Ruby: I knew it! What are you doing Kevin?
Still concealing his nose, the white kangaroo got up slowly, leaning against the wall for support as he did so.
Kevin: Do you want my almost lying answer or the nearly true one?
Ruby rolled her eyes at him, knowing full well what he was trying to do.
Ruby: Almost lying.
Looking slightly disappointed, Kevin carefully rub his snout to make sure it wasn't broken or bleeding before properly facing his little sister. He still seemed slightly dazed after the impact with the door, but that didn't stop him from talking.
Kevin: Well, Devin overheard you and Grandma talking about stuff, I don't know what... He said something about the old 'roo sending you on an 'adventure of a lifetime' because you were unhappy here for whatever reason and... yeah. So, is it true?
Ruby narrowed her eyes, trying to decide whether or not she wanted to pass on such knowledge to her brother, especially in his state. Speaking of which...
Ruby: Why didn't Devin just come and ask me himself instead of sending you to eavesdrop on me?
Kevin: Oh, you know him... Doesn't like prying into the business of others without the fear of offending them or such. Now, could you give me the information I need so I can go back and tell him?
Ruby rolled her eyes, and swiftly grabbed her brother's ears. Before Kevin could do anything, he found himself being pulled along jerkily after her down the open hallway towards the partially open door at the end. Ruby gave the door a gentle(ish) kick and it swayed open.
Devin, who was sitting on one of the messy beds at the end of the room that the brothers usually slept in, looked up calmly as Ruby entered with his twin in tow. She swung Kevin around and forward, making him stumble across the room a bit. Ruby then closed and carefully locked the squeaky door behind her, and got straight to the point.
Ruby: You want to know what's going on, Devin? Fine. Basically I'm being sent to an UnMythic town to live and learn their way of life and traditions because I wasn't exactly 'happy' with my current environment.
Devin: Yeah, that's exactly what I assumed
Ruby: Then why did you send Kevin to eavesdrop on me if you already knew?
Devin: I didn't. I just sent him to spy on you just to make sure my suspicions were correct!
Ruby heaved an exasperated sigh, wondering why she even bothered asking, and continued.
Ruby: Right... Now, I'm assuming you'd like to tell me something before I leave tonight? Some words of caution? Pity? Maybe Objection? Anything? You won't get a second chance later, you know.
The white kangaroos looked at each other, and as if a signal had been sent, Devin got up from the bed and onto his hands and knees, reaching under his bed for something. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he enthusiastically dragged out two brown books from the darkness, causing Ruby to raise an eyebrow.
Devin: Stand back! This could get messy...
Ruby took a few steps backwards and held her breath as Devin swiped away the layer of dust that rested on the top journal, scattering the grey particles in all directions. As soon as the air was clear again, the white kangaroo eagerly held out the worn books to Ruby, obviously expecting her to take them.
Ruby: And what are these suppose to be?
Devin: Study books, originally... We wrote in them when we were on our first observation trip, so we thought, 'Hey, maybe she'd like them in case she needed some info on the UnMythics!' So... yeah. By the way, where were you supposed to be going, again?
Ruby: Makku.
Kevin: Cool! I hear it's famous for it's size!
Devin rolled his eyes at his twin and held the books even higher to Ruby. She hesitated before stretching out a hand towards the dirty journals.
Ruby: Um... Thanks, I guess.
Ruby was about to take the old books from Devin, when suddenly the door swung open and crashed against wall, sending loose spider webs and even more dust flying. Ruby twisted her head around to see a grim Grandma in the doorway. It was only then that she remembered that the lock on Devin and Kevin's door was broken, and she felt stupid for forgetting.
Ruby: Drat! I forgot about that.
Devin: So did we.
Kevin: Yeah. Y''know, one of these days we should really get that fixed!
Grandma: Fix what?
Ruby: Oh, the old tree-house by the stream! We, uh, were talking about rebuilding that a while back, remember? It's such a shame that it's reduced to a home for bats and spiders, and we had such fun in it when we were younger....
The old hag of a kangaroo leaned forward and squinted her good eye at her, making Ruby wish she were invisible so that she could avoid that petrifying gaze that always seemed to put a spell on time, and more importantly, her. Everything in that room began to freeze in place, except for the painful thudding heart in her chest. The twins held their breaths, as if the slightest sound would kill them all. Only the wind continued to make it's haunted whistles as it swirled around the house. Taunting them. Laughing even, in its hollow voice that Ruby both loved and hated.
Finally, after several more seconds of quietness, Grandma let her eye fall to the ground, blinked, and straightening her back, and broke the dreadful silence...
Grandma: If I'm going to be honest, no. I don't believe I've ever heard of such a conversation like that from any of you, but whatever you say, dearie... I trust you.
Kevin and Devin let out a sigh of relief and started breathing easily again, now that the tension was gone. But Ruby knew Grandma wasn't fooled by her lie, although she was glad she wasn't pressing for the real answer. At least, not yet anyway...
Ruby: So... What brings you here?
Grandma: I could ask you the same thing if I'm going to be honest, but I'll play the lady and answer first. I was going to ask you if you could go down to the darker parts of the woods to pick some flowers and mushrooms for my alchemist experiments, seeing it's such a nice day out there. If you're not busy, that is.
Ruby: Sure, I've got some time on my hands! I can go out and get some things for you.
Grandma: Glad to hear.
Devin, after finally seeming to get control of his body again, hastily shoved the battered books to Ruby and swiftly made for an exit out of the room with Kevin. But Grandma wasn't finished giving out chores just yet.
Grandma: And you two!
The old kangaroo pointed a finger at the two retreating brothers, making them halt in their tracks.
Grandma: Make yourself useful and go to the markets for some fruit! And while you're at it get some bat grub, and maybe some lemon jam if it's on sale. We've gotten suspiciously low these past few weeks...
The twins made faces at each other, as if expressing their mutual feelings towards the task at hand, but agreed willingly enough to head out to the small village hidden in the undergrowth of the murky forest. Any excuse to get out of the house for a while was good enough for them, even if it meant doing the shopping.
So as the two boys headed down the overgrown path to the small Vampire community known as Shade, Ruby went straight to her bedroom and dropped the books on her bed. While she was there, she opened up a small cramped closet to retrieve a worn mango-orange hoodie and hastily put it on. As soon as she did that, she ran downstairs to where Grandma was waiting with a basket and a piece of paper.
Grandma: Here's a list of all the flowers and mushrooms I'll be needing for the upcoming winter. I suppose I don't need to tell you to look out for ventraps and arakrafas?
Ruby shook her head as the ancient kangaroo gave her the items.
Grandma: Good. Just make sure you're home before sunset, ok? The dropbears have been getting more rowdy lately, so don't dawdle - I won't come to help you if your organs have been ripped out and your legs have been chewed off, understand?
Ruby: Yes, Grandma.
Grandma: Off you go, then. Oh, and if you see that rogue hunting gang, kindly remind them that they still haven't payed me yet! I used good medicine on that pet of theirs, and I don't intend to go on with my life quietly until I've gotten what I deserve!
Ruby: Noted. Ok, see you later!
Ruby pulled the bright hood over her head and trudged into the cold darkness of EverWinter forest, and away from the safety and comfort of the old cottage. She halted for a seconds to look behind her to see if Grandma was still there, but she had evidently gone back inside, not even waiting for Ruby to be swallowed up by the cover of the thick jungle of leaves and vines. That both frustrated, and depressed her. A lonely bird from somewhere in the trees above her started to cry it's sad, painful melody. She continued walking.
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