What is fate? I won’t discuss whether it is real or not. It’s as futile as asking if one is mad. If they are mad, how would they know? One could go insane trying to ponder such a question. So, let us ignore the triviality of life and move on. Fate, yes. In simple terms, fate is the silver lining we hold onto as we drown in a sea of random chance. Or is that madness? I can’t quite recall.

                                                 -Immortal

Lunyx stared out the carriage window. The wind slapped his face with its cold clammy breeze. He didn’t much care for its slight, he felt stomach sick and wanted a moment’s reprise from his family.

“Are we there yet?” Mina asked for the umpteenth time.

“Not yet, pumpkin.” Their mother, Annabelle, said with an eternal patient voice. She was a noblewoman, with bright red curls crowned by an adorned ribboned purple hat. Her high cheekbones and thin red lips were smiling softly at her daughter.

“But, mooooom, we’ve been traveling foreveeeer,” Mina complained as she slumped down her cushioned velvet chair.

“It’s only been two days, dear. Sit up, you’ll become a hunchback at that rate.” Their father, Lucius, chided. He was the esteemed doctor of their town and was the reason they were out here in the first place. He was a handsome gentleman, with short black hair, and a dark complexion. His square jaw was tight as he spoke.

Mina groaned, but slowly straightened herself. She turned to her older brother, “Luny, whatcha looking at?”

Lunyx glanced behind at his sister. Her bright black curls framed her small face, and two little inquisitive brown eyes stared back at him. She was bored. He couldn’t blame her, the two of them had been forced on this road trip. Lucius had a business meeting in the city and he had decided to make a family outing of it, though Iris had managed to slip away, both Lunyx and Mina were dragged along.

They were both in this predicament, but that didn’t mean he had to be sympathetic, “Nothing.” Lunxy responded and proceeded to continue to look at the plain trees that coated the landscape.

“Lunyx, be nice to your sister,” said Lucius.

“Sorry,” Lunyx grumbled. He hated the outdoors and hated being stuck in this carriage. He rather be back at home in his room, with his pencils, paint, and paper. Mina popped her head from under his chin and looked out the window.

“There are so many trees. Wanna climb some?” Mina asked.

“No, thanks,” came Lunyx’s curt response.

“Dad, can we take a break?” Mina asked.

“We just stopped the carriage an hour ago,” said Lucius.

“But, we can’t do anything in here.” Mina complained.

“Mina, come over here, I’ll show you this nice embroidery pattern I’ve been working on.” Annabelle pulled her daughter towards her. Mina groaned. Annabelle laughed. “The sun is going to set in just a while. We’ll stop before then. I promise.”

That seemed mollify the seven year-old.

“Oh, that reminds me.” Lucius raised a finger, “Remember those travellers we passed by today? Well, our coachman talked to them and they said they had just passed by Blue Rivers, a small village about 15 miles from here. Anyway, a trading caravan just stopped there.”

Mina’s eyes brightened, “Can we go?”

“We can’t travel at night. But, we’ll go in the morning. The caravan should be there for a few days I reckon.” Lucius assured her.

“Yes, finally. Something fun.” She turned to her mother, “What’s a caravan?”

Annabelle laughed, “A caravan is a group of people who travel around the country, sometimes countries, selling all sorts of merchandise.”

“Like what? And why are they all in a group? Why are they travelling around the country? Do they have a business meeting like dad?” Mina shot in rapid fire succession.

Annabelle was happy to answer, “They don’t have a business meeting. They travel around the country so they can sell their merchandise to everyone. They travel in a group so as to be safe.”

“From what?” Mina asked.

“Well, the roads aren’t safe.” Lucius jumped in, “There are bad weather conditions, bandits, and other... things. It’s just better to not be alone at night, I suppose.”

“Don’t try to scare her,” Annabelle slapped her husband’s shoulder.

“I’m not, I’m just saying it’s always better to travel in a group. Which is why we have those guards outside right now. It’s best if she learns these things early,” said Lucius.

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“Is it goblins?” Mina whispered as if speaking about some conspiracy.

“Goblins aren’t real, Mina,” Lunyx groaned.

“How do you know?” Mina shot back.

“Because, they’re just stories people talk about, when they have nothing better to do. Like you, when you listen to them from under the table when we have guests over.” Lunyx explained condescendingly.

“Lunyx,” Lucius said with a tone of warning.

“Well, dragons are real! How do you know if goblins aren’t?” Mina shouted, her fists curled up in small balls.

“Everyone knows dragons are real and that they live hundreds of miles away. They have history behind them, we have burnt down towns to prove it. But, goblins, witches, magic, and all the other crap? Really, come on now, grow up Mina,” said Lunyx.

“Well...You’re a kid just like me. What do you know?!” Mina said as small tears began to form in her eyes.

“Am not!” Lunyx said in anger. He had just turned sixteen, the legal age of an adult.

“Are too!” She punched him.

“Ow! Why, you little!” Lunyx yelled as he moved to retaliate.

“Enough!” Lucius shouted in anger. He grabbed Mina by the scruff of her dress’ collar and threw her onto Annabelle’s lap. He then turned at glared at Lunyx, “Don’t even think about it.”

