The Start To A New Beginning
Jan. 11th, 2020 11:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
yonkyuTitle: The Start To A New Beginning
Author: Yonkyu
Beta:spiralicious - jdl71
Alpha:deanshot1 - kiramaru7 - vexed_wench
World: Lantana
Location(s): Stokesia (yonkyu), Saint Mikhailsburg (kiramaru7), Riga (yonkyu)
Character(s): Wilfred Balodis, Zigor (the pirate)
Prompt: Introduction of new characters
Summary: Wilfred was a young man looking for his path in life when a natural disaster destroyed his home and killing his parents. He packed up his belongings that survived the disaster, including his dad’s special coin. Wilfred made his way across the unfamiliar territory to the land he heard about through stories when he met a pirate. The pirate taught him how to be an Antiquarian and how to make deals with antique items to make a living. After five years of mentoring with the pirate and finally arriving at their dream location, the pirate passed away. Heartbroken over his loss and grief, Wilfred traveled to a new land, Lantana. A place near a beautiful river and a shoreline of hidden treasure to be discovered. Despite his loss, his passion for coins kept him going, and he loved trading coins with others that came to his market.
A/N: I wanted to write and post more here and I wrote this little fic for my writing class. I’ve been wanting to introduce some new characters and locations in my land of Lantana and I hope I did that. Thanks tokiramaru7 for letting me go through your land and creating a tavern to get by and answering my questions. Thanks to my betas for sticking with me and listening to me vent along the way. Thanks to my alpha readers and cheerleaders for the love and support. Thank you to all who helped make this fic what it is. All remaining mistakes are my own. Cross-posted at ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
madrona_project
The Start To A New Beginning
The library buzzed with whispered chatter. Yet, Wilfred heard the beat of his own heart. He sat at a small table by an open window. The cool air blowing against his flesh made him reach in his bag for another kerchief to wrap around his neck. A musky scent filled his nostrils. Wilfred glanced out the window when he saw the steady rain soaked the ground. He decided to head home, not knowing if the rain would get heavier or if the storm would get worse and too dangerous for him to walk twelve blocks to his house where he lived with his parents.
He stood up, closing his history book and stuffing it into his bag. Throwing it over his shoulder, Wilfred headed out of the building, pushing his chair under the table. He made his way to the exit and shouldered the heavy oak door. The door felt like a bunch of first-year students were being jerks leaning up against the other side of the door for pure annoyance. He placed two hands on the door and pushed with all his might and the door swung open smashing right up against the wall, making the clock chimes clang like or someone was taking a large stick and hitting it against the bell. He cringed at the noise, grabbing the door with two hands to push the door closed and safe from the wind that swooshed by.
Wilfred looked out towards downtown catching the Galloway clock high on its tower. The gold glistened with the raindrops pouring down and the last bit of sunlight shining before hiding behind the darkest cloud he had ever seen in his life. And he’s only lived for twenty-one years.
He put one foot in front of the other, feet pounding the graveled streets towards home. Thunder rumbled in the distance when a bolt of lightning shot out of the sky, piercing the birch tree. A fire sparked to life. The rain poured down on him. Lightning lit up the sky. He ran for his life when another tree caught on fire. The wind picked up wagons and troughs and even large trees, roots and all, out from the ground. He needed to find a safe place to hide from the elements. He wanted to make his way home, but in this horrible storm, it was impossible to make it happen. The cathedral was a block away and he could hear his blood pumping through his body, heart pounding in his chest. Wilfred made a break for it and ran like he was being hunted. When he made it inside the cathedral and took a lookout from the entranceway into his community, he was met with a horrible image. Massive fires ignited across the town, heavy winds blew all around, and there was this funnel like a cloud that reached from the sky right down onto the earth below, moving fast and destroying anything in its path. Wilfred stood there rooted to his spot unable to move. His heart ached for his community and the unknown answers regarding his family. Would they be safe or not? Did they make it out or not? He stood frozen for what felt like hours but only a mere twelve minutes. The wind came to an abrupt stop and the funnel cloud disappeared. The wildfires burned bright and hot and without much thought, he ran all the way home.
He came to a halt, closed his eyes and took several deep breaths after running for his life. Once he opened his eyes, he gazed upon the place where his house had stood. Now, it was a piece of rubble on the ground. His parent’s bodies were tossed out in the yard like ragdolls covered in blood with a large branch covering their lifeless bodies.
