Chapter 2 - The New Beginning

      For the next few weeks, the twins searched for some of their remaining property. There wasn't much left in the rubble of their home, nearly nothing survived the fire and still was in the condition that would let them either use or sell it. It was enough for them to have a decent start in life, but that didn't change the fact, that they didn't feel great about their future. When Rose entered the room, Johnatan could tell that she wanted to say something, just wasn't sure if she should. 
- Get it off your chest, Rosie. - he encouraged her.
- I... - she hesitated to say anything, sat down next to her brother, and glanced at him unsurely - I'm trying to get over mom and dad's death, but I'm not sure if I'm gonna be able to do it here. - she started staring down at the wooden floor and sighed - I want to leave, Johnny, and I'll understand if you don't want to come with me. - Rose looked back at her brother. Over the last weeks, her eyes lost their sparkle, they were blank and even the green in her irises looked faded.
- To be honest, I was waiting for you to say this. I don't want to stay either. - Johnatan responded. The idea of leaving their quiet hometown has crossed his mind enough times for him to start considering it. He was afraid that they are not financially stable enough to move, that's why he didn't tell Rose about it, but now she brought that up herself. "There won't be a better time to do this" - he thought.

     They packed their belongings and left the same day. Rose felt the cold breeze brushing through her hair, as they stepped on their family friend's airship. She never liked flying, but there was no safer way to get out of the town if they wanted to avoid ice worms and other not exactly friendly creatures of Greenland. She settled at the stern, where usually ships move the least, sat on a bench, and locked her eyes on the receding town. They have spent the last eighteen years there and it felt weird seeing it fading in the distance. She felt a slight sting in her heart when she realized it might be the very last memory of their old home. Just a small, pale blur at the feet of the mountain. They've rarely been to other cities, the misty town, that kept getting smaller and smaller used to be their whole world, but it was about to change in the next few hours and Rose couldn't wrap her head around it.
- I hate flying. - she said and held her stomach, as Johnatan sat next to her. 
- Are you gonna be sick? - he asked and leaned towards her a little bit, to check on her, she nodded. She was sickly pale like she was about to bring the content of her stomach back on earth. - Let's go then, I'll hold your hair. - he patted her on a shoulder and got up. Both of them knew that she had a flying sickness since they were little, and would get dizzy every time she got on any type of airship, but the stress of moving just worsened her symptoms.

     It was an excellent feeling for Rose, to be standing once again on the firm ground. Even if the city was a flying one, she felt way better there than on that bloody airship. 
- How come that you don't have flying sickness? We're almost the same at everything, but, of course, when it comes to flying, I'm the only one suffering. - saying that she passed her brother and went straight ahead into the city streets. The air was frosty, but it wasn't snowing. It looked like they had a cold night ahead.
- Where are you going? - Johnathan folded his arms over his shoulders and raised an eyebrow. 
- To the tavern. I need a fucking drink after that ride.
- Since when are you a drinker? - he caught up to her but didn't object to the idea. He kind of needed one too.
- Well, since my genetics are trying to do me dirty, I might as well take advantage of the fact, that I can hold my liquor way better than you.
- No, You can't.
- Yes, I can. 
- You just have more training! 
- Do I? - Rose looked at her brother and raised her eyebrows - Shall I remind you, that we used to spend almost every weekend at Fitch's? And guess who had to drag your half-conscious, drunk ass back home every single time?
- You just used to drink less. And it's not like you were sober. 
- Yes, but I usually could get myself to bed after. And every time we chugged wine, to see who passes out first, you would do that before me. You're not going to win this argument, Johnny, so shut up and let's go. 
- I really wish you were that barked out with other people, not only me, you know?
- Excuse me? - Rose stopped, turned to him, and folded her arms over her shoulders. 
- Would keep me from getting punched by the creeps hitting on you. 
- I can stand up for myself. 
- Can you now? Because last time I checked you didn't have the balls to say what you think, so something must have changed overnight. 
- Oh, I'll show you what I think, dickhead. - Rose dropped her bag and punched Johnathan in the gut. He gently hit back and after that, she did the same. They were fighting for a few minutes and, since they were trained by the same person, Johnatan was winning purely because he was stronger than her. Just as Rose was about to lay her next punch, she heard a man's voice behind her.
- Leave that lady alone, you piece of shit! - Johnathan felt himself being dragged away from his sister and before he realized what exactly was going on, he got punched in the face and he knew for sure, that it wasn't Rose's fist. She was standing maybe three feet away, completely dumbfounded when a big, bulky man was beating up her twin. It took her a good few seconds, but eventually, she put herself together and stormed up to them. 
- Don't you put your filthy hands on my brother, you stupid abomination of a village idiot! - she yelled and thrown herself onto the man attacking Johnathan. Her knuckles cracked when they met his head. The skin broke under the pressure of one of her rings and she could feel warm blood dripping down her hand along with tearing pain, but that didn't stop her from landing another hit. There was no chance she could take a man twice her size off Johnathan, but she wasn't about to stop. When what she said got to the attacker, he stepped aside himself. 
- He's your brother, my lady? - he asked, as she approached Johnathan and held his face to check his injuries. He had a cut on his lip, that was bleeding but seemed alright overall.
- My TWIN, you dumb clog. And if you call me "my lady" one more time, I will stick your head under the city gate and watch it decapitate you. Now, leave, before I lose my patience! - she found the most intense death stare in herself and looked at the man with pure fury in her eyes. The man nodded, apologized, and left, although not pleased that the lady wasn't, in fact, a damsel in distress.
- That was a creative insult, Rosie! Something did change overnight, did it? - Johnathan said, wiping blood off his lip. 
- Come here. - Rose dug a first aid kit out of her bag, put a bit of disinfectant on a piece of gauze, and began to clean his wound. She completely ignored his comment, but she had to admit, that standing up for him has made her feel incredibly powerful.
- I'll be fine, leave it. How's your hand? - Johnatan held her wrist and gently checked her wound.
- Just a scratch. Let's go to this tavern already, I very much need that drink now.

