The World of Rhune

Robin scuffed at the dust and rocks with her boots. She was getting tired of this place quickly. It was weird and foreign, and seemed downright unfriendly. She ducked into another alley, to get away from the crowd of the market. She grabbed a window ledge of a shop, and pulled herself up. From there she was able to pull herself up onto the roof. She sat down at the edge of the rooftop, so she was able to see the streets below. She dug out the orange from her pack, and started to peel at it.

Robin couldn’t get the boy at of her head. She was positive she had seen him somewhere before. She just couldn’t quite place where he was from. Robin was just finishing peeling the orange when she noticed someone in the crowd who made her pause. A smile crept over her face. Her light blue eyes would recognize that boy anywhere. She watched as his mop of black hair wove through the crowd. When he got close to the roof she was on, she leaned over the side and chucked the orange peel at him. She startled him and he looked up in her direction. She made no move to hide herself but gave a wide grin and waved him to come up. She the recognition dawn in his grey eyes and then a slow grin come to his face. He disappeared into the same alley Robin had only moments before.

Robin waited for him and she could hear him swear as he came up. She smiled, he had never been a very good climber. She could see first his black hair and then the rest of him as he pulled himself up. “Why would you want to get up here?” The familiar, husky voice asked. “Nice to see you too, Niko,” Robin said with a grin. “Oh, yeah. Hey, Sara,” He gave a sheepish grin and came to sit down next to her, “What are you doing here anyways?” “Well first, I’m not Sara anymore. According to laws here, I have to have some animal name. So now you know me as Robin.” “Wait, now I’m confused. You changed your name?” Niko asked. “Yep. Like I said, it’s a law here. I had to fit in,” She explained to him. “Well that’s messed up. What are you doing here anyways, Sara?” Niko faltered, “Well whoever you are now. You’ll still be Sara to me.” “Thanks, Niko. I came here to see if there was anything to find out about my mom. Any family or anything. No such luck, though. Apparently no one knows who she was or if she had family.” “You should’ve said goodbye, at least,” Niko said. “Sorry about that. You were with the others though, and I felt it was time to go see, just to be sure,” Robin replied. “I get it, but is wasn’t fun coming back and everyone telling me, ‘Oh, yeah, Sara left.’” Niko frowned. “Sorry ‘bout that. So what are you doing here? Since you obviously aren’t with the others,” Robin asked. “Well, I am nineteen. I figured it was time for me to go see the world,” He gave her a grin. “Oh yeah, because being to every country in the Southern Realm isn’t enough of the world. Most people never leave their country, you know.” Niko laughed at her sarcasm, “Yes, I know. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t start here for a chance of finding you.” Robin smiled, “Thanks, Niko. It’s been weird here, I don’t really like it.” Robin frowned and looked up at Niko, meeting his clear, gray eyes. “I get that. So what are you going to do?’ Niko asked. “Well, I don’t know,” Robin answered. “Sara doesn’t have a plan?” Niko mocked, “Wow, this is weird.” “Shut up,” Robin playfully punched him. “What are you planning to do now, go see the world?” Robin raised her eyebrows questioningly. Niko chuckled, “I don’t know. There may be a change in plans now.” “Is that so?” Robin responded. “Yep. So, I’m guessing you don’t have any sleeping arrangements either?” Niko said to her. “No, I have just been going to sleep where I can, lately,” Robin answered. “Well, I just so happened to bring a couple of horses with me. There in the stables at the inn where I am staying. You’re welcome to join,” Niko offered. Robin thought she understood what Niko was saying about the horses, but she didn’t dare get her hopes up. “Alright, then lead on.” Robin said. “Actually, Sara, you could show me how you plan to get down first,” Niko said. Robin laughed but obliged him, and climbed down first.