Wilfred dropped to his knees and sobbed for his parents. In one disastrous moment, his entire world was taken from him. The despair overwhelmed him and he was not sure what he should do. He looked all around him noticing his entire community was leveled to the ground. What was he supposed to do now? Finish school or move on to another land and explore a world unknown to him for the first time? Wilfred stayed where he was and stared at his parents, willing them to move and help rebuild their house. They remained on the ground under the heavy branch, blood pooled all around them.
He wiped the tears from his face and walked the last few steps over to his parents and grasped the branch in his hands and heaved it off their bodies. Wilfred searched the yard for a blanket to cover his parents. Once he found a balled-up blanket, he made his way over, picking it up and laying it down over their bodies. They deserved some respect and dignity until their bodies could be buried in the family plot. He tucked the ends under their limbs and searched for any remaining belongings from the house that survived the storm. He found his dad’s coin collection. He wrapped it in his kerchief, pulled his backpack off his body, and stuffed the collection inside.
Wilfred scanned the open house and found another blanket. He carried it out to the backyard and walked ten steps towards the family plot. He found the shovel tossed against one of the wooden crosses and started digging a large plot big enough for both his parents to be laid side by side. Wilfred measured the depth of the grave he made for his parents and was satisfied it was six feet deep. He made his way back over to his parents’ bodies and pulled the blanket off one parent and wrapped the other one in the blanket. He laid out the other blanket and wrapped his mom nice and tight. Wilfred tucked the ends and dragged each parent to their resting spot and said a few words in prayer.
“Mom. Dad. I love you so much. I’m sorry your life was cut short. I will follow my heart and keep you in my heart until we meet again.”
Wilfred blew a kiss and started to fill the grave than made two wooden crosses with his parents’ names on them. He sat at the foot of the grave in silence thinking about the crazy storm that destroyed his community in a short time. In just thirty minutes a storm had taken out a town in one punch. He pushed off the ground and dusted off his pants. Looking back towards the house, he decided to see if he could find any of his belongings. Wilfred found another pair of leggings hanging off a tree limb near the front entrance and a shirt and coat hanging from a wooden log standing up from the ground. He stuffed them into his pack and made his way to the cathedral. Once there, he stopped and took in the neighborhood. It was leveled to the ground and the only two things that survived were the Galloway clock and the cathedral. The poor school was a pile of rubble, and he was a week away from graduating with the highest honors. In the distance, Wilfred noticed there was a sign blowing in the gentle breeze, stating: Graduation will take place at the cathedral. Next Friday night at nineteen hundred. He leaned against the wall behind him and let out a small sigh of relief at being able to finish school. Too bad his parents wouldn’t be able to watch it happen. That’s when he made the decision to leave after graduation and figure out how he fit into the world around him. He stayed at the cathedral for shelter and a roof over his head until graduation took place.
Then the next morning, he set off towards the new world for a new life with his parent’s love and support in his heart as he packed up his stuff and bought a small wagon from the pastor before leaving. Placing his small packages into the wagon, Wilfred began his journey to a new world and discovery of who he was meant to be.
He left Stokesia and never looked back. Wilfred had no idea where he was going or what he would do along the way. He was a history man and he loved his father’s coin collection. Wilfred decided along his journey that he would look for coins, specifically Millar Dollar for that matter. He would be a coin collector. He would search for the coins along his route to escape his grief. Wilfred weaved his way through a massive forest and a rocky hillside with boulders the size of mountain lions. He managed to cart a wagon that would typically be pulled by a donkey. Wilfred made his way through a community that dealt with multiple fires in rapid succession of each other. There were families and traveling markets going by him on their way to somewhere new. These people were run down and tired from all their travels. They pushed on through their exhaustion to settle down somewhere new. It dawned on Wilfred to finally settle down and make something of himself. He traveled for days and weeks on end just pulling the wagon along the turf and the river, he came about by chance.
Wilfred decided to set a camp for at least a week. He had been traveling for at least three months and needed some time to plan out his life and push himself to not thinking about his home, his parents, and his life that was taken away from him by mother nature in a cruel way. Wilfred would never forget that day for the rest of his life because he survived.
Wilfred found some good size sticks that he placed inside the wagon and placed the oversized blanket he had above the sticks and the top of the wagon, tying them down with leather bands.
This small area by the river was his home longer than he planned to stay. The river became an encampment for other families traveling the land in search of a new home. He was there for three long months until he met a pirate who camped a few wagons away. Wilfred was intrigued by what this man had surrounding his wagon; jewelry, clothes, and furniture.
