The two horses trod to the West, crossing lands of dry desert-like areas with the two members atop it, Alloy steadfast and in control of her chestnut-colored, kind eyed and soft horse, Damion on the other hand, had simple knowledge on horses, so while Alloy was ahead, Damion was simply catching up with his darker hued, soft and graceful stallion. They had rode through the night and at their current moment, the sun was beginning to set from their left sides. Their trip lasted more than a day, while the sun shone on everything, the dew on the grass that surrounded most of the island, the new clothes the pair wore, and the new day that would await them, Damion had things on his mind.
"You didn't explain the bracelet." He asked, fighting against the wind's loud blow.
"It… It's a keepsake. I can't let anything happen to it." She answered.
"So… who's this person we're looking for??" He asked. Satisfied with her answer.
"I don't know either, I only know she's been trying to enter a guild for some time, she's a tailor, and we need members, so we'll head over." She replied. "Guilds are treated differently, aren't they??"
"Yeah, almost everywhere. What makes you say that??"
"The clothes from the tailor, I doubt anyone is that kind," she said feeling the soft fabric on her blue sash. "This can't be cheap."
"Well, yeah, it's odd, but also, he did want us to add his niece to our group, might've been a bribe too,"
"Yeah, maybe," she said, letting her mind drift from the conversation. Not long after, the two could see the town of Karuu.
"That must be it!!" Alloy exclaimed.
She gripped and pulled on the reins of the horse and they both began their trot down the hill to a path leading to the entrance of the town. Which would be from the Eastern side of the town.
Alloy was excited to see the place, she let herself feel the wind with each trot the horse made, she felt free, and it was a great feeling. Damion, however, was focused on the task ahead, he needed to settle the score with his brother, and due to that, his mind began flashing memories of his mother, his old life, but immediately his father hit his mind, he lost balance and fell off the horse. Alloy being distracted, she didn't notice, she just heard the steps of his horse behind her, and nothing else, so she went on.
Damion, still on the ground after rolling for a few seconds, felt his back as it hurt from the impact, he held his head as he tried to clear his mind. Alloy had gone, but it wouldn't be hard to find her, so he dusted himself off and began the walk to the town, but through a different route to his left.
*****
The town of Karuu was slightly different than Nakka. Even though the sun was almost done setting, it was a busier settlement where travelers and merchants normally made stops before heading deeper into Tavira island. It was more clustered, unlike the spread out Nakka. Its buildings were packed a little closer together, creating winding alleyways and hidden backstreets. The main road, paved with uneven cobblestones, cuts through the heart of town and is lined with small inns, food stalls, and shops selling local goods. Lanterns glowed outside taverns, laughter spilled into the streets, and merchants stayed open a little longer, hoping to sell the last of their stock.
On the same main road that cut straight from the Eastern to the Western side of the town, a woman walked, a slightly round appearance as well as the indication that she was in her late fifties going home from the market on the Eastern side of the town, with her was a bag of quite a few grocery items. She heard the trots of horses right ahead of her along with shouts of concerned yet shocked citizens, not long after, the horses were within range of her vision and so was Alloy who was atop it.
The second horse was behind Alloy and she was shocked even more, there was nobody mounted atop it.
"Hey!!" The woman shouted. "Hey!! Young girl!!" She tried again.
Alloy eventually arrived next to her after her shouts failed to reach her ears, but the woman wasn't taking no for an answer. She placed her groceries down and with a swift move, she leaped, took Alloy by the collar of her coat and pulled her to the side of the street. Alloy, having absolutely no idea what just happened, found herself looking left and right, trying to make sense of it.
"Youngins rush so fast." She said. Picking up her bag.
"Huh?!" Alloy gasped. "WHAT??!!"
In no time at all, she saw the horses continue trotting and that's also when she looked closer, the body of her friend was not on its back, so she screamed.
"WHERE IS HE??!! Did he hit a branch and get held back??!! How could I not hear it??" She went on, rambling about how she thought the situation had turned out, but she was quickly stopped with a flick of a stone to her cheek.
"OW!!" She exclaimed in pain.
Holding her cheek and glancing right next to her, she noticed the old woman, and then took a deep breath to calmed down, figuring that Damion would find her eventually, since they had agreed to meet there anyway.
"I guess you're looking for the person who was supposed to be on the second horse." Said the woman.
Alloy shrugged off the worry on her and answered. "Not really, Damion will find his way here, I just hope he doesn't get into trouble."
Upon hearing the name 'Damion', the woman was clearly surprised, like the name meant something to her, but she was asked a question in the middle of her reaction.
"Old lady, what's your name??"
"I'm Ritta,"
"I'm Alloy, nice to meet you!!" she said with a smile as she shook her hand.