“Safe? That’s Just Boring.”

Sanssar woke before the sun. Once again getting hardly any sleep. She went into the bathroom, avoiding the mirrors. She knew she looked how she felt. Going to the sink and turning the faucet as cold as it would go, she cupped her hands together under the icy water and splashed it on her face many…many times. Throwing her silky locks into a high messy pony and dressing in her casual leathers, going about doing her morning routine, plus some to try and revive herself.

Ghost had not come to bed last night, though she was hardly worried. He never slept, nearly refused to unless she pulled him into the bed with her. She went about the cabin quietly, looking for him, but as Sanssar tapped down the stairs and reached the kitchen there was a parchment note from him, letting her know he’d gone to see his baby girl this morning. She started a kettle for tea and went to sit on the porch swing as she watched the sunrise. The cold air and the colors of the autumn morning sky helped refresh her, appreciating the small things she loved. Crunchy leaves, coffee and tea, sunrise and sunsets, the smell of the damp grass. She was at complete peace for right now, these few moments she soaked up.

Within the hour she heard the door slowly open. Looking over she watched a mop of thick, curly red head peek from around the frame. “Sanssar?” Gabriel squeaked and yawned. Dyppel, the four-year-old boy’s Gnome nanny was right behind him, the two woman offered each other a smile.

“Well good morning to you two.” Sanssar said in just above a whisper.

“Good morning miss Lock.” Dyppel squeaked with much enthusiasm. Gabe came out onto the porch, Sanssar lifted the sleepy boy into her lap and held him for a moment, ruffling his crazy hair that needed to be tamed.

“Sleep well bubs?” She asked, then placed a kiss on Gabe’s forehead. “You know what I was thinking? I was thinking we could make some chocolate chip pancakes and bacon this morning, then go lizard hunting after a spar. What do you think?”

Gabriel perked his head up, nearly striking Sanssar under the chin, good thing she was quick. He slipped off her lap and his little feet tapped on the wooden porch as he ran back into the house, yelling. “I get to pick how much chocolate chips go in!”

Dyppel and Sanssar both giggled and shook their heads. “I will be here most of the morning. Ghost went to see his girl today and I am not sure when he will be back. Will you be okay with staying late tonight if needs be?” Sanssar asked as she stood from the swing and followed Gabe into the kitchen.

“Of course!” Dyppel said with no complaints.

“Per--.” Sanssar stopped as she hears a loud crash from the kitchen and then Gabriel crying soon after. She runs through the door to see the boy on the floor next to a chair push up close to the counter. Bowls, batter chocolate chips are -everywhere-. The little boy had tried to get out the few things he knew they would need to make their breakfast and lost his balance on the chair. Sans runs up to Gabe to scoop him up in her arms and asses the damage. “Baby you’re okay. Shake it off, you’re fine~.” She said in her sweet tone keeping calm, letting him know he was not in trouble.

Gabriel sniffled as his crying subsided and rubbing his head. There was a little bruise that started to form near his curly red hairline. Sanssar kissed it and tickled his ribs. “Thank you for getting all of the stuff out for me.” She added.

The boy perked up again and gave Sanssar a wide smile, his chubby cheek plumping up. “You’re welcome!”

----------------*A familiar face*-------------------

Sitting under a tree near the small stream in Lions Rest, overlooking the harbor, Sanssar picked her small worn ukulele. She hummed the tune quietly, the birds seeming to take a liking to it. Few people stopped to listen for a moment, one man even tossing her a silver coin, making her silently huff a laugh. She stopped humming the tune she played briefly, looking down to her belly, then around to make sure no one was listening when she spoke to what might seem herself.

“You know I found out yesterday you can hear things in there. I don’t know if yuh can yet, but I hope you like your mama’s playing as much as the little critters seem to.”

Autumn, her favorite season approaching. She loved the cool air, dressing in warmer leathers, the colors of the trees, and any baked goods or drinks that had pumpkin, apple or cinnamon. The bakeries overwhelmingly smelling of it.

“Well it’s not just the critters and the little one who might be finding it relaxing.”A tired, old, soft voice coming from just behind her said.

Sanssar looked over her shoulder to see an older man who must have been in his 40’s approaching. His hair was long, blonde, and messy - held back in a low pony, much like Sanssar’s. He wore an old grey trench coat and green panama style hat with a leather belt around the top. The older man walked with a slight limp, a louder thud each time his left foot hit the grass. She paused her strumming, so the stranger had her full attention, greeting him with a soft smile. He too greeted her with returning an innocent smile.

“Oh please, I did not mean to interrupt you. Keep playing. Mind if I sit?” He asked, motioning his hand next to her. Sans nodded and began to pick the strings again. The man kept an appropriate distance from the thief when sitting under the tree with her. Not so far away though that she could still smell the whiskey and leather.

