Syllea walked through Bree with her head down and her cloak covering her face. She felt the many staring at her…the many who had grown accustomed to her as one of the few street rats who never stole, but asked instead. She pulled her cloak tighter against her and called for Cat to walk closer to her.
She wasn’t a street rat again, and yet they all seemed to think she was all because her parents had left without a word (that she knew of) to anyone. Syl had felt something was amiss as of late, but couldn’t place exactly what it was. She hadn’t seen her parents recently, and today she had learned they were gone. For some strange reason, she was not angry nor worried, but confused. It was not like them to just leave her and her sisters without so much as a note.
She sighed and continued walking, occasionally glaring at anyone who looked at her with pity. “I am not a street rat. I am not a street rat.” She kept muttering under her breath over and over.
Finally, she made it into Lalia’s market and took the hood of her cloak off. “I need to buy some things.” She told one of the women who had come up to ask her what she needed.
A few minutes later, Syl walked out with a basket full of food and an apple in her hand. This seemed to stop some of the starings. Before she went back home, she decided to go and see if she could spot Sigurd by her tree of Lost Ones.
Syllea walked up to her tree just as the rain started pattering down. She traced her fingers along with the engraved names she had put into the tree before quickly turning as she heard someone come up behind her. Sigurd stood a few feet back, inspecting the teenager for any injuries or tears. “Are you alright?” he asked in his sweet, caramel voice.
Syl nodded and pulled her hood up as the rain picked up in force. “I just wanted to see how you’re doing.”
Sigurd gave her a warm smile, but it didn’t reach his worry-filled eyes. “I’ve heard talk Lord Dem and Lord Eg have taken up and left you and your sisters alone.”
Syllea rolled her eyes, “I should have known you would have already heard. They haven’t just left. I assume Father wanted to get in one last hunt before it’s too cold and Papa went with him. I do wish I hadn’t been so busy with my studies though, perhaps I would have heard talk of anything strange going on.”
The young man listened quietly to Syl, his eyes never leaving her face. “They will be back, of course, they will be. It probably is just a hunt. Why are you out here in the cold rain?”
The teen girl shrugged, her hands still grasping the basket of food, “I wanted to see you before I went home and made some supper for my sisters and me.”
Sigurd smiled as he listened to how she was already assuming the role of taking care of her siblings. “Well, you’ve seen me now. I am well. I don’t want you catching a cold, so you should head on home Miss Syllea.”
She stood quietly for a moment before a smirk appeared on her cold lips. She pulled her hood off and fluttered her eyelashes at Sigurd, “I am sure you could stop any cold from coming my way with a nice warm embrace and a kiss.”
Sigurd quickly took a step back at hearing these words. He tried to look stern, but he ended up seeming flustered. “I’ve told you before, I won’t touch you as I am now.”
Syllea chuckled. She pulled her hood back up and smiled, “I wonder why that is? You’ve never said.”
He didn’t reply immediately, instead, his icy blue eyes roamed over her as one might do to a precious ring they were scared would go missing if they looked away. “I care for you Syllea, and I won’t hurt you like that.”
Syl snorted, “What hurt could you possibly do? I know you would never intentionally hurt me.”
Sigurd sighed, seeming frustrated. “Your cloak will be soaked before you even make it home, go on now.”
The teen’s lips thinned as if she was thinking very carefully about something. Finally, she nodded and turned as if to go. Sigurd sighed as he watched her leave. But before he could react Syl dropped the basket and ran back to him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist. He was much taller than her so her head only reached right below his chest.
Syl sighed. She hadn’t expected him to smell of anything, but the scent of the woods that was also present on his fur when he was a wolf filled her nose. He stood frozen, and she could feel his strong muscles tense through his clothing. “Well, I’ve done it now, what harm could come of you hugging me back?” she asked, as she rested her head against him.
With clear hesitation, Sigurd wrapped his strong, toned arms around the now shivering teen girl. “You’re going to get yourself into trouble one day Miss Syllea,” he whispered as he felt her melt into the hug.
“I am already in trouble with lots of people. I struggle to apologize though, so get used to it. If I do apologize, then know it means I have punished myself for my trouble far more than anyone else could.”
He shook his head and finally pulled her away from him. His eyes seemed torn between holding her close to him again and pushing her away. Thankfully she noticed and smiled, turning to pick up the basket of food and throwing her hood back on. She waved, “I will come to see you as soon as I can!” she called over her shoulder.
He watched her go, before turning and cursing to himself as he ran to the woods. “Why can’t she be sensible?”
((OOC: Syl is not directly involved with the Tomes of Crystal plot, but is affected by those involved. This is one such story where the effects are shown.))
