibly the one we're hunting for..."