He removed his hat, and Sanssar looking over briefly to get a look at him. Her features went flat, her face white. She swallowed a lump in her throat and just stared at him. His eyes wrinkled at the corners as he held his smile. The two stayed quiet as they both waited for Sanssar to process.

The thief set her uke gently to the side and whispered. “…Al?”

Alerrad put his arm around Sans shoulder and pulled her closely for a shaky hug as he tried to hold back tears. “Missed you little San.” He whispered before placing a kiss atop her head.

Sanssar sat there, resting her head on him for several minutes. The smell of his work leathers and whiskey much stronger now. More forgotten memories flashed through her head from the familiar smell and loving touch of her uncle, her old caretaker. Finally sitting up her forest green eyes locked on his tired ones. They had lost much of their bright color and spark that Sans still had. A glaze set over them, hinting his sight was not what it used to be. The look on her face told him well enough what she was waiting for, and that was an explanation, that would not be a quick one.

“I’m a sucker for a good tune. Could not help but stop and listen. Saw that uke, knew it looked familiar. Just like the rats nest you call hair.” He teased with a sweet tone. She missed that and sure enough it made her smile. Sans hugged him more tightly, Al wrapped an arm around her and patted her back. “Why don’t yuh let me get the two of you somethin to eat? We can do some talkin.” He said as more of an offer than a question, looking down at her belly.

With no hesitation Sanssar turned to grab her uke and once to her feet she held out a hand to her uncle to help the older man to his. “You have a lot of talkin, and explaining to do Al.” She finally answered.

----------**A trip down memory lane.**----------

-In Westfall sits a shack home. The air cool in the late afternoon as Autumn approaches-

The rotting wood creaked as Sanssar’s boots tapped up the stairs to the door, barley hanging on by the hinges. Windows on each side of the doorframe, both cracked, one looked as if a rock or brick had gone crashing through it. The little thief did not bother knocking and slowly opened the door, peeking her head inside. No one was home. The ‘bed’ on the floor, still the blankets had not been washed since her last few trips there, or so it seemed. Sans’ sighed and decided not to go in. Just when she was about to close the door again a low, growling voice came from behind her.

“I thought yuh learned your lesson after snoopin last time.” Sanssar flinched and whisked around, both hands on the hilts of her little sheathed daggers. Hugo, standing tall behind her, arms folded and a scowl on his face, stared her down. “Pops…” She said as if surprised to see him, though it is who she was looking for. It was not a mystery who Sanssar got her sneakiness from.

“We need to talk.” Sans pulled her hood down. Silky blonde locks fell to her shoulders.

“No we don’t.” Hugo growled and pushed past his daughter roughly, making his way into the shack of a home. Of course, being Sanssar, she didn’t listen and rather took his grumpiness as an invitation. Following her old man into the home and leaving the door wide open behind her.

“Yea -pops-. We do. I want to know her name.” She said as a snappy demand. Hugo’s back was to Sanssar. He dropped his head and shook it, staying silent for a long while. The thief was patient and stood there. Taking her typical sassy stance, arms folded with her right hip rested.

“You don’t -get- to know about -her- Sanssar. You lost that chance when you killed her.” Hugo’s voice was hushed but shaky with anger. He slowly turned towards his daughter. His forest green eyes nearly black, much like the little thief’s did when she was angry or threatened.

“Her name.” Sans said firmly. “You owe that much after putting me through seven years of hell dad! And for the stunt you pulled with your gang members. You owe me HER NAME.” Now getting louder, the look in her eyes similar to her fathers, as well as the shaking words. Three of the gangs masked members appeared on the porch. Each one having a dagger in both hands, eyeing Sanssar. The wood creaked under their feet. She knew they were there, but not how many. Refusing to take her eyes off Hugo, she waited for a name.

“If I give you a name Sanssar. Will you quit coming around looking for Al and asking fucking questions?”

“No. But If you don’t give me her name, you’ll be dealing with the red eyed demon your men so cowardly ran crying from, again. How many more hands do you want delivered to your front step, HM? Maybe this time, he’ll add a few more parts.”

Hugo’s fists tightened, the gang members made their way towards the door, but as soon as Sanssar heard the wood creak under their feet once again, she pulled 2 throwing knives from the harness on her thigh and lunged them into two of the members legs. Both small blades covered in paralytic poison. Both men dropped to the ground, the other’s eyes widened – looking at Hugo. “Her. Name.” Sans said one last time.

“…Sarin.” He snapped. “Your mothers name, was Sarin.”

