FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Marigolds! Corn and victuals for the selling!" Eli's voice echoed throughout the marketplace, attracting customers from every corner of the village. The clank of gold passing from hand to hand was the source of many an argument in all the various carts and stands and vendors. All but Eli's. The poverty-stricken youth pushed his barrow along the cobblestones, a look of defeat plastered upon his weather-beaten face. His corduroy coveralls and cap were streaked with the signs of hard labor, mud and dirt already caked in to match his caked skin. It had been ages since last he was able to clean himself off, devoting all his time to collecting the various wares all strewn about his barrow. The candles, fruits, vegetables, baking items, and other such random assortments littered every corner of the run-down wheelbarrow, creaking along each stone in the street with a tell-tale squeak at every turn of the wheel. The light patter of his barely covered feet upon the ground echoed with the practiced movement of a well-known trail, reflected once more in the far-away look in his eyes. Each day was the same for Eli. Walk across the town, yelling out for all to hear and none to listen. Cries upon deaf ears were all he'd accomplished in the past weeks of his life, and it usually got no better with each passing day.

His cart squeaked by another, a vacant nod of acknowledgement signaled Eli's mutual pity with his fellow vendor. The town square was busy that morning, every known vendor in town battling in a cut-throat fight to the death for any single bit of gold they could find. The life of a barrow boy was dog-eat-dog, hold onto every sale you can get with everything that you've got. On a good day, Eli would get enough to keep him fed for the next two days. On a bad, his money would be stolen. There was usually no in between for the dirtied young lad, grunting as the wheel of his barrow caught on a snag in the road. A bit of extra force and a wearied grunt was all Eli mustered before freeing the wheel from the loose rock, the barrow once more slowly rolling along the road. Various villagers bumped and bustled past his cart, paying absolutely no heed to him or it. He was a ghost walking among the herd. They all had their one goal in mind for the day, buy what they needed and be off on their merry way. No more, no less. Eli once wished his life was so easy, but as the time went on, he at least could respect that he once did have a dream.

A land, far away from this one, where the soil was fertile and the vegetation lush was the object of his desire. His family originally traveled from that land to live in this village, and while they still lived, Eli's parents would tell tale after tale of the great land. It was almost a waking dream to the boy, a strange sort of heaven on earth where the crops grew bountiful and replenished themselves for a long, healthy lifestyle. The fields and hills rolled all along the countryside, birds and bees soaring and buzzing every which way and singing their songs upon the winds to herald the onset of another day in utter paradise. The thought brought a smile to Eli's face. Every day he'd dream of the mystery land where he'd return one day. With each sale he made, a bit or two that could be spared was hidden in the compartment on the underside of his barrow, away from prying eyes that might crush his one hope. These beggars and villagers around him all had their own stories and goals, but as far as Eli had heard, they wanted only to work a job to gain the money to buy the food to stay alive to work a job and repeat the process day in and day out. The reason they stayed in the cycle was completely lost upon the young lad, but it was their lives for the changing, not his. He had his goal in mind, and he would be damned if anyone was going to keep him from it. But of all the beautiful sights, of all the wonderful, magical natural wonders, there was one that stood out above all the rest. His father always spoke of it, and his mother sighed upon mentioning it. The glory...the beauty...the majestic, billowing waves of the se-

"Hey!! Watch where yer going ya wretched lil' urchin!!"

The cries of the butcher cut through Eli's daytime fantasy like a hot cleaver. In his reverie, the barrow had crossed the path of the town butcher, cutting off him and his 'attractive' daughter from their daily errands. The angered expression of the relatively rotund man betrayed his furious rage as his hand grabbed Eli's collar, dragging the boy close to his greasy face. "What, you think yer sumthin' special?? Yer no better than the dirt on my boot, ya little gutter rat!!" A rough shove sent Eli stumbling back without balance, tripping over his own feet and landing flat in the mud next at the front of an alley. His hat landed at his side in some trash, revealing Eli's now muddied, dull blond hair. The look of contempt blazing in his grey eyes shot daggers at the butcher and his daughter, the girl now laughing at the spectacle. The butcher himself just smirked at the young lad, taking a few steps toward Eli. "Oh whuh, you gonna take a swing at me, boy? Go ahead and try it! They'll drag ya out screaming at night like yer parents, and the town'll be better off without ya!" The butcher turned his back on Eli, walking away from the mess he made before taking a melon from the cart. Eli clenched his fist and was about to take off after him, but a sigh of realization held him on the ground. The butcher was right. He had to play their game until he saved up his money to buy the supplies he needed to find his freedom. If he did something so foolish as striking the butcher, they'd either arrest him or kill him, neither of which seemed appealing. Just as he was getting up from the dirt, Eli chanced a glance in the mud, catching a quick glimpse of himself. All the dirt and mud that had built up over the past few weeks made him look quite the sorry sight...but Eli saw past that. His focus was on his own gaze, the burning drive to reach his dreams fresh and alive, blazing like a burning fire within his very soul. The sight made him smile before he picked himself up off the ground, grabbing his barrow and rolling down the main street once more.

He had his dream.

The sea...it was the one thing that Eli had always sought after with wide eyes and wearied sighs. He'd never laid eyes on a body of water larger than the village fountain, but one day he knew he'd be staring out upon that vast and glorious sea. A skip suddenly appeared in his step as he pushed his barrow across the way, humming a tune to pass the time. That hope was all he really could hold onto in that hard life of his, but it was more than he needed. With a sudden jolt, Eli stopped his pushing, docking the cart between a crafter and a palm reader, his usual spot. With a quick shake of his hat, it raced through the air to land back on Eli's head as he stared into the oncoming crowd with a smile on his face and a glint in his eye. A deep breath was all he needed before he renewed his call to the stampede of potential buyers, hoping that this day might be the day he struck it big with his sales. "Flowers f'sale!! Fruits and veggies and th'like, buy it here and fresh!! Flowers f'sa~ale!!" People began racing over to his barrow, eager to buy and sell and barter until they either spent their money or tired of what he had. It was the same, day in and day out, but today, Eli had his dream alive. It would be a long while until he saw his dream realized, but Eli could wait. Every day brought him closer, and he wouldn't stop until either his dream came true, or he dropped dead to the ground.

The day dragged on, and Eli bought and sold until the sun began to fall upon the horizon. His cart hadn't been emptied out notably, but he did make a decent amount of gold for his effort. A yawn escaped from his throat as he pushed the cart along the cobblestone road once more, heading back to rest for the night until he would wake up and start the routine over once more. But suddenly, a younger lad wearing an oversized shirt with a pair of small baggy pants and leggings ran up to the barrow boy, tugging lightly on the sleeve of his coveralls. "Eli! Eli! Didja make enough???" Eli could only laugh, ruffling the head of the younger beggar before him. His gaze fell to the boy only temporarily before he continued pushing the cart further along the road.

"Calm down there, Isaac," He laughed to himself, grunting as the barrow rolled over a particularly large rock. "I'm just gonna tell you the same thing I've told you every day. And what is that?" With a sigh, the young Isaac stopped, waiting for Eli to put his barrow down and lean against the handlebar, and say with him in unison:

"Not yet, but getting closer." "Not yet but getting closer."

"It's a slow process! But hey, lookit how much I made today." The money bag at Eli's belt suddenly appeared in his hands, spilling its contents for the young beggar to see. Isaac's eyes widened at the great number of gold pieces in Eli's hands. It certainly wasn't a wealth of gold, but it was a tad bit more than Eli usually saw in a day's work. "So? Am I a rich man yet? Can I leave my poor poverty-stricken life to be a travelling salesman?" Despite Isaac's vigorous nodding, Eli just laughed and put the gold back into his bag, reattaching the clasp to his belt. "Wrong answer, Isaac. You know it'll take me months to save up enough. I'm glad you're so positive, though." Knocking on a panel near the underside of his barrow, a small compartment hidden from the average eye fell open. The little beggar continued watching, knowing every move Isaac was about to make. It became a rehearsed behavior, Eli tossing his bag lightly into the air before catching it with the opposite hand, tipping his hat, and winking to Isaac. The money poured out with a heavy clanking sound, topping off the pile Eli had already amassed. It was surprisingly large considering his profession, but still leagues away from anything sizeable. As Eli shut the compartment once more, Isaac smiled, pushing his companion lightly.

