Beyond the Thorns: A Novel

Why did I say yes..? I pout slightly, following Archie up the memory-filled, chemical-scented home of “Mr. Tanner”.

“He’s probably waiting for me in the work area,” Archie pipes up slightly. I follow him there, trying to keep pace behind the awkward child. We arrive at the garage-made-forge, my old man lazing about in a foldable lawn chair he ‘bought’ assumably a while back.

“Mr. Tanner sir, I’ve brought Mr. Ross as you asked..” Archie fiddles with his fingers timidly.

The self-isolating male looks up, an irritatingly kind expression on his face. “Ah, Archie, go on ahead and prep the place for your trainin’ okay?”

“Yessir!” Archie’s posture stiffens as he salutes, making the old codger chuckle.

“Good lad. Now Ross, come with me please,” he gently says, making my blood boil a little. He leads me through an all too familiar kitchen into the living room where Lillian would be found when she wasn’t working or making food for the rest of us. He offers me a seat before I sit down and fold my legs right on the spot I’d watch my sister knit for one of her many jobs.

“Do you need me for something?” I ask after a slight silence.

“I just wanted to see how you’re doing, you never send letters so one would-”

“Because it’s not like anyone here would care if I told you what happened in the week’s time I’ve been gone.”

“Your family doesn’t apply to ‘everyone’ then?” My mind starts racing about in irritation.

“Oh, the mother who sends care gifts once every few months? The eight year dead sister? Or you, the dad who forces his apprentice to send the letter and retrieve it every time he gets any,” I words race before I exhale to control my temper, “it just appears unreasonable.”

“Now you know that I stay at my station for a good reason.”

“I’m pretty sure it’s a good reason to get your bedridden child a doctor to diagnose her-” I blurt before cutting myself off and looking away. Don’t want to leer out at the dinosaur. Might make it go extinct from a heart attack.

“Ross,” he looks at me sternly. “Listen, I regret those choices more than anything. But I made a vow to never leave my workspace in case of anyone needing my expertise. Only and if only an emergency were to oc-”

“It was an emergency! Lillian’s life coming to an end isn’t an emergency to you? Your firstborn’s life could simply end for the name of you beating up hunks of metal?

“That’s not-”

“That’s what you still ended up doing. Even if it wasn’t intentional, please try to realize that one truth.” I get up and turn to leave, suppressing the other emotions of anxiety and regret. I walk out, clutching my notebook in an effort to comfort myself the entire way back to the Login Inn.

I overhear the all too memorable voice of Carson as I make my way over to the group’s table, where he was sitting.

“Yeah bu-”

“Carson, or whatever your name is, we honestly don’t care if he was the son of an insane murderer. He’s nice and we accept him for what he is. Clearly that’s new to you.” Cana glares coldly at the coily-haired male.

“Just wanted your thoughts, damn.” Carson gets up, hands in the air for a moment before walking off. He makes direct eye-contact with me, signaling with his eyes his opinion of my comrades. I walk slowly up to decrease suspicion of my overhearing.

"So where've you been, Rossy-bossy?"

"The what did you just say?"

“Where did Ross run off to?” Cana chirrups once noticing only one male join the girls.

“He’s gonna meet us at the library or something?” Mist quips curiously.

“Dunno. He was talking about a restaurant or something while we were getting ready. Maybe he wants to surprise us with something Little D’melio has to offer,” I lie. As clueless as the girls who I just talked to.

We walk to an open table after collecting the desired food. “Yo, your Ross’ friends right?” The consistently at-the-inn male struts up with a light smile.

“Yeah, whazzup?” Cana looks up, holding a previously full fork with her teeth.

“What’s your thought on Ross? I mean, he’s a Curio’s kid n’ all. Don’t you think that makes him a little..” Carson draws off, motioning further with his hands.

“Little what?” Mist asks.

“Y’know..” Carson motions a little more.

“No I don’t actually, tell me.” Mist looks at the male coldly.

“You don’t think he’s a little crazy as well? I mean-” Carson starts.

“Just because he’s a Curio doesn’t mean he’ll become one,” MIst glares down at her food, dissociating from the conversation.

“But think about it, he was born and raised of Curio descent, shouldn’t that be a little alarming?”

I look at him with a straight, emotionless expression, “just ‘cause you’re a kid of an innkeeper doesn’t make you an automatic people pleaser. It isn’t any different with teachers’ kids, politicians’ kids, or any kind of child for that matter. C’mon, all being a Curio’s kid probably did to Ross was make him more passionate for his interests than anything.”

“Yeah bu-”

“Colton or whatever your name is,” Cana cuts the male off a second time. “We honestly do not care if he was the son of an insane murderer. He’s nice and we accept him for what he is. Clearly that’s new to you.”

“Just wanted your thoughts damn. Chill.” Carson gets up, hands in the air for a moment before walking off. A few minutes afterward, Ross returns with a light grin on his face.

