Almund is a thriving township with a dark side. With houses made from the wooden bodies of decommissioned ships, there are many opportunities here, coupled with many dangers.
It was like an itch she couldn't help but scratch. A wound scabbed over that she plucked off until it bled everywhere but even if she hadn't, it was as if she was nothing more than kindling when the urge struck. It was always there but sometimes, the sight of more fire, the lack of it around her, the constant tiptoe in which she tried to keep it in check, just consumed her faster. Lit her up from the inside until she was running high on fumes, and the bottle of liquor in her hand. It didn't help that the warm sand was a fiery, bright red, and when it mixed with the water it was like an ocean of fire if the light from the suns hit right.
It's why she'd come to the bonfire in the first place, who started it she couldn't recall but was she watched the flames grown she'd been entranced, unable to look away as they reached for the sky. But it wasn't bright enough, wasn't hot enough, and Emmy couldn't resist chugging more of the burning alcohol before tossing it into the pit. The crash and resounding burst of flames prompting a delighted burst of giggles as a few other beach goers cursed.
"Fates damn it, Em!"
"Relax, you didn't die." She retorted, the tightness in her shoulders refusing to relax because she wanted more of it. If she had more bottles she would have kept tossing them to see the fire pop, instead she was swept away with more laughter and drink. Though her eyes kept drifting back to the fire, more so as people began to head home, ready to let the fire die in the evening.
But Emmy wasn't.
As the people moved away from the fire Emmy moved to it, pulling out a branch that wasn't entirely burned to hold like a torch. The heat on the wood burning her hand but refusing to let go, her eyes set on the nearest bush before she promptly lit it on fire, uncaring of the witnesses around her.
Alyssia yawned rubbing her eyes, the child was working on her way to the next part of the city. Scalvoris seemed to be a town that was actually several areas melded into one. She had never heard of a place called a beach. So, the girl decided to take a trip down that direction. Everyone that the young Aukari had talked too seemed very excited at the idea of playing the water. From her memories the teen could not remember if she had ever had any experience with water more than a bath or drinking it. Just splashing around did not make any sense in her mind.
Shaking her head, the girl made up her mind not to judge the activity before actually giving it a try. Otherwise there was no real point in her going there in the first place. Brushing the hair out of her face with one hand, Alyssia tried to focus on where she was going. The girl did not like appearing as if she were lost. Even if she truly was; that would mark her weak in someone’s mind. The sight of smoke in the distance caught the girl’s attention.
Perhaps something interesting would happen on the trip after all. Moving quickly, the girl picked up the pace. It never hurt to get her heart pumping anyway. From what she could remember exercise had been important to her. Or perhaps she was always trying to run away from trouble. Both were options Alyssia supposed. To stay in good health, to run away from those that would do you harm. It sounded like a very true statement. Otherwise you became another statistic. Or that’s what she had heard the adults call those who fell ill then passed away.
“No time to think about that,” Alyssia said quietly to herself.
A large explosion in front of her sounded causing her to pause for just a moment before continuing. As she got closer to what she believed was her destination people were filtering in all kinds of directions. Slowing down, the teen looked at the adults that seemed to be rather annoyed with someone. Assuming they would meet shortly was not unfair in her mind. It would be curious to see who had caused the disturbance but not left. After making it to where the bonfire was lit, the girl turned and saw another female off in the distance some catch a bush on fire.
“Will they not arrest you?” Alyssia asked while approaching her.
She dared not get too close incase the woman would swing on her with the branch. A burn to the face was not what the plan had been. Though plans change at all times no matter who made them. The Aukari had learned that from personal experience dealing with outsiders. Now they seemed to be getting even more stranger than just the ones that had taken her away.
Of all people to see her, Emmy didn't expect a child. The voice had made her drop the torch, startled but she kept the liquor bottle tight in her grip. For a moment she didn't respond, staring at the kid like she'd never seen one before before she grinned and swigged more of the alcohol, body swaying back away from the red-headed kid. If she wasn't in trouble she didn't want to be bothered playing baby sitter, she just wanted to watch the bush burn. To feel the soothing warmth and imprint the dance of the flames to memory.
"Won't they arrest you for being out without a parent?" Her voice was districted as she watched the flames, continuing with a slight slur. "Besides, the bush was ugly, it had to go."
All too soon the bush, a shrub really, surrounded by sand began to pitter out. As it did, Emmy felt her shoulders stiffen. It had not been enough, not nearly enough. She wanted-she turned abruptly knocking into the girl as she stumbled toward the bonfire to pull out another "torch" then paused, glancing at the fiery color hair of the girl and held it out.
"Wanna try? Could burn the bushes...you know I burnt my garden once, it was ugly too."
