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 Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:21 am
Surely Rory wasn't talking to Lynn. She ignored him, keeping hold, though unconsciously loosening her grip as they got closer. She was distracted, trying to find her mother while anticipating what might happen if they never managed to. The little girl whimpered a bit, tears rising in her eyes again. "Mama..."
Lee sighed under her breath as she walked closer, much too worried about appearances to be searching for anyone that might resemble the little girl on Rory's shoulders.
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:25 am
Rory took hold of Lee's hand when she got near, not aware at all (or just not caring) that they looked like the parents of the little girl. Neither of them were really old enough, even by didikai standards, to have a child Lynn's age anyway. As the got to the ticket booth, he looked around, hoping to spot the little girl's mother. "Any luck in seeing her yet?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:24 am
Lynn's choked little voice answered a quiet "Nu-uh" from above Rory, her head still darting around to find her mother.
Lee, too, was getting a bit worried. There was no frantic mother searching for her child, nor did there seem to be anyone that resembled little Lynn. It had been since morning, or so Lynn had made it sound. Perhaps the mother had moved her search elsewhere? "Maybe we should go see if Keagan's heard anything about a mother missing a child?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:27 am
"W' can swing by th' security, too, an' see if they heard anythin', either," Rory agreed, walking in that direction. He patted Lynn's little leg. "Take heart, wean. If she's here, w'll find her." He looked at Lee. "You think she woulda left t' get th' police t' help?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:32 am
Lee shrugged and nodded, though sounded rather unconvincing when she answered, "Yeah, maybe..." There was still a big possibility that they just hadn't run into the woman yet -- Farstep wasn't a small place, that was for sure. But somehow, Lee had the feeling that the woman was long gone. She didn't know why she was so sure of that, and had nothing to back the feeling up, and so kept her mouth shut, thinking it was best to try either way.
Lynn just slumped forward and rested against Rory's head, starting to sob now. Her mother wasn't at the ticket booth anymore. That meant she wasn't anywhere. She was gone forever, wasn't she? Lynn was sure of it.
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:34 am
Rory moved the little girl from his shoulders to his hip, cradling her against him as he walked. "Doncha cry now, lass. E'erythin' will be alreet."
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:40 am
"I loss mama..." was Lynn's only reply as she hugged Rory's side. It felt good to cry, though she wouldn't have been able to keep herself from sobbing if she tried.
Lee watched the girl with slight pity, rubbing her arm as she walked beside them, not about to say anything, knowing the lack of warmth her voice held when around children.
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:44 am
Rory sighed softly, wanting to comfort the girl more and not knowing what else to say or do. He hoped they found the child's mother, but was beginning to think Lynn was abandoned. At the security shack, Rory headed in and talked with the guys, carrying Lynn with him. None of them had any reports about a missing child, though, or had seen a woman that looked like the child. Thanking them, he came out and shook his head at Lee. "W'll hae t' gae see your da about her, I guess. He'll know what t' do." Adjusting the girl a bit on his hip, he headed off for Keagan's vardo.
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:51 am
Lee sighed softly as they walked to Keagan's vardo, watching Lynn cry into Rory's shirt. Poor kid. She hesitantly reached a hand out to rub her back in an attempt to comfort her, but pulled away as the little girl gave a grunt of disapproval. Fine. She'll just sulk the rest of the way...
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 1:56 am
The walk wasn't too short with all the people around, but they still made good time. Stepping up, Rory knocked on the door then stepped back as it opened.
Keagan looked him over, took in the little girl, looked at Lee, then grumbled. "You two must work a damn lot faster'n your brother, girl, t' hae one tha' age already."
"Um, nae, she's actually lost. Her mother went t' buy tickets an' they got separated," Rory said, though his look implied the girl might've been left behind on purpose.
The old man stepped aside. "Bring her in here an' w'll sort this mess out."
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:09 am
Lee just shuffled her feet and grumbled at Keagan's first response, having hoped that it wasn't as obvious a resemblance as she'd thought. She wandered inside, though didn't know if she was to stay through the entire "sorting out" process, but figured she should stick around as long as Rory did.
Lynn wasn't listening to those around her, simply busying herself with crying, feeling lost, and clinging to Rory. It didn't matter who this new person was, even if he was frighteningly big. He wasn't her mommy.
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:15 am
Rory sat down on the bed with Lynn in his lap, rubbing her little back. "Keagan, what should w' do wi' her?"
"Well, first things first. Has she eaten?" At the boy's nod, Keagan went on. "You checked all th' places she remembers bein'?" Another nod. "Looks like you two have some choices then, since it's likely tha' her mother ain't comin' back. You two can either keep her fae your own or see if someone in th' clan wants her or take her t' the outside authorities an' let them deal wi' her."
Rory nodded, looking down at the girl. Outsiders would probably put her in an orphanage or with bad people, so keeping her in Farstep would be best, he supposed. He looked up at Lee. "What do you want t' do wi' her, wife?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:24 am
While Lynn hadn't been paying attention to the big adult man, she still heard one thing: her mom wasn't coming back. The little girl's hold on Rory's shirt grew tighter, her crying louder, and all she could think about was her bed and how much she wanted to snuggle with her stuffed animals. Where was her mommy? Why wasn't she coming to find her?
Lee's eyes grew wide at Rory's question, and she stammered for an answer. "W-what do... Who would... Where would she be happiest?" Lee shrugged, not wanting to be the one to decide the little girl's fate.
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:31 am
"Prolly wi' us," Rory said, quickly adding, "I mean Farstep. If her mum left her here, then I'm sure she meant her t' stay wi' th' carnival." He looked down at the girl, hugging her. "But it's up t' you, Lee, if you wanna take her in or not."
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 2:44 am
Lee let her head fall back a bit, sighing softly to herself and muttering something inaudible. There seemed to be plenty of options for the girl, but there were only two for Lee to pick from. Keep Lynn or give her away. "This isn't really something... I can answer right now." She'd had, what, a minute to think it through? "Who else could take her?" Knowing all her options might help.
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