The Life of a Bandit and a Thief

Chapter Four - The First Day

Chapter Four - The First Day

Simon twitched his nose as something cold and wet gently hit it, before breathing deeply. He grunted as it happened again, and flicked his head as it happened a third time.

They had now become a constant drip as he screwed his eyes closed, praying that when he opened them, he would be back in his own home, in his own bed, a small crack in the ceiling causing the leak to drip on his face.

He opened his eyes a crack, just in time to see a gush of water falling towards him, which quickly drenched his already damp face. He spluttered and wiped his eyes, sitting up just in time to see Elise strolling away from him, laughing as she held her now wrung out blanket in her hands.

"What was that for?" He grumbled moodily, trying to wipe the rest of the water from his face.

"It's wakey wakey time, Princess. Time to get going." She grinned at him, rolling up her blankets and stuffing them back in her backpack.

Simon sighed and stretched his arms in the air, surprised at how stiff they felt; his whole body was aching after spending the night cold and wet on the ground. He painfully got to his feet, stretching out his back and neck as he did so, before slowly beginning put away the blankets he had slept on, wringing them out into a nearby bush, a scowl on his face.

"Aw, what's with the face?" Elise pouted at him as he handed the two neatly folded blankets, which she quickly stuffed into the backpack and swinging it onto her shoulders.

"I don't appreciate sleeping on the ground, I don't appreciate the rain, and I don't appreciate your soaking either." He replied, still scowling.

"Well just think, at least it saves you bathing for a few days." She chuckled and winked at him, then setting off into the trees, Simon following silently behind, the satchel hanging tentatively from his shoulder.

They travelled for a while in silence, Elise occasionally humming as she made her way through the Forest she knew like the back of her hand.

"Are you hungry?" She asked, breaking the silence and looking over her shoulder at the sulking Simon. He didn't reply, but the sudden rumbling of his stomach gave him away. He looked down at himself, shocked and embarrassed as Elise chuckled.

"I'll take that as a yes then?" She laughed knowingly. "Come on, there's a village not too far from here. We can get something to eat there." She said, her tone surprisingly sympathetic as Simon's stomach grumbled in agreement.

She took a sharp right and soon the dense trees started to thin, until they reached the edge of a large village, the busy sounds of people's lives filtering through the streets despite the early hour.

Elise smiled at Simon before walking over to a nearby tree, taking her backpack and one of the two swords and placing them in a hidden hole.

'She must know these Forests better than anyone.' Simon thought in amazement as she took the satchel from him and placed it with her other belongings, wondering how she must know of all these handy hidey-holes amongst the seemingly identical trees.

"Right." She said brightly, standing and facing Simon. "Time for breakfast." She grinned, rubbing hands together before running down the path towards the village, Simon jogging and panting to keep up with her.

She slowed down as they began to reach a small market, small stalls set about, filled with homemade goods and daily essentials, none of the fancy trinkets found in the stalls of Simon's hometown anywhere to be seen.

Elise strolled through the streets, smiling and nodding at people as she passed them, her confidence making the villagers believe she was meant to be there, and smiling back her. Simon could feel the odd looks being sent his way, and tried to emulate Elise's casual swagger, but stopped after a few paces, feeling more like an idiot with a limp.