Chapter 8: Tumbleleed Village (Part 1)

"Rise and shine, everyone!" Gran'pa Ken called out. 

"Ugh..." Avaron groaned as she woke up. "It's morning already...?"

Mordecai and Menard woke up much quicker and easier then the Moon sisters, having lived on the farm long enough that they were already used to this kind of job and it's schedule.

"The sun isn't even out yet..." Avaron moaned, rubbing her tired eyes.

"Welp, that doesn't stop you from having to do your share of the work!" Gran'pa Ken walked out the door. "Now help us make some breakfast, would you? We have a long day ahead of us."

"Seriously...?" Avaron got up, and slowly walked out to the barely illuminated hallway, plucking her boots off the ground and putting them on.

"C'mon Avaron, no complaints," Imala yawned. "We will get out of here."

"I sure hope so..." Avaron grumbled.

After breakfast, and a lot of early morning farm tasks, the group headed out on the road. The sun was a bit higher now, but it was still early morning, and it remained seated on the horizon, slowing rising up.

"Hey, Imala." Avaron slowed down to catch up with her sister, who was walking in the back of the brigade, leaned her head towards her and whispered, "How come we gotta do these stupid chores? I thought we would get to stay for free."

"Because we're guests." Imala narrowed her eyes, displeased at her younger sister's rudeness. "And they saved us. The least we can do is help them out." 

"I never imagined myself doing any sort of labor for others, like a slave," Avaron said.

"Like a slave?" Imala's eyes popped open, now disgusted by Avaron's ungratefulness. "Avaron, be nice and stay out of trouble for me, okay?" She pressed a finger on Avaron's chest. "You need to quit this attitude and get your bearings straightened out! I'm not letting us get kicked out because of another one of your con artist schemes!" Imala was now yelling, but didn't realize it until she saw the brothers and Ken look at the two of them.

"You girls okay?" the old man asked.

"Yeah...we're good." Imala said.

"Look." Mordecai pointed a finger straight ahead of them. "We're coming up on the village."

The rest of the group turned around. They caught sight of a simple wooden archway. A sign hanging from it read, Tumbleleed Village.

They soon entered a marketplace area, hearing vendors shout prices while selling various goods. Small groups of people gathered around the stalls waiting to buy what they needed.

"This is it, everyone." Gran'pa Ken slid off his saddle and landed on both feet. "Now then, here's the plan: We split up and look around, ask the merchants and the like. Who knows, they might've picked up your sister. Or maybe they've seen her somewhere. We'll meet back here in about an hour."

"Good luck, everyone." Imala headed off towards the bustling crowds.

Everyone else nodded their heads and split in different directions, ready to search.