[PG-13] Scratching the Surface (ʂιɳɠҽɾ σϝ ɳιɠԋƚ & Naraness)

[ʂιɳɠҽɾ σϝ ɳιɠԋƚ]

Lerra shifted slightly when Dustin gently rubbed her shoulder. She had only caught a bit of the sentence due to being half asleep. She didn't want to get up but she knew she had to. With a small huff she sat up and rubbed her eyes gently "I'm awake" She spoke softly before clearing her throat a little. The aromas from the kitchen drifted into the room and Lerra heard her stomach rumble softly. She hadnt eaten meals this close in a long time, she was a bit excited.

She smiled softly and gently kissed Dustin's cheek "Thank you for being there for me last night" she whispered and slowly stood up, finally getting used to her legs. She giggled and started to slowly walk towards the kitchen. "This smells fantastic Emily!" She exclaimed, she hadn't had this many different human food. Everything was so different but it all tasted so amazing!

[Naraness]

Dustin smiled softly when she kissed his cheek. "O-of course." He stuttered, slowly getting up. He watched Lerra walk into the kitchen, scratching the back of his neck. With a smile still on his face, Dustin gathered the blankets and folded them up. Then he slipped into the kitchen, trying not to bring too much attention to himself as she did.

"Well thank you, Lerra." Emily gave a crooked half-smile; somewhat like a smirk. "I've got a buffet for you today... Whatever you don't eat, Henry will eat. He could swallow a horse, and that's no joke." She rolled her eyes, handing them each a wooden plate. "Go on and serve yourselves. There's a table over there and silverware in the top drawer." She flicked her eyes towards the draw as she wiped her hands on her apron. Swiftly untying it, Emily hung the apron on the wall and grabbed a plate for herself.

Dustin thanked the woman and started putting some food on his plate. "Um, Emily?" He asked curiously, glancing around.

"Yeah?" Emily glanced up from a bite of bacon.

"Where are Amelia and Henry?" He asked curiously. They weren't in the kitchen, and the rest of the house was quiet. It felt empty. "Did they already have breakfast?"

Emily shook her head. With her plate loaded with food, she sat down at the small, round kitchen table. "Henry left with Amelia this morning. He's taking her home. She can't come with us where we're going. Besides, she has a mother here to take care of her." She shrugged, plunging her spoon into a heaping pile of grits. "There's butter and pepper on the counter if you want it." Emily pointed to the objects.

Dustin cautiously took a seat in front of Emily. "Where is it exactly that we're going?" At this, Emily chuckled, swallowing a mouthful of food.

"You have an awful lot of questions." She wiped her mouth with a napkin, waving Lerra over to join them. "That's a good thing. I admire a person who isn't passive about their situation." She admitted. "And you two deserve to know..." Emily folded her arms and leaned back in her chair, looking at the two. "Henry told you a little bit last night. That's just the beginning."

Emily pushed herself away from the table; the chair screeching across the floor. The woman flocked to a cupboard behind the table. It was up high like the cabinet where Dustin's mom used to keep her mixing bowls. After rummaging around, Emily came back with a scroll clutched in one hand. She cleared a spot of the table and rolled it out, pointing to an insignificant speck on the map. "See that? That's us. And over there..." She slid her fingernail across the parchment. "That's your town, Dustin."

"How do you know where I live-"

"That's where we're going." Emily ignored the boy and tapped her finger on the paper about four inches to the right. "See that forest? There aren't any dots there, because there aren't any towns there. As far as anyone knows, the whole forest is empty. It doesn't even have a name." She chuckled, rolling up the map. "Except to those of us who care to know, of course. We call it Blue Grove. It's where the rest of the rebellion is staged. It's almost a town in and of itself..." Emily tilted her head thoughtfully. "Cloaked with magic so that no one can find it except for those who have been there." She smirked as she tucked the map away in the cupboard.

Dustin was still holding his fork in hand. He was so focused on Emily's words that he hadn't taken a single bite. "And when we get there, we're going to..?"

Emily grinned, placing her hands on the table. She leaned over so that she could look Lerra in the eyes. "We're gonna find your mum."

[ʂιɳɠҽɾ σϝ ɳιɠԋƚ]

Lerra's eyes lit up when she saw all the food and happily took the wooden plate that was handed to her. Not really knowing what anything was she just got a little of everything, but she made sure to to late so that everyone could get some before she got some of all of it. Excitedly she skipped to the table when Emily waved her over. She sat at the round table and tucked in her chair softly so it didnt make a noise. Her mouth was slightly watering at she eyed her plate of foreign food.

She picked up her fork and began to eat bits and pieces, listening to Dustin and Emily's conversation. She was of course curious about everything, she was just occupied with the burst of different flavors in her mouth. When Emily stood up, her chair making the screeching noise, Lerra couldn't help but jump slightly. Her eyes followed Emily as she searched for something. Continuing to eat, Lerra saw the scroll and looked at the pictures on them.

Lerra got a little more interested when they talked of the magical forest. 'Maybe there are other magical creatures there' She smiled slightly at the thought. The thought of other magical creatures like herself made her happy.

She dazed for a second drowned in her thoughts. She noticed movement in front of her as she was about to put food into her mouth. She focused and saw Emily staring at her, she made contact and the sentence that came from her mouth made her drop her fork. Her mom.. Her emerald eyes shimmered with happy and excited tears, a small smile slowly formed on her lips 'We're going to find my mum...'

[Naraness]

This was only the beginning.

End of Part One