[Rika]

Kay slowly walked through the village, frowning as she went. “This place is a pile. I’ll never be able to find anything here.” She muttered as she pulled the hood of her dark brown cloak over her red hair. It wouldn’t do to call attention to herself, no matter how small and remote the village was. Glancing behind her, she strode forward.

As she began walking again, a shadow detached from one of the houses. A black cloak hid the creature from head to toe, and it moved silently along the shadows. No one seemed to notice it, and it carefully followed Kay as she walked, taking care to stay far enough behind to avoid her detection.

Coming toward the market area of the village, Kay stopped and looked around. She saw a stand selling fruit and headed towards it. As she picked out her breakfast, she overheard someone asking of the seasons. Curious, she turned at looked at the speaker. It was just a boy, though there was something about him that seemed strange. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but her interest was piqued. Flicking a coin at the shopkeeper and pocketing her apples, she strode over to him.

“Well, obviously it’s nearing the end of autumn, good sir. Apples, pumpkins and squash have been harvested. The wheat has long been cut and stored for winter, and the corn has been hulled. Have you been hiding under a rock, that you do not know such things?” She smiled impishly at him. She enjoyed teasing, and hadn’t had anyone to speak to in quite a while.