He made his way over to the pirate and introduced himself, “Hello, I’m Wilfred. Where did you find these antiques?”
The pirate extended his hand to him and Wilfred shook it in a firm grasp. “Ahoy Matey. I’m Zigor. I’ve found some of these items by the river's edge and down lonely alleyways no one would ever want to take a look at.”
Zigor pulled out a fancy navy blue suit and handed it over. Wilfred accepted the clothing being offered and took in the details. Navy blue leggings with a shade darker blue socks with a matching navy blue coat. A nice off-white shirt with a matching kerchief that was ruffled when tied in the middle. There was a gold embroidery thread along the edges of the coat with three gold buttons to clasp the coat closed. It was in great condition and there was no way he could afford a piece like this for himself. It had to be expensive and he didn’t have the money to buy it if there was even a way he could buy it.
Wilfred could see out of the corner of his eye the way the pirate was looking at him. A small smile on his face making his eye patch move with his facial movements. Wilfred saw the pirate’s piercing gaze and knew before he did that Wilfred would accept this suit. He dug around in his pocket and pulled out the coins he had stashed. Wilfred was drawn to the suit and could picture his father wearing it. He wanted the suit so he could have a piece of his father to remember him by. It’d been months since he’d lost his parents and he missed them so much that he used the situation to guide him along his journey to a new land to call home.
Zigor, took a deep breath and asked, “Would you like the suit?”
Wilfred stared at the suit, lost in thought when Zigor's words reached his ears. He shook himself and cleared his throat, taking a step forward with the coins in his hand reached out, said, “Yes, sir. I would like to have a suit.”
The pirate beamed and took half of the coins out of Wilfred’s hands, closing his hand into a fist with the remaining coins. “Keep the rest. You will need them.”
Wilfred nodded, taking the suit in hand and heading back to his wagon. He beamed and felt a weight being lifted off his shoulders. Wilfred no longer had his family to help him but he would make it through and make something of himself.
Wilfred and Zigor worked together for five years after their first meeting on the riverbank. The two of them followed the river and made their way to Saint Mikhailsburg. They came across a farmer who was selling their donkey who pulled wagons. Wilfred wasted no time in getting one.
Wilfred learned how to make deals with other people from Zigor and made a name for himself as a traveling dealer of coins, clothes, and jewelry. It helped that he had knowledge in history to help seal the deal with others in making the most money he could get for the piece he was selling. Women stopped him for his jewelry and kerchiefs. Men stopped him for the coin collection he racked up in the thousands and each one was unique in their way.
Wilfred worked side by side with Zigor for five long decent years traveling from Stokesia all the way to Saint Mikhailsburg. The terrain was filled with boulders, forests, meadows filled with daffodils, and hills following the Buddleia River.
When winter came the river froze and they would stop and camp in the area for several weeks based on the amount of people traveling by them along their journey. The pair arrived in Saint Mikhailsburg on the first of February and not long after they arrived the pirate became ill. Zigor was unable to travel and remained in bed for a week.
It was early Sunday morning when Zigor took his final breath. The doctor stopped by for his visit and declared the man had passed away from an unknown disease. Wilfred shook the doctor’s hand and thanked him for stopping by and checking out his friend. He slumped down on the bed next to his only friend after the loss of his parents and wept. Wilfred had no idea what to do with his friend and it just brought up memories of burying his parents back in Stokesia. He knew the pirate deserved a burial and to be honored for taking him under his wing. Zigor taught him how to be a businessman and work with the customers in making a deal that was worth it to them both; the customer and the dealer.
Wilfred wore the suit he bought from Zigor when they first met and made a deal with each other. The suit brought him luck with quite wealthy dealings with customers that sought him out. The thought of the loss of his friend broke his heart and Wilfred needed to find a way to push himself toward a world without the comforts of those he loved. He used their love and support to put one foot in front of the other, day in and day out, to do what was important.
Wilfred gave the man a proper burial in the forest they passed on the way to their final destination. He laid down a maroon blanket Zigor traveled without on the ground and placed his friend in the middle. Wilfred wrapped his friend’s body in a blanket and tied a ribbon around his waist to secure the blanket to his friend’s body. He dug a grave six feet into the earth and picked up his friend and lowered him down. Wilfred filled in the gravesite and placed some dried daffodil seeds on top. He bent down on one knee and offered some words to a man that mentored him for five years and taught him so much about life.
“May you rest in peace after a journey of a lifetime. I hope you have all the treasures your heart can bear.”
