Arianne looks for a place to stay

[arianne]

Arianne was exhausted and starving as she made her way down the empty streets that night. The air was cold. The ground was wet. A slight mist hung in the air, dampening her skin and hair.

But she barely noticed.

Tonight had been wonderful. It had been fun and warm and just happy. The loneliness she had felt so prominently the past few days seemed melted.

It was nice, a feeling of not being alone.

She shivered slightly and looked around her, searching for an inn. She didn't want to sleep in the street today, not tonight. Far too wet. And besides, now she could afford an inn.

She spotted one off to the left, just down the street. It didn't look particularly fancy, but then again, she never liked fancy things much. Instead it looked small, but clean and warm, and that was just what she wanted. She made her way to it and put her hand on the door.

[Lisha Corr]

Suddenly a pair of hands closed around her forearms, dragging her back from the door before she could open it. The owner of the hands threw her to the ground, cracking her head on the cobblestones and knocking her balance and overall consciousness down a peg - or two. THe first figure held her there, while a second clamped his hand over her mouth and hissed, "You shut up and stay that way..." - And here she felt something cold near her throat, something cold and metal and flat, but with the smell of a blade to it. "...Or we'll make it permanent. Kay?"

[arianne]

Arianne's eyes widened, and she fought to get up despite the warnings of "DANGER! DANGER!" pulsating through her veins. But her mind was muddled after the fall, after the bang her head took. Everything swirled around her, and she found herself lying facedown even though she was trying to get up.

Still, she fought. She wanted to join the army, right? Wanted to become a soldier when the war finally came, right? She could do this. She could win this.

She bit down hard on the first man's hand, and when it recoiled for a moment (ooc: This may be pp but technically a hand HAS to recoil at least a little) she let out a short but loud shriek.

She could fight, but right now, tired and hungry as she was, she didn't know if she could win alone.

She lashed out with her leg, striking the knee of one of the men - the one holding her down. As she did, she let out one more shriek.

[Lisha Corr]

The door of the inn flew open, while candles were lit in a few other buildings along the street.

Alarmed by the sudden awakening, the men released Arianne and fled. One of the them took the time to hiss into her ear, "Next time, wench," before he, too, ran.

An old man, thin with a broad, open face, stared at her with wide, concerned eyes. Then his eyes moved to the two dark, fleeing figures, and rage outlined the wrinkles in his face. "AND YOU DAMN BASTARDS STAY AWAY!!" he boomed, apparently not caring who he woke with his voice.

Then he turned to Arianne. "You alright, girl?" he asked, his voice greatly contrasting to the angry boom of the previous sentence.

[arianne]

Arianne groaned, and shook her head, trying to clear it. She felt awful, but as far as anything permanent went, she was fine.

"Fine," she murmured. Then she smiled faintly at him as she struggled to her feet. "I was actually just about to ask if you had a room availible, before... they came."

[Lisha Corr]

"Yes, yes, of course," the man said, quickly. "Come in, come in. My wife will be fawning over you for the next hour. You look awful - and I mean this in the kindest way possible. You should..."

And he whisked her off into the warm, inviting building, where she was given a meal and a room.

[arianne]

Arianne ate, then bathed. Then she fell into her bed and dropped off into a comforting sleep withing looking up, too exhausted to think about anything.

But she did think one thing, one thought before she fell asleep. Matthias' words.

"Tomorrow will be better." he had said. "Tomorrow is a new day."

Yes, she thought. Yes it is.

[arianne]

She woke up late the next morning - eight, which might not seem late to a lot of people, but it was late for her. She quickly bounded out of bed, dressed, and flew downstairs to eat. She did so, and quickly. She had an energy that she hadn't had before. Something that excited her and brought her happiness, despite any of the numerous things that were wrong. Matthias. Singing. Those two words, echoing in her head, were at the root of that happiness.
Waving goodbye to the innkeepers, she practically ran out of the door and into the streets, to the Handful of Feathers to wait for Matthias.
Matthias. Singing. She thought as she went. This is so wonderful. This is so great. I'm so happy.