13 Day Thirty-four, Dawn

A loud roosters crow stirred Markium from his deep slumber, reminding him of the new day ahead. He looked down at the sleeping figure tangled in the sheets next to him and kissed the red mark on her shoulder. She pulled away from his kiss and rolled over, facing him. Her black hair flowed across her white skin like darkened rivers on a snowy plane, her lips red as blood, the picture of beauty. He smiled, brushing the hair from her face and stood to dress.

A gentle knock and the door slowly opened. "Good morning, my friend," a small, scratchy voice spoke.

"Good morning, Chim," he responded and followed the small, dragon like creature outside, seeing the sun rise over the mountains. "How is everyone in town?"

"Amerella and Armand are asking about Eve," he spoke as they walked toward the chicken coop. "I tell them, as best I can, that she is doing better but..."

"She's getting out of bed and walking around the cottage, sometimes she'll eat something, but she won't leave, even if I'm with her."

"She will need time, Markium. She will come out when she's ready."

Markium nodded quietly and untangled the rope to the chicken coop. "She always wanted chickens," he explained, stepping over the small creatures to the nests. Chim held out a woven basket for Markium to put the eggs in. "She loves chickens."

"She will be fine," Chim spoke softly. "She just needs you there."

"I'm trying," he whispered, holding an egg in one hand, shaking slightly. "I just want to find him and... and..." The egg broke in his hand, the clear, yellow liquid dripping slowly.

"There is nothing you can do but be there, remember that." He took the basket of eggs and walked out of the coop with Markium behind him.

Eve sat on the bed in her linen dress staring at the cottage around her, thinking to herself, 'How can I keep using this place? After what he did to me...'

She heard Chim and Markium outside, talking, stood slowly and looked out the window. The sun was shining in the new morning glow, steam rose from the stream slowly in wisps of vapor, dew dripped from the leaves of an apple tree Amerella brought, the visage of a spring morning. It looked like a day where she and her girl friends would sit out in bikinis and bask in the morning sun before setting to work. It almost gave her the strength to go outside again, feel the sunlight on her skin, the grass and dirt under her bare feet, take a swim in the stream and take a picnic with Markium.

"Morning," his voice rang out from the front door, bringing eggs from outside.

"Hey, do you think you and Chim could get me something from town?" she asked, watching Chim wash his feet in the stream.

"What do you need?" he asked, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Can you ask Amerella and Lav to make some more of his famous meat pies? I'm having a craving."

"For two day old meat pie?" He rubbed her lower belly softly.

"Lav's meat pies are worth it." She turned around and looked him in the eyes. "Am I worth a four day walk for meat pie?"

"No," he joked. "But Lav's meat pie is."

She faked shock and pushed him. "Jerk." He sat on the bed and watched her turn back to the window. "I'll get them for you on one condition."

"What?"

"Go outside, get some fresh air and Chim stays here for you in case something happens. Deal?"

"Fine but your bringing Amerella's cart, some more fabric, chicken feed-"

"Make a list, Mom," he joked. "I'm gonna talk to Chim." He stood and went back outside.

She sat with a piece of paper and a quill he brought from last time he was in town. She closed her eyes and pulled her Stats Page.

Name: Eve

Age: 23

Level: 2 - 30%

Race: Half-elf

Health: 100

Stamina: 100

Mana: 100

Strength: 10

Dexterity: 10

Intelligence: 15

Charisma: 10

Luck: 10

Abilities:

Analyze lvl 1 - 32%

Gardening lvl 2 -10%

Skills:

Archery lvl 2 -35%

Sewing lvl 2 - 63%

Resistances:

Inability to Burn - Sun and minor burns will not effect you

Charm Resistance - Weak charm spells to sway your eyes or mind will not effect you

Mastery: None

She wrote out a list of items she needed from town, mostly food stuffs, fabric and thread, chicken feed, and extra lumber.

Markium came back in with Chim.

"I am fine staying here with you while Markium is gone to Ommaxam," Chim spoke. "I will help in anyway you need."

"Thank you, Chim." She smiled, handing Markium the short note of supplies.

"Lumber? Why?"

"I wanna built something. My dad and I used to build things every summer and sell them to the neighbors. It's how I got my first carrrrt." She looked at Chim, knowing full well he didn't know what a car was.

"Are you sure you should be doing wood working in your-"

"My condition? What's the worst thing that could happen, I miscarry an unwanted child that'll probably kill me!?"

"I just don't want you to get hurt."

"I didn't know I was your responsibility, I'll just jump into the lagoon and drown, make everyone feel better." She turned and started toward the door.

Markium grabbed her arm but she pulled away, threw the door open and ran.

"Eve!" he yelled after her but she didn't stop and vanished into thin air. "Oh, shit."