Wilfred pushed up off the ground and made the sign of the cross, brought his hand up to his lips, pressed his lips to his hand blowing a kiss over the grave.
He gathered his materials and tools and packed them away in his wagon for his new journey. Wilfred felt disconnected from the world around him and he had to move on and find those he connected with. He had no idea how he would manage on his own but he would maintain his status as a businessman and make deals worth it for himself and his customers. He pulled the wagon back towards the tavern where his donkey was tied up for their stay at the inn. Wilfred fed the mule and went to have dinner before heading up to his room for the night. He would leave the next morning and follow the Buddleia River to a new world and meet people that would fall in love with his coins, jewelry, and clothes he found along his way and through his dealings with his customers.
After feeding his donkey, Wilfred entered a bar with large tables full of patrons drinking their beer, and attractive women with their busts popping out of their tops, handing out beers and loaves of rye bread. It was loud and chaotic with men arguing over who won the poker game. A large angry man stood up and punched the top of the poker table, scattering the chips and money all over the floor. While another group of gentlemen was playing a civil game of darts two tables away from the rowdy group.
He scanned the room and spotted a fireplace with a fire burning in the back with an open table. Wilfred made a beeline straight for the warmth of the fireplace and sat down with a sigh of relief. Once comfortable in his seat, he placed his hands over his face, elbows connected with the table. He stayed there for a while listening to his breathing and contemplating what to do next. When he heard footsteps coming closer to him and a woman whispering.
“Excuse me, what can I get you?”
It took him a moment to gather his thoughts and process what he heard.
“Excuse me, sir. Are you okay?” She asked him again.
He needed to answer before this woman left without taking his order. He raised his head out of his hands and locked eyes with the woman in front of him. Blue eyes glistened and a soft welcoming smile formed, spreading from ear to ear. Her peach dress showed off her curves and assets hidden beneath the linen. He plastered on a kind smile and licked over his dry lips. Wilfred ordered a glass of ale and chicken before the woman asked too many questions.
The kind lady turned and left to retrieve his ale. He scrubbed his hand over his face and stared at the flames flickering within the fireplace. Wilfred watched the flames shoot and spark along with the fire logs stacked inside the fireplace. The heat warmed his bones and he removed his dirt-covered suit coat and tossed it onto the table. Without wasting any time the woman was back and delivered his ale and food.
He nodded his head and reached out for his ale. He raised his glass and brought it to his lips taking a small sip. There was a strong bitterness when he swallowed the ale and placed his drink onto the table. The noise level seemed to calm around him when Wilfred scanned the large room watching the patrons and workers engaging with each other through dance, conversation, and companionship. There happened to be a couple near the back door of the bar necking out in the open. Lost in his thoughts, he never heard the soft footsteps approaching him. The person stopped and laid their hand on his shoulder, shaking him to get his attention. Wilfred looked up and saw the woman had returned.
Knowing what she wanted this time, he said, “I’m all set, madam. Thank you.”
He handed her some coins to pay his tab and bid the kind woman a wonderful evening. Wilfred made his way back to his room and cleaned up for the evening. He packed up his belongings and wrapped everything up in a tan blanket, closing it up with a leather buckle.
The next morning he woke up before the sun and got dressed in his everyday clothes of tan leggings and a tan overcoat. He rolled up the navy blue suit and placed it in the navy blue satchel Zigor made to hold the suit in when traveling around the world. Wilfred held the satchel in his hand while he tossed the blanket filled bag over his right shoulder and made his way towards his donkey and wagon. He untied the donkey from his post and offered him some fed while he attached the wagon for their upcoming journey. Wilfred set a nice pace alongside his donkey who helped make his business and travel easier for his lifestyle. Without the wonderful creature of muscle, it would take Wilfred extra time getting from one place to another. The terrain was a challenging journey. While the river became his trusted friend that would help him travel to a new land. Leaving Saint Mikhailsburg was hard, but Wilfred was ready to find a place of his own that he could call home. Wilfred met many different people along the way. When he arrived in Lantana, he felt connected by a peaceful nature that made him want to settle down. Lantana was known as the flower people due to the various flowers and bushes scattered across the land. The people there taught him about living life and how to stand on his own two feet.
Wilfred loved the colorful butterflies that fluttered around the area and made beautiful patterns on bushes and trees. The more time Wilfred took to explore the land of Lantana, he discovered Riga. A calm farming community with some villagers collecting different materials people made deals with each other. Wilfred felt at home here and wanted to put down some roots and have a family of his own.
