A Purple Kiss

Purple Kiss

Location: on the border of Terra Jara in a Tavern attached to an Inn.

Characters: Zel, .a local 15-year-old who lives with his parents a mile south of the Inn.

Zel's Mother

People in the bar:

A red man who taunts Zel

A green man who is showing off

The waitress

The purple girl who kisses him

A bird-man

Snug in the foothills of a large mountain was the STAYHERE INN. It was popular with those who were traveling for one reason or another. People were coming and going from all over. Some to the Kingdom east, on the other side of the mountain; some to the kingdoms West. Such a variety of colors and styles intrigued the locals. One of the local farmers was a fifteen-year-old boy named Zel.

Zel approached the neon lights flashing the word "FUNKY BITES DINER." Enticed By the scent of cooking meat and the beat of wild music — the kind his parents warned him about — 'sinful' music, he opened the door. He saw the music come to life in the rhythmic movements of dancers.

The people were red, green, and purple. Some were blended. The people of Tera Jara were green like Zel. He looked around and saw only the bartender and waitress that shared that trait.

The rest were travelers who were staying at the STAYHERE INN attached to the Tavern. He could feel his heart pound as he walked in. He felt the beat take over his own beating heart.

There was a bar on the right. He knew better than sitting there. Already, he felt like people were eyeing him from around the room. They knew he was too young to sit there without parents.

He put on the cloak his mother had given him. He felt better now. His heart was slowing down — as well as his breathing. The cloak was green with splashes of gray and black.

His mother had seen him try to sneak out of the house.

"This will keep you warm and safe." She assured him.

"Safe?"

"Yes." She said. "Safe. It will make you invisible to others. If you ever feel in danger, just put it on. " Then, she handed it to him. A puff of silver dust fell from it. She kissed him on his forehead and hurried back in before Pop knew they had been up.

She had not, however, given him any food.

So now, he was hungry.

The smell of Dragon's Feet Burgers and Fried Mermaid Lips made his mouth water. He was starting to feel relaxed.

The center of the Tavern was open. People were dancing whenever the music inspired them to.

Zel just watched the women swaying to the music's beat.

He spotted a table and sat down, waiting for someone to serve him.

Then, he remembered that he was wearing that cloak, and they couldn't see him. So. He took it off, folded it up, and sat it on his lap. He slapped it, and a cloud of silver dust came up. He had noticed that when his mom gave it to him. He didn't give it a second thought.

"Hey, farm boy!" A red man with a golden beard that rested on his beer-belly shouted at him. He had a frothy drink in his mug. Some of it splashed on Zel. He could smell the sweet, fermented fruit.

"How old are ye, anyway?" the red man asked.

"Not old enough to drink that!" Zel pointed to the drink.