Episode 2: Family

I ended up getting lost in the forest, some wild animals were so afraid of me. Even that giant beast with big paws and sharp teeth hid when I walked onto her cave. I also played with her children and she almost cried out not knowing if she'll throw me or just let me. Then, I decided to leave.

As I walked on the plains, some mercenaries of goods passed by and asked me if I want to ride. I rejected them because mother of one village said to never accept rides. They'll deceive me and sell me in a high price. Those words that were really out of my vocabulary, yet I understand that I must reject.

They forced me which ended that I just allowed them to make me company. They told me that it will be dangerous especially at night, because some thieves and goons might kill me on the road. I don't think they could kill me because moon mother will protect me, I said. He tapped my head and just laughed on what I said.

I watched how the changes of the sky did until I saw the crescent moon, imagining that moon mother is watching somewhere close to it. The man told me to rest for a bit, but I just can't because the moon was inviting me to dance on its light.

I hid on some place near the group where the old man who asked me to join the ride slept. I started the sounds of the bells. I made my body harmonized as the rythm of the place enveloped me. Then I've heard a loud shout on the area where I left. I ran to help only to saw a group of people holding the old man on his sleeves.

"Give us your goods" the biggest one exclaimed

"This is all we have, Mr." the old man answered

"These were just a bunch of trashes. You don't even have a girl to spend the night!" he said

I feel sorry for the old man so I find something to disrupt his death and so he can run away. I found something similar

to my chains. It's a pity that the moon isn't on its full, if only it is, I can just use my own chains to make them bleed. I went down the cart and stood in front of them. They threw the old man and looked at me devilishly.

"You're good at hiding your granddaughter, but she presented herself" the big one said

"RUN!" the old man shouted

The other men kicked the old man and that made me feel something rashing all over my head.

"Leave him alone or you'll spill all of your blood" I told him

He laughed and acted as if it scared him. The old man never stopped shouting "run", so I answered that he should be the one to run because I can stop them with the chains I found on his cart. He just cried more awfully as the other men kicked him until a loud bang made my whole body tremble. The old man stopped screaming.

"He's dead?" one of the men with thinnest body questioned

"I think he is" the other one replied

I saw the red water flew on the old man's head that was hit by the nearby rock. It was oozing all over the old man's body and I felt pity because he wore a white shirt which mother said was the hardest to wash.

"Boss, he's dead!" the other man with a metal piercing on his lips declared

"Your grandfather is dead" the biggest one which named Boss said looking at me

I think he expected me to do something that's why he looked like somehow disappointed or confused. I looked at him and just let my guard down, because it will be useless if they can't hear my bells.

"Nevermind, I expected you'd cry, seems like he was not a good family after all. Come here, Little Kitty. Let me take care of you from now on" Boss said

"I'm not the child's cat kitty." I innocently said and all of them started laughing

"Such an innocent kid. It's a pity she'll be somebody's slave soon" Boss murmured

"Boss, why don't we just use her? Look at her. She has all it takes. May be she know how to dance or sing, let's make money out of her" the man said that looked like some kind of reptile because his tongue was out

"Yes, I think so too" the fat man motioned

"Then it is solved." the Boss finally decided

"Do you know about the myth?" I asked them

They looked like good people instead. They were concerned on me. Somehow, I sensed relief though I don't get the other words they have said. I'll work now so moon mother won't be disappointed.

"What myth?" the Boss asked and sit

"It's about the moon's child and blessing, do you by any chance know what that blessing is?" I replied

"It's just a fairytale. I thought you'll tell something. Follow me. You'll work the next day as we arrived on our destination" he said

I obeyed. I saw the shock on the other men's face and it was kind of uncomfortable, I think. They rode the cart of the mercenaries and let me sleep at the old man's cart. I wonder how do humans produce those kind of water. I'm curious if I can do that too. I looked at my wrist and started cutting it with knife. The thinnest man shouted and all carts stopped moving. The thinnest man which later I heard named Mark, hid the knife and stayed watch on me the whole time.

He gave me food and laugh with the others. We're still on the plains and I don't know when can I vividly see a new village. I exhaled a deep sigh. Mark sat next to me and gave me water.

"I'm sorry about your grandfather" he said

"Does the old man told you his name is your grandfather?" I asked, he laughed

"No, your means you own something. Grandfather is filial" he explained

"But I only have moon mother as my family" I said

"So she sold you to that man, therefore she's not a family" he mentioned

"How do you say so?" I asked

"A family never sell his own to gain money" he said

"Then, is boss your family?" I asked again

"He bought me, saved me from hunger so I think he is. That will be the same for the others as well as to you" he said looking at boss who's laughing near the others

"But you will sell me too?" I said

"We won't, everyone here has a role. Boss helped us and guide us on what to do. That fat one, Max, he is the cook. He's good at it, so everyone got a satisfactorily food everyday. The one with lips piercing, Aaron, he's good at knife. He's agile and can easily release killing intent which made our foes back down..."

Mark never stopped talking at all. He told me different stories of the other men on the group. I wonder if they will help me if I told them that I'm on a journey so I asked Mark. Then before I told my goal, he just smiled and said that I should tell it later to everyone. He told me everyone will be pleased to help me because I am now a family. That night I get all what it takes and stood up.

"I want to know where the blessing is as moon mother instructed" I started

Everyone looked at me confused of what I'm saying and I don't get why they made that kind of expression. Then Aaron came from his scouting shouting, ENEMY.

"Everyone prepare!" Boss exclaimed and everyone got sharp objects and circled protecting Boss and me

"It's suffocating" I whispered

"I'm sorry, you just need to keep up. We must protect everyone" Mark said to me

"But they are soft and squishy. I can make them bleed without those things you're holding" I said

Then everyone looked at me and get back to attention while laughing.

"Kid, you're a girl. Soft and fragile, how can we let you make them bleed. We are no man if that's real" Boss said

I stomped off my feet and stepped on Max back which made him twitched. Boss then get me and put me on his shoulders as those goons encircled us. We are fewer than them.

"Just watch my boys, kid. You must know that ladies don't fight, instead, men protect them" Boss told me

I then wonder if the blessing can protect me too. Will he treat me as a lady? Can he be a family? If he is a beast maybe, I can rely on him. But if he was a man like them, then I'll make him my lady. I laughed as I thought of it. Yet, I beast can kill his own family so I must hope he's not. Whatever it takes, I must find him for moon mother.

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