Cecaelia

Two weeks later

Humming to myself I look at a piece of wood, it's in decent condition I'll have to cut a portion but I can hopefully use this to start my setup, I nod agreeing to the trade and hand a few cuts of meat.

I'm not sure what those dog beasts are but I've had to kill several for trying to attack me, they're completely feral with no thoughts, I don't understand why they're left alone to run around attacking people.

I even managed to catch a few large predator animals and skin them for their fur, I keep a good chunk of meat for myself and take the rest to town to be sold.

I been selling really cheap or trading if needed, the people have started to warm up slightly at least enough to talk while buying or trading stuff.

Luisa was the first person I met that was welcoming, she traded a blanket for meat and then helped spread word for more business.

I've noticed while I'm tall many of the villagers are tallish going from around 5 foot 7 up to 6 foot, the shortest is that old woman who's been watching me, I'm not sure what to make of her since I feel my condition respond to her as dangerous.

The villagers avoid her for the most part, I was invited to church Sunday but ended up returning to my cave when I realized the ones I'm trying to avoid are there.

I've apparently ended up in a place that worships something called the Black God being led by their priestess Mother Miranda and her three daughters who run the village.

The oldest Eva controls the lake and something called the factory, the next runs the castle where there's a wine business with her three daughters, and the youngest makes toys or clothes but hardly anyone sees her and she rarely speaks but does with her doll if needed.

I figure that's who's property I been on since I've seen a doll running around screeching about things.

"Ma'am?"

Looking up I see the older woman running the orphanage and smile "Ms. Sarah, lovely to see you again" I greet smiling.

She nods holding out a bag, taking it I look inside and smile seeing childrens drawings of fish, trying to my hip I lift my improvised cart and push it heading for the house.

"I appreciate you accepting those for food" she says softly.

Nodding I smile helping her take the meat in "I find children have beautiful minds when it comes to art, and them making fish for me helps me feel more at home" I answer sitting down my load.

"What do you do with them?" She asks.

"Put them on the walls" I answer heading out to grab more, bringing it in I put it down "do you need anything else?" I ask.

"Well Winter's coming, could you hold some furs for us?" She asks.

Nodding I shrug "I will" I answer easily.

Heading out I grab my cart and walk away heading back for my trail leading to my cave.

Getting to my turn I grab my head feeling something hit me, looking around I frown finding a doll behind me, leaning down I pick it up and looking around for where it came from.

Not finding a rope without a doll I shrug and place it on a grave stone I seen after dusting it off "careful Calypso, you could ruin your pretty dress" I say smoothing her outfit before heading on.

Reaching the water I head to my cave only to have something slam into me again.

Looking out I frown seeing no one before looking at what I caught seeing Calypso in a bag to protect her from the water.

"Calypso, what are you doing" I ask sighing "fine you can stay tonight, but you go back tomorrow I don't need her accusing me of stealing dolls" I say sternly to her.

Looking at her eyes I narrow mine watching for any movement but see none, I swear I've seen them turn their heads watching me and some that are placed around move almost following me.

If what I'm told is true about this Lord's dolls then I have no doubt they all can move or something, cradling her in my arms I head in and place her on my bed with the blanket over her lap "you stay there Calypso, I'm going to cook dinner then it's bed time, I'm tired and need to be up early in the morning".