     The inside of the building looked a little bit dingy, every table and chair seemed to come from different sets, the light was provided mainly from candles and oil lamps. Although there were a few windows, made mostly of stained glass and covered with various clutter, that the owner collected over the years of running his business, so they didn't let much of the city light inside. The twins smelled burning firewood and tobacco smoke when they entered. It seemed that whoever was in charge here, didn't care about smoking inside or even ventilating this room every once in a while but didn't look like any of the siblings were bothered by this. There was a fireplace on one of the walls and they sat at the table right next to it. The nice warmth ran through their bodies when they settled beside the fire. Rose was taking care of her swollen knuckles when Johnathan got them their drinks. 
 - Are you sure you don't want me to take care of your lip? It's going to leave a nasty scar if I don't. - Rose asked and took a sip from her mug. Both of his lips were cut vertically on the left corner of his mouth. She didn't notice if the man that attacked him had any type of jewelry on, but he had to, otherwise, he wouldn't leave that big of a wound.
 - A man gotta have some battle wounds, does he? - I'll be fine. - he answered and drank a bit too. Rose wasn't the happiest. If they want to stay, they need to find a job here and it will be significantly more difficult if they both are beaten up. 
 - Do we plan on staying in this shithole, by the way? - Rose asked and put her ring back on. 
 - Why? You don't like the place? 
 - It's a city like every other one. But it's the shadow of Mont Forel that gives me the chills. 
 - Well, after that warm welcome we got, I don't want to stay here too. So? Vega Vega? It's not far from here and I'm pretty sure the mountain wouldn't be visible from there. 
 - And leave one dump for another, but in the middle of the Arctic Ocean? No thank you. I've got flying sickness, I don't need the sea one too.  

 - You're bloody difficult sometimes, you know?

 - I do. And that's why I'm so glad, that I have a brother, that has no choice but to put up with me because we're twins. Love you!
 - Love you too. So? Where do you suggesting we go next?
 - Netherfell? Or Jotunheimen? New Altah would be a good shot as well... - Rose took another sip of her beer. Johnatan just laughed.
 - You barely survived the trip here and now you want to go to America? You would have puked your guts out before we would reach half of the way. Not even bringing up the fact, that finding a pilot crazy enough to even get his airship near The Vest Sea is almost impossible. 
 - Well, you're right about the puking part. So? Netherfell or Jotunheimen? 'Cause I ain't going anywhere further, I like my guts the way they are now. 
 - Jotunheimen is still an island, so I guess, we're staying in Greenland. - Johnathan raised his mug - For the new beginning!
 - And all the shit it brings along. - Rose finished the toast and they both let the alcohol flow to their mouths.

