Lock N' Key

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The day was coming to what the small village of Rhaeth knew as noon, the villagers big and small were all out and about attending to their assigned duties. Farmers were in the fields working hard on the crops for the year, the librarian was adjusting his sign out at the front of his shop, the blacksmiths forge was clanging with the sound of his hammer to the blazing precious metals being formed into some of the best tools for the village, and much more was going on as well.

But, within a small cottage in the heart of the village, a girl and her mother were hard at work on cleaning and maintaining their small home. The village gave the girl the name of Jewel, for since she was a child she'd always become drawn to the mines, finding all sorts of crystals and gems deep within the nooks and crannies of the already stripped mines.

Her true name became a mystery to even her own mother, as the old age was catching up to the poor woman and soon causing the hag to forget she was even the mother of such a girl. Though, Jewel was always reminding her of whom she was and reassuring her mother of her stance in the village. Jewels mother had swung the windows open quickly, placing a pie on the windowsill before making her way over to her daughter.

"My darling Jewel. I have a favor to ask of you child." Spoke the old woman as she grabbed her cane and tapped it into the hardwood flooring to gain the attention of her spawn. "Take your basket and make your way over the hills to the next village over, I need some medicine from there for my condition my dear.." she ordered before reminding the girl of her current state.

Without hesitation, Jewel picked up her small basket and grabbed the savings from within a tiny tin box, she gave her mother a kiss on the cheek before a hug and bid her farewell on her journey, for it would be a long one. As the brunette exited the house her skirt blew in the wind, her shorts beneath it making sure she was safe from drifting eyes as she stopped by the baker's and got some free rolls for her weekly travel. They gave her the food because of the reasoning that no one else in the village was willing to go on such long trips each week to retrieve the medical needs for her mother, they saw the female as a strong soul, even if her clothes begged to differ.

Thus, off she was to fetch her stallion, Arcturus, he was himself a gentle beast, having been raised with Jewel by her father ever since they were both born. She greeted him like always, tossing him a sugar cube before she steadied herself on one of the holsters and hoisted herself up and over the saddle which was readied by her early in the morning. Snapping the reins, he rose up onto his back hooves and whinnied before shooting out of the stables, knocking the owner of many of the other horses over as she made her exit, which made her recive a shout from him as she rode hard and fast away from the village.

As Jewel rode, the sound of her horses hooves hitting the ground echoed in her mind along with other thoughts about the days soon to be end, once the sun would set it would be more difficult for her to make her way through the forest she usually cut through, the creepers, zombies, skeletons, and spiders lurked around each and every tree. For now Jewel kept her eyes and mind on the trip ahead of her, Arcturus already knowing what lay ahead for the two only made him ride faster and harder, as if he was trying each time to make them get to the next village before nightfall.

Unfortunately, the sun that was once high was getting lower and lower as the minutes passed by, which made Jewel all the more worried since she had indeed put off leaving the village to such a late time. Once the sun was no more, the moon began to rise into the sky as they reached the forest, the sound of zombies and skeletons poured from within the dark brush in front of the two, though Jewel found herself going in anyhow. The only difference this time was that Jewel was on foot as she walked in, she had picked up a thick branch and held it close to her body as she walked. Arcturus followed her close behind, nudging her shoulder almost every time he himself would step on a twig.

Suddenly the sound of clanging came from in front of the two, the noise scaring the horse and making him run off back the way they had came, leaving Jewel alone as she made her way over to the sound after striking down some spiders that had heard the noise and we're going toward it as well. Emerging from the brush her eyes locked on two figures battling, one wore a white mask with a green hoodie while the other looked like a lord with long pink hair, a crown a top his head, and a mask that covered his face. Both had swords, attacking each other all while striking down mobs which were trying to kill them as they did each other. Jewel stepped forward, stopping as the two figures seemed to had not noticed her and began coming in her direction while fighting, one threw a rock at the other as they got knocked down, the other groaning as it hit their mask, cracking it badly and making them growl. The masked man slashed through the others torso, blood splattering across the grass below them, he sheathed his blade and ran off after he saw many more mobs coming in the twos direction.

The pink haired male stood up and used his sword as leverage while he started to stumble away from the zombies and spiders, wobbling and soon falling over since he had to fight against the creatures. Jewel on the other hand sprinted over to him, swinging her branch at the mobs wildly, knocking a few over and making most of the others back away in fright, this gave her a chance to help the now unconscious individual up, her intimidating manner didn't last long as she proceeded to back away and whistle.

Arcturus emerged quickly from the brush, coming to a hard halt in front of his master, which was helping the crowned other up onto him, then soon setting herself behind the other which was now leaning against her. "HIYA!!" Shouted Jewel, her horse bolting in a random direction which led the three through rough trees and brush, giving cuts and scratches to Jewels and the strangers body. As if things couldn't get any worse, the three suddenly plummeted down a cliff and into a long harsh river. Loosing grip whilst still in the air, all three separated and fell in, Jewel barely being able to keep her head above the water as the harsh rapids slammed her body down to the bottom and brought her back to the surface as if it was a sick game.

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Eyes shooting open, Jewels body instantly sat up, finding herself half in the shallow banks of an unfamiliar area. A sharp pain ripped through her lower abdomen and she let out a scream of agony, falling back and allowing tears to spill through her already wet and watery eyes. Footsteps seemed to echo around her as she reopened her eyes, seeing a blurry figure above her, "H-elp.." she choked out through the sobs, her bloodied hand reaching up to the figure desperately, "Make the pain stop!" She spoke out in a pained and demanding way, the figures foot reeling back and hitting her in the head to make her pass out, which surprisingly worked well.

The figure, being the once hurt pink haired male bent down and lifted the girl up, stumbling with a groan as he made his way over to a fire he had started, it had fish impaled on sticks beside it and some large leaves filled with water. Now, with yet another groan the male placed Jewel on the ground, settling the girls things which had been washed up onto shore as well.

The pink-headed male gave a hum as his hand gently brushed away some of the wet strands of hair in the girls face, his other hand adjusting Jewels clothing to make her more descent. His eyes narrowed at her as her wounds bled and began to soak into her clothes and the rough earth beneath her.

"Whatever.." he mumbled as he tossed his furred cape onto her figure and began to dig through her things for something to assist in stopping the bleeding.

Once he got into her basket, he found nothing but soggy bread and a little bit of shiny golden coins, his eyes glistening like the stars above them. When he picked the small items up he gave a sigh and set them back down, soon returning to the wounded girls figure, her body stirring groggily.

"Hey." Spoke the pink haired male with his smooth and deep voice, her eyes opening to him slowly. "Ght-" She responded with a crack in her gentle coo, her eyes shutting tightly in pain as she held her side with his cape.
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TBC

Words:1598

Tubbo🐝