Author: Yonkyu
Beta:
spiralicious - jdl71Alpha:
deanshot1 - kiramaru7 - vexed_wenchWorld: Lantana
Location(s): Stokesia (yonkyu), Saint Mikhailsburg (kiramaru7), Riga (yonkyu)
Character(s): Wilfred Balodis, Zigor (the pirate)
Prompt: Introduction of new characters
Summary: Wilfred was a young man looking for his path in life when a natural disaster destroyed his home and killing his parents. He packed up his belongings that survived the disaster, including his dad’s special coin. Wilfred made his way across the unfamiliar territory to the land he heard about through stories when he met a pirate. The pirate taught him how to be an Antiquarian and how to make deals with antique items to make a living. After five years of mentoring with the pirate and finally arriving at their dream location, the pirate passed away. Heartbroken over his loss and grief, Wilfred traveled to a new land, Lantana. A place near a beautiful river and a shoreline of hidden treasure to be discovered. Despite his loss, his passion for coins kept him going, and he loved trading coins with others that came to his market.
A/N: I wanted to write and post more here and I wrote this little fic for my writing class. I’ve been wanting to introduce some new characters and locations in my land of Lantana and I hope I did that. Thanks to
kiramaru7 for letting me go through your land and creating a tavern to get by and answering my questions. Thanks to my betas for sticking with me and listening to me vent along the way. Thanks to my alpha readers and cheerleaders for the love and support. Thank you to all who helped make this fic what it is. All remaining mistakes are my own. Cross-posted at madrona_projectThe Start To A New Beginning
The library buzzed with whispered chatter. Yet, Wilfred heard the beat of his own heart. He sat at a small table by an open window. The cool air blowing against his flesh made him reach in his bag for another kerchief to wrap around his neck. A musky scent filled his nostrils. Wilfred glanced out the window when he saw the steady rain soaked the ground. He decided to head home, not knowing if the rain would get heavier or if the storm would get worse and too dangerous for him to walk twelve blocks to his house where he lived with his parents.
He stood up, closing his history book and stuffing it into his bag. Throwing it over his shoulder, Wilfred headed out of the building, pushing his chair under the table. He made his way to the exit and shouldered the heavy oak door. The door felt like a bunch of first-year students were being jerks leaning up against the other side of the door for pure annoyance. He placed two hands on the door and pushed with all his might and the door swung open smashing right up against the wall, making the clock chimes clang like or someone was taking a large stick and hitting it against the bell. He cringed at the noise, grabbing the door with two hands to push the door closed and safe from the wind that swooshed by.
Wilfred looked out towards downtown catching the Galloway clock high on its tower. The gold glistened with the raindrops pouring down and the last bit of sunlight shining before hiding behind the darkest cloud he had ever seen in his life. And he’s only lived for twenty-one years.
He put one foot in front of the other, feet pounding the graveled streets towards home. Thunder rumbled in the distance when a bolt of lightning shot out of the sky, piercing the birch tree. A fire sparked to life. The rain poured down on him. Lightning lit up the sky. He ran for his life when another tree caught on fire. The wind picked up wagons and troughs and even large trees, roots and all, out from the ground. He needed to find a safe place to hide from the elements. He wanted to make his way home, but in this horrible storm, it was impossible to make it happen. The cathedral was a block away and he could hear his blood pumping through his body, heart pounding in his chest. Wilfred made a break for it and ran like he was being hunted. When he made it inside the cathedral and took a lookout from the entranceway into his community, he was met with a horrible image. Massive fires ignited across the town, heavy winds blew all around, and there was this funnel like a cloud that reached from the sky right down onto the earth below, moving fast and destroying anything in its path. Wilfred stood there rooted to his spot unable to move. His heart ached for his community and the unknown answers regarding his family. Would they be safe or not? Did they make it out or not? He stood frozen for what felt like hours but only a mere twelve minutes. The wind came to an abrupt stop and the funnel cloud disappeared. The wildfires burned bright and hot and without much thought, he ran all the way home.
He came to a halt, closed his eyes and took several deep breaths after running for his life. Once he opened his eyes, he gazed upon the place where his house had stood. Now, it was a piece of rubble on the ground. His parent’s bodies were tossed out in the yard like ragdolls covered in blood with a large branch covering their lifeless bodies.
