A single lock clicked into place as Anchor left.
A long exhale left Nabi’s lips as she looked toward the doorway, the small den suddenly feeling both unfamiliar and lonely at the same time. It was a strange feeling. When she had first arrived here with Anchor many suns ago, she was nearly charmed by the place. It was small but filled with character; she doubted there was anything he kept in his home that didn’t hold some kind of significance or use in someway. Nothing was frivolous.
She had taken to rigorously -- almost obsessively -- cleaning and reorganizing his kitchen to spend her suns while he rested. Taking care of his wounds, cooking and cleaning, it kept her busy enough for a while to take her mind off of the troubles that had landed her here in the first place. But as suns passed, she started to become restless, her thoughts once again returning to her family, her friends, and her home.
So it was to her delighted surprise when Anchor took her to the Shogatsu Festival. She went disguised with a fox mask, and he had insisted more than once that it wasn’t for her, nor was it a vacation of any sort. He just wanted to stretch his legs and get some fresh air for them both. Nabi barely heard any of it, so excited was she to get to attend the festival that only came around once a year.
The festival was full of people, performances, and delectable foods. She forgot why she had to wear a mask at all, as she visited one stall after another, purchased hot red buns for them both to nibble as they watched performances, and even won a pair of copperfish at a fish scooping game. But when she recognized a familiar face in the crowd, and had to hold herself back from saying hello, she was abruptly reminded of her circumstances.
Suddenly, guilt hit her heavily, that she wasn’t sharing this festival with her family and friends as well. She had been so happy to enjoy the festivities herself that she forgot what her loved ones may be going through. Were they reassured by her letter? Or were they worried? Were they allowing themselves to enjoy the coming of Heavensturn? All merriment left her then like a floating lantern deflated of air.
In hindsight, Nabi regretted the gloomy mood that came upon her with that thought. She wanted Anchor to enjoy the festival too. She had been so determined to inject some cheer into his life and the Shogatsu Festival was the perfect opportunity. But at the end of the night, it was he who rekindled her spirit as he shoved the fireworks into her hands, wanting nothing to do with it.
As she waved the sparklers to send a flurry of embers flying all around them, Nabi spun and laughed. It was as if she was summoning a swarm of fireflies with a wave of her hand. The sparks would spin and float away, some of them aiming for the sky. She watched them disappear toward the heavens, a sense of serenity finding her in that moment. A belief that things would be alright, somehow, in the end. She could have sworn she spied a smile on Anchor’s face too, if only briefly.
Of course, since the night of the festival, she had grown somewhat more impatient. She organized then reorganized his kitchen for the third time, and now she was more certain than ever that there was not a speck of grime to be found in his kitchen and bath. Still, her thoughts strayed to the festival, and her family. And hope.
So when Anchor announced that he was going to leave for the afternoon to meet with an old contact, she was hopeful to come too. But he reminded her of her predicament. "You aren't to be goin'," he said. "I trust ya will keep your word about not causin' any trouble--you aren't ta show face, with or without me, aye? I'll be hearin' of it if ya try and be doin' something thinkin' it smart."
She had promised it, that first sun when he brought her to his home. That she would not cause any trouble for him. He had nearly died for her, that was the least she could do. Even when he told her that he had worked for Elam Grave, which was the reason he was there in Yanxia in the first place... even then she told him she would still keep to her promise.
And so now he trusted her enough to leave her alone in his home.
This was the first time since she had been taken, being left to her own care. It felt both freeing and frightening at the same time. Nabi’s gaze wandered, to what she knew to be in his home. Of the possibilities of disguises if she did want to leave. The lock was to keep people out, not in. She could leave while Anchor was gone, and return to Kugane, to at least get a glimpse of her family and perhaps send more word to others.
"Once I be recovered, I'll be speakin' to him.†A memory, clear and painful in its lucidity, returned to her. It was when she confronted him about his association with Elam Grave. He had flung spiteful words at her after she accused him. She could not fathom why he then saved her. He did not answer her, but eventually, he reassured her. “Once I do, I'll make it clear you ain't to be touched, aye? Ya can go salvage your pleasant little dream and do away with this. Free to do as you will. But for now. No trouble." His voice had dropped into an almost agonized whisper. "Ya said you wasn't to make anymore trouble."
Nabi’s chest rose and fell with another deep breath. Her hand had come to rest over her stomach. In the suns that she had been here, the stir of fear and anxiety had lessened slowly over time. It wasn’t due to Anchor’s kindness; his temperament and demeanor remained harsh and abrasive. But what he’s done for her was something she could not forget, and in that, she found comfort and maybe even a small sense of security.
“I promised,†she quietly echoed the words she had given Anchor moments before he left. “No trouble.†Some weight seemed to lift from her shoulders once she made the decision. Pressing her lips together, her golden eyes darted about, looking to the den. She had left this room mostly untouched since it was where Anchor had been resting. Now that he was gone…
Nabi smiled and grabbed the rag that hung from her waist.