"Aw, I have to, Eli! 'Cause if I'm not, I know no one else will! You're so down on yourself anyway that you need me!" It was true. Eli gave his friend a compassionate, pleasant smile of approval, bringing the young beggar closer by wrapping an arm around his neck.

"And I appreciate that, Isaac. Thank you." Just as Isaac was about to run off, his expression changed to reflect the idea he had just remembered.

"Oh!! I almost forgot-here! Take these." Before Eli could even react, something was thrust into his hands. He opened his palm and gasped at the sight of three gold coins glittering in the amber sunlight. Eli was about to voice his objection, before he looked up and noticed Isaac was running off down an alley, almost out of sight. He couldn't help but shake his head at the young boy. He was always trying to help Eli out, and as he stood there with his arms crossed watching the young beggar run off, he cupped his hands around his mouth, calling out to Isaac as he disappeared.

"Hey, Isaac!! Tomorrow, same time, same place as always!" The young boy kept running, but Eli could see his arm waving in the air in acknowledgement, making the barrow boy smile and shake his head before pushing off once more.

It wasn't much farther to his home...though calling it a home was being generous. As he entered the alley behind the town hall, he left his barrow near the back, covering it with a long tarp lying on the street. Once the cart was fully covered, a quick look to the entrance of the alley to make sure none were there was all that stopped Eli from walking back over to the town hall, quickly going behind a nearby dilapidated house. A creaking nose broke the silence of the rising night as he descended into a cellar, carefully closing the door behind him. The cellar was dark and dusty, with just enough light to make out the general layout. Three others were asleep in various corners of the cellar, forcing Eli to move as silently as possible. Taking his hat off and throwing a blanket over his body, the barrow boy rested his head on his arm, looking out the window at the pale moonlight with a smile. Dreams of the sea were filling his head as he slowly drifted off on the cold concrete. It was all he could really hold onto in that bleak world of his, but it was more than enough. Just the thought of living where his parents once lived, staring out over the sea every day of his life, swimming and diving every morning and taking a raft out every evening. His eyes were starting to droop as he saw himself plowing a large plot of land with all different sorts of crops, watching the waves roll in as the sun set. And just as he knew he would spend every day looking out over that sea, so too would he end every night as such before falling asleep.

'Some day.'

~

The morning sun brought more promises of sales and dreams as the first of the amber rays of light shone through the cellar window, forcing motes of dust to dance majestically in the air. A grunt from Eli bemoaned a hesitancy to leave his dreams, stretching his arms and back on the hard cellar floor. After a quick look around, he quickly came to realize it was just another day in the bleak life of a barrow boy. His tired groans roused some of the other boys in the cellar, each one rolling over and stretching in their own unique way. Eli, meanwhile, was already ahead of them, meaning he'd have the best opportunity to find a prime selling spot aside from his usual location. With this sudden realization fresh in mind, he snatched the hat and took off quick as a whip toward the ladder up the side of the wall. He wasted no time in bounding up the first two rungs, grabbing on near the top and pushing the wooden doors with his hat, cursing under his breath as the latch caught and caused a loud commotion. A quick flick of the wrist and the latch was free, bringing a grin to Eli's face as the doors suddenly burst open, bright sunlight from the golden skies pouring over the weary boys. Dust exploded from the ground where Eli's feet bounded, billowing in a cloud as he took off toward his car. The tarp flew into the air before crumpling on the ground, revealing the many fruits and wares of the barrow to the air. All it took was a quick scan of the perishables to find that some had gone bad in the night. A small huff, and the fruits and vegetables went flying into the other nearby carts that some of the boys had been too lazy to cover. It was their problem now, as Eli had more pressing matters at hand.

The day dragged on as he managed to find a spot most certainly better than the last, right next to the palm reader and the local charm salesman. It might have only been two spots over, but it was also right next to one of the busier streets of the village, meaning more people would pass him by. More people passing meant more possible customers, and more possible customers meant more possible sales. It was a good sign of the day to come, and though Eli had been yelling to the utmost capacity of his young lungs, it hadn't quite been effective. Still, as he took a glance up at the sky, the day was still quite fresh, and he had plenty of time to make a profit, especially since the busy time of day had yet to strike. Midday was certainly the most opportune time for selling, and it was yet another hour's time away. With that thought at the forefront of his mind, Eli brushed away a bit of dust as more and more people passed him by, giving him the once over before turning away out of a lack of interest. Still, nothing would discourage him. With the good haul he had the day before and the wonderful spot he had managed to get that day, there was no doubting he would be making quite the generous amount come sunset. And even if he made less than he was expecting, it was quite literally impossible to not turn in a profit with a spot so near the entrance to the square! Yes, he knew it was bound to be a good day.

"Corn! Cabbage and fruits, all your cookin' needs right here! Come getchya flowers and cookin' supplies!" His calls continued all throughout the morning, hoping to attract what would be the start of a successful day of trading. As the sun moved further and further across the sky, Eli's luck did increase somewhat. The coming of noon saw the onset of many people running errands, which was a wonderful sign for the barrow boy. First a lady running errands, then another looking for the missing ingredient for her supper plans, then a man seeking some flowers in hopes of courting a young lady, and then a man seeking some wares to replace those that had rotted in his garden. The whole affair brought a large smile to Eli's face, exchanging fruits and random odds and ends for the cool touch of gold in his palm. It was a trade he loved making, for every bit of gold he placed in his pouch went straight toward getting him out of that village to finally start the life he always wanted, out in those fertile fields with hills and plains abounding, all backed by that serene, beautiful sea he longed so often to lay eyes upon. Another couple of people passed by, and another sale was made. Fortunately for him, there was no fear of running low on wares, for Eli had spent all his time that wasn't devoted to selling collecting new supplies and fruits and all sorts of paraphernalia. That time had paid off, always ending in a full barrow at the end of the day. None could say the boy didn't work hard for his sales, and as his gold pouch filled up once more with the gold of a long day's work, he smiled to himself with a contented sigh. The day was only half over and he already made more than the previous day. Nothing could ruin such a wonderful day!

"Oy, y'gon saiy sum-in'?? Eh??" The all too familiar voice quickly dashed the smile from Eli's face, searching across the market place to find the source. When first Eli saw the sight, his hand moved almost instinctually to smack against his forehead, a low groan sounding from deep within his throat. He was hoping he could go the rest of the week without having come across Jeremiah. Fortunately for Eli, the bumbling oaf was on the edge of the central fountain, far out of range for worry. But upon closer inspection, Eli could see Jeremiah was not alone. Instead of walking around on his own acting as if he alone was superior to everyone not considered an adult, rich, or privileged, he for some reason chose that day to have two other cronies at his side. Their attention seemed focused on one person in particular, but it was quite impossible for Eli to make out who. After a few more moments of looking around, the source of their amusement revealed itself. It was a young girl, likely no older than twelve with long ebon hair braided all along her back. Her tattered maroon and tan dress brushed past her knees, ripped and torn all along the edges. Her floral circlet was then suddenly pulled into the air, petals falling to the stone road below as Jeremiah guffawed at the helpless little girl. "C'mon, arncha gon' d'fend y'self?? Eh?? Eh??? Aw, the po' likkle runt 'scared outta ir wits! Lookit, boys, ah bet she cawn't e'en git'ir bon'et bahk!" Tears started rolling down the cheek of the little girl as she jumped to retain her circlet, eliciting more laughs from the bully and his cohorts. Eli couldn't stand it. Another quick look around the town square revealed Isaac leaning against a trash can, trying to look pathetic to earn the pity of the surrounding villagers. A swift whistle from Eli captured Isaac's attention, bringing the small child over to the barrow.

"Whatchya need, Eli?" The young beggar eagerly asked, contrasting quite notably from his pitiful whimpering mere moments ago.