Lunyx stared at his father’s glare and swiftly looked down. He turned back to the window and its frigid breeze. Lucius sat back down on his chair. Mina tried to wiggle off her mother’s lap, but Annabelle pinched her thigh so hard, Mina screamed and thought better of it.

“It's only been two days and this is what our family has been turned in to.” Lucius sighed. “I wish Iris had come along. She was always the most cool-headed of the three of you.”

Lunyx grumbled to himself. He missed his older sister and her wit, she would of made this trip far more bearable, she always did. But, he hated when his father compared them. They stayed silent for a long time.

Annabelle, broke the silence. “Mina, caravan’s sell all kinds of merchandise. New dresses, fancy dolls, sweet candies and tea.”

Mina, for once, stayed quiet, as she listened along.

“They also have paints and inks from all sorts of colors. And daggers, sabers, maybe even some flintlocks.” Annabelle said, clearly projecting her voice towards her son.

What she said had perked his attention, but Lunyx was still resentful, “I don’t want to go.”

“What? Why not?” Annabelle asked in confusion. “But, you like the caravan, remember that time we went when you were not much older than Mina?”

“I said I don’t want to go.” Lunyx said, it was petty but he didn’t care.

“Lunyx, we are going in the morning. All of us.” Lucius spoke with a stern voice.

“But-” Lunyx coughed.

“Are you alright? You should stay away from the window, it's cold outside,” said Annabelle in worry.

“It’s fine. I have a stomach ache, just wanted some fresh air.” Lunyx coughed again.

“Why didn’t you say something earlier?” Annabelle touched his shoulder.

Mina sat there awkwardly, unsure of what to do.

Lucius put his hand on his son’s forehead. Lunyx wanted to move but knew it was better to let a doctor do his assessment. Lucius checked his son’s eyes, they were bloodshot. “How much did you sleep last night?”Lucius asked.

“How much do you think I slept in a tent?” Lunyx said bitterly.

“How much?” Lucius asked calmly.

“Not much,” He admitted.

His father narrowed his eyes, “You’re burning up. How long has your stomach been bothering you?”

“It just started about an hour ago.”

Lucius quickly looked out the window, the sun was setting. “We’ll stop here and I’ll make you tea. It should help. Once your stomach settles down a bit, I’ll give you something stronger.”

“Can I get some tea, too?” Mina asked with hope.

Lucius smiled, “Of course. I’ll make some tea for everyone.”

He signaled for the coachman to stop and the carriage proceeded to move off the dirt road. The guards dismounted their own horses and quickly began to setup camp. Once the guards had made a fire, Lucius quickly began to work on brewing some tea for the family. Lunyx sat on one of the chairs the guards had brought for the family. He looked into the forest and wondered why it was so quiet. Normally, there’d be so much noise in the forest around this time. One of the many reasons, he hated the outdoors, it was so noisy. So he took this moment of nature’s quietness as a gift from fate, a bit of good fortune amidst his bad luck.

Mina walked up to him with a slow and unsteady gait. Her hands behind her back and her bright green embroidered dress swishing from side to side.

“What do you want Mina?” Lunyx sighed.

Mina looked away, “Umm, I’m sorry about earlier.” She stuck out her right hand. She held up a few wild daisies. “These are for you.” She glanced at him, but when their eyes met she quickly looked away, her olive cheeks bloomed with a hint of rose.

Lunyx’s eyes softened, “Thanks. I’m sorry about earlier, too.”

That was enough for Mina. She tackled him with a hug. “I love you,” she whispered into his ear and giggled.

Lunyx smiled, “Yeah, I love you too, you little monster.” He tickled her relentlessly. She laughed as she struggled to get away.

“And what are you two up to?” Annabelle asked with a smile on her face. She held two cups of steaming tea.

“Waiting for you of course,” Lunyx answered, feeling better if not physically, at least emotionally.

Annabelle handed Mina her tea, “Careful, it's hot. It’s blackberry your favorite.”

“Yes!” Mina grabbed the tea with such severity as if it was a newborn baby.

Annabelle then turned to her son, “And this one is for you. Your dad made it especially just for you. It's supposed to help with your stomach ache.”

Lunyx grabbed the cup and took a sniff, “Ugh, it smells terrible.”

Annabelle took a sniff, “Oh come on, it's not that bad. Now drink up, so you can get better. We don’t want you to be sick when we check out the caravan.” She walked towards the campfire with Mina in tow.

Lunyx looked down at the tea. It really did smell terrible. But, his stomach ache felt worse. He took a ginger sip. He almost wretched. The flavor was far worse than the scent. He glared at his father, laughing with with his wife and daughter. Leave, his doctor dad to make a terrible cup of tea. He took another sip, which was somehow worse than the first. He tried to gulp the tea down, but only managed to burn his throat. His stomach only felt worse through the endeavour. He looked around to make sure no one was looking in his direction then poured the tea on the grass. He went to sleep in the tent the guards had prepared. He hoped he’d wake up feeling better.

He woke up to several screams and a low rumbling growl.