A long exhale left Nabi’s lips as she looked toward the doorway, the small den suddenly feeling both unfamiliar and lonely at the same time. It was a strange feeling. When she had first arrived here with Anchor many suns ago, she was nearly charmed by the place. It was small but filled with character; she doubted there was anything he kept in his home that didn’t hold some kind of significance or use in someway. Nothing was frivolous.
She had taken to rigorously -- almost obsessively -- cleaning and reorganizing his kitchen to spend her suns while he rested. Taking care of his wounds, cooking and cleaning, it kept her busy enough for a while to take her mind off of the troubles that had landed her here in the first place. But as suns passed, she started to become restless, her thoughts once again returning to her family, her friends, and her home.
So it was to her delighted surprise when Anchor took her to the Shogatsu Festival. She went disguised with a fox mask, and he had insisted more than once that it wasn’t for her, nor was it a vacation of any sort. He just wanted to stretch his legs and get some fresh air for them both. Nabi barely heard any of it, so excited was she to get to attend the festival that only came around once a year.
The festival was full of people, performances, and delectable foods. She forgot why she had to wear a mask at all, as she visited one stall after another, purchased hot red buns for them both to nibble as they watched performances, and even won a pair of copperfish at a fish scooping game. But when she recognized a familiar face in the crowd, and had to hold herself back from saying hello, she was abruptly reminded of her circumstances.
Suddenly, guilt hit her heavily, that she wasn’t sharing this festival with her family and friends as well. She had been so happy to enjoy the festivities herself that she forgot what her loved ones may be going through. Were they reassured by her letter? Or were they worried? Were they allowing themselves to enjoy the coming of Heavensturn? All merriment left her then like a floating lantern deflated of air.
In hindsight, Nabi regretted the gloomy mood that came upon her with that thought. She wanted Anchor to enjoy the festival too. She had been so determined to inject some cheer into his life and the Shogatsu Festival was the perfect opportunity. But at the end of the night, it was he who rekindled her spirit as he shoved the fireworks into her hands, wanting nothing to do with it.
As she waved the sparklers to send a flurry of embers flying all around them, Nabi spun and laughed. It was as if she was summoning a swarm of fireflies with a wave of her hand. The sparks would spin and float away, some of them aiming for the sky. She watched them disappear toward the heavens, a sense of serenity finding her in that moment. A belief that things would be alright, somehow, in the end. She could have sworn she spied a smile on Anchor’s face too, if only briefly.
Of course, since the night of the festival, she had grown somewhat more impatient. She organized then reorganized his kitchen for the third time, and now she was more certain than ever that there was not a speck of grime to be found in his kitchen and bath. Still, her thoughts strayed to the festival, and her family. And hope.
So when Anchor announced that he was going to leave for the afternoon to meet with an old contact, she was hopeful to come too. But he reminded her of her predicament. "You aren't to be goin'," he said. "I trust ya will keep your word about not causin' any trouble--you aren't ta show face, with or without me, aye? I'll be hearin' of it if ya try and be doin' something thinkin' it smart."
She had promised it, that first sun when he brought her to his home. That she would not cause any trouble for him. He had nearly died for her, that was the least she could do. Even when he told her that he had worked for Elam Grave, which was the reason he was there in Yanxia in the first place... even then she told him she would still keep to her promise.
And so now he trusted her enough to leave her alone in his home.
This was the first time since she had been taken, being left to her own care. It felt both freeing and frightening at the same time. Nabi’s gaze wandered, to what she knew to be in his home. Of the possibilities of disguises if she did want to leave. The lock was to keep people out, not in. She could leave while Anchor was gone, and return to Kugane, to at least get a glimpse of her family and perhaps send more word to others.
"Once I be recovered, I'll be speakin' to him.†A memory, clear and painful in its lucidity, returned to her. It was when she confronted him about his association with Elam Grave. He had flung spiteful words at her after she accused him. She could not fathom why he then saved her. He did not answer her, but eventually, he reassured her. “Once I do, I'll make it clear you ain't to be touched, aye? Ya can go salvage your pleasant little dream and do away with this. Free to do as you will. But for now. No trouble." His voice had dropped into an almost agonized whisper. "Ya said you wasn't to make anymore trouble."
Nabi’s chest rose and fell with another deep breath. Her hand had come to rest over her stomach. In the suns that she had been here, the stir of fear and anxiety had lessened slowly over time. It wasn’t due to Anchor’s kindness; his temperament and demeanor remained harsh and abrasive. But what he’s done for her was something she could not forget, and in that, she found comfort and maybe even a small sense of security.
“I promised,†she quietly echoed the words she had given Anchor moments before he left. “No trouble.†Some weight seemed to lift from her shoulders once she made the decision. Pressing her lips together, her golden eyes darted about, looking to the den. She had left this room mostly untouched since it was where Anchor had been resting. Now that he was gone…
Nabi smiled and grabbed the rag that hung from her waist.