"Looks like Jeremiah's back to torturing random people," His response was quick, smiling and nodding at a man who started looking over his wares. "D'you think you have the time to go give him a little hell?" The large grin from Isaac was all Eli needed to know his wish would be granted. Just as suddenly as he appeared, the beggar was gone, blending into the shuffling feet of the crowd like a ghost in the night. Eli quickly handled the transaction with the curious man before leaning against his barrow, arms crossed with an expecting grin on his face. They were still holding the circlet high above the girl's head, shoving her back and forth and laughing all the while. But then, quick as a bolt of lightning, Isaac made his strike, rushing through the group of them while grabbing the circlet with a surprisingly acrobatic leap. Before the group had time to realize what had happened, Isaac had shuffled around the group, running his hands swiftly along the suspenders clipped to Jeremiah's trousers, unclasping them and pulling on the fabric with a hearty tug. Jeremiah noticed the sudden pressure too late, as his pants found their way to rest around his ankles, revealing his white undergarments to the rest of the village. His lackeys found the scene to be quite the spectacle, but judging by the reddened angered look on Jeremiah's face, he surely didn't agree. He looked to the left, looked to the right, and looked all around, but he could not find the little runt at fault. Isaac had already made his escape, suddenly appearing at Eli's side and handing him the flowered circlet before disappearing back to his trash can.

"Thanks, mate." The barrow boy mouthed to his secret ally from across the way while tossing the circlet into the barrow, to which Isaac responded with a wink. Unfortunately, as his gaze returned to the center of the square, he could see Jeremiah and his lackeys approaching with scowls and jeers. Eli did nothing but continue smiling, yelling out to the crowd once more as the overweight oaf clasped his worn mint pantaloons, growling and attempting to reattach his suspenders clinging to his dirtied white button-up. "Fruits and veggies for th'selling!! Step right up an-Oh. Why, afternoon, Jerry. What brings you t'my barrow today? Can I interest you in an apple or two?" An apple suddenly appeared in Eli's hand to accompany his grin, failing to amuse Jeremiah. His dull brown eyes roamed Eli's cart, glaring suddenly before snatching the circlet from the top. He shook the garment in front of Eli's face, grumbling at him as he did.

"N'wot d'ell is ees, eh??" His insufferable dialect made even Eli want to cringe, but the barrow boy held his composure, responding with a friendly smile and a tip of the hat.

"Why, it looks like a circlet, Jerry. Quite the pretty one, I'd say it matches your eyes quite nice-like." Jeremiah's response came in the form of a furious shriek, tossing the circlet on the ground at Eli's feet.

"S'not f'me, ya bloody fool!! N'stop cawlin' m'Jerry!! I tawld ya ovr'n ovr agin, m'name's JEREMIAH, y'ken???" It was almost too easy for Eli to push Jeremiah's buttons, leaning with one elbow on his barrow and scratching his head with the opposite hand, adopting a look of the utmost innocence.

"Now...w-wait a tick, I thought your father was Jeremiah?" Eli looked away as if in thought, scratching his head even harder and tipping his hat even further. "...Yeah, your father IS Jeremiah! M'afraid I can't know two Jeremiah's, so you'll just have to be Jerry...ya ken, Jerry?" The provocation only pushed Jeremiah's rage ever further, causing him to stamp on the ground and raise quite the ruckus. His companions began looking at each other before casually backing away, letting their so-called leader throw his little fit of rage.

"NO NO NO!! S'JER-E-MI-A!!! Y'call ME Jeremiah!! Me, me, ME!!! N'if y'think y'kin git away wit forcing y'li'l runt on me n'tryna git away wit it den I-"

"Oy, oy, oy!!" The voice caused both Eli and Jeremiah to turn suddenly, staring at the palm reader who had interrupted the bickering. "Would ya can it?? I'm tryna sit here an make a livin', and you come waltzin' in here, throwin' a tantrum and scarin' off all my customers!! Now unless yer getting' a palm reading, beat it!" Jeremiah approached the stand after the elaborately dressed vendor spoke, ready to defend himself and stuttering some sort of excuse before her fist came crashing down on her stand with a loud bang, not too far from Jeremiah's head. "I said beat it!! 'Afore I make ya read my fist with yer face!!" No further complaining came from Jeremiah as he started to turn away defeated. But before he left, he turned to Eli and shot him a murderous glare, pointing an accusatory finger in his general direction.

"Dis ain't over, barrow boy. Y'll git yers soon, I'swearit!" And with that, the pudgy young bully took off with a run, still struggling to get the clasps back onto his trousers as he went. His cronies caught up with him as he made his escape, leaving Eli there to shake his head and laugh under his breath. Jeremiah was nothing but a load of hot air, living off his family's wealth and using it as an excuse to act better than all those around him. With a turn to the palm reader, Eli smiled and tipped his hat.

"Thanks, Miss Serafina." He began, tossing her the apple he used to taunt Jeremiah. "I was afraid he might've tried to rough up my barrow and scare away business for the both of us." The palm reader just laughed, wiping away an invisible tear as she caught the apple, throwing it back to Eli.

"Nahh, keep yer apple, Eli. I know y'need that business, and I've got more than enough vittles t'keep me well and fed. 'Sides, that spoiled brat woulda scared off the whole market, he would. Thinka this as two merchants working together, eh?" She gave the boy a wink as he caught the apple, casually tossing it back into the barrow.

"Sounds like a plan." He replied, nodding at her words before bending down to pick up the circlet. His joy was suddenly cut short at the sight of the trinket. It had been crushed almost beyond recognition, caked with dust and losing petals by the second. The sight made Eli feel almost guilty for the girl who now sat at the fountain, wiping away her tears and sniffling while she glanced at the barrow boy. He knew he wasn't responsible for the mess, but he wanted to make her happy again. Ruffling his brow in thought, an idea suddenly struck. Grinning with the sudden inspiration, he gathered a small bouquet of flowers from the back of his barrow, picking only the prettiest he could find before he tapped on the side of the charm maker's wagon, gaining his attention with a smile and a nod. "Mind doing me a quick favor, Geoffrey?" The charm maker smiled and crossed his arms, giving Eli a gentle glance.

"Of course, Eli! Whatchya need?" The flowers were carefully pushed into Geoffrey's hands, along with a small bit of cord and wire buried within the barrow.

"You see that little girl over there?" Eli gestured with a tilt of his head, gesturing toward the crying young lady. Geoffrey strained his eyes to get a better look, putting a pair of glasses on the bridge of his nose. With his gaze cleared, a strange, unsettled look suddenly appeared on his face.

"Uh...Eli," The charm maker mumbled lightly to him, leaning over the push bar of the wagon to better speak to Eli. "You do realize that's the Tameran's daughter, yeah? You know...the one they say does all the dark arts and strange magicks in her home..." If it weren't for the serious look on Geoffrey's face, Eli might have started laughing. But once the barrow boy saw just how truly the craft maker believed in this so-called nonsense, he pursed his lips and let out a light hum. "Now I haven't seen either of them actually do anything strange and magic-like before, but...I've heard my share'a things and that's all I'm gonna say." Though Geoffrey seemed to have no desire to help the 'Tameran,' as he called her, Eli refused to sit idly by as a young girl was crying from some ugly, fat bully. He once more gestured at the flowers, giving Geoffrey the most innocent smile he could muster.

"C'mon, Geoff," He started, laying on the sap as thick as humanly possible. "She's just a little girl. Besides, you still owe me one ever since Isaac and I helped you get the authorities off your back last month." It was a bit of a cheap shot on Eli's part, but the grimace suddenly given by Geoffrey practically embodied his defeat.

"...Ahh...alright, give me a minute to fix her a new circlet. But you remember now, we're even, yeah?"

"Yeah." His response came in the form of a wink, turning back to the barrow to rearrange some goods that had fallen askew. Eli couldn't help but smile to himself as he worked, glad that he had made such wonderful friends as he had. Isaac, the innocent and lovable thief, Serafina, the wily but motherly palm reader, Geoffrey, the tough but gentle craftsman, and probably half of the other vendors trying to make their living in the town square. He might not have a family any more, but those people were all the family he needed. They looked out for each other, helped each other with their problems, made sure no one was trying to treat them unfairly...and this Tameran's daughter was no different to Eli. They all had to suffer together, so why not try and make things a little easier? Besides, mending a circlet was really the least he could do for the young girl after the torture she had likely been subjected to.

