Aryn - A story of five heroes

3: Trading

She wakes up by sunrise. There are slimy bugs all over the camp and one on her face. She takes it off and puts it to the ground, then wipes her face. The slime is sticky and just spreads when she tries to. "...Ew.." She sits up and looks at the pile of monkey parts. "How am I going to carry all that...?" she talks to herself again. Looking around, she sees some big leaves that are bigger than the size of her head and some vine. Then she gets an idea. She could make a bag out of those, the bug slime and the vine.

She takes 12 of them and glues them together with the slime, making a pouch. "I hope it holds after it dries..." She pokes a couple holes for some vine to carry the bag. It's not too pretty but it does the thing. While she lets it dry she goes to the pond to wash her face. She starts to wonder why she hasn't seen other people around the forest but shrugs it off, thinking people don't like forests. Her stomach growls since she hasn't eaten in two days. She drinks some water from the pond and walks back to her camp.

"I wonder if I could eat the monkey meat..." She looks at the pile of the disposed parts and takes a piece of meat. It's covered in flies so she washes it by the pond and starts a fire. She takes a couple sticks and makes a rotisserie above the fire. She dozes off for a bit while the meat roasts and wakes up when the fire is gone. The meat is done and she starts eating it. It's not all that good but she's hungry so it doesn't matter. After eating she puts the stuff she hunted for yesterday neatly into the pouch she made and makes sure she can leave.

She makes her way back to the town, carrying the leaf bag on her back. It's just a 10-minute walk from the forest to the entrance of the town. She looks for the shopping alley and finds a small shop that sells adventurer equipment. She walks in carefully. "H-hello...?" she says. A bearded, middle-aged chubby man walks to her. "Why hello there, darling. How can I help you?" he greets her. She takes off her leaf bag and looks at it, not making eye-contact with the man. "...I'm looking to sell these... for money... so I can get clothes and other stuff..."

He laughs cheerfully. "Bring that to the counter. I'd very well like to see what you have there, sweetie!" She does as told and opens the bag. The cheerful and helpful look on the shopkeeper's face turns shocked. "W-where did you get these...?" he stutters. "From the forest nearby. I found the monkeys while I was exploring and thought they had pretty horns... They attacked me one by one and I just punched them in the face..." she explains.

The man sighs. "Look, I thought you were some newbie adventurer, but all I have is 50 silver pieces and the equipment in here. I think that's not--" "Okay" she interrupts. "--wait what?" he asks. "I need a proper bag, a knife, something to use magic with and clothes. Is it too much if I ask you to craft the clothes by hand if I give you instructions?" Aryn says, trying desperately to look like she knows something about adventuring when all she remembers is her dad's stories.

"...We have a deal. Do we get into details right away? I don't have all that many customers" he says. She nods and walks to the back with the shopkeeper. He starts measuring her. "Hey... How much could I have got out of all the skins, bones and horns I had with me?" she asks. After a bit he stops and looks down. "....3 gold pieces. I owe my life to you for agreeing into such a small price..." he says.

Aryn looks at a jacket by the back door that's supposedly his, since it's the only one. "...Do you have a family?" she asks. He starts smiling. "I have a beautiful wife and five children of which two are boys... Sometimes I find it hard to provide for them with just this small shop..." A small hint of a smile runs to her lips. "You can sell the stuff forward if you like. I don't need anything but the bare minimum. You have a family to feed after all." In response the man starts to cry.

"What's wrong?" she asks him. "N-nothing, miss... I'm just so grateful to you... What shall I call you?" She lifts her arms. "I thought I had forgotten already... It's Aryn. Aryn Kavanah." After measuring her, he gets on one knee and bows. "I vow to make you the best clothing you can ever wear. If I can't do it, I'm not worthy of being Arthur Darbinyan." She stares for a moment. "...Nyan." He raises his head to look at her, confused. "Nyan?" he asks. "...For a moment I thought I remembered someone I used to call Uncle Nyan..."

Arthur stands back up. "Anyhow, I'll keep my word and I'll back you up whenever you need help. It's the only way to show you my gratitude, miss Kavanah." She shakes her head and sighs. "Aryn is enough. How long will those 3 gold pieces feed you and your family?" He starts counting and shakes his head. "More than enough. For a little over 2 years if we start eating meat regularly." She offers her pinky. "I'll bring you stuff I find in the woods, you help me out to a start. Can you promise me that?" He hugs her instead. "Of course I will. You're such an innocent, good girl..."

Can I trust Arthur...? He won't take me away to those men, will he? He has family, I hope he's a good man. I can take my leave whenever I feel bad about him anyway...