"You paying attention?" A woman's voice brought Alanna back to the task at hand.<br/><br/>"Yes of course, my apologies." Alanna smiled warmly at the woman and continued to sort through her dwindling wares. She measured out a portion of rice and tied it up nicely in a small bag.<br/><br/>"Don't forget the peas."<br/><br/>Alanna glanced up at the woman taking in the sight of her. Her brown hair was neatly tied back, slight wrinkles were starting to creep onto her face, but the seemingly constant scowl made them seem smaller than they were. Dark eyes darted to Alanna's own. The woman's mouth puckered slightly as if simply staring at Alanna had left a sour taste in her mouth.<br/><br/>"I have them right here." She said in a soothing tone as she placed the can of peas next to the small bag of rice.<br/><br/>"About time," there was a small clatter as the woman threw the money onto the counter before marching towards the next stall. Alanna sighed and gathered the scattered coins, counting as she did so. Thankfully no one stopped at her stall as she placed the money into a small bag hidden on her person. She let herself sink onto her counter, half wanting to bury her face into her arms.<br/><br/>Everyone had been knocked off-kilter by the announcement. Alanna wanted nothing more than to sign up right away, but she had her parents to think about. She had the business to keep up. The people visiting the Market had been knocked into some sort of mood. Some were excited, chattering about the announcement to anyone who would listen. Others were wary, angry, ready to tear into anyone and everyone. Many foul moods were shifted to the vendors.<br/><br/>"You okay?" Valek watched her from his stall eyebrows knitting together from worry.<br/><br/>"It's just..." Alanna struggled to find the words as her eyes scanned over the Market, "they act as if the shortage is our fault."<br/><br/>"We're the ones they can take it out on." Valek said toying with the small knife he always kept on his person. "They're unhappy. Starting to starve, or in some places already starving. They need to take it out on someone. We're the best they've got." He sighed running his thumb over the flat of the blade. "It hasn't gotten violent yet. Look on the bright side, Lanna."<br/><br/>Alanna immediately scowled.<br/><br/>"Sorry," Valek said wincing at the look, "but really look on the bright side. They're making a team to fix it. The people may be upset, but that team could save us all."<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">I want to be a part of that</span>, Alanna thought. Her chest filled with hope at the mere mention of the team. She wanted to get away from her life, that was true, but she also wanted to help. If she could do anything...<br/><br/>"I know that look," Valek's voice had softened to the point that Alanna had a hard time hearing him over the other people. She met Valek's eyes and watched as some sort of sadness washed over him. He glanced away as a man with close cropped hair stopped at his stall.<br/><br/>As Alanna glanced away, she caught sight of a familiar face. Well, not quite familiar in the sense that she had spoken to this guy multiple times...it was more like one time. He had seemed lost at the time, so she had taken some time away from the stall leaving her parents side to give him a small tour. She remembered the fluffy black hair, and the rounded copper glasses which always seemed perched precariously on his nose.<br/><br/>Alanna could hardly remember the name, but she did remember his soft-spoken ways.<br/><br/>"Alanna," she turned away from the guy focusing instead on Valek's sad expression. "I know what you're thinking."<br/><br/>"Do you?"<br/><br/>"You want to go be a part of that team. I know you. I know that look." He then began to rummage around his stand. Alanna knew from experience that he began to dig into the expensive stuff. After a moment he stood back up his hand clutched around something he was keeping from view. "You should do it. They won't want you to...not after what happened to...."<br/><br/>Sorrow descended, and Valek seemed unable to finish the thought. Alanna didn't want him to.<br/><br/>"But you should. I think you'll be a good fit."<br/><br/>Alanna found herself shaking her head. "I don't have any good skills-"<br/><br/>"The world always needs kindness. They'll want you. Trust me." Valek brushed away her words easily. "Do it." He moved out of his stall and walked into her own. He watched her looking suddenly older. "Here, take this with you." He said pressing something slightly warm and very hard into her hands. "Never know what you'll need."<br/><br/>Valek moved away going back to his stall, and Alanna glanced at the object he had pushed into her hands. It was a knife, ornately made with swirling copper on the outside. She flicked it open, and stared at the blade. It was just a bit longer than her pinkie finger and looked sharp. She flicked it back shut and glanced to Valek, who was dealing with a customer.<br/><br/>Alanna decided, then, that she would apply. She would try, and if it worked she would take the knife as a memento of someone who believed in her. Valek was right. Her parents would be totally against her decision. But she was old enough. She didn't need their permission.<br/><br/>Her eyes went back to scanning the crowd as she slipped the knife into her pocket, the metal warm with her resolve.