Wilfred dropped to his knees and sobbed for his parents. In one disastrous moment, his entire world was taken from him. The despair overwhelmed him and he was not sure what he should do. He looked all around him noticing his entire community was leveled to the ground. What was he supposed to do now? Finish school or move on to another land and explore a world unknown to him for the first time? Wilfred stayed where he was and stared at his parents, willing them to move and help rebuild their house. They remained on the ground under the heavy branch, blood pooled all around them.
He wiped the tears from his face and walked the last few steps over to his parents and grasped the branch in his hands and heaved it off their bodies. Wilfred searched the yard for a blanket to cover his parents. Once he found a balled-up blanket, he made his way over, picking it up and laying it down over their bodies. They deserved some respect and dignity until their bodies could be buried in the family plot. He tucked the ends under their limbs and searched for any remaining belongings from the house that survived the storm. He found his dad’s coin collection. He wrapped it in his kerchief, pulled his backpack off his body, and stuffed the collection inside.
Wilfred scanned the open house and found another blanket. He carried it out to the backyard and walked ten steps towards the family plot. He found the shovel tossed against one of the wooden crosses and started digging a large plot big enough for both his parents to be laid side by side. Wilfred measured the depth of the grave he made for his parents and was satisfied it was six feet deep. He made his way back over to his parents’ bodies and pulled the blanket off one parent and wrapped the other one in the blanket. He laid out the other blanket and wrapped his mom nice and tight. Wilfred tucked the ends and dragged each parent to their resting spot and said a few words in prayer.
“Mom. Dad. I love you so much. I’m sorry your life was cut short. I will follow my heart and keep you in my heart until we meet again.”
Wilfred blew a kiss and started to fill the grave than made two wooden crosses with his parents’ names on them. He sat at the foot of the grave in silence thinking about the crazy storm that destroyed his community in a short time. In just thirty minutes a storm had taken out a town in one punch. He pushed off the ground and dusted off his pants. Looking back towards the house, he decided to see if he could find any of his belongings. Wilfred found another pair of leggings hanging off a tree limb near the front entrance and a shirt and coat hanging from a wooden log standing up from the ground. He stuffed them into his pack and made his way to the cathedral. Once there, he stopped and took in the neighborhood. It was leveled to the ground and the only two things that survived were the Galloway clock and the cathedral. The poor school was a pile of rubble, and he was a week away from graduating with the highest honors. In the distance, Wilfred noticed there was a sign blowing in the gentle breeze, stating: Graduation will take place at the cathedral. Next Friday night at nineteen hundred. He leaned against the wall behind him and let out a small sigh of relief at being able to finish school. Too bad his parents wouldn’t be able to watch it happen. That’s when he made the decision to leave after graduation and figure out how he fit into the world around him. He stayed at the cathedral for shelter and a roof over his head until graduation took place.
Then the next morning, he set off towards the new world for a new life with his parent’s love and support in his heart as he packed up his stuff and bought a small wagon from the pastor before leaving. Placing his small packages into the wagon, Wilfred began his journey to a new world and discovery of who he was meant to be.
He left Stokesia and never looked back. Wilfred had no idea where he was going or what he would do along the way. He was a history man and he loved his father’s coin collection. Wilfred decided along his journey that he would look for coins, specifically Millar Dollar for that matter. He would be a coin collector. He would search for the coins along his route to escape his grief. Wilfred weaved his way through a massive forest and a rocky hillside with boulders the size of mountain lions. He managed to cart a wagon that would typically be pulled by a donkey. Wilfred made his way through a community that dealt with multiple fires in rapid succession of each other. There were families and traveling markets going by him on their way to somewhere new. These people were run down and tired from all their travels. They pushed on through their exhaustion to settle down somewhere new. It dawned on Wilfred to finally settle down and make something of himself. He traveled for days and weeks on end just pulling the wagon along the turf and the river, he came about by chance.
Wilfred decided to set a camp for at least a week. He had been traveling for at least three months and needed some time to plan out his life and push himself to not thinking about his home, his parents, and his life that was taken away from him by mother nature in a cruel way. Wilfred would never forget that day for the rest of his life because he survived.
Wilfred found some good size sticks that he placed inside the wagon and placed the oversized blanket he had above the sticks and the top of the wagon, tying them down with leather bands.
This small area by the river was his home longer than he planned to stay. The river became an encampment for other families traveling the land in search of a new home. He was there for three long months until he met a pirate who camped a few wagons away. Wilfred was intrigued by what this man had surrounding his wagon; jewelry, clothes, and furniture.
