Shae stood staring at the town/village in the far distance. She was just outside the crops of golden wheat. The sun was still high in the sky. She wasn’t sure what the season was, or how they even worked here, but what she did know was, it was hot. If she had to guess, as the day road on, it neared 40 degrees or more. While she wasn’t sweating hard, she was a little. Even from just the walking across open ground toward the field. As far as she could see left and right, there was grain fields. She could understand why the village would send hunters out after the troll. It was not far from their lands and could turn to hunting the villagers who worked the fields or even the beasts they raised. Not that she had seen any yet. Not that she had seen anything at all even. Not even people.

As she started off toward what looked like it might be a few small houses in the distance she worried to herself about he clothes. She was wearing runners, which she assumed would be a very odd sight. Maybe her clothes might pass? She thought about it now that her first goal was in sight. The shoes would have to come off and be hidden. She didn’t want to stand out that much to the natives. Her shirt and pants, well they’d have to pass. Her top was a dark green men’s hiking shirt with two front top pockets. And one pocket on her right arm. It was cotton, so it would probably pass though the weave would probably place it as very pricey at worst she hoped. Her pants were also dark green. They were also hiking pants with the standard two front two rear and two leg pockets. They were a canvas make with reinforced knees. She hoped would not stand out too much. Her pack was…

She sighed; ‘it is what it is. I will just have to roll with it. Worrying about the what ifs will only make more stress for myself when I don’t need it. Maybe I can pick up some footwear in the village more suitable for this world. Runners won’t last long out in the wild after all.’

With the worry behind her, she started moving into the field heading toward what she hoped was a town or village. She had at least a couple of kilometers to go.

As she neared, what she could now see was a small community, maybe 30 buildings in total. She could see a few people moving about their day. She had not seen anyone in the fields. So far, she was un-accosted and was sure a few had seen her approach. If she could pick out people, they could sure see her, a lone figure walking toward town in the field. Which she could see ended about five hundred meters from the nearest building. Most of the buildings were built in a circular pattern around larger buildings in the center of the village.

When she exited the fields and could see more people moving about instead of just glimpses here and there, she noticed almost all had brown hair. Some were darker toward black. She would stand out being blonde. Again, worry started creeping in as she would be different. Different was not usually good she knew from the history in her world. Different got you shunned at best, beaten, or killed otherwise. Should she risk it?

She stopped in thought. Not really looking at anything, her sight a thousand kilometers away. What should she do, what should she say, where should she begin? Thoughts roiled around unchecked. Then she felt a tug on her left pant leg.

She started and looked down at the young girl standing there in a simple grey shirt and grey pants. The girl had the standard brown hair, but green eyes. Shae had assumed they would be brown. She had simple light leather boots that covered up to her calves, her pants tucked in. She was a bit of a dirty thing. And well-tanned. Likely spent most of her time outdoors and playing or working in the dirt. The girl had a look of curiosity about her, staring mostly at Shae’s blonde hair and her eyes.

“Very blue!” The girl pointed at her eyes and grinned a toothy grin. How… adorable?

Shae’s heritage was of Viking, Sweden area, and mostly German. She had taken after her ancestors, doing them proud. She was just over 1.8 meters tall, with less than girly figure, more like tomboy. Big boned. Her mother would say. After she started to spend the summers at her uncles, she would make sure to keep fit. Which sure didn’t help her girly looks at all. She could easily pass for a man. In fact, she had punched more than a few arms back home over that statement. She still had a female figure, but she needed a swimsuit to show it off. Or tighter tops as she was a b cup.

Shae did her best to smile at the young girl who only came up to her waist.

“Momma! Momma! Come see her blue eyes!” The girl squealed as loud as she possibly could hopping in place pointing at Shae.

‘Shit!’ Shae thought. ‘So much for not standing out! I. could. Strangle…’ Her face was very red at this point. From fear, shyness, and a bit of anger toward the girl.

Shae tried to shush the girl, then noticed a woman fast walking toward them.

“Shush El! You know better manners than that!” She scolded her daughter. The girl pouted and hung her head a bit.

“I’m sorry miss. There are very few of your kind that venture this far. She didn’t mean any harm. Just excited is all.” The woman continued now looking, up, at Shae.

The woman herself had the trademark brown hair of everyone she could see, she also had green eyes. The woman stood no taller 1.7 meters, she was lean but not skinny. She wore a simple brown ankle length dress. She was a little cleaner looking than the girl, but still had the grime of a hard day’s work in the heat. Her skin was also well tanned like her daughters and the rest of the folk here.

At least she could understand them!

“Uh, umm… that’s all right uhm?” Shae stumbled over her words, trying to get her thoughts in line.

“Oh, where are MY manners! My name is Cathe. Pleased to meet you miss adventurer!” Cathe quickly let out.

“Uh, hi,” Shae’s voice almost broke as her throat felt dry suddenly. “I’m Shae. I just umm got here from doing an adventure in the forest.” She stumbled on, starting to run with the adventurer thing. “I didn’t mean to cause a fuss. Just passing through really.” She tried her best to put on a warm smile.

“Ahh, well the town has a small inn you can stay at or just get a meal and clean up. It’s just past mid-day so Pendra and her husband Kyle who run the place, should still have broth to drink and something roasted or stewed to eat if you’re hungry. It’s one of the bigger central buildings with the bed sign next to the main storage building. Very imaginative that Kyle.” She finished with a wink and a smirk.

That got Shae to calm down and smile more naturally. “Thank you Cathe. I appreciate the help”

“Not at all miss Shae. Now come along El. Let’s not keep the nice lady waiting all day on us.” She took her daughters hand and led her back into town.

Shae stood still a bit processing. So other than her looks, her kit didn’t seem to bring any issues. Though she was sure she would be asked about her runners soon. She’d run with the adventurer thing. Since she obviously stood out like a stork in a rice paddy.

‘Well, I won’t be mobbed and run off at least. I hope I can find something to sell or trade to the inn keeper. I wonder…

A bit of a sly smile lit up her face as she moved toward the village center and the inn with the bed sign.