"There y'go, Eli." Geoffrey's booming voice took the barrow boy completely off guard, making him jump suddenly. As Eli turned around, a surprisingly elegant floral circlet, adorned with beautiful ribbons and strings in a marvelous pattern had been created in just a matter of moments. Eli's eyes widened at the site, almost not believing the craftsman had really produced something so beautiful in such a short amount of time.

"Wow, it's amazing..." It was really the only response he could give, eyes fixated on the trinket. "But...Geoffrey, you didn't have to throw those ribbons in. Here, let me-"

"No no." With hands outstretched, the circlet was pushed into Eli's hands. Looking up, all the barrow boy could see was Geoffrey's smiling face, casually turning back and forth. "Eli, you know just as well as I do that we're all here for each other. Take the extra gift and think nothing of it." A wink passed between the two, making Eli smirk out of gratitude. Circlet in hand, he ran out across the square, passing carefully and with expert precision through the huddled crowds. Dodging back and forth, it took him somewhat longer than he expected, but after only a matter of moments, the fountain sprang up before him. The Tameran's daughter was still there, sitting upon the stone, sniffling as she held herself in her own arms. She was a very pretty young girl, much younger than Eli originally thought now that he could get a closer look. She seemed more along the age of nine, possibly even younger with such hauntingly beautiful gray eyes, still filled with tears and turning to the barrow boy. She gave a startled gasp, moving back against the edge of the fountain defensively. Eli couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for the young girl. Her life seemed to be more grief-stricken than the average vendor or beggar in the area. Then again, life as a Tameran didn't seem to offer much solace in such a cruel world. Thinking about it, Eli wasn't exactly sure that he knew what it was her family did aside from what all the rumors mentioned. Black magic, seances, summoning...it all sounded terribly disturbing. Still, what did Eli have to fear? He didn't believe in curses or any of that nonsense. Besides, this girl was troubled. Bending down on one knee, Eli offered the circlet to her, coming off as harmless as he could.

"It's alright," He coaxed gently, placing the circlet a few inches in front of her body. The Tameran stared at the object as if it were a sword, poised for the striking. She coiled instinctively, forcing Eli to let out a sigh. Exactly what had this girl's life entailed? For a moment, Eli didn't really want to know, but whether depressing or happy, all the beggars, vendors, and even Tamerans were there to help each other make it through the next day. The largest, friendliest smile Eli could muster spread across his visage, placing the beautiful circlet down on the stone. His body slumped down to the ground, fully at her level as his arms folded in his lap. "I know, I know. It's hard, the lives we have to live, and it's even harder accepting something from a person you don't know, but...I saw what those boys did to you, and I think it's completely unacceptable." The girl sniffed, wiping away a tear as her body seemed to calm down, quivering only slightly. Her eyes met Eli's, and for a moment the barrow boy shuddered. Those rumors made it difficult to look into those cool, seemingly lifeless eyes without feeling as if something unreal were staring back. His mind quickly snapped back to reality, the smile returning as strong as ever.

"I can understand if you don't want to trust me." He calmly placed his hands on his knees, attempting to come off as unassuming and genuine as possible. "We've all been there one time or another, but either way, I want you to have this circlet. It's not quite your old one, but we tried to make it as-" Eli was stopped mid-sentence as the Tameran quickly grabbed the circlet, placing it on her head before running off. The spectacle took Eli completely by surprise, forcing him to laugh before he watched the young girl run. She wiped her sleeve along her nose, no doubt still upset, but something about the way she grabbed the circlet with such vigor made him feel as if she understood. With his objective complete, the barrow boy pushed off the cool stone, brushing some dirt off of his trousers before heading back to his booth. Geoffrey was dealing with a customer, but he still managed to give Eli a half-grin out of the side of his mouth. Once the customer left, the assault began.

"So, how's your future wife? The craftsman jested, giving Eli a playful nudge in the ribs.

"Yes," Serafina suddenly piped up, leaning surprisingly far over her counter, "I'd like a special invitation to the wedding. And a spot in the wedding. And food, lots and lots of food." The irritation in Eli's mind was overshadowed completely by the love he had for his friends. He simply chuckled before reorganizing a couple of objects in his cart.

"First of all," He started, turning to Geoffrey, "She has to be almost eight years below me, and probably still nothing more than an infant. Second," Then to Serafina, "I was simply doing her a nice favor, helping out a poor defenseless little girl who doesn't seem to have a friend to turn to. And third," His gaze went straight over his cart, staring at the now empty space near the fountain, "All those rumors and the like you've heard from everyone? All a lie. That magic and curse and other-worldly shenanigans are nothing more than fun fairy tales. She's just an innocent little girl, nothing more. So how about you two stop bothering me and get back to your businesses? Besides, I've got a crowd approaching." and as the small crowd of ladies looking for cooking supplies approached the small barrow, the smile stayed strong on Eli's face. He didn't do much, but he was glad to see the girl accepting the circlet. It wasn't the most traditional of exchanges, but it was enough to make Eli happy. Still, as he sold a few carrots to an old lady, the image of those eyes burned into his mind. They were so...clear. So definite...and yet, they were so...

Still.

~

"Gitchyer corn, victuals for the selling!! All sortsa goods to suitcher needs!!" Eli's success wasn't quite as high the following day. The market was dull, and so were sales. All the beggars, swindlers, shopkeeps, vendors, barrow boys, gypsies, panhandlers, and all other people there to scrape by were faced with a lull in any sort of action. Few people were to be seen, and many were packing up shop and calling it early, but Eli refused to give up quite so easily. There was money to be made, even if it was minimal at best. If he gave up then, there'd be absolutely no gain, whereas staying at his spot would ensure at the very least two more sales. He was never one to give up quite so easily. Perseverance was the name of the game, and Eli was a professional. "All y'need for your bakin' pleasure!! Find it right here at-"

"Oh, Eli, give it a rest." Serafina's voice broke his call to the masses, forcing his voice to catch in his throat. His eyes turned to the palm reader, glaring slightly as she slumped over her booth. "You know we won't be gettin' nothin' til mass lets out, and at'll be in...near the afternoon. Do y'self a favor and save your breath f'later." As much as he hated to agree with her, she was absolutely right. The villagers wouldn't dream of spending money before mass let out, and the masses in the village were longer than anything Eli had ever experienced in his life. So, taking Serafina's advice, the barrow boy's body slumped against the side of his cart, resting lightly as the day passed by. The brim of his hat fell over his eyes, blocking out the sun and any potential buyers to give him a little bit of rest. He hadn't slept too well the previous day, and a nap sounded wonderful. All night, he was thinking of that Tameran's eyes. They haunted his sleep, with their deep, almost empty gaze, staring straight into his very soul. He knew it was silly to feel so disturbed by a young girl's gaze, but it was impossible to control his sleeping mind. And he couldn't tell anyone about these dreams, because they'd all just say it was her curse, which was all a load of complete and total-

"Wot, sleepin' onna jorb? D'aww, da likkle urchin's all tuckerrd owt!"

The grumbling from deep within Eli's throat betrayed every emotion he was feeling upon Jeremiah's approach. His hat tipped up casually to find the rotund waste of space once again in his general vicinity. "What's wrong, had to leave the church 'cause it burned your skin?" The insult went over the unwanted cur's head, instead goading him onto more idiotic shenanigans involving Eli's rest.

"A'carse nawt! 'Ow cud'ah miss seen ya face when yer down n'da dert, eh? Makin' all da coyns, street rat??" The expression on Eli's face had become more and more strained as Jeremiah continued to spout his drivel. It got to the point where each little syllable was practically incomprehensible, nothing more than incoherent cockney babble. "Yeh, ah betchya din't kno'bout da-"

"Would you shut your hole already???" His voice echoed across the empty marketplace, causing many of the vendors to turn at the commotion. Jeremiah stopped dead in his train of thought, completely taken aback by the barrow boy's sudden outburst. Once his thoughts were collected, he gave Eli a grin before leaning over him, hands in pocket and staring directly into the barrow boy's eyes.

"Ohwha, y'gonn gitchyer mammy t'spank meh? Hah! A lowly uhchin lik y'self ain't got no-" The sentence stopped as a fist pulled Jeremiah's collar down to eye level, grey meeting brown as Eli glared directly into the privileged grunt's soul.

