Mist

Chapter One

Part one

“Was is worth it?” — Anonymous

The sun was just dipping below the horizon when Kiki peered out the window, Ugh, why do I always have to wake up so early? She grumbled even while climbing out of bed to get washed and dressed. No one else is ever up this early, they always get a lovely long sleep and wake up to a lovely hot breakfast. MY lovely hot breakfast…bastards. Her grumbling continued all the way to the kitchen, where a small fire pit was set in the middle of the circular room, smouldering wood still glowing with warm embers. Shelves clung to mud packed walls at spaced intervals, packed full of spices, berries, leaves and vials containing some dark murky substances. After adding some extra kindling to the fire, Kiki rounded up three medium sized pots and began transporting them outside, balancing one under her arm and the other two on her hips.

The air was crisp and fresh tonight and she enjoyed a few moments peace just taking deep breaths, eyes closed, savouring the silence. Ears twitched to the sound of running water and she smiled, At least the pumps are still working, she thought, turning towards the little ditch that ran around the front of the hut. It took a little while for the water to arrive, having to first travel the entire circumference of the village before finally reaching their own. Filling each pot to overflowing she returned to the kitchen just as the first rays of purple light began to shine through the small rounded windows. Moon’s up, won’t be long before the family wake up — and by that you mean another millennium right? — Haha yes — Time enough to do some training? — Normally is — True… She shook her head, setting the pots down on a large clay tray set up over the fire and then sat back to wait for it to finish boiling.

I must be insane…do other people talk to themselves like this? — How would I know? — Shut up, I’m not talking to you — Yes you are, technically — Smartass — ‘Smart’ isn’t the word I would use. Sighing she shook her head again, removing the pots from the tray as the water began bubbling over, sizzling and spitting against the heated surface. She took them to a clean shelf on the far side of the room, gripping each with her claws to avoid getting burned. Once there she picked up a few different spices and added a sprinkle of each to the water, before crushing up some dried leaves and flaking the debris over the top. Finally, she went to browse the vials.

I wonder if mother managed to get some new…aha! — is that the right one? — What? Oh will you just buzz off already! She turned the vial over, tracing a clawed thumb lightly over the engraved ‘Kg’ on the glass. “Kargurdal,” she purred softly, I’m amazed she was able to afford something like this, Kargurdal’s are so vicious, hunters usually don’t bother with them — Who are you talking to? — Not you! Plucking the top off she sniffed at the contents. Immediately her stomach started to growl and her lips began to water. Goddess, that smells divine…I wonder what it tastes like — I wouldn’t do that if I were you — Why not? Only a little drop — Bad idea…very bad idea — Pffft. She lifted the vial to her lips and tilted it slightly. Slowly, the thick blood began spilling into her mouth, she groaned heavily, it tasted so damn good.

“KIKI!” someone roared from behind.

She jumped and spun round in fright, the vial slipping from her grip. Glass shattered on the tray, spilling the majority of the blood over the hot clay, where it began to sizzle and smell sickeningly sweet. The rest of it splashed over the dark brown fur of a very large, very angry figure. That figure was her father. Oh no… — Told you so — Sh-shut up.

“What in the name of the Emperor is going on here?” came her father’s voice. It chilled her to the bone that he was keeping an even voice, normally he just yelled at her. Or beat her. This was another level of malice altogether.

“I…I can explain dad,”

He just glared at her in the darkness and for some reason that silence unsettled her more than anything.

“I was just making breakfast for everyone, l-like I do every morning, I was just testing some of the blood before I mixed it in, make sure it wasn’t spoiled,” she explained timidly. She felt trapped, afraid of what he might do to her, it had happened often enough that she was already starting to hunch up, curling her arms in protectively.

“Get out,”

She didn’t move, couldn’t.

“GET. OUT.” He roared, taking a step forwards and raising his fist.

She fled, running as fast as she possibly could out the hut and into the woods beyond, tears streaming down her cheeks. Stupid…stupid stupid stupid girl — Aren’t you always? — SHUT UP!