Cherry

° Ch. 2 • Protectors °

Three figures walked in the distance into a town.

It was small but it was flourishing. Most of the reason was since it was a port city, meaning it sat right next to the ocean so many travelers, merchants, and sailors came to the small town of Hirane.

However, there were also people who decided to take advantage of the small town. For years, pirates ambushed natives and took their belongings and even kidnapped a few women.

But, during the year of 524, a group was formed in the midst of the city of Hirane. They were known as The Protectors and they indeed lived up to their name.

The leader of the group, Dustin, was known as the Red Warrior after an incident when his clothing was painted red from the blood of his enemies.

There were four other members in the group. Barin, the Swift Giant. Jedrek, the Silent Hell. Ekon, the Timing Weapon. And Remo, Darkness' Friend.

Each of them were known in the city and were greatly respected.

"Hey, Barin!" a girl with pink hair called out to a tall and sturdy man.

The man whose name was Barin turned around to face the shorter girl.

"What do you want, Edrea?" He asked, giving her a suspicious look.

"I want to join The Protectors! Like you!" She exclaimed, nearly jumping up and down in excitement.

He sighed heavily. This was about the fiftieth time she had asked him.

"Edrea, I already explained this to you but you're too young. It's too dangerous for you."

"Really? But she can totally kick your butt." Ragnild added in.

Edrea smirked. "Yeah! You admitted it too!" She put one hand on her hip and the other, pointing at Barin accusingly.

"Great," he murmured, "using my own words against me." He faced the two girls. "Fine. I'll talk to Dustin but there's no guarantee."

"Yes!" The two girls whooped and raised their fists in the air.

"Edrea!" A new voice called out to the agile teenager.

The trio turned back to the forest to see Edrea's mother waving to them, a basket of fruits in her arms.

"Hi mom!" She waved back, a large smile plastered on her face.

"You haven't been bugging Barin again, have you?" She raised an eyebrow at her daughter who simply shrugged and grinned.

"Who knows..." Her voice trailed off when her eyes caught view of yet another person. A boy this time. A boy with bright red hair and eyes like fire.

"Emory!" She yelled out, running over to the boy's side.

He turned to see Edrea running closer and he yelped when she embraced him in a bear hug that made him fall to the ground.

"Hello, Edrea," he greeted, patting her head that was laying upon his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

Her arms were wrapped around his waist and her face buried in his shirt. He could feel a smile grow on her face although he couldn't really see it.

"Emory! Guess what!" She exclaimed, jumping out of the embrace, surprising the boy a little. She was sitting face to face with him and the look on her face could be equivalent to one of a dog that just got a treat and was running around, playing.

"What?" He knew better than to actually guess whatever she was talking about. He made that mistake a few years back and he definitely learned from that.

"I'm joining The Protectors!" She answered happily, making Barin face palm.

"Hey, I didn't say that you were joining The Protectors." He told the girl who rolled her eyes at him.

"But you said you'd talk to The Red Warrior, right?" Edrea countered.

"Well yes but there's no guarantee that-"

"What?!" Emory yelled, catching the attention of the people in the area.

"That's way too dangerous! Edrea! You can't! What if something happens to you?" He shook her shoulders, a face of full terror registered in Edrea's mind.

"Emory..." She had no words to say.

He took a deep breath, removing his hands from her shoulders. "Look, I know you want to protect Hirane but you're only fifteen, Edrea!" He turned to her mother. "You agree with me, right? You wouldn't want your daughter to risk her life like that, right?"

Edrea's mother sighed and walked over to Emory who was shaking with fear and anger. Fear for his precious friend and anger at the thought of losing her.

"I feel the same way as you, Emory. Believe me. But Edrea is just like her father. Once they want something, they will do whatever it takes to go through with it. I know you're worried and I am too. But Barin will be there. And the rest of The Protectors as well. Plus, there isn't a guarantee that she'll even make it into the group." Edrea's mother handed the redhead a large stem with small cherry buds growing on it before wandering off to her home.

Edrea stood there, alongside Ragnild who thought it was a bit awkward for her to be there. Ragnild went up to Emory.

She gave him a sweet smile and whispered some words into his ear. The only thing loud enough for the rest of them to hear was the word "brother." After all, they were twins. Although they looked nothing alike, they had the same parents.

Edrea turned to Barin and pulled him down so she could whisper into his ear. "Hey what do you think she said to him?"

Barin stood up straight again, making Edrea have to crane her neck to look him in the eye. "Sibling stuff, I guess." He shrugged it off, not really caring.

Ragnild walked off after she finished talking to her brother and left Emory there, a bit stunned, confused, and, perhaps, afraid.

"Ed-Edrea?" He looked up to the pink-haired girl who nodded in response.

He continued. "Is it true that you defeated Barin?" An uneasy emotion passed through his eyes.

"Yeah, I did." Edrea said bluntly, punching Barin in the arm, "He admitted defeat."

"Ah, okay." Was the only reply as a shadow was cast on Emory's eyes from his hair.

He opened his mouth to speak again when the sound of a bell interrupted him. It was the loud town bell that indicated that there were intruders in the town. It indicated for The Protectors to do there job.

Barin rubbed his head. "It seems I am needed."

"Take me with you!" Edrea exclaimed, taking out a knife from her belt. "Let me fight with you!"

Barin stared at her for a few seconds and she simply stared back, showing her conviction and determination in her eyes.

"Very well," He finally answered, much to Emory's surprise and dismay, "but you have to stay close to me and never, I repeat never, leave my line of vision. Understood?"

Edrea nodded her head excitedly, causing Barin to sigh again.

They started to walk over to where the group usually met up when Emory called Edrea's name.

"Be careful!" He yelled at her and she smiled at him.

"Of course!" She shouted back, waving goodbye with a grin on her face.

Emory couldn't help but smile as well. That was the kind of girl she was. Even though she could be walking to her death, she gave off an aura that made the surrounding people happy.

He looked down at the cherry stem her mother had handed to him. One of them seemed to be almost ready to pick but it stopped growing. And the other cherry buds around it seemed to flourish. It was as if that cherry was helping the others grow while it, itself, was growing.

"She's just like a cherry, huh..." He found himself muttering to himself.