Chapter 2: Ben

Mist trudged through the overworld dragging her leg with her. The sun rose higher and higher into the sky, and yet she could not beat it.

She glanced at the trees offering protection from the sun but knew she had better take the open plains instead.

She limped through the tall grass.

To the right she heard a soft sigh. She paused briefly and peered around. Sitting on the hill a pair of girls watched her progress and whispered in hushed voices to eachother.

Mist couldn't make out their words.

She should have kept walking, but she didn't. Instead, she stood there mutely. They were dressed nicely, she observed. Shirts without holes, full skirts and nicely combed hair with flower crowns.

They now looked alertly at her in return. She watched smiles grow on their faces, cold grins. Mist turned away, gritted her teeth and trudged past.

Something flew past her head. She ducked.

She turned slowly and saw one of the girls standing up. Quickly the girl looked away, but the laughter kept coming from her lips. Her friend shrieked in return, balancing an egg in her hand.

Mist opened her mouth to say something, anything but closed it again.

She shook her head slowly and moved on. Her hands protecting her head in case of attack. No more came and the laughter faded away.

Her house, for once, was nearly a welcome sight. Its unembellished sloping roofs seemed like a shelter for her.

It was an unassuming place, barely four walls and a roof. The cobble on the walls looked crumbly, and the plants on the sides of the house stood empty of flowers. Inside was bare and cold, despite her attempts to warm it. When she had first come here she had been filled with excitement for her new life, but now her shoulders slumped.

Her feet dragged as she approached. Already she could hear raised voices, her little sons were up and about. That made her smile faintly.

Until she got to the door.

He was already there waiting for her. His face filled with tension, anger barely below the surface.

"Where have you been," he demanded, he didn't keep his voice down. When she didn't speak his face went red, "answer!"

She pulled out the coal and iron, holding it out to him.

He snatched it from her, muttering to himself, "not completely useless then."

"Not here," she said, she looked at her feet. He let her pass.

"Mist!"

All four of her sons ran to her, clinging to her leg, making her cry out. She still wrapped her arms around each of them in turn. Once they settled she sent them on their way.

Now it was just the two of them left.

"What'd you do to your leg," he tossed out.

"Nothing," she said.

"You're dragging it, better not be bad enough that you can't mine," he crossed his arms.

She shook her head, "it's fine Ben."

"Don't you start," he took a step towards her, "you ran off and now you come back with some coal." His voice was growing volume.

"The boys," she said quietly.

He came at her, making her back up so fast she tripped on her feet. The crash made her older son come running.

"Mist.....? Dad....?" he said, his eyes darted back and forth. Slowly Ben backed off grumbling. Mist pulled herself to her feet and shook out.

They both stood apart, tension rolling off them. Tanner stood watching them anxiously finally Ben sighed and beckoned Mist to himself.

He took her leg and felt it more tenderly. "A bit of rest and it will be okay," he said, his voice much softer.

Then he left her again.