"Listen you hopeless little twit, you come here every day acting like you own the village when everyone around here hates you. You think you're all high and mighty, and us street scum have to show you your place. You think you're above us, but you're not. You're below us. You're so far below us that you're not even fit to scrape the caked in mud and dirt from our heels, and you have the nerve to torture a poor little girl that's probably not even old enough to make a living on her own. You think that makes you strong? You think papa's gonna stand by and watch as his namesake becomes a rotten little brat? Papa's money won't always be there for you, and the day you realize that is the day I'll be there, standing by you, watching as you reach out for help, and I'll just stand there and say no. Then you'll learn. You'll learn real fast what it means to earn the food you eat, to earn the money you use. You think you're above us? I bet you don't even know where the clothes you're wearing come from. In fact, I bet you didn't even dress yourself. And you think you can push around a little girl...you're a useless piece of filth." His tirade finished, the buffoon went sprawling backwards, landing directly on his back in a small cloud of dust. His slick, dark brown hair laid ruffled all over, his hat tossed to the side. With a sniffle, Jeremiah grabbed his hat and wiped his nose with the back of his hand, bounding off toward the main road without a word. Eli just slammed his hat over his eyes once more, going back to his rest before he heard loud footsteps stop in front of him.

"Look, I thought I-"

"That was mighty noble of you, son." The suddenly mature female voice brought his attention back to the cruel reality in which he lived. Once Eli saw the source of the voice, elaborate salmon dress with hair stylishly done up and neat parasol, he realized how incredibly unpresentable he looked for a barrow boy. Scrambling to his feet, the hat was quickly brought to a neat standing, dust was brushed off of his signature corduroy, and his wares were hastily rearranged to be more suitable to his customer's needs. All she did in response was chuckle lightly, waving her hands disarmingly in front of her. "No, no. I'm afraid I haven't the need for your wares. I just wanted to say...I saw how you handled that little ruffian the day prior, and I wanted you to know I really admire your honor. I know it's not easy living your life...but to see someone so noble when times have been so rough...well...here." Reaching into the purse, ten gold coins appeared in her dainty gloved hands, pressing the gift into Eli's hand. Just as he was about to protest, she wrapped his hands together and started to head off. "Hush now. You deserve every bit." There wasn't even a chance for him to protest before the lady took off, casually making her way through the market to go about her business. Ten coins...sitting there in his hands. He only made that much from one person on a good day! Smiling to himself, he took off his coin purse and emptied the remnant in his hand.

"Well, wot a kind lady." as Eli looked over to Serafina, her smile was noticeably large as she shuffled her deck of tarot cards. "So generiss and kind...though, I must say y'deserve it, Eli. Such a gennelmen, y'are." A tip of the hat was all he could muster, accompanied y a pleasant smile. With a knock on his barrow, the secret compartment opened up once again, gold falling in there with many resounding clanks. Once the present was deposited, Eli closed it up once more, strapping the coin purse back on his belt. "But y'know...Jeremiah's not gon' take this sittin' down."

"Oh, I know." The reply was simple. "But I really don't care. If that helpless twat wants to try and bully me around, I'll call the constable. Money or not, it'll teach him a lesson he'll never forget." And with those words, Eli reassured himself of his victory. That done, he went back to reorganizing his affairs, making sure the barrow was presentable for when the busy time struck again. But as he went about his business, he couldn't possibly have seen Jeremiah grinning from the shadows of a back alley. The faint cackling laughter of the bully went on and on, completely unheard by Eli as Jeremiah ran off once more, leaving the barrow boy to his happy reverie.

For the moment.

~

That night, unrest struck Eli like a bullet. His dreams were unsettling, completely non-sensical and swimming in a sea of uncertain symbolism. Strange patterns and colors he'd never before laid eyes on suddenly materialized as floating apparitions within the realm of his mind. He was running...feet flying at a pace he'd never known in the physical realm, and yet the world around him seemed to be swimming past, flowing and ebbing like a coming tide. It filled him with a cold fear. Afraid, but at the same time...content. Though he knew something dark was chasing him, it was almost as if he could see the answers somewhat further ahead. It seemed as if the running was all that kept him alive, that thought alone granting him a warm smile in the growing unknown. Soon after, the world grew dark around him...darker than the darkest night, surrounded in silence and uncertainty, unable to breathe or even move quite right as the cold, unforgiving grasp of the unknown wrapped it's sharp claws around his neck. A silent gasp escaped from his throat, strangled and muffled around the invisible assailant. He struggled in vain, kicking his legs about with all his might. All light was beginning to fade, when suddenly a bright flash.

All was clear again.

He was standing there...as he'd done countless times before in his dreams. There it was...the sea, just as he'd always pictured it. The cool, calm azurine ebbs and ripples of the tide never seemed so tranquil. He felt like crying on the spot, for no words could ever truly describe the joy he felt deep within his heart whenever he saw this vision. Though dreams gave him glimpses, none were ever quite so vivid as then. The spray of the cool water felt too real upon his skin...the grass beneath his feet almost too soft, the wind in his hair almost too cool. Even as the tears began to roll freely down his cheeks, every fiber of his being hoped it was no dream. He wanted to run. He wanted to throw off his corduroy with reckless abandon and leap into the water beckoning him come, swimming and splashing all the night long...but something made him stay. Something held his feet firmly in place, metaphorically at first, but the sensation grew as time went on. The moment his gaze turned to the pressure's source, Eli stopped questioning the reality of his visions.

The world seemed to explode around him, brilliant pastels of the sunset shattering into a scene of the purest whites, intermingling in an almost ethereal tableau of emptiness. The wind continued to blow, rippling along the empty plane as if nothing had changed. All felt the same...in that vast void of nothing. His body did not change. The elements did not change. Even time did not change. Nothing had been deemed so special to change the very fabric of existence for Eli's sake, but suddenly the world around him seemed to focus on that one moment. Standing there in the midst of the vast and eternal void of silence was the Tameran, circlet glowing bright with the light her eyes lacked and a deceptive smile on her face. All he had heard of the girl was evil, but as she stood there in the realm of his mind's deepest desires, she seemed almost giddy, though he'd come to realize the happiness of a child was often misleading. He stepped back, not wanting to face this alternate reality, but his body would not respond. Her form slowly began its approach, bathed in an elegant robe of the darkest grey, neutral and chilling to the final thread. Closer and closer she came, hand outstretched as if reaching for him. This was to be his end...his kindness had awarded him his final night, destined to leave his life behind for whatever the future brought. His eyes shut tight, afraid of what she brought, but glad he at least could live his paradise for a brief moment before it all came to pass. Moment after moment passed, and yet the calm grasp of death had stayed its hand. Uncertain, the barrow boy hesitantly opened his eyes, hoping to find some explanation to his sudden extension of life when suddenly her form filled the entirety of her vision, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking the very life from his limbs.

"Eli!!"

The barrow boy woke from his dreams with a sudden start, gasping for breath with sweat covering his body. He could still feel the cold grip of the Tameran, shaking him by the shoulders as his heart began to pound. His vision searched everywhere, looking for the demon girl but finding nothing. Still he shook, and still his heart pounded, begging for relief from the terror striking deep within his soul. His chest felt tight, hand gripping at his lungs as air flowed in once more. His mind slowly calmed, and as it did, Eli came to realize Isaac was standing next to him, shaking his shoulders with a strange and uncharacteristic vigor. "Eli, thank the heavens, you're awake!"

"Isaac?" His voice was groggy and distant, still caught up in his dream world. "What're...? Hey, how'd you get in here, the door's always-"

"Eli, stop, you have to get out of here." The young beggar's tone was far more serious than Eli could comprehend. His compatriot was never so direct, nor did he ever enter Eli's cellar. As the gears of his mind began spinning once more, connections were forming in the whole scenario. Something was wrong. More wrong than normal, for if it meant Isaac was willing to break into Eli's 'home'...

"What happened." It took Eli only a moment to spring into action, throwing on his corduroy shirt as quickly as he grabbed it, letting his cherished hat follow suit thereafter

"I heard them a-comin', the constable's out for you, Eli!!" The speed at which Isaac spoke caused his words to slur together, or at least, that's how it seemed to Eli. It took him a moment to fully register what was said, though not for lack of understanding. The constable? Why would the constable want any trouble with him? After all, the barrow boy knew the constable and had started some nice conversations with him on market days every so often. What had Eli done to cause him harm?

