One Little Spark: Part 2

Chapter 4

          They ride forth towards the town of Amesbury, where they had intended to be. The place looks very much medieval in itself as Dreamfinder had predicted, but more so the people. Each and every one of them, them being "peasants," are dressed as if they were all born poor in the dirt. Many of them look as if they have been strained of their energy had not yet recovered for over the course of many long years. In which case, almost half of the town seems to be sitting on the sides of many of the stone houses lounging up against their backs and hardly lifting a finger with any sign of energy. Even the animals in this town are having a hard time keeping themselves standing. The Dreamfinder, Rachel, Figment, and Algar all slowly walk through town by their horse [though Algar much prefers to float above it due to his apparent hatred for horses] and notice how very little the resources of the livestock are; for one child they pass, they see only one egg, an eighth of a bucket of cow's milk, and a very small crumb of bread equivalent to being half the size of the palm of his hand. Never before have they seen a child look so melancholy and so utterly down. They each try to maintain their emotions and keep their tears at bay within their stinging red eyes. The worst part is that this child is not alone in this depressing matter, but for almost everyone else that it is almost rare to find at least one person still standing and full of energy to provide for another.

          The streets, as well as the walls, are covered in filth. That much is expected considering how personal hygiene hasn't exactly been invented as it seems, but by the looks of this town, Amesbury is in a complete mess! The skies are as dull gray as a nail. Perhaps darker, if need be. The nature of its trees and bushes are all dried up and dead with not a single leave to bring life to its people. Instead, they look more like brown withered skeletons ready to tumble down and break into splinters. The songs that are sung in the village are of groans of great misery and sorrow, a sorrow that has cut deep into the peoples' hearts that would take a far greater miracle to recover from. Corpses are lying on the streets, both men and animals of all kinds. Even the flies that feed off of the dead are dying within seconds of consumption like they have been poisoned. The town of Amesbury is in so bad shape that there are no more words that could further describe the insufferable condition these people are living.

"Nice town." said Figment, trying to keep positive. "Could use a little color here and there, though."

"This is terrible!" exclaimed Dreamfinder. "What could have done this?"

"Whatever it is, I hope it's not contagious,. said Rachel, thinking back to when Dreamfinder had been infected by the Abiteth monster back in the Deshanjah Desert. "We've already had plenty of sick illnesses affect us to fight off from."

"Well, somebody here must know what's going on."

"Prithee..."

          Out of nowhere comes a small boy dressed in the filthiest rags, as if he had been playing in the mud and dirt excessively without baths, limping towards the newcomers. He struggles to lift his head up, but his small blue eyes make up for them to meet with these strangers. If he was not so dirty, you can tell how blonde the boy's hair is. He is lean in flesh, a complexion so milky white, and is about 4'8" tall, maybe five inches. The look on the poor boy's face is unlike any look they have ever seen; so depressed and desperate, but weak. If anything, this child may be the most miserable of all the children in this village. It is enough to make a man, or perhaps anyone, fall to their knees and give what they can give if there is any.

"Prithee sir..." said the boy weakly. " wouldst thee by any chance has't aught thee can spareth me for mine own moth'r? The lady is sick and I has't nothing to help her with."

"What did he say?" Figment asks.

"He's asking if we have anything we can provide him for his sick mother." said Dreamfinder in translation.