He made his way over to the pirate and introduced himself, “Hello, I’m Wilfred. Where did you find these antiques?”
The pirate extended his hand to him and Wilfred shook it in a firm grasp. “Ahoy Matey. I’m Zigor. I’ve found some of these items by the river's edge and down lonely alleyways no one would ever want to take a look at.”
Zigor pulled out a fancy navy blue suit and handed it over. Wilfred accepted the clothing being offered and took in the details. Navy blue leggings with a shade darker blue socks with a matching navy blue coat. A nice off-white shirt with a matching kerchief that was ruffled when tied in the middle. There was a gold embroidery thread along the edges of the coat with three gold buttons to clasp the coat closed. It was in great condition and there was no way he could afford a piece like this for himself. It had to be expensive and he didn’t have the money to buy it if there was even a way he could buy it.
Wilfred could see out of the corner of his eye the way the pirate was looking at him. A small smile on his face making his eye patch move with his facial movements. Wilfred saw the pirate’s piercing gaze and knew before he did that Wilfred would accept this suit. He dug around in his pocket and pulled out the coins he had stashed. Wilfred was drawn to the suit and could picture his father wearing it. He wanted the suit so he could have a piece of his father to remember him by. It’d been months since he’d lost his parents and he missed them so much that he used the situation to guide him along his journey to a new land to call home.
Zigor, took a deep breath and asked, “Would you like the suit?”
Wilfred stared at the suit, lost in thought when Zigor's words reached his ears. He shook himself and cleared his throat, taking a step forward with the coins in his hand reached out, said, “Yes, sir. I would like to have a suit.”
The pirate beamed and took half of the coins out of Wilfred’s hands, closing his hand into a fist with the remaining coins. “Keep the rest. You will need them.”
Wilfred nodded, taking the suit in hand and heading back to his wagon. He beamed and felt a weight being lifted off his shoulders. Wilfred no longer had his family to help him but he would make it through and make something of himself.
Wilfred and Zigor worked together for five years after their first meeting on the riverbank. The two of them followed the river and made their way to Saint Mikhailsburg. They came across a farmer who was selling their donkey who pulled wagons. Wilfred wasted no time in getting one.
Wilfred learned how to make deals with other people from Zigor and made a name for himself as a traveling dealer of coins, clothes, and jewelry. It helped that he had knowledge in history to help seal the deal with others in making the most money he could get for the piece he was selling. Women stopped him for his jewelry and kerchiefs. Men stopped him for the coin collection he racked up in the thousands and each one was unique in their way.
Wilfred worked side by side with Zigor for five long decent years traveling from Stokesia all the way to Saint Mikhailsburg. The terrain was filled with boulders, forests, meadows filled with daffodils, and hills following the Buddleia River.
When winter came the river froze and they would stop and camp in the area for several weeks based on the amount of people traveling by them along their journey. The pair arrived in Saint Mikhailsburg on the first of February and not long after they arrived the pirate became ill. Zigor was unable to travel and remained in bed for a week.
It was early Sunday morning when Zigor took his final breath. The doctor stopped by for his visit and declared the man had passed away from an unknown disease. Wilfred shook the doctor’s hand and thanked him for stopping by and checking out his friend. He slumped down on the bed next to his only friend after the loss of his parents and wept. Wilfred had no idea what to do with his friend and it just brought up memories of burying his parents back in Stokesia. He knew the pirate deserved a burial and to be honored for taking him under his wing. Zigor taught him how to be a businessman and work with the customers in making a deal that was worth it to them both; the customer and the dealer.
Wilfred wore the suit he bought from Zigor when they first met and made a deal with each other. The suit brought him luck with quite wealthy dealings with customers that sought him out. The thought of the loss of his friend broke his heart and Wilfred needed to find a way to push himself toward a world without the comforts of those he loved. He used their love and support to put one foot in front of the other, day in and day out, to do what was important.
Wilfred gave the man a proper burial in the forest they passed on the way to their final destination. He laid down a maroon blanket Zigor traveled without on the ground and placed his friend in the middle. Wilfred wrapped his friend’s body in a blanket and tied a ribbon around his waist to secure the blanket to his friend’s body. He dug a grave six feet into the earth and picked up his friend and lowered him down. Wilfred filled in the gravesite and placed some dried daffodil seeds on top. He bent down on one knee and offered some words to a man that mentored him for five years and taught him so much about life.
“May you rest in peace after a journey of a lifetime. I hope you have all the treasures your heart can bear.”
