Reaps_

You’ve just arrived in a swampy, dim town. As you look around, your gaze is met with shacks and cabins. It smells of rotted wood and wet moss. You duck and step into a tattered tent, illuminated by a series of candles suspended in the air. At the back of the tent, an old hag raises her head, “What brings you to this dingy town? she begins, then pauses to study your face—”Ah, it’s you. I’ve been expecting you. Sit,” she gestures at a cushion, “Tell me your story.”

((How do you respond?))

"Expecting me you say?..." Robert says as his right hand clutches the framing of the tent, he feels the damp cold texture radiating through the rough calluses of his over worked hand.  Taking a deep breath, he squints into the gloomy tent spotting the faded cushion. 

As he slowly approaches the cushion to sit down - exhausted - his eyes connect strongly with the old hags... "I am a little tired from my journey and a little damp from the cold night air...but seeing as you have offered me a place to rest I will tell you a little about myself" he said. He takes another deep breath only this time exhaling slowly "I am the youngest of 4, but only 2 of us remain. My mother has passed and my father, well... my father, he is but a shell of his former self. I helped him as a labourer, doing different jobs in our town but things have been changing, the air, the people, fear has been spreading". He pauses suddenly as a gust of wind howls through the tent. Robert turns his head towards the entrance breaking the gaze with the old hag. 

"I've come looking for work and to start my life anew, free of the past. Free from the burdens of my family" he says, a deep frown appearing across his weathered face. 

Robert stands up from the tatty cushion and creeps towards the tent entrance, looking back at the old hag he nods his head in a respectful manner and says "thank you for showing me kindness" before heading to begin his new life.