If the girl took a stick Emelia would grab another, if she didn't, the woman would shrug then find the smallest greenery she could among the red sands. It really was a perfect backdrop against the flames. She could just imagine the beach littered with small fires along the sand, like lanterns, except the would catch everything until the whole world was the beautiful glow of flames. A drunken giggle slipped out at the thought as she tried to light another plant but the wood jabbed too far in the ground. With a huff she pouted at the wood, like it would lit itself out of sheer willpower, the pain of the hot branches not yet sinking in and still numb from the bottles she'd drank.
Alyssia looked at the woman for a moment staring right back into her eyes. She would not back down from anything if she could help it. Due to her age, the girl was sure that the people of Scalvoris would look at her differently and try to keep her from doing things. But that would be her struggle to show that the girl was not simply some abandoned child that couldn’t hold her own. Her heart beat sped up when the woman accused her of being in trouble for not having family with her. The young Aukari had not even really thought about what the city would do to her if it was found out her parents were not there.
Clearing her throat some trying to keep her composure, the girl looked at the woman then looked over at the torch that had been dropped. It made no sense as to why the person across from her was randomly trying to set everything on fire. Moving her hair, Alyssia moved back some when the adult bumbled into her in the process of moving towards the fire again. Looking at her a little crazy, she watched the woman grab another stick that was on fire.
“What in the world?” Alyssia whispered to herself.
She was shocked when the woman took the stick and handed it to her. Unsure of what to do the teen took the branch and tried to fight the scream that threatened to escape her lips. It did not take but a few ticks, till the girl could no longer deal with the pain and threw the branch to the ground. Her hand shook slightly as her hand was nearly as red as her hair. Panting and looking around, Alyssia walked over to the water and put her hand in it. Whimpering she tried to keep a focus on not crying in front of a stranger.
“I’m sorry. I cannot hold a burning branch like you can. It is very impressive,” Alyssia stated watching her.
The girl was confused as to why the woman was trying to set everything on fire. Sniffing some and clearing her voice as if trying to make it look like her sinuses were causing her problems, the teen knelt down keeping her hand in the water. There was a strong throbbing pain that could become much more dangerous if the Aukari was not careful. Though whatever care was given to it, the girl would have to provide herself. She had no way of paying for a doctor or healer.
“Was your garden full of weeds?” Alyssia asked curiously.
It was the smell of her own flesh, though strangely sweet to her own nose, that reminded her it was hot. The reminder was all she needed to drop the burned and burning branch herself. Though she did not copy the girl’s movements. Instead she stared at the blistered, reddened skin with something light delight and horror.
It could scar.
But it was fire.
The woman was torn between the two emotions, too stunned to do much but gaze down at her hand until the girl spoke. Her hair reflecting in the firelight like a crown of fire and it brought a enchanted smile to Emmy’s face even as she snorted at the words.
“Impressive? I’ve been told I am impressive in everything I do.” The words double meaning made her laugh in the back of her throat as she stumbled toward the girl who reminded her so much of fire. She reached for the child’s hand, staring at the injures. Marred like her own though not so much. Absently answering the questions through her haze as behind them the bushes she had tried to light begin to pop with the fury of rising flames. “Yeah, and I like burning ugly things, don’t you? Smells good too. Dunno why we don’t just burn everything.”
Wistful and plaintive she turned away to watching the fire engulfing the bush and pulling a gale of laughter from her. Between their hands and the riotous flames in front of her it was almost enough to soothe the ache that hand built. It would have been better to light the entire beach aflame but even she couldn’t do that. But the idea was enough to send her into another fit of laughter as she twirled before reaching for the girls’ hands to twirl with me.
Hers bright with liquor and mischief she smiled as winningly as possible at the child. “Dance with me!”
Alyssia listened closely when the woman began to talk once again. It was the strange attention to her hand that caused the girl to pause. Though she was not doing something at the moment except soaking her hand. It was all the teen knew to do to help combat the burn that was sure to plague her for a long time to come. At least for the full cycle, in her mind. Perhaps it would turn out differently, but unless she could get some kind of medical help there was nothing more to do. Her red hair fell over one eye while the girl was kneeling in the water.
“Yes, a fire on a cold night smells very good. But I do not think we should burn everything. How would we have beautiful flowers or paintings? There would be so much beauty that we would lose while everything burned,” Alyssia stated, “I do not wish to discredit what is beautiful to you. Because there is a wild untamed beauty in fire. It is something that can never be tamed. Given the chance it would run across the landscape enveloping everything in its path. However it can be safely enjoyed in a lantern where the glass keeps the fire from hurting you.”
The young Aukari did not know where the sudden flood of information came from. She had never tried to hold many views about things that could start an argument. Taking a deep breath, the girl pulled her hand out of the water and looked at it better. There was blistering trying to form on her fingers and palm. Wincing, the girl turned to look at the older woman as she began laughing. It was the invitation to dance that stunned her into silence. She knew nothing of dancing, why would Miss Emelia ask her such a thing.
“Thank you, but I do not know how to dance. I’m afraid I will have to decline,” Alyssia stated gently.