Wilfred pushed up off the ground and made the sign of the cross, brought his hand up to his lips, pressed his lips to his hand blowing a kiss over the grave.
He gathered his materials and tools and packed them away in his wagon for his new journey. Wilfred felt disconnected from the world around him and he had to move on and find those he connected with. He had no idea how he would manage on his own but he would maintain his status as a businessman and make deals worth it for himself and his customers. He pulled the wagon back towards the tavern where his donkey was tied up for their stay at the inn. Wilfred fed the mule and went to have dinner before heading up to his room for the night. He would leave the next morning and follow the Buddleia River to a new world and meet people that would fall in love with his coins, jewelry, and clothes he found along his way and through his dealings with his customers.
After feeding his donkey, Wilfred entered a bar with large tables full of patrons drinking their beer, and attractive women with their busts popping out of their tops, handing out beers and loaves of rye bread. It was loud and chaotic with men arguing over who won the poker game. A large angry man stood up and punched the top of the poker table, scattering the chips and money all over the floor. While another group of gentlemen was playing a civil game of darts two tables away from the rowdy group.
He scanned the room and spotted a fireplace with a fire burning in the back with an open table. Wilfred made a beeline straight for the warmth of the fireplace and sat down with a sigh of relief. Once comfortable in his seat, he placed his hands over his face, elbows connected with the table. He stayed there for a while listening to his breathing and contemplating what to do next. When he heard footsteps coming closer to him and a woman whispering.
“Excuse me, what can I get you?”
It took him a moment to gather his thoughts and process what he heard.
“Excuse me, sir. Are you okay?” She asked him again.
He needed to answer before this woman left without taking his order. He raised his head out of his hands and locked eyes with the woman in front of him. Blue eyes glistened and a soft welcoming smile formed, spreading from ear to ear. Her peach dress showed off her curves and assets hidden beneath the linen. He plastered on a kind smile and licked over his dry lips. Wilfred ordered a glass of ale and chicken before the woman asked too many questions.
The kind lady turned and left to retrieve his ale. He scrubbed his hand over his face and stared at the flames flickering within the fireplace. Wilfred watched the flames shoot and spark along with the fire logs stacked inside the fireplace. The heat warmed his bones and he removed his dirt-covered suit coat and tossed it onto the table. Without wasting any time the woman was back and delivered his ale and food.
He nodded his head and reached out for his ale. He raised his glass and brought it to his lips taking a small sip. There was a strong bitterness when he swallowed the ale and placed his drink onto the table. The noise level seemed to calm around him when Wilfred scanned the large room watching the patrons and workers engaging with each other through dance, conversation, and companionship. There happened to be a couple near the back door of the bar necking out in the open. Lost in his thoughts, he never heard the soft footsteps approaching him. The person stopped and laid their hand on his shoulder, shaking him to get his attention. Wilfred looked up and saw the woman had returned.
Knowing what she wanted this time, he said, “I’m all set, madam. Thank you.”
He handed her some coins to pay his tab and bid the kind woman a wonderful evening. Wilfred made his way back to his room and cleaned up for the evening. He packed up his belongings and wrapped everything up in a tan blanket, closing it up with a leather buckle.
The next morning he woke up before the sun and got dressed in his everyday clothes of tan leggings and a tan overcoat. He rolled up the navy blue suit and placed it in the navy blue satchel Zigor made to hold the suit in when traveling around the world. Wilfred held the satchel in his hand while he tossed the blanket filled bag over his right shoulder and made his way towards his donkey and wagon. He untied the donkey from his post and offered him some fed while he attached the wagon for their upcoming journey. Wilfred set a nice pace alongside his donkey who helped make his business and travel easier for his lifestyle. Without the wonderful creature of muscle, it would take Wilfred extra time getting from one place to another. The terrain was a challenging journey. While the river became his trusted friend that would help him travel to a new land. Leaving Saint Mikhailsburg was hard, but Wilfred was ready to find a place of his own that he could call home. Wilfred met many different people along the way. When he arrived in Lantana, he felt connected by a peaceful nature that made him want to settle down. Lantana was known as the flower people due to the various flowers and bushes scattered across the land. The people there taught him about living life and how to stand on his own two feet.
Wilfred loved the colorful butterflies that fluttered around the area and made beautiful patterns on bushes and trees. The more time Wilfred took to explore the land of Lantana, he discovered Riga. A calm farming community with some villagers collecting different materials people made deals with each other. Wilfred felt at home here and wanted to put down some roots and have a family of his own.