1 1. The beginning

Standing in the middle of the road, a child wearing what was basically rags was staring blankly at a food stall. The food stall had a large selection to choose from, ranging from all types of produce, sweets and meat. It was an odd commodity due to to the fact that the other food stall only sold a certain type of product. Some sold weapons, others sold hot freshly made food, where others sold produce and meat.

The food stall clerk looked at the boy who seemed to not pay any attention to his surroundings.

Looking closer the boy had short black, messy hair. Sparkling Emerald eyes, set adorably within their sockets, that were staring hungrily at all the food on the stall, seemingly contemplating how to get his tiny little hands on anything that can sate his appetite.

The tiny boy wore a large black scarf around his neck and had it wrapped around his face, covering everything below the eyes. The scarf was torn and tattered, but still in decent condition compared to the other clothes he had on.

Under the scarf was what used to be a white shirt, now a ruffled mess of loose fibers, dirt stains and holes. It barely manages to hang from his shoulders, like a discarded old towel. And underneath what was left of the shirt was a obsidian necklace hanging around his neck. Attached to the necklace was a pendant with a obscure creature on the front, and on the back there was a name etched onto it, Griffin.

His black pants were a mess. Dirt stains, holes and tears were scattered all over. But at least he had a pair of black boots to protect his tiny feet. Although they seem old and worn, barely the right size and the sole of the right boot has started to come loose at both the heel and toe. At the very least, they protected his feet from the environment. But anything was better than being barefooted.

Noticing the way the boy was looking at all his products, the stall owner yells at the child. "Boy. Come here" the man behind the stall waved at him. "Me?" The boy was shocked out of his daze. "Yea, you coming or not?" The man inquired. The boy hoping that the man was going to give him something to eat, slowly but steadily made his way over. He was starving, not having eaten in a couple of days was taking its toll on him. But this was a normal occurrence for him. Most times, he tries to steal when nobody's looking, only to get caught or chased down by a angry mob of stall owners.

Standing next to the man, the boy barely glances at him. His full attention was towards the food in arm reach. "You thinking of stealin anything?" The boy was startled, 'how he know?' Seeing the shock in the boy eyes, the man broke out laughing "hahahaha!" After a few minutes the man finally stopped laughing. Staring at the boy he finally asks, "what's your name?" "M-My name is Griffin." "Nice to meet you Griffin, my name is Rayver. Are..." Before he can even finish with what he was about to say, he was interrupted by a customer.

"Ayeee Ray lemme get a basket of apples, those green sour one." Rayver looks at the person who came in front of his stall yelling. "Shut it you ol coot, gonna make me dead in der ears." Looking back to Griffin , "boy what you waitin for, get him some damn green apples and remove the scarf from your face, you gon scare my customers away lookin like that." Griffin hesitating, hears "No thinking bout stealin now. You help me sellin an collectin da coin and ill give yer food. Ayy, now stop hesitating we got customers."

Finally with what Rayver said, Griffin gets to work but freezes. "H-How much apples do i put in the basket?" "You stupid? you just put apples in a basket till it fills up. Ayyy now hurry up. Time is money."

Seeing a bunch of baskets next to the stall, Griffith grabs one and starts putting in the green apples. "Done" Handing the basket to the man called old coot, or what Rayver called him.

The man grabs the basket and hands 3 copper coins to Griffin . "Cute kid. whose he, your nephew or slave?"

Rayver tells the man. "No I caught him starin at my stuff, you know one of those thiefs that be swiping." "How you know he's one of those thief's?"The old man asks Rayver.

Rayver explains to the old man, "Well, I saw him tryna steal from that old crazy lady who sells those delicious pastries down the road a couple days ago."

"They just hungry, no? Put em to work with pay as food, you'll get a whole bunch of these little fuckers. Hahahaha!" Laughing together with Rayver, the old coot continues "maybe I should try it too. Could use the extra help at the inn. Hahahaha."

Rayver shaking his head says, " you try it? You be too scared that one of the fuckers will still your goods." the old coot waves his hand at Rayver, and said" shut up you fool, that's money so of course ima be scared of some fuckers stealing from me. Oh right, you coming later for food and ale right?"the old man asks. "Yea, make sure everything is hot and ready for me." Rayver damands. "shut it you old fool, of course the food will be hot, I run a tight ship." the old man left while waving goodbye to Rayver.

"You done starin kid? I got more customers," Rayver exclaims while shaking his head. Looking at Griffin, Rayver tosses a red apple to him. "Here, eat this and get back to work. Cant havin you drool on the goods. When we finish here, i'll take you to that old coot inn, let you get some real grub in yer belly." Rayver waves the boy away seeing tears in the corner of the boy eyes.

Griffin stares at Rayver wanting to say something but doesn't. Instead vowing in his heart, 'if Rayver ever needs help, i'll do anything to repay him.'

Griffin looking at the next customer and asks,"w-what c-can I get you?"