"That...that doesn't make sense, Isaac." The barrow boy began removing his hat, lowering himself down to the cold concrete once more as his thoughts came back to logic. "You know the constable-"

A cold slap across his face stopped the barrow boy before the thought could leave his head. For that brief moment, there was nothing but the heavy silence of the cellar, echoing the slap in bleak realization. Eli blinked at the young beggar, just now seeing the frantic gaze in his eyes. Despite what he wanted to believe, there was no longer any logical reason to believe Isaac was lying. "Eli...Jeremiah ran t'the prison yesterday, he knows about your gold. He...he lied. H'said you stole it all. They're gonna take it, they're gonne take you! You have to get outta here, Eli, run!!" The words stung him like a cold knife. Less than a minute ago, Eli was dreaming as he did most nights, waiting for the morning to come so he could sell his wares once more. But now, this bleak situation was suddenly hitting him, leaving no time to process exactly what was amiss. Isaac's hand rose once more, whistling through the air to bring the barrow boy to his senses once more. "I said ru-"

"You as well." The words came low and almost silent, hand held in the air by Eli's own. The barrow boy turned his grey eyes upon Isaac, silently thanking him for all he had done to help. That single look was all it took for Isaac to know what must be done. He smiled at the barrow boy before taking off toward the cellar door. Eli didn't have the time to watch his friend off. Time was short, and if he delayed any longer, he'd spend the next countless nights dreaming of the sea in prison. Throwing his hat back on, he wasted no time in rushing across the cellar to the barred window. A quick flick of the wrist was all it took remove the bars, allowing him the space to slip his body through the hole. As he left, the bars slid silently back into place with the sounds of grown men arguing over the blaze of torchlight around the corner. His barrow. Eli was about to run to the sounds when he stopped himself. 'No.' He silently commanded to himself. The second he crossed that corner, his life would be over.

He had to let it go.

Just as Eli was about to take off running down the alley, a mix of voices caught his attention. The individual words were lost, but the tone was most certainly one of anger. But voices weren't the only sound which caught Eli's ear. Loud banging and hammering also came from around the corner, followed by a loud crash and the clinking of coins on the street. Eli knew that sound...and the thought of it tore at his heart. They were destroying his barrow...and had found his secret cache of gold. His body froze in place. All those years of saving...all those long days spent in the market place...all the time he spent collecting and selling goods...for what? For Jeremiah to make up some lie about him? For all the money to be taken for a lie? It wasn't right...it wasn't fair. Everything Eli had ever dreamed of was gone in an instant. His knees felt weak, his stomach churned...every fiber of his spirit felt as if it was broken. What was the point of running even? With his hopes and dreams destroyed, there was no point. He might as well have-

"'Ey, come back 'ere ya dirty wretch!!" That outburst didn't belong. Again, Eli wanted to turn the corner and see what had changed, but he knew he couldn't. Instead, he turned tail and ran. He ran as fast as his legs would take him, slowing only to catch a quick breath before running ever faster. His mind was racing at what was amiss, trying to sort everything out as it happened. Unfortunately for him, it happened only a few moments ago, making any sort of understanding nearly impossible. Still, all that mattered was that he ran, and quickly. He passed over the cold cobblestone streets, climbing over boxes and running around stray cats. The streets were always different at night, more so in moments of distress. He ran. Harder and faster to put as much distance between him and the authorities as he possibly could, and yet he didn't know where he was heading. It hadn't even crossed his mind. Where could he go? The village had been his life, all that he knew and learned...and now he had to leave. But for where? Where could he possibly-

A poster. Or rather, a sketch it seemed. Many of them, all plastered along the walls, arranged one right after the other. -Cross the river- they said. -Cross the river- -Cross the river- -Cross the river- One by one the signs flashed by practically imprinting the thought on his mind. The river...it was on the edge of town and separated the law from free living. He really had no other options or ideas, so he took the advice. With a swift right down the next alley, Eli's feet slipped from beneath him, almost bringing him down from his run. A quick catch before he lost his footing, and he was back to running. The terrain of the back alley was twisted and narrow, filled with trash and all sorts of small creatures. Eli went left, then right, and left, and right again, twisting and turning throughout the alley to find the river, making as much headway as physically possible. It wasn't very far with the alleys as a shortcut. He knew the street. They wound through every portion of the town, connecting to the hub of every single beggar, vendor, and swindler that made their business anywhere nearby. It was an elaborate and complicated passage, making it impossible for the authorities to use it reliably. There were some entrances and exits which they could utilize, but not enough to catch Eli.

Coincidentally, at that very moment, three officers seemed to materialize as if out of nowhere down a large alley to his right.

The uniformed men all started screaming at Eli the instant he came within view, prompting the barrow boy to take off faster. Their angered yells were getting fainter faster than he anticipated, meaning they weren't quite following him yet. Something must've been keeping them...but again, no time for him to go back and check. He had to hurry. The river was close now, so very, very close. The sounds of the running water were breaking the silence of the night, bringing a smile to Eli's face. Yes! It -was- close!! Just a little bit further, another two turns and the river should appear, flowing free and waiting for him to cross to his new life. He didn't know what would happen, nor did he know where he'd go, but it was better than spending the rest of his life in prison. He took the right, one more to go. His heart was beating faster, he could tell it was close. Another long alley, but the turn was there. He could see it. The stones shot up dust as he slid, his body practically racing down that last alley. There it was. The rushing water, separating him from his freedom. All he had to do was make it down the alley. Once he reached the river, the bridge was only seconds away, the key to his freedom. The end of the alley drew closer and closer, he was almost there. Faster and faster he ran, coming closer to the water. He was panting at that point, but freedom was seconds away. There it was. He as almost there. Just a few more steps...and...

The relief of his freedom hit him as hard as the iron pipe bashing his stomach in.

The air left him, forcing a wheeze from his throat as his body collapsed at the foot of the alley. Pain arced through his entire body forcing him into a fetal position while clutching his body. He wanted to look up, not even to see who was at fault, but to stop the horrible pangs shooting through him. All he could do was groan on the cobblestone road. The rushing river was almost mocking him. The sounds of the rippling water, the symbol of his hoped-for freedom...sitting right in front of him. It was right there...waiting for him.

"Well, wudjya lookit ees den!"

His assailant's identity instantly became clear. He tried hard to look up at the source of the sound, but the shock of pain wracking his body robbed him of the chance. The soft footsteps echoed upon the still night, with only the sound of the rushing water to drown it out. Heavy thumping, rather than footsteps, but softer than normal for Jeremiah. Perhaps he was giddy...standing over Eli with a pipe grasped firmly in his palm, tapping against his cold skin with every step. Eli's groaning spurred laughter from the young boy standing above him, hulking footsteps stopping suddenly at Eli's head.

"O wot, y'kinnae sae a'think? Ehh? Wel 'ere, lemme 'elp y'out!" Explosions burst through Eli's vision as the pipe came down hard on his back, eliciting a painful scream from the barrow boy. He couldn't clutch his back, for each time he moved, his stomach screamed at him from the pain, while the new wound yelled even louder. His eyes shut tight, tears running unbidden down his cheek as a hand grasped at his chin. It jerked his face toward Jeremiah's disturbing mug, shadowed by the dim light of the torches on the wall. A malicious grin lit up his expression, with an equally devilish chuckle following just behind. The pipe fell to the cold stone with a loud clang, rolling off into the shadows of the alley which once held promises of freedom for Eli.

"Thas roight, y'likkle runt. Ya think yer bekker'n me? Ehh??? Yer nuttin moren a street rat, sucklin' on da trawsha s'ciety! I shudda bet ya wen I hed da chance." Eli's ears were ringing from the sudden assault on his body and mind. His collar was suddenly jerked forward, body dragging along the stone to the river as his hat fell off, left behind in the dust. The rushing water became almost deafening, exacerbated by the ringing painfully repeating in his head. Everything was moving so quickly. He hardly had the chance to understand the situation before the footsteps turned to hollow thuds, echoing the sound of wood upon hard leather. They were on the dock, with Eli's corduroy shirt ripping as Jeremiah finally tossed him to the edge small dock. His grey eyes turned to the rushing water with a sudden fear. He never realized how quickly the current ran...but now that his nose was practically skimming the surface, the speed at which it rushed finally dawned on him. This realization also suddenly made it apparent as to why Jeremiah chose such a location to drop Eli. His eyes widened with the knowledge, forcing another cackle from his rotund attacker.

