13 Down by the River

Everyone drags awake and off the ground; quickly shaking off the grogginess. Ivo turns to everyone and announces, "We are going to the river today. They might still be searching for Emma. So that's where we're going for our morning meal."

"What's at the river?" I ask in confusion. I felt stupid as soon as I asked it.

Monna rolls her eyes, "fish," she snipes.

/Don't hit her. Don't hit her. Don't hit her./ Maybe if I repeat it enough times, I won't do it.

As orphans with no one but themselves to rely on, they need to find their own food. Either by stealing or hunting. Living with the danger of getting caught poaching on noble owned land, which carries the penalty of getting your hand chopped off. Theft in all forms carries that penalty.

Everyone is staring, and it occurs to me that they continued talking while I zoned out. I smile, "so fishing it is."

I must have said the right thing because Ivo nods, "you heard her, fishing it is." Everyone heads for the ladder.

We take a short, uneventful trip through the tunnels. Thankfully devoid of creatures with an affection for consuming human flesh. We leave the tunnel and come to a small river extending a few yards wide. The water is crystal clear and interlocking roots from the nearby trees extend under the river. Making a place to stand. Daric looks from the river to me with a gleam appearing in his eyes. A bad omen makes me back up.

"Don't you dare," I warn.

He widens his eyes trying to play innocent. But I don't fall for it. A mischievous gleam enters his eyes.

I back away as he advances, "come on Emma, you know you'll like it."

"I mean it, Daric. We're supposed to be catching fish. Focus."

He mock leers at me, "I am focused." His overacted comical leer looks ridiculous. I bite my lip to keep from laughing.

Quick as a flash, he scoops up a handful of river water, throwing it at me. I scream, looking from my wet dress to him, "oh, it's on."

I retaliate landing a shot to his face. It throws him off balance. Not knowing how close he's standing to the edge, his eyes bug wide as he falls back into the river. I laugh as he sits there soaking wet. He his eyes sparkle with an evil glint. Knowing what he plans, I try to flee, but I don't move fast enough. His hand shot out and hooks around my ankle and drags me in. We sit there staring at each other a moment before erupting in laughter.

Ivo comes up to us, "Well if there is fish, you have scared them off," he chides.

"Ooh, you in trouble," Zain giggles.

I gape at him, "But Daric started it." I mock whine, pointing at Daric like I was five rather than twenty-five.

Making Zain giggle harder. I narrow my eyes at him. "Let's see if you're still laughing when I get a hold of you," I say playfully, I leap up running after Zain. He squeals, taking off. But he has a late start, and my legs are longer, so I catch him before he gets far. I wrap him up in a soggy hug and deposit him, still laughing, into the river alongside Daric. Ivo stands there glaring, making us laugh harder. With a wry smile, he shakes his head. Monna, who decided to stay away from the river. Choosing to speak up when I would rather she not. Directed, of course, at me.

"How about you stop flailing in the water like a drunk, so there is a chance to catch fish."

"And how about you pull out the stick you shoved up your ass?," I ask with a sweet smile.

"Be nice," Ivo cuts in before she could reply with a scathing remark. She looks at me like this is somehow my fault. It probably is, but what do I care.

I clap my hands, "Alright boys," I say, "judging by the lack of fishing tools, this is going to be done by hand. So show me how it's done."

Zain jumps up excited splashing even more water on us, "I will show you."

"Fine, fine you can show me, stop jumping around so much," I say laughing. He stops, waiting none to patiently for me to get up. I chuckle as I join him.

The next few hours are spent barehanded fishing. Daric flirted, and I couldn't help but laugh at his antics. Zain is a bottle of energy, a constant source of excitement. Monna and I threw digs at each other; while Ivo sighs like a middle-aged man who lost control of his life. I manage to deposit myself in the river multiple times instead of catching anything. I'm soon sentenced to the river bank on account I keep scaring the fish, and no one is going to eat at this rate.

Watching them grabbing fish, I realize they're all mages. Weak mages, but mages nonetheless. They're incapable of using asura. I doubt they can manage the first step, Absorption, without the use of a gora. It's nothing they did that made me realize they're mages. Rather it's the way the space around them feels displaced. Similar to the feeling of when your eyes are closed, but you know someone is standing very close. Despite the lack of asura control, they should have the added athletic boosts all mages have. They have an easier time catching fish. Especially without me blundering my way through.

Monna makes a fire and cooks the fish by holding a skewered fish over the flame. She is careful and meticulous with the food and, surprisingly, Zain. I'm shocked at the amount care she put into helping Zain remove the bones for him eat. I don't like her, but it's obvious the others are important to her. I decline to eat the fish. It won't fill me, and I've yet to be hungry. Right as they finish cleaning, voices sounded nearby. Everyone bolted like the devil himself is after them. I catch on quickly following after them. Daric and I were farther down the bank playing around. Before we could make it to the tunnel entrance two men leap from the tree line and into our path, forcing us to turn and run in the opposite direction quickly.