: Familiar Customers (Ryker)

I was brushing off Suzy's hair. These long black hair are really smooth. She is mine after all. Before you raise your eyebrow at my remark, let me clear it. Suzy is a mare, a female horse. I have owned it for about two years now. I was travelling throughout the Elf Realm, looking for Aven in this small cart of mine and finally when I had found him things turned out like.... I sighed.

Sometimes I took passengers with me when I was in need of money. This mare, Suzy had been my companion in all these years or if I look at it in another way, she had been my only friend in these two years. I have been talking to her a lot. And by a lot means A LOT!! I had spent many hours and nights just telling her about my life stories. From my life before being adopted, life with Aven's family and now. Well, now that I think about it, I have literally told her the story of my whole life, though I doubt if she does understand any of it.

She neighed a little.

"Just wait a little, my lady. I am done here." I assured her as I brushed off the last of the straws from her tail. She was a fifteen year old black coloured mare. Sometimes she could be mischievous, running off here and there when I left her in the open without a cart. She can sometimes be hard to get throught but one thing that I have learned about her from the first day is that she has a large appetite, she can be choosy too. She likes carrots and radishes the most..But despite all this she is a really good audience for me.

It was dusk time now, the sun light were one the verge of extinction and the village was in its busiest time. There was a huffle of people doing their usual businesses.

"You know, Suzy." I started on as I fixed the cart's shafts to her collar.

"I met Aven the day before yesterday." She bellowed at my remark as if she remembered who Aven was. Like I said, she is a really interactive audience.

"I know. I know. You wanted to meet him too. I am sorry I didn't take you with me. I promise I will introduce you to him next time." I consoled her, scrubbing her neck. I climbed up through the shaft and got inside the cart. I lay there silent for a few moments. I was thinking about Aven.

With the conversations I had with Aven, it didn't seem like there was any tongue in this world which could change his views and bring him back to me. He is really determined to change the future of the Soul Manipulators but....I can't let him be like that. But even if I want to go with him he won't let. As far as I am aware, he is working with some extremist group who is working against the wills of the royal court. If he ever gets caught by some official he might get in serious trouble. They might even be just using him as a pawn. The game he is playing is extremely dangerous. He might be hurt or in the worst case.....No! I won't let things go that way. Even if I am a coward, I won't give up on Aven. He is everything to me..I have to look for him.

"Ryker !!" I heard a voice call me. I got up and peeked outside. I saw a caravan of carriages that were moving out of the village. Where are all these people going??

"Hey, Ryker! Look here.." I saw a figure waving at me. I could recognise that face....He was...Taylor.

I got out of my cart and walked swiftly towards him.

"Hey there, Taylor!" I greeted him.

"Hey" He greeted me back. Taylor was not that of a close friend to me. He was just an acquaintance, a cart driver just like me.

"When are you leaving Terra clan?" He asked me shortly after.

"But I just arrived here two days ago. I was thinking about staying in this village for a week." I replied. His face was seized by a slight frown.

"Haven't you heard of the rumours, here?" He inquired.

"What rumours?"

He sighed a little.

"You are really disconnected with the world, man." He declared.

"There had been rumours that the old clan leader was assassinated and even the new clan leader has gone missing. Some say that other clans are behind this accident while some say that there is a secret organisation behind all this. But whatever is the case, the terra clan is no more a safe land." He explained.

"Aren't they just rumours? Why so serious?" I questioned, chilled. Such things do not bother me much.

"Don't you see those carriages there, even the families of the feudal lords are leaving. I don't think they are all baseless. Prevention is better than cure, my friend. It's better if we leave the clan for good." He added. I just nodded as I gazed at those carriages. I just wonder if this has anything to do with Aven. I hope not.

"I will be leaving tonight . I suggest you should leave too." He suggested.

After some thought I agreed on leaving the place the next morning. I had go look look for Aven anyway.

"See you later, man!" Taylor bid me farewell.

I went back to my cart and Suzy. If the clan leader is gone missing then things must be serious.

"What do you think Suzy, will Aven be alright?" I asked.

She neighed in reply. I smiled. What a great listener!!

"I hope that too."

I spent the night in a good sleep and the next morning I was awakened by Suzy with her loud feigns. I woke up rubbing off my eyes in annoyance. The sun was up already. How long did I sleep?? I turned towards Suzy who was still bellowing, madly. Is something wrong?

I turned to look outside but the village was in its usual shape. I got out to have a look on Suzy.

"What's the matter Suzy?" I asked her. I heard a growling sound near her stomach. Wait! Did I her give food last night? I rolled my eyes. How stupid of me!!

"I am sorry, Suzy. I will buy you food, right away." I told her, rubbing on her back to calm her.

"Excuse me sir.." I heard a feminine voice interrupt me.

"Will you take us to the Whispering Forest?" She added. Whispering Forest, that's a peculiar place to visit.

"I am sorry. I do not take passengers." I replied without turning. I do, actually. But I didn't need to right now. I still have enough resources.

"I told you. No one is going to take us to that place. Those masked clowns are not liked by anyone." Another male voice interrupted.

"Shhhh!!" The women shunned him. But my ears had caught what was essential.

"Masked clowns??" I interrogated while turning. I didn't recognise the woman there but that short boy beside her. I had seen him somewhere. He was....Wait! He was that boy I had saved in the forest two days ago...