An Island for a Cloud

5.1 How to save a friend

The more the day advanced, the more worried Cloud became. Aerus, who dropped by the market stall every morning, where Cloud and  her grandmother sold herbs and medicine, did not show up today. As the morning passed, and there was still no sign of him, a bad feeling overcame Cloud and did not leave her since.

It was a very busy market day. The Dark Night was only one day away and their herbs mixtures were in high demand, as Veilys believed it had the ability to protect their homes from the wrath of the Dark Night. This was the most important time of the year, then the sales they made in the days leading up to the Dark Night, sustained their small family for a long time after. Over the last many days, they set up their stall even before the sun rose behind the clouds and Aerus had always been there to help.

As much as Cloud wanted, she could not leave her grandmother alone a the market. Yet, all Cloud could think of was her friend. She scanned the crowd, waiting for him to appear. Yet, as the afternoon passed too, there was still no sign of him. Cloud's grandmother, a sober-minded woman build of innate kindness and unwavering strength, loved Aerus dearly, and felt his absence too. Every time Cloud caught her grandmother's worried look on her, she had to force herself to stay put and not to run off in search of him.

By the time Simas turned up, Cloud almost jumped at him, grabing him by the shirt.

"Have you seen Aerus? When was the last time you saw him?" she interrogated him, all the while shaking him until his teeth rattled. Simas looked frightened and attempted to release his shirt from her grip.

"I-i d-don't know. I have not seen him since you left me yesterday to go after... You know," he almost whispered the last part, fearing anyone might overhear them.

All color left her face.

"Grannie, you don't really think..?"

"Seven Deadly Swords take him! If he as much as touched Aerus, I will make him pay for it!" she hissed angrily, pushing Simas behind the stall where her grandmother conversed with a buyer. "Grandmother," she called, interrupting her in mid-sentence and earning a disapproving look from the buyer, which Cloud ignored. "Simas will stay behind and help you. I will return soon." Before any of them could disagree, she disappeared in the crowd.

She ran through the old crowded streets of Leivrat as fast as she could. All around the city the preparations for the Dark Night were on the way. The windows of every dwelling were sealed with wooden planks, the doors mended and the walls strengthened. Cloud could hear loud sounds of hammers put to use in almost every dwelling she passed on her way. But not in the dwelling before which she stopped at last. Then nobody was left to mend this home.

Several dirty children played before the ruin, and as soon as Cloud came into sight, they ran towards her screeching in delight.

"Grannie! Grannie!"

She took the smallest one in her arms, a little girl, while the others were already going through her pockets, searching for something to eat. But she did not have any food for them today, and the sad hungry looks they gave her at that realization almost broke her heart.

"Where is Aerus?" she asked the oldest of the children. The boy, a smaller version of Aerus, but without the same glee in his eyes, only shrugged.

"Haven't seen him," he said and returned to his game. The other children followed. She wan't going to get an answer from them.

"Where is Aerus?" repeated the little girl in her arms, smiling broadly at Cloud.

"I wished I knew, little one," Cloud replied sadly. Her heart still beat fast from the running, and her hand shook slightly when she reached for the door.