Help from the OtherSide

43. Couple Coins Worth

Princess pulled away and shuffled through her pouch that hung by her waist. She turned away from me and cleaned herself up. Once she was done, I gave her the last piece of my dessert to sweeten her mood. She denied but I stuffed it in her mouth anyway.

I didn't ask anything more about her past and the war incase someone saw us in the park and assumed that I made her cry. We left the park for a more quieter place. While I kept an eye out for the bird, I tried small talks but she responded dejectedly after our previous discussion and didn't say anything apart from a couple hmm's and yes's.

I took the hint and kept quiet for the rest of the day. From the few coins Dora had given I bought her a bracelet that I found attractive in the marketplace. It was a grey and vibrant green beaded petite bracelet with a small empty locket that was up for customization. I told her to get it filled with whatever she liked and minutes later the vendor was done.

D ⚬A ⚬R ⚬K

The final result had those letters engraved in the tiny locket. When I asked what it meant, she said going ahead in the future, it'll remind her of this day. I shrugged and smiled not understanding what exactly she meant by it, but if it made her happy then I considered it worth the coins.

The bracelet did the trick, because she was back to her chirpy and bubbly self. She pranced around me showing various shops and their most sold items. The sky had shifted from bright blue to orange, indicating the nearing of deadline but Anarzia wasn't bothered one bit about  our impending task.

" . . . And the northern elves sold hundred units of--"

"Hey, sorry to interrupt, but we still have to catch the bird y'know." I grimaced at the thought of not being able to go home because of a silly animal.

Her eyes bulged and face turned red. "Oh my-- I totally forgot!" She looked around hastily like the bird was on the shopkeepers' shoulders. 

"Maybe we'll go back and wait for the others in the Market Square." I scratched the back of my head. There's no way of finding a bird that small in this crowd.

"Okay. . . I'll make Telsin help me." 

We both navigated back to the Square amidst the vendors who were closing for the day. 
The Square was relatively empty and quieter, now that everyone had left for their homes. I sat by the fountain, feeling the cool water droplets on the back of my neck. Anarzia anxiously paced around checking the various tree branches that fell in her sight.

Hearing the shuffling of some feet I called out to her and we turned to see Yumiko's trio walking leisurely. Liam and Yumiko talked excitedly while Killian trailed behind them, carefully holding the bird in his hands. 

They run up to me and showed their bird. I opened the cage and it fluttered inside chirping loudly. Before we could speak, the last group dashed down the lane and skidded to a stop beside me. Grant, Amelia and Telsin were drenched with sweat. The guys had their wet hair matted down their forehead and Amelia's face red with exertion.

Panting, they put the bird inside and collapsed on the ground.

"What on earth did you guys do?" Liam gaped at the three.

"We-- hfff-- ran behind--hhh-- bird. Too fast--hfff-- escaped." Telsin coughed out the words moving the brick red hair out of his eyes while Killian awkwardly patted his back. Anarzia and I shared a look because now we'd have to do it ourselves. The three were in no condition to walk to the duchy, let alone help us.

"There should be one more bird in here. Third one's missing." Yumiko inspected the cage. 
I gulped nervously and straightened the non-existent creases on my clothes. Anarzia caught on my action and spoke on my behalf.