Land of Taria: The Awakening

Chapter 5

The group watches Jason disappear up the steps and through the large doors of City Hall. They stand there and look around, wondering which direction to go.
"Doruntus, how much did Jason give us?" Autumn looks at the dark giant, who holds up a five and a zero.
"Fifty coins? Ok that should be enough for food, supplies, and a little extra for me." Autumn cheerfully turns and begins walking towards the marketplace.
"Wait, why do you get-?" Matías cuts off Ty'Vander before he finishes his sentence.
"Just let it go man. We men don't win in this situation. Ain't that right big guy?" Matías gleams at Doruntus, who just grunts and follows Autumn. Matías and Ty'Vander catch up to them and they begin shopping. They purchase meats and fruits, supplies such as paper and and matches, and after a while, the group begins walking around, showing Ty'Vander where everything is located.
"And this is Cortulnse's nursery. They've got the best nurses and doctors you'll find in Taria." Autumn points at a nice building with flowers surrounding the outside walls.
"And the hottest." Matías snickers, which rewards him a glare from Autumn.
"Oh you'd know from experience, right Matías? After all you've been there so many times. Shall we tell Ty'Vander about some of your stories?" Autumn scrunches her nose and pokes his Matías' face.
"Let's just move on." Matías groans and walks off. Ty'Vander leans over to Autumn and whispers, "You're gonna tell me later, right?"
"Oh absolutely." She reassures and they bump their fists together. The group continues walking around and laughing when Matías spots a small orange on a merchant stand. He quickly grabs it and places it in his pocket, but a cold shiver stops him in his tracks. The group turns and sees they've gained a little distance from Matías.
"Hey Matías? You ok?" Autumn walks over and touches his arm.
"Yeah I'm fine. Just couldn't move for a sec. Felt like Jason was watching me."
"You dumbass. Did you steal?" Autumn checks his pocket and pulls out the orange. "You get this feeling everytime you do this, and you still continue?"
"It's like he's watching me from every corner. Lurking amongst the shadows and hiding within the crowd." Matías looks around, trying to spot if Jason is watching.
"That's just how he is. Maybe one day you'll learn to be as good as him." Autumn places the orange back on the table and grabs Matías' hand, leading him back with the group and they continue on with their day. They find themselves back at City Hall and spot Jason leaned against a tree. They approach the white  cloaked man and Doruntus hands Jason the pouch of leftover coins.
"Only spent 38 coins? Not like you guys to go cheap."   Jason looks at the coins in his hands.
"Well they gave me a tour most of the time, so we didn't have too much time to shop." Ty'Vander states.
"As long as you have the essentials. That's all that matters." Jason looks at the barrel of supplies on Doruntus' back. Doruntus looks at Jason with a questioning look.
"How did your meeting go? How has James been?" Matías asks.
"He's fine. Just getting old. He's been stressed about the anniversary of Cortulnse. Anyways we have a mission. Doruntus, find a salt box to store the food and put the supplies by them." Jason tells Doruntus, who grunts and walks off.
"I'm guessing no one is gonna steal that?" Ty'Vander looks back at Doruntus.
"The people here don't steal." Jason tosses a glance at Matías.
"Oh so, you were watching us! Tell us how you did it! What magical ability are you hiding?" Matías points at Jason.
"It's called a window, dumbass." Jason sighs and Autumn smacks Matías on the back of the head.
"There's a Drinoan stealing supplies from the delivery carts. Honestly I think she's just stealing it to survive." Jason says.
"A Drinoan? Why couldn't it have been a Murietta?" Autumn frowns.
"James' new assistant is a Murietta." Jason states.
"WHERE?!" Autumn springs up and turns to run into City Hall, but Doruntus grabs the back of her cloak. Jason looks at Ty'Vander, who has his hand raised.
"Ty'Vander, you don't need to raise your hand."
Ty'Vander slowly puts down his hand and speaks up. "Two things. One.  Why does Autumn like us non-human so much? Two. Is this Drinoan dangerous?"
Matías jumps in before Jason can open him mouth. "Murietta are Autumns favorite species to research. She just wants to make a breakthrough in science with her research." Matías looks at Autumn, who gives him a thumbs up.
"As for your second question, I do not think so. She hasn't killed any guards, but she is very skilled. So be cautious. James asked me to take her in, but my decision hasn't been made yet." Jason stands up and begins walking towards the group.
"So we don't want her to hate us too much after we kick her ass?" Matías pounds his fists together and Autumn chuckles.
"You're such a geek." She laughs.
"What? I was trying to be cool!" Ty'Vander and Autumn start laughing together at Matías.
"Let's move out. We need to ask around and gain a rough area of where she is located." Jason says and the group begins to depart. Doruntus grabs Jason's shoulder and grunts. The group turns and looks at them.
"Go on ahead. We'll be with you in a moment." Jason reassures and the group proceeds to walk on ahead. He turns to Doruntus.
"What's bothering you?"
Doruntus reaches into his cloak and pulls out a coin. This coin isn't like the gold ones Jason gave them earlier. It's dark with stranger figures on it. Jason stares at the coin for a moment before he picks it out of Doruntus' hand.
"I've never seen this before." Jason goes to turn but Doruntus stops his, locking eyes with Jason. Jason glares back and the two behemoths of power just stand there for a moment.
"I have never seen this coin before." Doruntus releases his grip on Jasons arm and the white cloaked man storms away, his demeanor quickly changing when he catches up to the group.
Doruntus stands there for a moment in shock at what he just witnessed. He saw something in Jason's eye. Something that he's never seen in any living creature in Taria.
Jason's eyes had turned red.