An Island for a Cloud

1.2 How to be a Good Thief on a Bad Day

Thank you very much for reading this chapter. If you spot any spelling mistakes or awkward sentence structures, please be nice and let me know :)

Leivrat

"Rejoice! We did it!" cried Aerus, clearly pleased with himself. The children briskly walked down a busy street lined with old dwellings, jumping over the roots protruding the uneven cobblestone pavement.

"You were fast, as usual. I am sure he never knew who took it," said Cloud. Aerus gave her a light playful shove.

"The plan could not have worked better, thanks to your dust-crackers." Aerus was in a cheerful mood. He patted the side of his chest where the coin bag was safely tucked away. There was more inside than they had expected. "With a bit of luck, the King of the Dust will find some use for me! I will be one of his best Dust Men one day!"

He was too intoxicated by the success to notice the change that had overcome his friend. Cloud gave him a worried look, but seeing Aerus' excitement, decided against sharing with him what had occurred. Even if she tried, it would not have been easy for her to put into words what she had seen and the feelings it had stirred inside of her.

Instead, Cloud shook her head to chase away the thoughts. "Dream on! Who would want to have your ugly face around?"

"You are just jealous of my good looks, green-head."

"Your good looks? Ha! The King of the Dust will have only one use for you – as a broom to scrub his floors!" she shot back and ruffled his hair.

Aerus laughed high and loud in return. Cloud hadn't heard him laugh like this since the day they had taken away his father. Creators knew, his short life had been one of hardship. With the coin bag comforting weight, even his walk became lighter and his skinny shoulders straightened slightly.

The rounded the corner and Cloud's house came into sight. In anticipation of what would happen next, Aerus and Cloud counted giggling, "And one! And two! And three!"

At the count of three, they both jumped aside, pushing themselves firmly against opposite walls of dwellings that flanked the two sides of the street.

And good thing they did.

Just then, an old shoe hit the ground where the children just stood.

"How many times do I have to tell you that I do not want to see this beggar around our house?" shouted a husky voice from above.

Both children looked up to where the voice had come from. At first there was nothing to be seen, then slowly, first a balding crown of a head, then bushy brows and at last two pairs of eyes appeared through a square window. They belonged to an older man, clearly struggling to lift himself up and fully lean over the window frame.

"Grandfather! Not again!" shouted Cloud in return, picking up the shoe. Laughing, she waved with it. Her grandfather's stubborn animosity towards Aerus was a great source of entertainment to the two friends. And Aerus made sure he gave Cloud's grandfather enough reasons to shout and rant.

"Wishing you a very pleasant evening, dearest grandfather!" sang Aerus in his sweetest voice.

"I am not your grandfather and will never be as long as I walk this island."

"But grandfather, you already stopped walking this island years ago," Aerus reminded him innocently, a wide grin on his face.

"You dare to make fun of me? Wait until I catch you! I will teach you some respect!" the old man shouted back. "Cloud, get in the house! I will cut off your ears myself if you get matched to this worthless scoundrel!"