Starting Over

Nine

Third-person

Although it was a warm day, the rain was evident where the dirt road was slightly soggy.

The wait for the cart wasn't long. It seemed to only take a matter of minutes before a wooden cart was pulled by two horses, a brown horse with three 3 white socks on its hoofs and a splotchy white and brown one, slightly smaller than its counterpart. They both huffed and clopped as they slowed down.

The cart was driven by a funny looking man, dawned in a brown coat with red buttons and patchwork patches covering holes and tears, a skirt with brown leggings and boots that looked as if they had, had a lifetimes were. He wore a top hat with green trim around the middle with two holes cut out where two long white bunny ears one slightly bent near the tip with a brown smudge of fur splattered in an uneven pattern.

His face was round and his skin was wired to Jayland. Primarily brown it had splotches of pink skin on it. Most notably around his left eye and the very it of his flat nose that twitched. His eyes were a mismatched brown and storm cloud grey. His two front teeth stuck out very slightly and he seemed to cluck and hum happily while shifting and thumbing his feet.

"Reka! Nyx! How are yer'!" He said cheerfully. He had a smooth lilting brogue* accent.

The dark fae smiled slightly and shifted to take Jayland out of Reka's arms so the other male could climb up onto the cart.

"We're good Kip. How are you? Been busy today?" Reka asked.

"Aye, busy day, but business is business, can't complain when they pay yer wages." He replied cheerfully.

"Whos this wee lad?" He asked when Jayland was lifted onto the cart and the wood faes lap. He hid in his daddy's neck to hide from the rabbit-man attention.

"Jayland, our baby boy!" Nyx said with a sense of pride. Sensing this Jayland snuck
a glance at his papa with a small smile.

The Rabbit-man offered a kind smile to the lad started the cart with two clicks of his teeth. "Where I'm I taking yer?" He asked

"Glowberry market please Kip." The wood fae answered.

The journey continued as idle chatter accompanied it. Jayland found the confidence to face the cart driver by leaning backwards so his neck was bent to see the back of his head.

"How's the Mrs?" Nyx asked after slowly pushing Jayland's head back so he was upright again.

"Aye, she's well!" He thumped his foot excitedly and a proud smile etched his way onto your face. "Expecting again, quadruplets doctor says!"

Reka, being the softer more child joyed out of the two let out an excited squeal. "Congratulations!"
"What number would these four be?" He asked

"25,26,27 and 28!" Kip replied with pride.

"I would love to have that many kids!" Reka sang dreamily.

Nyx gave his husband a horrified look.

"Can we stick to one first? I'm struggling with this small coal chip!" Nyx exclaimed bubbing the child in his lap for emphasis.

Both men let out a belly full laugh, and the bub made Jayland let out a giggle.

"Oh, before I forget again." Kip began, shuffling through his pockets. "Hick wanted me to give yer this if I saw yer." He handed a small piece of folded paper that had a yellow tint. "Said something about wanting to thank ya, he loved the birthday basket you gave him the other week. No idea what the paper says. "

Reka took the paper and opened it. It was neat but splotched inked handwritten thank you note.

"To Uncle Reka and Uncle Nyx,
Thank you for the delicious birthday basket.
It was very nice.
From
Hickory"

Reka read the letter out loud. Although some words were misspelt and it was clear that the kid had used too much ink on multiple quill dips but other than that it was very well written.

Reka gushed over the letter while Nyx smiled soundly.

Idle conversation persuades again and before long the dirt road opened up to a larger and more busy dirt road lined with shops and cart stalls. Stalls had striped material roofs and carts selling mass amounts of good o8t the back. Shops had glass windows illuminated by candle brightness.

A clock tower stood in the middle of the market, proudly standing built out of brick and bronze lining showing half 2 in the afternoon.

The market was more of a town but called "market" because of what it used to be. It used to be a field full of vendors and travelling salespeople and over time it grew into a town.

The town was bustling with people, noise, colours and smells, so much was going on that it overwhelmed Jayland a bit.

Although he used to live in a town himself, it was rundown and full of slums, Jayland was one of the lucky ones, his family only had to share a 3 bedroom house with one other family. It was cramped at times, or well all the time, but it wasn't like his neighbouring house who was rumoured to have 30+ people living in it at any one time.

The town Centre the boy used to go to search for jobs was only home to dodgy pawn shops, friendly company salons, and gambling sites, no place for a child to grow up.

This street, however, housed bakers, hairdressers, clothing stores, furniture stores and even a few toy stores which caught Jaylands eyes.

The cart came to a halt outside of a cart bay. The two parents paid their friend and waved goodbye once they had their child safely tucked in their arms.

Jayland

Papa held me in his arms again as we waved the bunny man goodbye. My head spun around to look at my surrounding. Everything was so loud!

"We won't be here long bub, don't worry." Papa kissed the side of my cheek as he sensed me tensing up in his arms.

Not even a second later we began our trip into the busy street.

...........................................

Hiii
Sorry, the endings are a bit crap but I was running out of ideas.

And sorry for the MIA part. My life got tipped upside down and it threw me off guard for a bit

^•^.
Thank you for reading.

I send hugs to whoever what's them. 😇
Edited 1st round