Miko can't remember a single time when he glanced at that girl and she wasn't glaring at him. What had he done to earn her displeasure?
Subconsciously, he sniffed under his arm.
Smelled like coconuts. Maybe his appearance? They passed by a frozen pond and he peered down. His hair was disheveled and his clothes had some blood on it.
Man, he needed a shower.
Maybe that's why she's mad.
Torches held by some of the riders allowed the surroundings to be viewable. On each side of the group was darkness. He shuttered, remembering its bitter touch.
Something draped over his shoulders. He looked up and saw a light skinned man with thin features and a straight nose. His face looked blue. His amour clattered softly. This man was colder than him. Miko shook his head and handed the man back the mantle. He only smiled and pushed it away. "You need it bud." Miko pulled it closer around him. First time in a long time that a stranger didn't regard him like a freak. A smile tugged on his lips. In one fell swoop, he draped half of the cloak over the man's shoulders. He gaped in surprise. "You need it bud," Miko whispered. The man chuckled.
At last they reached the outskirts of a settlement. Two figures in black cloaks stood outside the walls. The one with the beard halted the group once they reached the cloaked men. They regarded Miko with curiosity but let the group pass. A horn blew softly as they trotted through the gates.
The pathways were deserted and barren. Nothing stirred. Miko shivered but not from the cold. They stopped in front of a square wooden structure and dismounted their steeds, with Miko being help off his. Then they took him to a large wooden building. A thought struck Miko: these people must be planning to toss him in jail!
...Okay, maybe he watched too many medieval dramas.
As soon as they entered the structure, deafening applause and cheers erupted. Miko instinctively covered his ears. Just as suddenly, it all stopped with a raise of the bearded man's hand.
"Before we feast, I would like introduce my little friend here." Everyone in the place turned their attention to him. Miko flushed and out of the blue was rooted to the spot. Laura pushed him forward and the bearded man guided him to his side. Murmuring broke out in the crowd. "His name is Miko and he'll be staying with us. Treat him with dignity and respect. If you have any problem with him, you talk to me." A collective silence descended upon the gathered people. "Now, let's eat." More cheers resounded.
***
There wasn't a star in the sky by the time the feasting was over. Men and woman wearily trekked to their homes, hoping their kids were long asleep. Miko felt incredibly strange thanks to the mystery drink he'd been offered during the party.
Laura, who seemed equally drunk but more stable on her feet, led him to a dark shack. One of the rooms had two bunk beds and a sorry looking cot tucked in the back.
"You're sleeping there," she declared. Miko grunted in protest at the uncomfortable looking thing but one shove from the titular female convinced him. He stumbled in and collapsed onto his sleeping area, knocking out instantly.