The Miscellaneous Adventures of Enola and Prosper 2

CBaHC
Chapter 26: Morning Glory
Page: 157

Enola and Prosper
Chapter: 4
Page: 9

New Series (maybe)
Chapter: 1
Page: 4

Writer's block status: When in doubt, use poison.

Enola sat on a small bluff overlooking the ocean. Ships with sails of every color were constantly coming and going from the ports. She tried her best to use the beat of the tides to calm her breathing. Her chest was tight as if someone was sitting on it. It was hard to breathe, though she tried to steady herself the best she could. After a few minutes, she managed to return to normality. She brought her knees to her chest and sat with her eyes closed. The wind from the sea blew against her face and made her hair dance behind her. She was only disturbed when she felt a presence nearing her. Her eyes shot open and looked over. Prosper was approaching her from behind. She froze with fear.

            “Are you alright?” he asked. She couldn't speak. He waited a few feet behind for a response. “I said, are you alright?” Again there was silence. He began to approach again and stopped because of her physical ques. “I assume from your silence and fear that you are not and I am the cause.” Enola looked away. Prosper sighed heavily. “I thought it so when you ran away.”

            “I did not run.” Her response surprised both of them. “I walked to attend to other business.” Prosper smiled ever so slightly.

            “And other business is sitting on top of a hill looking at the sea?” he asked.

            “It’s a bluff,” she corrected. She turned back to the sea. Prosper took it as an invitation to join her.

            “It is a bluff.” He glanced over at her and she stared out to sea. The fear exaggerated the size of her already large eyes. “Some where you must know that I will not hurt you. I won’t even touch you with out your consent.” Enola did not move at all. “Sebastian and Cal, they won’t ask for permission to touch your arm. They’ll just take.”

            “Then why do you associate yourself with them?” Enola looked over, seemingly calmer. Prosper shrugged.

            “To keep them from hurting girls who don’t want to be hurt.” Enola furrowed her brow. “You seem confused.”

            “You were so cold before. What is this?” she asked.

            “I don’t like strangers either. I don’t like forced conversations with strangers. I don’t like friends speaking for those who do not speak.” Enola began to loosen up physically as he spoke. “You are smarter than them. You know that some strangers are more dangerous than others. That will keep you alive.” A silence fell over them again, though it was not heavy.

            “Will you tell me of Erana?” she asked.

            “You have never seen it?” Prosper asked. Enola shook her head.

            “My parents do not speak of it. They left before I was born. I never knew it.” Prosper thought for a while before beginning.

            “It’s very bourgeois. There are large estates with vast yards and fields of wheat. In the summer, the gold of the wheat creates a sea as a breeze rolls in. The grass is greener than the purest emerald and the trees are heavy with fruit. Children play in the trees dropping sweet fruit to their friends. In the winter, the snow covers the yards and fields in an endless expanse of uninterrupted and luminous white. The trees hold thin leaves of white. The children play in the white snow, making men of snow and throwing snow balls at each other. Everyone is happy,” Prosper explained. Enola tried her best to picture what it would be like. She knew of grass, but it was always brown.

            “What is snow?” she asked. Prosper repeated the question and chuckled.

            “It is frozen water, but not ice. If you chip away at ice, you know of the white fluff that falls as you chip?” Enola nodded. There were a merchant that specialized in ice for the wealthy to keep the heat at bay. She saw him chip away at a block and saw the white that fell. “That is snow, except in Erana, it falls from the sky.”

            “Fancy that. Ice chips from the sky.” Another silence descended over them, though it seemed only natural. “Why did you leave?”

            “Pardon?” Enola could sense she was walking into tense territory.

            “You describe such a lovely scene. Why are you away from it?” He became very silent and seemed to be forming the explanation in his head.

            “Cal, Sebastian, and I have a benefactor in these parts. He asked us to take care of some business in this area. It’s only temporary if done correctly. Once we have completed our business, I can return to my home in Erana… We should return soon.” Enola nodded and began to pick herself up before Prosper offered her his hand. She looked up at him to confirm that he wanted to help her. He didn't look away as she accepted the help up. His hands were warmer than she expected, though she felt silly for believing they would be cold because of his personality. The two walked back together into town. Anha and Uwenna saw them coming and waved.

            “Where were you?” Uwenna called as they came closer.

            “At the bluff!” Enola replied. It was the loudest she had been that day. Anha and Uwenna saw Prosper with her and became very silent. Prosper bid Enola good day and left the girls together.

            “What was Prosper doing with you?” Anha asked in a harsh whisper.

            “What do you even see in him? He’s so creepy and cold,” Uwenna commented. Both exchanged disgusted glances.

            “He’s not that bad. He just doesn’t like strangers, like me,” Enola answered. Anha linked arms with her as the girls began walking back.

            “Well, as your friends, we advise that you shouldn’t see him. He’s just going to break your heart in the end,” she cautioned. Uwenna backed up her statement with a nod.

            “See him? No! I have no interest in him romantically. I just think you two shouldn’t be so quick to judge him,” she protested. Anha and Uwenna were clearly unconvinced. Enola sighed and abandoned it all together. She glanced over and saw him with Sebastian and Cal. He looked back at her with a straight face. His eyes were not harsh at all though.

            “Oh gods, it’s them,” Uwenna muttered. Sebastian and Cal seemed apologetic, yet they still had an egotistical air to them. Anha grunted with disgust and hurried Enola and Uwenna past them. Uwenna still managed to get a disgusted sneer across to them. The men watched them hurry past, but Enola looked once more to Prosper before they disappeared from sight.

            “Damn it! We could have had company tonight if it wasn’t for Prosper!” Cal cursed.

            “Relax Cal. There are plenty of beautiful women we can invite to bed tonight,” Sebastian said, with a bit of resentment.

            “And while we look like asses, Prosper manages to get the quiet one’s attention. A bunch of bitches they are,” Cal hissed.

            “Have some respect, Calcifer. They were never yours to take. It isn’t my fault that you have no sense of decency with women. She had every right to sneer at you with that mind set you have!” Prosper snapped. His jaw set in anger and he glared at Cal. As soon as he did, Cal backed down. Prosper wasn’t one to snap often.

            “Let us forget them, lads! We will drink and be merry tonight! Then, we will be set to conduct our business,” Sebastian said. He slapped both on the back before directing them to the nearest pub. As they walked, Prosper looked to where Enola walked last. She was long gone he knew, but it was almost instinctual.