Cean's POV
As she weaved through the crowd, vendors and merchants offered up their merchandise.
"Getch yur bowls here! Made of the finest clay in all of Kingdom 2! Half off yur first purchase!"
"Spices! Imported all the way from Kingdom 4! So spicy it'll make you cry!" "Silk! Silk! Soft and perfect for the coming cold!" She ignored them and continued her journey deeper into town. Gradually, her surroundings grew more and more gritty. Luxurious town houses faded into small huts. Wide streets transformed into cracked roads and dark alleyways. Shady characters started appearing, carefully moving around the neighborhood. Finally, she stopped in front of what looked like an abandoned warehouse. Stepping up to the rusted door, she knocked once and then five more times in rapid succession. The door creaked open and she cautiously walked inside.

As she walked, her boots clicked against the cold, hard ground. Her eyes adjusted to the darkness, silhouettes starting to appear around her. Even with the milling people, it was dead silent, the only noise being breaths and the occasional footstep. She navigated through them to get to a black and blue shop. It was filled to the brim with furs and fabric. Lightly rapping her knuckles against the cracked wooden counter, she kept an eye on the humans surrounding her. A blue haired man turned, a smile creasing his face.
'What's up Cean?' he signed, fingers flashing as his golden eyes filled with interest.
'Got a clawbeast pelt. How much can I get for it?' Cean bluntly asked with one hand, ignoring his attempt at pleasantries.
He silently chuckled, 'Straight forward as always. Sorry princess, got nothing for it. Too many of them nowadays.'
She sighed, knowing there was no point in arguing. Turning she signed over her shoulder.
'Nice talking to you. Gotta go.' Not bothering to look at his reply, she disappeared into the sea of people.

Growling low in her throat, she headed towards the last stall left, a tattered red. All of the other stalls had refused to buy her pelt. She stormed up to the shop, hide waving behind her like a flag.
'Something angering you sweetheart?' The lady behind the counter signed, a smile playing on her lips. Her graying hair was swept up into a messy bun and she had a commanding aura.
'Rena. No one would buy this pelt,' Cean said holding up the pelt, 'I was wondering what you could offer me for it.'
'That's tough. Not a lot a good I could get with that.' She responded, eyebrows pulled low over her red orbs. Cean was prepared to leave but a brown hand with gold bands wrapped around it stopped her. She looked up to see a Rena staring at her with a pitying look in her eyes.
'But for you, I'm willing to give you 2 bronze.' Cean stared at her, searching her face for any signs of trickery.
'That's the best offer I've had all day.' She signed back, gratitude filling her eyes. She handed Rena the pelt and in return she poured two coins into the girl's cupped hands. Swiftly, Cean hid them in her dark orchid skirt pockets. 'Tell your mother I said hi, kay.'
'Of course. Good doing business with you Rena.' The girl replied before slipping into the shadows.

The bronze will be enough to buy us some bread. Not enough though, she thought as headed towards the door. I'll have to 'borrow' some beans. Inwardly sighing, she turned and slipped over to Farmer Norm's booth. Subtly glancing around, she waited until Norm was distracted by new customers to whip her hand out of her pocket and snatch several handfuls beans. Leaving a hunk of meat behind, Cean turned on her heels and escaped the dusty market. Swiftly, she left the village behind and sprinted through the southern forest. Birds cried as she slipped between trees. The forest grew denser the deeper she went. The sunlight looked green as it filtered through massive leaves. After a minute or two she stopped in front of a tiny cottage. Vines decorated it's cream walls and flowers grew out of huge planters underneath the aged window. Wooden beams served as the house's roof while the door was made of rusted iron. She reached into her pockets and pulled out two keys. One was a shiny silver with a simple design and the other was bronze and had intricate swirling designs on it's body. Choosing the silver key, she inserted it into the ancient keyhole. Cean twisted and jiggled the key, and with a pop and creak, the door swung open. She stepped inside, warm air enveloping her body.

Home, sweet home.

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Sorry for the cliffhanger. :b I'll try to post the next chapter as soon as possible. It's times like these when I'm so glad I don't have any homework. Instead, I can spend all my time bringing entertainment to you guys! The only thing that's annoying me right now is how the stupid computer can't capitalize. I mean COME ON. I mean seriously, you can do so many sweet and awesome things, yet cha can't even capitalize my i's. Haaah ~n~. Anyways, hope you had as much fun reading this as i did writing it!

Love, Fallen Angel Heart

Updated 10/29/2016
Song: The Arena by Lindsey Stirling