The Beginning (Pt. 3)

She rested her tired head on Alerrad’s shoulder as he carried her to bed. Her bed being an old trough that they brought in after having to sell most of their livestock. Sanssar’s uncle sat beside her as he waited for the little girl to shut her eyes and fall fast asleep, trying to speed the process by running his fingers through her long silk blonde hair that always looked to be a mess but was soft to the touch.

“M’ I goin back tuh pops or Ms. Addy’s in the mornin?” Sanssar asked her uncle tiredly. As she knew he had to go early before the sun was up, or that was more often the case than not, but this time he had a new answer. “We’ll be goin tuh the city, b’fore the sun wakes yuh.” He whispered to her, still trying to get her little mind to quiet down. Though by telling Sassar he would be taking her to the city in the morning only excited her and would cause her to ask more questions full of energy. “Why we goin tuh the city uncle Al!? We goin shoppin or sellin? Mmm is there a even’ goin on!?” Her uncle chuckled, sleepily at her. It was deep, rich and raspy.

His own eyes halfway shut and sunken in. To any adult it was obvious Alerrad was exhausted, worn out and unhealthy. He was a tall man, standing around 6’3” but was very underweight and lean for a man of his size. His skin had little to no color and his eyes, used to be bright green like Sanssar’s, but had over the years turned dull and lifeless. More of a dark forest green hue to them now.

The Beginning (Pt. 2)

The sun quickly got higher into the sky as the early morning went on, a neighbor lady had been kept up by the cries of the Sarin all night and brought over fresh baked bread, a formula for Sanssar and milk, having nothing more to offer but her help and to look out for the child when needed. Alerrad was quick to accept the help from the woman, knowing his brother would hardly care for the newborn and he had no idea how to care for a child. He also worked long hours, early mornings and often late into the night, leaving him hardly any time to watch over her until she got older.

Sanssar shifted between three different homes, her fathers, her uncles where she spent most of her time and the neighbor lady, Addy who had children not much older that little Sanss, a year or two at the most. Growing to look more and more like her mother, Hugo absolutely dreading and hating her for it, but Sanssar oblivious to the fact as to why her father could not stand to look at her. The little girl grew to have her own hate and resentment for her father, not ever knowing why he would strike her, remind her -she- killed his lover and the reason he could not offer them a better life. Those being the few things she would remember into her adult life out of many other hate comments from him. However Sanssar enjoyed and loved her uncle, he took care of her and in her eyes saved her from many bad nights at home when he would come to pick her up after his long work hours, always smelling strongly of whiskey, leather and saw dust. A comforting smell she became fond of over time. Her father always passed out or near that state when he would arrive for her. Alerrad did not have much to offer but gave her more than anyone else ever did. Making sure she was fed, bathed, clothed and given love and affection, reassuring her that her father’s words meant nothing; or at least very little. The excuse being because he was a drunk.

“He doesn’ mean it little San. Hims jus’ bn’ drikin t’night s’all.” Her uncle told her yet again, for what seemed to be for the hundredth time as they sat at the small dinner table eating bland beef stew. Their talks seemed to be the same every night. Talking about how her father was not so bad, he was just drunk. It was almost like he was trying to convince himself, rather than his niece, and saying it out loud to her helped ease his old mind. Though Alerrad was not old, the hard ships through the years had put him there. “I know.” She responded softly, letting her little feet swing under the chair and table as she finished off her small bowel of stew. Sanssar now being 4 years old almost 5, did not understand much but for her age she was very observant and sensitive to her surroundings. She knew her father was not all there and the problems that went on were not hidden from her, this was her norm and she never questioned it.

The Beginning

It was early into the morning. The sun was still sleeping, along with most of the town. Outside of the small home that seemed more to be of a shed someone had tried to put back together, two men sit outside clenching their teeth at the screams and groans coming from inside. “The first one is out, It’s a girl!” Another woman inside assisting with the birth called out. The father surely staying still, his gaze set straight on nothing, but his brother who sat outside next to him watched as the call for him was ignored. The uncle of the twins would take it upon himself to make his way into the shack home, grunting and taking the first born into his arms. Looking down to the child who was now crying out with her mother while she pushed to get out the sibling, her uncle cleaned and cradled her. Not near in the loving way a father should, more as if it were just his job as his brother sit out on the dry grass smoking and working on his third bottle of liquor for the night.

Suddenly the crying stopped. It was mostly quiet around the shack, only the baby girls fussing, and the mothers heavy breathing whimpers were heard as she looks at the other lifeless child. Not long after the mother had laid eyes on her second baby, a boy, her breathing and whimpers came to a slow stop. Closing her eyes and laying her head back as her entire body relaxed, Sarin took her last breath. Now the baby girl was left to cry on her own as she was cradled in her uncle’s arms. The young inexperienced healer - the only one the brothers could afford; gave a sorrow look to the uncle letting him know there was nothing she could do.