"Y'juss realized, dintcha?" His voice dropped to a deadly mumble, bringing the barrow boy right up to his face. "Y'ken, yah?? Y've shawd meh such likkle 'spect f'da lahst toime...and since yer jist a wee likkle stret rat, noone'll mess ya. Y'ain't got nao frends, n'da coppahs wanna cut ya...s'I'll jist bet'em tew it. Ken ya swem, Ali? Wel...ah shir haop naot!!" Before Eli could make any effort to protest he felt his body turn over itself, tumbling off the pier and into the rushing water. The last thing he saw was Jeremiah laughing, applauding himself on a scheme well plotted, disappearing in the sudden, roiling depths. The rippling, coursing currents of the river thrashed him back and forth, body wracked with pain as was tossed like a rag doll along the current. He was quickly swept downstream, past countless sharp rocks and winding turns, body hitting this and that, knocking more and more air out of him as he went. He couldn't open his eyes. He couldn't stop his movement. He couldn't do a single thing to prevent his horrible journey through the water. Everything was starting to go white, vision blurring as all sound disappeared around him. He wanted to drag himself from the water, grab onto the nearest hanging branch and pull himself out, but his body wouldn't move. His muscles were growing weaker and weaker by the second, until the stream of bubbles escaping from his mouth began to slow. His mind started to dim, thoughts silencing as the pain slowly began to disappear. Was this to be his end? Was he really meant to die within the very symbol of his freedom? His future? His dream? It appeared so...

...thus came the end for Eli, the barrow boy, lowly orphan of the market square.

...

...

...

The light started shining before him.

His breath started coming in once more, pain slowly starting to fade with each new breath of water his lungs took in, only...it was not water he was breathing.

He felt life in what surely must have been his death, with the warm light growing in intensity. It felt nice...warm and welcoming. Eli was ready to greet his death with open arms...only he wasn't expecting death to greet him back.

Two arms met his own, holding his hands and bringing his body to stand on the riverbed. His eyes didn't notice the figure before, but now the likeness was as clear as day.

It was the Tameran's daughter.

He'd heard stories of angels appearing before death swept sailors away. Many called them mermaids, but never before did he hear of demons appearing before the dead of a river. Perhaps he had lived his life in error...perhaps he was to be punished for some vile existence he could not recall. Regardless, the warmth of the light was calling to him louder and louder as the hands holding him gently squeezed his own, bringing his attention back to his strange reality.

"Eli..."

The voice sounded ethereal, almost outside of Eli's plain of existence. There was no mistaking it. This experience had to be his afterlife...for the voice speaking to him was coming in clear as day in that deep, rushing, soundless water. His own grey eyes suddenly met hers, noticing the odd, uncharacteristic youthful joy and vigor within. It was...an almost out of place sort of expression to see on the young girl. Though he'd known her only briefly, the expression was unbefitting on her. Never had he seen such a look of contentedness on the young child...and given the situation, that same look gave Eli much reason to worry. Were this the afterlife, he was certain he'd never encounter the visage of the Tameran's daughter...meaning perhaps he was to suffer for all eternity? Had he truly been a wretched urchin all his life without realizing it? Had he truly gone so far astray from the path he'd hoped to follow that his punishment was eternal damnation? The thought hung heavily on his heart...but it seemed to be impossible to escape his fate. Now that he was staring death in the mouth, he could defy it no longer. He had to accept his fate for what it was...and suffer the consequences.

"Consequences?"

Her voice was like a knife through his consciousness, bringing him back to the strange, almost non-reality surrounding him. The water...the pain...the pressure, all of it hit him again at once, almost as if to remind him of what was at hand. It, however, seemed to be nothing more than a joke to the Tameran, for she started laughing and clutching her sides in mirth and merriment. Tears even began to form at the corners of her eyes from the laughter, a behavior which struck Eli as odd, to say the least.

"My friend...you will suffer no consequences for any actions you have committed in your life. On the contrary..." Her voice was that of her age, and yet her tone spoke with wisdom beyond her years. Just listening to her made Eli feel as if he was in the presence of a sage. It was unsettling, knowing this small child before him was speaking with such knowledge and confidence. And yet, the true gravity of the situation had only just struck him. The rushing water was racing all around them, but neither seemed to move an centimeter, and as Eli went to take a breath, it was not water that filled his lungs. When he went to touch the hand resting gently on his arm, he felt the soft skin of a human child, not the empty space of an apparition. This odd situation could not be the afterlife...for he would not still feel his pain and sense. No...it could not be the cold touch of death he had thought he knew so well, not at all. But...if not death...

...then what?

"Something far beyond your comprehension, Eli." Her voice spoke not to the body, but to the mind. Eli blinked, trying to fully grasp what was at hand, but the strange phenomenon was simply out of his realm of belief. The Tameran's daughter was standing there...rather, floating there in the water, addressing him as if he were an old friend she had not seen in ages. He wanted to speak, but the words would not form. They rushed downstream with the river, moving on for another mortal voice to hear. "You should not be capable of speaking...so you must listen." Her very presence seemed to exude an aura of serenity, calming his body and mind before her. Perhaps this was the afterlife? Though she had plainly stated it was not. But if not...then...?

Perhaps he would wait and see.

"This unfortunate outcome could not be avoided...and for that, I am deeply and truly apologetic." Her eyes were closed, face pointed down toward the riverbed as she spoke. But after a brief moment of reflection, she looked at Eli once more, smiling with the happiness of one thousand laughing children. "You will notice, however, that I did not claim to be sorry. Though your time as a barrow boy may end here, this is only the beginning of your true journey. In life we only see death...but in death...we find our opportunity." The smile on her face sent a shiver down Eli's spine. Opportunity in death? So he had died. Did this mean he was to be-

"Silence your thoughts, Eli. I mean no riddle or wizened words, only what I say. You have not died...but through such a fate, others will think it so, giving you a unique new life. You are free, Eli. No more do you have to sell your wares in town, hoping to make enough to get by. No more will any seek to imprison you, or hope to take what you spent so long hoping to earn. No more will you have to worry about the rough nature of man and authority. You are free, Eli. Free." The words did little to comfort him. So what if he was thought to be dead? He had to start a new life, find another village, find another barrow, find more wares. If anything, he had more worries now than when he was a wanted criminal. And it was in that moment that he truly felt as if his life was forfeit. Not for death, but for lack of hope. He had to start it all over...all that hard work, for what?

Nothing.

"No." Her carefree tone and demeanor disappeared, replaced by one more maternal...hopeful and protective. "No thing is ever for nothing, Eli. Remember that well. You lived through your suffering and remained pure against all odds. A beacon of hope for all those around you...and a source of fear for the wicked you've encountered." Her hand moved to his face, stroking his cheek gently and smiling. There was no malice in her smile. No single bit of emotion that could be taken as ill intent, but rather a strange sense of sincerity. She meant what she spoke. "Your friends were closer than you ever knew...in fact...without their help, you would not have found me. Can you remember?"

He did.

Suddenly it all became clear. Isaac, distracting the authorities...Geoffrey's cart blocking the alley...Serafina's foresight epitomized through the posters...and the Tameran-

"We all sought to help you, Eli...though my gift has yet to come. We wish for your happiness, and you more than anyone else deserves to have it. I know of your dreams Eli...of the sea and your peace." Eli was speechless. Floating there in the water, listening to the Tameran...what did she intend to do? He had no time to guess before her hand moved down to his chest, pushing lightly at his heart before a bright flash of light exploded around him. It was brief, but sent a shiver through his whole body and soul. He clutched at her hand out of instinct, finding only water where he grasped. Her hand wasn't there. Nothing was there. Breathing heavily, his gaze went every which way, finding no hint of her existence but still floating in the water, defying the laws of nature. What had she done? Had anything changed? Was he different? Did something go wrong? His mind was racing, but the itching he felt at his chest reminded him of her touch. Hesitantly, Eli undid the buttons of his shirt, opening it up to look at his chest and saw...