“So where’ve you been, Rossy-bossy?” Cana quirks an eyebrow jokingly.

“What the hell did you just say?” Ross quickly stops mid-walk once hearing the nickname. I consequently choke on my water a little before busting out laughing.

“Do you mean Ross the Rat?” Mist asks, a cat ear flicking with pleasure.

“Now what in all the things I’ve done, makes me a ‘rat’?” Ross spins to face Mist in a singular motion, making me tremble in laughter once more.

After a few minutes of laughter and chaos, Ross sighs. “I just was going to pose an idea and this is what happens huh?”

“What’s the idea?” Cana immediately stops goofing about.

“Having some fun on the town, everyone chooses where or what they wanna do so we all end up doing what we want to do in Little D’melio.”

The girls jump in unison, “let’s go then.”

I chuckle before getting up and following the two. “So who’s first?”

“I have a good play that I wanna watch in mind,” Ross answers. I start briefing the girls about play-watching etiquette.

That’s how I learn that they don’t really care for rules. It was like the entire theater was watching us…

Why does Jyrasck look so tired? I shrug it off and ask Ross who’s next. He says it’s Jyrasck’s turn, making the long haired male snap away from his exhaustion.

“Could we get a tour of the city?” He looks down at Ross, making eye-contact.

Ross awkwardly answers, “sure. This is the main street where all the vendors set up daily, like a neverending flea market.”

He points to a shop with meat hanging in the window and a sign with a creature’s head, “that’s Terise’s Butcher Shop. Everyone comes to him for poultry and deli.”

“Is that the shop’s name or what the people call it?” Jyrasck asks.

“Both, most people just call it Terise’s or the butcher’s.”

“Do you know him?”

“I remember it got to the point of him just asking if it was my usual or not.”

“Nice, I had some patrons back at the inn like that. I knew them like the back of my hand.”

“Was it ever like a saloon shoot-out?” Ross joked.

“Thankfully it’s mainly just the Old Man’s friends from ‘back in the day’ teasing each other.”

“The Misadventures of Jrya’s Inn, seems like an interesting book idea.” I span out my hands as if unveiling the name, just wanting to join in on the conversation.

“Ross?” Cana chirps, downcast.

“Yeah?” Ross turns to the blonde.

“Do you have a family.?” We all go silent from the sudden question.

“A borderline nonexistent mother, a self-isolating father, and a deceased sister. Why do you ask?”

“Do you think Tested have families..? Could I meet mine someday?” Cana fidgets with her fingers, staring at them.

Ross huffs, “Tested indefinitely have parents who conceived them. And thinking about it, depending on the time the child was brought to the Labs, the parents either gave it willingly or the government forced it. So you could see your parents and find them via. a DNA diagnostic.”

“So how do I get DNA?” Cana looks up from the ground hopefully, the sentence making Jyrasck snort slightly.

“Follow me,” Ross U-turns and walks up to a male like himself, only more unappealing and annoying sounding.

“Would you like to buy a-”

“Titus, hello.”

“Oh! Is that you Ross? How great it is to see you! Would-”

“Do you have DNA testing equipment?”

“To find out one’s heritage? Yes of course!”

“Great, sign my friend up for it,” Ross yanks Cana forward, Titus stabs an object into Cana’s face and pulls it away and puts it in a clear container.

“Alright! That’ll be all, five ivory for my services. Now how soon will you need results?”

“Soon as possible.”

“Right-O!” Titus flips around and catches sight of a young couple, darting over to advertise his wares.

“Ow… What’d you do that for..” Cana cradles her nose and mouth in pain.

“Titus is the most reliable person to do that nearby. You just have to trust the process.”

“I don’t trust him though,” I watch as Titus darts about, everyone he attempts to buy from him walks off nervously.

“Nobody does, he’s… special. Notice how he even forgot about the ivory?” Ross shows his palm to the group, all five ivory pieces still rested in his hand. He smiles weakly before pocketing it. “What’s next? We can tour and walk around town at the same time.”

“What’s the comfiest, least peoplated place around here?”

“Least peoplated place?”

“Yeah.”

“Depends on the day. But overall would be the ‘abandoned’ Kindred Coin by the big supermarket. Kids like to mess around in it and some seniors even host their workouts there. The government never puts any thought into demolishing it though.”

“Oooh! A postt offfice.. What’s that?” Cana drags attention towards herself, pointing to the building she just read the sign off of.

“Post offices send letters to people across their designated cities, states, sectors, or entire regions,” Jyrasck pops into the discussion.

“But doesn’t everyone already know the ABCs?” Cana tilts her head, confused.

Ross laughs a little, “no. Letters as in writing about yourself for someone out of your immediate company.”

“Can I letters?” Cana blinks.

“To who?”

“... Dunno.” The blonde shrugs. I hear Jyrasck mutter something about an old man as Ross looks up at the sky.

“Let’s find a place to eat, it’s around that time.”

“Lead the way Mr. Tour Guide sir,” Jyrasck grins brightly.