Children of the Sun

Surprising New Allies

I have actually been trying to focus on school so it took me longer to write this than I wanted. I will aim for an update a week, usually long chapters, but if I can I will post more!

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The merchant ship sailed for four days before landing on the next island. Vienna only left the cargo hold late at night for some fresh air, before she tucked herself away again. She stole a tiny bit of food and water from the supplies stashed in the cargo. She even got lucky enough to find a chest with gold and trinkets. It seemed like it was someone's gold that the merchants were transporting, so she pocketed some berri. Enough to survive on, and not alert anyone of the missing money.

Vienna slipped off the boat in the chaos of docking, men were running everywhere carrying lots of large boxes and crates, that Vienna just slipped right through them. For so early in the morning, the town market was already crowded with people shouting about fish prices, and exotic fruits. The smell of grilled fish filled the air, Vienna followed her nose to a smaller stall and bought herself some breakfast. It was nice to have a warm meal seasoned and cooked properly. There hadn't been anything to put on the fish on the island, so it was plain fish, and Ace wasn't very good at judging time, he would take them off too early or wait too long and burn them.

After asking directions to the cheapest inn, Vienna wandered around taking note of the bars and stores. She paid for a two-night stay, happy with any kind of bed. It was better than cold sand. She unpinned her wings and stretched, flapping them lightly, knowing they would probably be pinned the rest of the day. Maybe she could buy some salve from the local herbalist to help relax her muscles. Repinning her wings, as comfortably as she can with it being so tight, Vienna counted out her berri making sure to leave enough to buy passage on a ship if there was one leaving here within the next day.

Back on the street, it was even more crowded than before, it seemed everyone was awake and outside. Her first stop was a clothing shop, where she purchased a small bag and a tank top with an open back. It was such a pain to cut holes in her clothes for her wings. Ve managed to find an herbalist who sold her a salve for relaxing muscles and even a few jars of herbs that can make common medicine. Vienna made sure to purchase linen bandages too, for injuries and her wings. Another stall sold bread and dried fruits, and Vienna decided to start gathering more food rations for her upcoming voyages. After walking around the town for a few hours, a weapons shop caught her eye. Specifically the set of small daggers for sale up front,

"Excuse me? How much for the twin daggers?"

"Good eye, 50 beri for the pair. I can even throw in this small blade for an extra 30. All three are good weapons for a small lady like yourself." The burly man says gathering all three blades. Vienna picks up the small daggers, they are heavy in her hand but seem easy to handle. The shorter sword is also a bit heavy, but similar in weight to the swords she, Luffy, and Ace would spar with when they borrowed them from Foosha's local blacksmith.

"I'll take all of them, with the scabbards please." The man accepted her beri before passing over the weapons. She strapped the daggers to her legs and placed the sword across her back. She was starting to look like a real adventurer.

For dinner, she found herself at a bar located near her inn. She sat in the corner eating her chicken and potatoes just listening to the conversations around her. There was a loud group of pirates next to her, singing and bragging about their latest treasure. She did overhear a conversation about a passenger barge sailing out in two days to the next island. So that was her next ride then. She finished up and paid for her meal leaving the bar. It was only a short walk to her inn, but she didn't expect pirates to follow her out of the bar.

"Hey, pretty lady, leaving so soon? Care to join us for a little drink?" Shouted surrounded by his crewmates,

"And maybe something more?" Another one snickered. Vienna tried to ignore them but one grabbed her arm spinning her around,