     They stayed a night in one of the rooms, the owner had for rent. It was quite tiny and cluttered. Two small beds looked more than uncomfortable, and the twins were worried, that they may fall apart if they even tried to sit on one of them. The wind was whistling through the closed, draughty window, letting cold air into the room, but the owner of the place was kind enough to put a small fireplace in the corner, so they could keep the place a little bit warmer. 
- Well, at least it was cheap. - Johnathan threw his bag on one of the beds. He heard a crackle, but, luckily, nothing broke. 
- I need to take a shower. Don't leave the room, I don't trust this place enough to just leave all we have unsupervised. - Rose said and left into the bathroom.

     She looked at herself in the mirror and flinched. She hasn't seen herself like that for so long, she was surprised at how bad of a shape she was. She lost a lot of weight lately and now her ribs and collar bones were sticking out more than usual. Her skin was pale to the point that it looked transparent and she was able to pick up the blue-ish veins crawling under it. It wasn't a pleasant view for her, so she looked away and got into the shower. Rose closed her eyes and let the water spill all over her body. It prickled when her knuckles got wet and even more when the wound got touched by soap, but pain was one of the only things she experienced for the past weeks. It almost felt good to hurt physically instead of mentally and, although she knew that she shouldn't think that way, she didn't want it to stop. It was the only time she got distracted from the fact, that her life has fallen apart. Johnatan has crossed her mind. She considered herself lucky to have him.

     The twins didn't stay in that city for long. They couldn't afford to just take some time off, so they had to leave as soon as they found a pilot willing to fly them across Greenland. Rose was standing on the deck, leaning on the railing with her eyes stuck on the horizon. 
- Someone is alive today. - she heard the voice that always has warmed her heart. The only close family that she had left, the only loved one that was there and will be for the rest of her days. 
- Turnes out, that my flying sickness isn't as bad as I thought. Parker is just a terrible pilot. - she turned to Johnathan and smiled when he stood next to her. That was something that he didn't see for a while and didn't realize how much he missed it. Even if it was sarcastic, seeing something else than pain or fear on his sister's face has brought him a little bit of happiness, that he so desperately needed. Even if he knew, that she sees his struggle, he wanted to be the strong one. For her, so she could allow herself to be weak and unsure, while he would be able to figure everything out. But she couldn't agree less. Rose was tired of constantly being the one that needed protection. All of her life, first by her father, now by her brother, she was always shielded from the harshness of life for the most part, but that shouldn't be the case anymore. She was an adult, after all. Besides, Johnathan looked exhausted.
- You know, we're not going to arrive at Netherfell for the next two days. You should really get some rest. - she wanted him to take care of himself. They didn't have enough money to just sleep in the inns every night, so next time they would have a chance to sleep in a normal bed after leaving this ship might be in days, weeks, or even months. 

 - I don't need sleep. - he responded, but the bags under his eyes said something else. 

 - Yes you do. Go get some rest, or I'll kick your ass again.

 - Again? I don't recall you ever doing that. 

 - Just go get some sleep. You look like a fucking zombie...

 - Alright, alright. But are you sure you want to stay alone on the deck? - he asked and Rose just looked at him and smiled slightly. 

 - I'm a big girl, I can handle myself.  - she responded and after that Johnatan left. He didn't want to, but he knew that Rose wasn't going to give up. But she was right-he was very tired and fell asleep as soon as his head met the pillow. 

     Netherfell was so much different than any other city they've ever seen. It was intimidating seeing that the port only was almost the size of their entire hometown. They felt incredibly small in such a big place. Even the airships were nothing like the ones they've ever seen up close. Johnatan looked up at the clear sky and realized that it didn't look familiar too, for some reason. The stars and constellations were the same, but, along with the smell of the city air, it seemed different. He grabbed his pouch and took a peek inside. They had enough money to rent a place, but they needed to save as much as they could. In the back of his head, he knew that this night they are going to spend under the firmament, luckily it was quite warm outside.