Stars of Autumn

Chapter Four

The streets were silent as Osprey passed through. The people parted out of her way and she earned multiple stares due to a massive gash on her temple. As soon as she passed a crowd she would hear whispers about her and their suspicions of her whereabouts. With the crowd parting and letting her through, she got to her brother's office much quicker than she had planned.  She made a gentle knock at the door.

"Enter," her brother's voice was barely audible.

She opened the door to reveal her brother skillfully passing the pocket knife that she made ages ago for his coronation gift through his fingers. His head shot up as he sheathed his blade . His expression had already changed from a slim smile to a stern and neutral look. œ

"What is it sestrenka?" Caiman asked in a monotonous voice.

"There's been a breach in and out of the border line. Transport of illegal goods, they've been taken care of, but we couldn't find the supplier. We found out who was buying and they're in the holding cell." she explained.

"I assume you've already assembled a search team for the case?" Caiman replied.

She nodded "Yes, they're working on it as we speak."

Caiman raised his eyebrows in surprise, "You aren't accomponing them? That's a first. May I ask why this change of behavior is taking place?"

"I'm not sure myself, but something is keeping me away from it, I don't know what it is, my gut, my head, I dunno," her look was distant, lost in thought.

"Keep your english proper young lady. I don't know what's gotten into you today, but you need to drop it," Caiman warned.

"Apologies brother, today things have just been... off," she replied, confused if she was even telling the truth herself, everything has been out of whack lately.

"I also suggest that you get someone to look at that gash, it looks pretty nasty," Caiman advised.

Osprey was surprised. He never was this caring, let alone be concerned for her. Suspicious, she questioned,"I know I'm feeling a bit off today, but you're actually being nice to me. Is there anything I should know about?"

Caiman sighed,"Nyet, I just, can we talk tonight? Preferably at the dinner table, at which you are always absent from."

Osprey paused. Was it really every night that she went up to see the stars? To give out food? To help the people that she knew and loved? Why did her brothers sit here and ignore the fact that their people are starving, that they're suffering? That-

"Osprey," Caiman snapped her out of her thoughts," Is dinner really that hard to think about or is your mind elsewhere?"

For once in a long time, she smiled. It was small, but there. "I'll be there when you call me down," she replied with a hint of mischief.

As she was about to close the door to her brother's office, he called out to her," And no shenanigans! Do you hear me?" Caiman said with a bit of a laugh.

"Oh, I hear you, always wanting to take away all of the fun," she shouted back playfully.