#kindre

Kindre stepped up to the blacksmiths door. She was nervous. She had come back from a battle and her axe’s handle and snapped right in half. The Goldenfields Blacksmith was the closest place to get it fixed for miles.

The elves in this town stared at her, not quite in disgust but curiosity. She was a full orc woman in heavy armor after all. The stares nevertheless make her feel nervous and shy.

Kindre took a deep steadying breath and entered the store with her broken weapon. There was a five foot elf man with his back turned to her, sharpening a blade with a whetstone. He had Chestnut brown hair and a small build.

“U-um, excuse me? I’d like to ask some, some questions about axe repair?” Kindre said quietly. She didnt want to scare the elven man. When he turned around she saw deep green eyes, tanned skin and freckles that looked like galaxies. He spoke with the accent of a country boy.

“ Why of course Miss, what question….” the green eyes traveled up, up, up, past black flowing hair, past big lovely tusks and up into beautiful chocolate brown irises. He was smitten instantly, his words lost in his throat as he openly gaped at the large woman before him.

She shrunk back, hunching her shoulders in embarrassment. Kindre imagined she was scaring him. <

“ Sorry, I know im not…not normal but i um, i need-” she was cut off.

“ P-pretty” said the man before he fell backwards in a faint. Kindre was horrified.

“oh my gosh!!! Im so sorry are you okay?!” She asked in a panic.

“y-yeah, sorry ma'am you’re just so…” he couldn’t get the words out.

“ jus’ leave your weapon on the counter, ill have it fixed by tomorrow, no charge”

Kindre didnt stick around, she left out of embarrassment and perhaps with a crush.

~~~

Kindre returned to the shop the next day, disappointed to see an older elvish man. He smiled when she approached and yelled behind him

“ Melody, your angels back!” with a snicker.

Kindre blushed as the younger man stepped out of the back room with her axe, better than new. The handle had been reconnected with the vines that had been etched in it re engraved, all the dings and dents in the blade pounded out, and the blade itself sharpened. Melody handed it to her with a sheepish blush.

“ Worked on her all night, jus’ for you” he said.

Kindre was starry eyed “ you didnt…you didn’t have to…”

Mel looked up at her “ was the least i could do after how rude i acted…youre just so beautiful an’…well, im nervous to ask as we just met, and i dont know your name, but i would love to take you on a stroll through the forest, its firefly season an’-” he was rambling.

“Kindre” she interrupted. “ My name is Kindre, and yes, i would love to go on a date with you” she said ever so quietly.

~~~

The night was lovely, the forest was lit up with the small lightning bugs and Melody had made her a flower crown of daffodils.

They talked about so many different things, weapons, music, food. It all went wonderfully and smoothly.

That is till a hungry and desperate wolf stumbled across their path. Kindre had heard of the lone creature, it had been snatching peoples pets and children and now it was looking at the small elf man.

Kindre raised her axe and within minutes the wolf had been defeated. She was covered in blood, panting. Oh gosh, she probably looked like a monster. She turned back to Melody to see him staring at her in awe.

“You know….the blood really brings out your eyes…”

~~~

A young Symph looked up at his mama with those same chocolate brown eyes and his fathers lovely freckles.

“ wow…I love that story mama” he said in that tone of wonderment only a child can have.

A few days later...

It was a long and dreary work day for Kindra. The seventh graders were the worst - they decided to lauch all of their hormonal anger on the new, young teacher. Kindra had to have several deep breaths after that period to calm down.

“Fucking kids,” she mutters under her breath as she continues with the latest instalment of her favourite trilogy, The Deer and the Huntsman. One day, when the huntsman was out skirting the woods, he came across a deer. Needing to support his family, he targeted her. However, he found out he did not have the will to slaughter and feast on her, and set her free. Filled with guilt, he ran away from his wife and children, and forged a new identity. Kindra’s book carries the story from that point.

She is sitting peacefully in the park, breathing in the drunk, city air when a shadow casts her book. Looking up, she is greeted by an unknown face - and a handsome one, at that.

Kindra’s POV

Oh my. I have never seen such a person before. He’s probably a few years older than me - though he looks so young. Fair hair, a masculine beard, eyes as luminous as a summer’s day. 

I must be making a sight of myself; I’ve most likely been staring at him for two minutes. I dog ear my current page and slam the book shut. “Y-yes, do you need anything?” I stupidly mumble.

He looks at me for a few seconds, his gaze burning into my face. “Yes, actually.” He signals me to stand. “Pleased to meet you, er...”

“Kindra,” I fill in. “Kindra Geiger.”

“Right. I’m Andre. Andre Lorenzo.” He sits next to me. His voice is without emotion, but is a sensation to my ears.

Andre Lorenzo. How interesting. He sounds like a fictional character.

I am about to say something, but he begins. “First of all, don’t fucking ruin books.”

“W-what?” I almost shiver.

“You. Book. Page. Don’t fold page.” Great. Now he’s acting like i’m an invalid.

“Oh, right.” I abruptly open my book and smooth the page. He must be used to getting what he wants.

“Books are like new worlds. You can easily forgot your cruel, hateful life and escape into your wildest dreams.” He says. We’re awfully alike.

“Ah. I see.” I can’t think of anything else. 

Andre stares at me for a little while.I fidget uncomfortably. He’s quite young. He may be single - no, he probably has a girlfriend. But I don’t have a boyfriend, and he’s openly talking to me. So he might be single...right?

“I’d like to keep talking to you” He says. He’s writing on a piece of paper. “Here, my number.” He hands it to me.

“Ah, thank you..!” I say. 

Andre stands up. “Well, I’ll see you later, then. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye!” I call.