Snippet #2744571

Within just a few minutes she fills her satchel with round loaves and long, hard baguettes from the days prior and slips back out the same window, leaving it open behind her. The puddles formed by her wet clothing and the gaping window are the only evidence of her visit as she runs through the darkness and out of town to the small abandoned alter tucked away in the forest.
A small path worn in the grass leads her to the forgotten monument to the Goddess. The pillars that once shined bright with gold have been stripped by the Ivlisar, leaving empty caverns in the crumbling rock. Vines grow wild, overcoming the temple in greenery and pulling its stones down piece by piece over time. What once served as a place of worship still serves as a sanctuary to the forgotten children of Distathia. As she moves deeper through the halls a light can be seen passing through the torn fabric in a doorway deep in the temple. As she steps through she is welcomed with a bevy of greetings as seven children run to relieve her of her satchel.

"Nina," a dark-haired boy cheers as he wraps his arms around her, "you're back!"
"Yes, Alywn," she coos, lifting him up into her arms as she pulls back her hood, touching her nose gently to his, "I brought you something special for helping me collect the milk today. Reaching into her pocket she pulls out a powdered sweet filled with fruit and hands it to him. He takes it greedily into his hands and takes a large bite. The purple filling squirts onto his face and sugar powders his nose, " Thank you," he says grinning, the word lost with the food in his mouth. She sets him down as watch as the children tear apart the bread and stuff it in their mouths hungrily. They range from three to eleven years of age. Urlitta is the youngest, a small blind girl with white hair and blue eyes. Alywn who is five and missing one of his eyes. Mirisa, who they believe to be four or five years herself, though she doesn't speak. Hamza, a very tall seven-year-old, who was abandoned purely because his parents could not feed themselves and him. Terak and Doyle, the newest members of their troop, twin boys who were found wandering the woods by the oldest, Magda, just a week prior. Nina found Magda bleeding in the streets after having been abused by her father, the drunken barkeep, five years ago. The barkeep and his wife assume she has been eaten by wild things, which serves them all better than her living there with them. It is not uncommon for children to be left in these woods by their parents now that the Ivlisar have steadily increased the taxes on the Wight people. Most families cannot afford to feed themselves and their babies. It is the way the Ivlisar have chosen to purge them from existence, leaving only those blessed by the King Naxxrimus to thrive.

Nina pulls the knot from her cloak, stripping the soaked wool from her shoulders and hangs it to dry, then peels her boots from her calves and places them near the fire. She takes her place with the children on the floor stroking her long, red braid in her fingertips. Though the rain had soaked her, her clothing has already dried before she sits by the flames. The twins curl up next to her resting their heads in her lap and rubbing their full stomachs, "You're always so warm," Doyle coos as snuggles closer to her, "How come you never get cold when it rains?" mumbles Terak as he too snuggles up to her.
"That's because she is blessed by the Goddess," a deep voice erupts from the hall. The children all perk up once again and run to the tall, handsome man that passes through the curtain.
"Welcome home Isias," Nina says as she rises to help him carry his haul. Isias is a strong man with dark hair, the leader of their little band of lost children. Nina helps him drag his cart in and begins examining the fabric and leathers from his trip, "I am not blessed," she replies dryly, "just hot-blooded."
Isias lifts Urlitta into his arms and growls playfully as he takes a bite from the roll she pushes toward his face, she giggles and growls back, taking another bite for herself. He kisses her softly on the nose and places her back down before he takes two quick steps toward Nina, wrapping his arms around her waste from behind and planting a kiss on her cheek as well, "Don't be silly," he murmurs softly into her ear, "Beauty like yours can only come from the Divine."
Nina blushes and swings at him playfully with a ream of fabric, "Stop it." He steals another kiss and spins away before he can hit her and plops down next to the fire as the children help pull his boots from his feet. She grabs the woolen blankets from the cart and lays them out over the hay pile the children share to sleep and ushers them to bed, "Alright little ones, it's time to rest." They whine in vain, rubbing their eyes and stretching their tired limbs before curling up together.
"Will you come sleep with us Nina," Magda asks, "it's so cold tonight," Mirisa nods in agreement, reaching out to her.
"I will join you soon darlings, now sleep," she replies, laying another blanket over them. Just a few moments pass before a symphony of soft snoring begins.

"It looks like you got quite a bit this time," she says glancing over to see Isias lifting his toes toward the warmth of the fire.
"Not as much as I would have liked," he muttered, "the old man was pretty tight with the coin this time around. I was sure I would have gotten way more for that goblet, but he knows there aren't many other places we can go to sell those particular pieces."
"Still," she replied as she examined the silk thread from the bottom of the cart, "the children need new clothes, and I can make more than enough with what you've brought back."
Isias leaps from his spot and snatches a small wooden box from Nina's hand before she can open it, "That's for someone very special," he says.
"Oh," Nina says coyly, " and who would that be?"
"The most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on, my heart, my love"
Nina blushes and looks up at him. Isias continues, "Why little Urlitta of course, should I wake her," he teases. Nina crossed her arms and stares at him blankly as he laughs. He reaches over and pulls her close, "It's for you of course," he whispers in her ear as he opens the box and pulls out a bright red stone dangling from a delicate gold chain. Nina gasps as it shines in the light of the fire, "Isias, you shouldn't have… you could have spent that on new boots or a horse even!" Though she is a little disappointed at his foolishness she can't help but admire its beauty, "Where did you get this?"
"Don't worry, I didn't spend anything on it. I found it in some rubble when I stopped to rest. Someone must have dropped it. Do you want me to put it on for you?"
She pulls away from him, "No. You should sell it. That could get you a horse, and you could go search for your father."
Isias places the gem back in the box and closes the lid, "Nina, it's been fifteen years. He probably isn't alive anymore. Even if he was, he would want me to stay here with the children and help keep them safe." She shakes her head. She knows that though he loves the children, he gave up on his search long ago because of his love for her, "Save it. They won't be children forever. Your father is alive, you will find him one day. If you had a horse you wouldn't have to drag this cart all the way to Ebonstar by yourself." Visibly discouraged he places the box back in the cart. She reaches over to him and takes his chin in her soft hands, "It is beautiful, thank you for thinking of me."
"Go sleep," he smiles, "I'll take first watch." Nina nods and kisses him on the cheek before joining the children in the hay pile. They all snuggle closer to her warm body as she gets comfortable and soon drifts off the sleep.