...his breath caught.

"I hope you enjoy my gift." He blinked. There was a strange burning sensation where the Tameran touched his chest, but he found his body would not move from where he floated. All he could do was stare down in disbelief, eyes wide and still feeling as if he were in the midst of a dream. Was it real? It couldn't be...but the Tameran's laugh still strong in his ear convinced him otherwise. He let out a breath, body frozen as if in shock. He brought his head closer to his body, trying to get a closer look, seeing if maybe his eyes were deceiving him. No...they weren't. It was real. As sure as he was floating there in the river by some strange unearthly magick...

...he was growing fur.

His gaze did not move from the spot. Stuck in this strange dream of his reality, he moved one of his hands to the spot and touched it lightly. It was real. It was soft to the touch and real, cream colored and growing from his chest. It was fur. And then his hand...he just then realised, his fingernails were turning black. Slowly but surely, the pigment on his nails was changing...and even their location. They began stretching out, growing quickly in length and rounding out at the tips of his fingers. Never had Eli been so confused...but so fascinated at the same time. His eyes were wide with wonder, uncertain of what was happening but excited all the same. He turned his hand over before him, examining the nails when he caught sight of something growing in the space between his fingers. He used a finger with a growing claw on his other hand to poke at it, feeling the skin contract with his touch. It grew up along the spaces between his fingers, becoming slightly thicker until it stopped growing, turning a deep chestnut color all throughout.

Webbing.

A slight itching sensation slowly began to wrack his entire body, his then-forming paws scratching everywhere they could reach. Eli bit onto his lip, turning brown slowly as he let out a gasp of shock and slight pain. A loud, sudden tearing echoed up to him through the translucent water, followed almost immediately by a sharp, aching pain at his feet. His gaze dropped, looking to the source of the sound and finding five small claws had torn their way through his shoes. His eyes became fixed on the site, wincing slightly as his tattered shoes ripped more and more, falling apart in the rushing water. His feet had already changed so notably...they hardly seemed like his feet anymore. His toes had shrunk to brown-furred stubs, and his feet had practically turned entirely brown. He wriggled the odd-looking toes around, feeling the webbing that was growing between them and suddenly getting the notion that he might not be able to walk as easily. His heels felt odd, and when he tried to push down on them, it felt like his entire body was lowering. Then again, after he looked down once more...

...he realized it was.

His entire body was moving down toward his feet as his brown furred legs suddenly tried pushing down on what were once his heels The feeling made him wince, forcing him to stop the motion almost as quickly as he'd begun...but his body follow suit. A panicked gasp escaped from his throat as he looked down, watching his body shrink lower and lower in the water, coming closer to his strange new paws. His arms dropped to his waist in desperation, already covered in the brown and tan fur, almost as if trying to physically stop his body from changing. All he could do was let out a yelp as his body condensed, shirt coming over his head and floating off down the river as his arms suddenly cracked. The loss of clothing was alarming, but even more so was how his arm span was quickly rising from his waist, no longer able to touch his lower body at full extension. His reach was hardly able to wrap around his chest, thumbs merging with the rest of his digits, practically hindering his dexterity. He tried to let out a gasp, but a tingling in his face quieted his voice. His paws, still able to reach up that high, pressed against his cheeks to find even more of the tan fur spreading up his face as it began changing shape. His head rounded out, golden hair falling out over the dark brown fur and across his stubs of ears poking up from the top of his head. His nose twitched and turned black, shrinking down to stand at the tip of his new muzzle. Even as the whiskers grew out and his teeth became pointed, he still tried to explore his body. It had to be some dream...his shrinking body, the dark brown fur, the strange webbing between his digits...it couldn't have been real, right?

His answer came quickly, as another loud ripping rent the air. The otter threw back his head, yelping in pain as a thick, rudder-like tail suddenly burst from the back seam of his corduroy pants. The tear stretched all the way down his pant leg, rending the fabric as the otter's shrinking body slipped out of the clothing. The tail was thick and strong, giving him a new sense of balance for his long body. The changes were practically complete. The last bits of fur spread across his head and back, his body shrank just a bit more to the right proportional size, his tail creaked one last time as it grew to its natural size, and his limbs shifted again before cracking into place. Suddenly, a roaring assaulted Eli's hearing, practically deafening to him as the current crashed into him, dragging the otter down the river. His body tumbled over itself, tail flailing as he instinctually tried to regain his balance. A quick twist was all it took before his body was reoriented, taking off like a missile through the quick-flowing water. The otter's body weaved like a liquid through the water, coasting from side to side as rocks and debris materialized before him. But he dodged them all. A smile slowly appeared on his muzzle, feeling a strange sort of giddiness he'd never felt before. It was liberating...the ability to be swimming so fast and agile in such a dangerous river. He wanted to laugh he felt so happy. His new body moved like a dancer in the river, ducking and weaving along the elegant minuet of the water, leading the current as it meant to lead him. It hardly struck Eli that just minutes ago he thought he would die. Instead, he shot through the water...feeling so very happy...and free...

"Follow the riverbed all the way down." The voice came from behind forcing his head to turn sharply and see the Tameran once more. His smile faded only briefly as he realized what she had done for him. What all his friends had done for him...sacrificing their safety to make sure he escaped...being there for him when he truly needed it...letting him follow his dreams...it brought a single tear from his eye, rolling down his brown-furred cheek until it washed away in the ever-flowing current. But still he held his ground, treading water with expert skill in front of his benefactor. "This river eventually feeds into a larger river, continuing down until it reaches the shore...and finally, the sea." The Tameran smiled, letting the white light surrounding her glow brighter for a moment. "...your new home." The words didn't strike Eli at first. His new home...the sea? Hearing it didn't seem right...but slowly, the smile spread across his face before more tears rolled down his furred features. Without wasting another second, the otter shot toward the ghostly figure, embracing her in a tight, grateful hug. The hug took her somewhat by surprise. Eli clasped her tightly in undying gratitude, his tail swaying gently in the current before them. She couldn't help but smile before wrapping her own arms around his body, returning his gesture with her own. He felt as if he could never fully thank her..."Go now, Eli. You deserve this new life you've been given..." Hesitantly, Eli let go of the Tameran...the girl who gave him more than he ever could've hoped for. As he slowly moved away from the hug, his stubby arms carefully slid down her sides. She'd done so much for him...and he couldn't help but smile again. This was his final farewell...with a slow nod, he turned his back on the Tameran...on the town...and on his old life...and he took off down the river, swimming freely toward his future.

And so, he swam. He said goodbye to his old life as a barrow boy, his life in the town square with his friends selling goods for something much more remarkable. He was an otter...a sea otter, one of those creatures he had envied his whole entire life. Their home was the sea, that beautiful place he had dreamt of so often, thinking it was nothing more than a beggar's fantasy. And yet, there he was...on his way...traveling as quickly as he could to that very same place of his dreams, an area he never thought he'd see again. He truly felt happy...taking off in the cold night, swimming as long as he was able until he could stand on that shore again looking out over the sea before calling it his home...

~

A month had passed since Eli's life had changed. His body had grown lithe and fit just as any normal otter's would. That familiar rounded head popped out of the water before crawling onto the grass. His back stretched in a wide arc, shaking the water from his soaking fur before he looked at his surroundings. All he could see past the river was a small, familiar hill that appeared much larger since he had become an otter. A smile struck him, bounding up the soft grass toward what he was sure was his goal. It took him only a few moments before his body rose above the hill, letting the orange and salmon colored sunrise blind him in greeting as he let out a muffled gasp. There it was. Standing before him, he could see the shore, the coast, the sand, the surf...and the sea. The seemingly endless expanse of clear water stretched out before him, waves rippling in every direction as they crashed audibly upon the land. The pervading silence broken by each tide, the sound coming out more beautiful with each and every ripple, the rays of light sparkling in the elegant cavalcade of water on sand...Eli watched the scene, staring blankly at the sight before he suddenly sniffed. Tears started rolling down his muzzle just before he openly sobbed, falling down on the grass and breaking out into open tears.

He was finally there.