//------------------------------// // The Bard and Her Sisters // Story: She Kills Monsters // by chiko //------------------------------// Renee woke up to a guitar strumming. Once her vision cleared, she was assaulted by an abundance of pink. She was in a humble cottage, lying on a couch that had been pushed up to a crackling hearth. The girl at her side smiled, her face nearly obscured by a wild mess of curly pink hair. Something warm grazed her chin. "Drink," said the bubbly bright voice. Renee did as she was told, greedily taking in the thickly sweet beverage. Renee sat up, gasping in pain. She clutched the red-tinted bandages around her stomach. “Stay still. You’ll upset your wounds. The doctor should be here soon,” she said. "You're lucky to be around. Swimming in a freezing lake is preeeetty silly." Renee laughed politely before more cocoa was poured down her throat. It burnt her tongue, but it felt good to feel warmth again. "Where am I?" "My home, duh," said the woman. “Whoops, my name's Piper. My sisters tell me not to talk to strangers, but now we know each other's names, so it's fine. Right, Renee?" "How do you—" "Your friends screamed it all through the woods. Thought it sounded fun, so I joined in!" Piper bounced on her heels. "We found you passed out in a pile of snow." "My friends? Where are they?" Piper smiled. "Warming up at the tavern down the road." "Of course they are." The door opened, and a gust of freezing air blew through the cottage. "Blasted frost," cursed a gruff, yet feminine voice. "Looks like we're snowed in until it clears," said a calmer, detached voice. Renee turned to the door, finding a pair of gray women shaking off snow. "Hey, what did we say about bringing strangers home?" "She's a friend, Lana," Piper argued, scrunching up her face. "She's a stranger," said the other sister. "Remember last time?" "C'mon, Maude. The last guy didn't even steal anything." Piper blew a strand of hair from her face. Lana crossed her arms. "That's because Mabel started screaming the second he entered our room." "It's a great security feature," Piper countered. Lana grunted. "I'm gonna check on Mabel. Maude, can you watch the stew? Piper, be useful for once and set the table." Maude nodded and turned her attention to the pot above the hearth. "It should be ready soon.” She paused. "I hope you didn't drink the last of the cocoa." Piper licked her lips suspiciously. "Nooooooo." Maude shot her an unimpressed look. She grabbed a torch and held it to the fire. "I'm drawing a bath. You're bathing last, Piper." Piper whined. "But I don't like the cold water." “Too bad.” With that, Maude left the room. Renee tilted her head. "You let them treat you like that?" “Eh, they’re big softies. " Piper shrugged as she began to set the table. "I know they love me." "How so?" Piper picked up her guitar. “They work all day in the mines, so I can follow my dream and be a bard.”