Chapter 5: New Information

It was indeed Blaise. His usually pale face was a scorching red. His eyes, like those of a gentle fawn, looked Hale over, like he almost could not believe it.

"H-Hale?" He asked, looking Hale up and down in disbelief.

Hale nodded. "It's me."

"How?" A single word, but it packed a lot of weight — confusion, joy, surprise, and a variety of other emotions. Blaise stared at him with lips that quivered, on the cusp of wanting to ask more but holding back — almost like he was afraid if he asked his feelings would spill over and he wouldn't be able to stay calm.

Hale rubbed his neck, he gave a curt answer, one that left a lot to be asked, "I was lucky. My mother sent me into town to pick up some things."

Blaise couldn't hold back anymore. The question he had held back from asking tumbling out. "Do you have anyone else with you?" This question was full of hope. His eyes locked onto Hale's brown ones.

Hale looked at the ground, avoiding his gaze. "No."

His expression twisted, making Hale feel uncomfortable.

It was awkward between the two, a short moment of silence blanketing the air. Finally, Hale could no longer stand it and asked, "And you? What happened to you?"

Hale could see a crushing despair fill Blaise's eyes. Hale wasn't sure if it was from the answer he gave him or the question he asked.

"I was far out in the forest chopping up wood. Suddenly, a giant shadow covered me before spewing out a pillar of flames. It missed me, hitting the village. I can still remember the heat of the fire." His eyes darkened from the trauma that resurfaced. He stared out into the dingy alley.

A dark shadow.

Those words lingered in Hale's mind, before he could ask more a sharp cry echoed — the cat Blaise had been holding onto by the scruff let out a loud screech.

Right. The cat.

Hale looked at the cat, its scruffy fur bristled all the way down to the tip of its tail. The whiskers were splayed out like straight sticks and its maw was wide open showing white sharp fangs.

Blaise looked at the cat nervously, his arm far out, making sure it was nowhere near his face. He looked at Hale with a questioning expression.

Hale quietly pulled out a rucksack and carefully put the cat in it. The bag rocked back and forth and yowls of anger came from inside, Hale felt like he was carrying a mini tornado and not a cat.

"What's the cat for? Why were you chasing it?" Blaise watched him curiously.

Hale froze for a moment not knowing what to say to him without sounding crazy. "It's my pet." Even he didn't believe the words he had just said, but nothing else he could have said felt that convincing.

"Oh… a pet?" Blaise didn't look at him any differently.

Was it believable after all? Hale reigned in his surprised expression. "Yes, a pet. Her name is… Percy." Hale said, trying to sound confident, though the name came out too slowly.

"Her? That's a male cat." Blaise stared at him.

Hale stiffly replied, "Yes, his name is Percy." He decided to pretend he hadn't heard anything. Another silence settled between them.

Coughing to break it, Blaise asked, "Where are you staying?"

"I'm staying at the River Bed Inn." Hale pointed in the general direction of the inn.

Blaise scratched the back of his head. "I'm on the other side of town. No wonder we didn't run into each other."

Hale couldn't help but notice the fragility of his wrist — even his fingers were thin and pale. He wore a baggy shirt, his boots and jeans were muddy. He looked haggard.

Seeing Hale looking at him he smiled sheepishly, explaining his appearance. "I'm working in the stables at the inn I'm staying at. It's hard to find jobs around here."

Hale couldn't help but agree. When he first arrived in the city, he was not sure what to do to survive. Even now, he wasn't confident he could continue fishing for coins.

"I'm thinking of saving up a bit and heading to the next city closest to here. Would you like to come with me?" Hale asked. He knew traveling alone wasn't safe — especially with the green wolves running around. With at least one extra person by his side, things would be smoother.

Blaise didn't answer immediately. Hale wasn't sure what Blaise had planned after the devastation that hit the village, but he still wanted to convince him.

"I'm searching for information on what happened to the village. I'm going to stop by all the nearby villages and ask around." Hale watched as Blaise's expression slowly shifted into determination. It reminded Hale of his own, when he had made a silent vow to himself half a month prior.

He would find the culprit. And he would make them suffer.

"I'll travel with you." Blaise nodded at him as further confirmation.

****

Heading back to the inn, Hale couldn't help the smile that graced his face. He had met a fellow villager — though not someone he knew deeply. He couldn't help the relief he felt in knowing he was not the only one that survived.

It also made him feel a faint sense of hope, if there was one… what were the chances there could be another? Slim, but not zero.

Carrying the cat and leading Selby by the reins, he made his way back, his good mood evident in the way he kept smiling to himself. The cat had quieted down at some point, making Hale check if it was still in there more than a few times.

Once patting the rucksack and feeling a warm lump at the bottom he'd look back up at the sky. Up high above was the sun, it's hot waves of light hitting his tanned body.

His pocketknife lacked the sharpness to shave his chin. A twelve a clock shadow had already formed on his face. Under his brown eyes were dark circles, the restless nights of tossing and turning showing their effect.

In the depths of his eyes pooled a sense of recklessness along with lingering sadness. Under his good mood was a still a son who had lost his mother only half a month prior.

And beneath that was man who longed for a comforting touch, whispers of encouragement to strive, and a sense of belonging.

****

Entering the Inn the receptionist smiled at him.

Hale paused, brows slightly raised with surprise. Though he usually ignored the receptionist, he still knew — on some level —that the man hated him. Subtly. Indiscriminately.

Hale focused his eyes above the man's head.

(0/10)

Something was wrong. This… wasn't the same receptionist. Not just because of his neutral favorability, but because the color of his aura was different.

What was once a light blue had now turned a light purple. One Hale hadn't seen on anyone else in the city.

The face was the same, though. So was the body.

Awkwardly, Hale smiled back at him, then rushed up into his room.

Who was that? What happened to the original receptionist?

A thousand questions stampeded through his mind. Ones he couldn't answer by doing nothing.

In the end he had to resign to avoiding confronting the 'new' receptionist. He not only lacked the strength to, but also lacked a plan.

He couldn't just point his finger at him and shout, "Hey! You're not the previous receptionist!"

He could only imagine how that would go, not only would no one believe him but he'd also be labeled with the title of crazy.

He decided he'd keep an eye on the receptionist — but never close enough to be noticed.

If caught he would flee.

Sighing, he placed the rucksack containing the cat on his bed. The bag seemed to be shrouded in a thick tense atmosphere. Hale felt a slight twinge of fear. Should he open it? Should he not?