RE:WRITE

59.0 Grayscale_Chapter 19: Charcoal

"Sorry granny, I can't stay any longer," I said, swallowing a mouthful of porridge.

"Yes, she has to go," said Fabar. "Her friends must be worried sick." Then she added under her breath, "If she has any, that is."

The corners of my eyes twitched as I shot the tiny bitch a glare. She blinked innocently and continued eating her porridge.

"Kids these days, they never stop for a second," grumbled Granny Nipa, as she carefully put a spoonful of porridge in her mouth. "But fine, fine. Have to let the birds out of the nest at some point. Just remember to come back sometimes. I hope you'll come say hi to your granny a little more frequently than a certain someone." She raised her eyebrows at Fabar.

"N-no," stammered Fabar. "You don't understand. I had to... and then... and..." She lowered her head. "I'm sorry Granny."

Granny Nipa nodded. She'd been happy to see Fabar, but she wasn't going to let her long absence go unpunished.

"Right," I said, as I dropped the dirty dishes into the kitchen sink, washed them, and came back to the table. "Thanks for everything, Granny." I hugged her, straightened my traveler's robe, and made for the doorway.

"Wait a second dearie," said Granny Nipa. "You'll get lost in the swamp. Let Fabar take you to the main road, she knows this place like the back of her eyelids."

"No!" said Fabar and I, at the same time. Then we exchanged glances before turning back to Granny Nipa.

"I'll be fine by myself, I know how to get to the village," I said.

"Yeah, she'll be fine. Street urchins are good at surviving in scummy places," said Fabar.

Fuck you.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," I said through gritted teeth. "Besides, this little ingrate needs to spend more time with you."

It was Fabar's turn to get mad, as she shot me a menacing glare.

"Oh hush," said Granny, cutting short our bantering. "If you're both going to complain so much, I'll have to take you there myself."

"No!" said Fabar and I, at the same time, again. We exchanged glances again, and understood exactly what we had to do.

"You know what, I could use some exercise, after all," said Fabar.

"I haven't really had the chance to bond with this twerp, either," I said.

"Yes, this monkey could use a friend," chimed Fabar.

"This ass could use a dip to cool her head," I stated with a smile.

"This –"

"Enough," interrupted Granny. She sighed. "My old bones can't take any more of this. It's getting cold so I'm going to grab my jacket. If you're still here when I get back, then we're all going for a stroll together."

She walked into her bedroom. Fabar and I looked at each other, and left without a word.

Take care, granny...

-

"You're taking me to the village, right?" I asked, suspicious of the blue haired bitch leading me through the muck. The soppy ground squelched beneath my feet, and I swatted away the insects hovering all around me. Thankfully, my Defense was too high for them to bite me.

They were still annoying as fuck, though.

"Of course I am, monkey. The road's not far enough away. I want to make sure your stench can't reach me anymore," she said, walking over the grimy waters without her feet sinking in at all. In fact, even the fucking insects didn't go after her. That made me hate her even more.