The flames raged and the shouts were audible as the encampment burned. The girl was no more than a small child, and hid amongst a small stack of crates, just as her father had instructed as he grabbed his sword and ran to meet the attackers.
Pirates.
They'd come to raid the small seeker camp and when the Miqo'te had resisted, the raiders had decided to raze the entire camp with their superior numbers. The camp was a small one and had moved to the La Noscea area's outskirts in order to set up a new life, wanting to avoid conflict.
And now the camp was burning, and the tribe members were dying.
The little child Miqo'te with the short blue hair hid amongst the crates, shaking in fear and silently weeping.
"Not a peep, little flower. Not a peep." Her father had said the words as he departed. She did her best, save for the quiet sobs that escaped. Her breath stopped short as a young Elezen man stormed into the tent with his axe in hand. He was breathing hard and girl saw blood splattered across his armor, his hands, and on the blade. He stalked into the tent looking around and tossing items to and fro, as if looking for something. He pocketed some jewelry he saw, as she watched through the slats of the crates and she put a hand over mouth to keep all of the noise inside.
She watched as he tuned and moved to the crates, his figure growing larger and looming as he approached. And in an instant.....it was over. The crates were flung to the side and he shouted.
"Hold yer place and don' move!!" CAP'N!! We got us a wee one here!"
She kept the hand over mouth and stared up at the Elezen who seemed so tall to her small form, his axe held back, ready to swing forward at any moment. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she was sure he would swing at any moment. Then she heard running footsteps that were heavy and watched as a large Roegadyn woman entered the tent. She was tall and had icy white hair that fell to her shoulders and was heavily armored. She was carrying a sword that was far larger than the girl was herself.
"Aye, keep the bloody shoutin' down to a dull roar would'ya?" She spoke in a deep but silky smooth voice that commanded respect with its tone. She glanced over at the girl and while she had a hard face that terrified the little girl, it was one that softened a bit upon seeing the child. Stepping forward, she knelt down and looked the little girl in the eyes and with a large thumb wiped away the tears from the girl's cheeks. "No cryin' lass. That'll be the end'a those. They'll nae bring yer ma' and da' back. So save 'em for the things that c'n be saved." She said in a softer voice.
"Ought t' run 'er through Cap'n. Don' need 'nother damn mouth t' feed." The Elezen said flatly, still glaring at the girl.
She tilted her head back to the Elezen and nodded to the door. "We're thieves, Ramsay, not killers. Now, go get one'a the beds ready on the ship. An' some damned food. This one's likely not had a bite to eat all day." The Elezen paused a moment and she barked loudly "What th' piss hells are ye waitin' for? Get the job done'r I'll run ye through an' find soemone who will." The Elezen nodded and ran out of the tent. The Roe woman smiled softly at the child and nodded. "I'll nae leave ye here child. Nothin' left anyhow. Best ye come with us. 'Sides, I've work for ye on the the ship." She grabbed her small hand and inspected the fingers. "Work only a wee lass like y'rself can do with these little hands. Cleanin' and such. Ye'll likely hate it an' me f'r makin' ye do it. I don' give a damn what ye like or no'. I 'xpect ye t' listen an' do what ye're tol'."
She gave the girl's hand a gentle squeeze. "Do that....an' ye and I'll ge 'long jus' fine."
She stood, her large figure looming over the little girl and she held an outstretched hand. The little girl trembled but took her hand and rose.
"Ye'll need a name on deck. This life....'tis over, lass. So this name....don' matter anymore." The Captain spoke as she walked the little girl from the tent to a camp that was a wasteland of death and walked her toward the coast.
"I know." She grinned down at the little girl as they walked. "I'll call ye Melodia."
Pirates.
They'd come to raid the small seeker camp and when the Miqo'te had resisted, the raiders had decided to raze the entire camp with their superior numbers. The camp was a small one and had moved to the La Noscea area's outskirts in order to set up a new life, wanting to avoid conflict.
And now the camp was burning, and the tribe members were dying.
The little child Miqo'te with the short blue hair hid amongst the crates, shaking in fear and silently weeping.
"Not a peep, little flower. Not a peep." Her father had said the words as he departed. She did her best, save for the quiet sobs that escaped. Her breath stopped short as a young Elezen man stormed into the tent with his axe in hand. He was breathing hard and girl saw blood splattered across his armor, his hands, and on the blade. He stalked into the tent looking around and tossing items to and fro, as if looking for something. He pocketed some jewelry he saw, as she watched through the slats of the crates and she put a hand over mouth to keep all of the noise inside.
She watched as he tuned and moved to the crates, his figure growing larger and looming as he approached. And in an instant.....it was over. The crates were flung to the side and he shouted.
"Hold yer place and don' move!!" CAP'N!! We got us a wee one here!"
She kept the hand over mouth and stared up at the Elezen who seemed so tall to her small form, his axe held back, ready to swing forward at any moment. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she was sure he would swing at any moment. Then she heard running footsteps that were heavy and watched as a large Roegadyn woman entered the tent. She was tall and had icy white hair that fell to her shoulders and was heavily armored. She was carrying a sword that was far larger than the girl was herself.
"Aye, keep the bloody shoutin' down to a dull roar would'ya?" She spoke in a deep but silky smooth voice that commanded respect with its tone. She glanced over at the girl and while she had a hard face that terrified the little girl, it was one that softened a bit upon seeing the child. Stepping forward, she knelt down and looked the little girl in the eyes and with a large thumb wiped away the tears from the girl's cheeks. "No cryin' lass. That'll be the end'a those. They'll nae bring yer ma' and da' back. So save 'em for the things that c'n be saved." She said in a softer voice.
"Ought t' run 'er through Cap'n. Don' need 'nother damn mouth t' feed." The Elezen said flatly, still glaring at the girl.
She tilted her head back to the Elezen and nodded to the door. "We're thieves, Ramsay, not killers. Now, go get one'a the beds ready on the ship. An' some damned food. This one's likely not had a bite to eat all day." The Elezen paused a moment and she barked loudly "What th' piss hells are ye waitin' for? Get the job done'r I'll run ye through an' find soemone who will." The Elezen nodded and ran out of the tent. The Roe woman smiled softly at the child and nodded. "I'll nae leave ye here child. Nothin' left anyhow. Best ye come with us. 'Sides, I've work for ye on the the ship." She grabbed her small hand and inspected the fingers. "Work only a wee lass like y'rself can do with these little hands. Cleanin' and such. Ye'll likely hate it an' me f'r makin' ye do it. I don' give a damn what ye like or no'. I 'xpect ye t' listen an' do what ye're tol'."
She gave the girl's hand a gentle squeeze. "Do that....an' ye and I'll ge 'long jus' fine."
She stood, her large figure looming over the little girl and she held an outstretched hand. The little girl trembled but took her hand and rose.
"Ye'll need a name on deck. This life....'tis over, lass. So this name....don' matter anymore." The Captain spoke as she walked the little girl from the tent to a camp that was a wasteland of death and walked her toward the coast.
"I know." She grinned down at the little girl as they walked. "I'll call ye Melodia."
