Toddlyn curled up by the fire, her small, bare, toes wiggled dangerously by the open fire. Other dweller and gypsy kids sat on either side of her as a story teller gestured wildly about.
"The hero of Oakvale, strong, brave, handsome," the teller gave a toothy grin to the kids, Toddlyn shushed the boy next to her who kept making fart noises with his hands. The girl on the other side of the boy joined her before they all turned back to face the teller. "A real hero." Toddlyn's hazel eyes shone in the firelight with wonder. The teller spoke of the heroic deeds the Hero of Oakvale had done, grinning when the kids squealed from fear, and cheered at a triumph.
"But what happened?" The girl next to Toddlyn asked, "Did he live happily ever after with his sister?" They'd gotten to the part where the hero had to choose between his sister or ultimate power.
The teller smiled, and clasped his hands behind his back, "That," he said with a smirk, "will be saved for another night." The kids groaned, some of them falling back in the dirt with an overdramatic flail of their limbs.
"Off to bed, my poppets." The teller picked some of them up. Toddlyn sighed, the thrill of the story slowly wearing her down, she hadn't realized how tired she'd been. When she returned to her caravan she frowned, noticing her caretaker wasn't there, and noticing just how hungry she was having waited for her. With a regretful pout, she went to the next caravan over.
"Miss Katie," Toddlyn shuffled shyly by the fire, Katie, a rather plump woman with her long hair always twisted in some elaborate braid, and (in Toddlyn's opinion) the best chef in the camp, sat on a stump stirring whatever was in her pot.
"'m guessin' ya didn eat. Did ya?" She asked. Toddlyn shook her head, "Come 'ere." Katie sighed and nodded her over. Toddlyn jumped on the elderly lady's lap, eagerly taking the wooden bowl from Katie's rough hands. "No' all a' once. You'll get a tummy ache." Katie poked Toddlyn's thin stomach, this got a giggle form Toddlyn who tried to cover her mouth so the chicken strip she'd slurped up wouldn't jump out of her mouth.
"When's Theresa comin' home?" Toddlyn asked, looking at the gate to their camp. "Why's she always gone?"
"She's no' always gone, dearie." Katie adjusted Toddlyn on her lap, the young girl peered at the older woman over the rim of the bowl as she slurped up the soup. "Jus' fer today. Said she 'ad importan' business in Bowerstone."
"Why couldn't I go with?" Toddlyn asked, "I could carry grocers." She insisted, "I could sneak some sweets," Katie gave her a hard look.
"I couldn't tell ya, kid. She's a quiet one she is." Katie and Toddlyn fell into a one-way awkward silence. Toddlyn happily ate the chicken soup while Katie kept her unfocused eyes towards the gate, waiting for Theresa. Occasionally the older woman would shift Toddlyn on her lap, but other than that, her arms stayed loosely around the little red haired girl. It wasn't until the stars were starting to whisper their goodbyes to the sky that the gate to their camp opened.
The fires that once brought the camp to life had since been laid to rest, and most other gypsy children were tucked on their cots, drool coming from their small mouths and their noses tweaked cheekily by their parents who slept soundly.
Katie had since moved to her caravan, laying on her single cot with Toddlyn wrapped in her arms. The little girl had fallen asleep long ago, waiting for Theresa and mumbling to Katie about how she'd be a hero like in the stories.
Nearly unnoticed, except by those plagued by sleepless nights, Theresa slipped into the camp with a small bundle in her arms and a faithful dog at her heels. She spoke to no one, only nodding when someone acknowledge her. Theresa was surprised to find her caravan missing its sole other occupant. Knowing she'd be at Katie's, she laid the bundle down on the cot, unwrapping it to reveal a dirty street urchin. The urchin, a little girl around Toddlyn's age, had dirty blonde hair, whether from lack of a washing or if natural Theresa had no idea. She had a big, black bruise on her forehead from hitting a rooftop on her descend from Lucien's castle. Theresa was also sure that her back was bruised from being slammed against a different rooftop. Theresa continued to unwrap the girl, getting to what she feared. A large blood stain had spread across her chest, Theresa had managed to stop it for the teleportation from Bowerstone, but she had to work quickly to heal the poor child who'd been shot in the chest.
"Resa?" Theresa hadn't sensed the little presence behind her, "Who's tha'?" Toddlyn asked, rubbing her tired eyes.
"Katie." Theresa called., not looking back at the little girl.
"Sorry ma'am." Katie yawned, picking Toddlyn up and carrying her away.
Day broke, Toddlyn was asked by the other kids to play but she would just huff and look down from the watch bridge. Shivering from the cold, Toddlyn wiggled her bare toes under the hard soil, hoping the dirt would warm her. When a crisp wind blew her hair in her face, Toddlyn stubbornly pushed it back, curling up further against the ancient tree.
"Todd?" Katie seemed to appear from nowhere, "Come, girl, sit by tha fire wiv' tha other kids." She pulled Toddlyn to her feet, "You'll catch your death ou' 'ere." Katie walked her back down to the camp, sitting her down between the other children.
It wasn't until after a warming supper that Theresa emerged from the caravan. The little girl she'd carried in earlier that day was hobbling next to her, one arm around the dog that followed them, the other around a homemade crutch. She looked deathly pale, her eyes heavy and tear stains running down her cheeks. Her hair was pulled into a ratty bun, and her body seemed to scream in pain and misery.
"Toddlyn," Theresa said gently, though the entire camp seemed to stop and watch as Toddlyn put her bowl and spoon down on the ground, "Come here." Theresa said, though there was no need as Toddlyn was already cautiously walking over. Once she'd made it to them, Theresa stood between the little girls and the rest of the camp, who went back to eating, drinking, and laughing.
"Toddlyn, this is Luna," Theresa introduced the ratty urchin to Toddlyn. "Luna, this is Toddlyn, my ward."
Luna weakly looked up at Toddlyn, A fresh round of tears spilling over from her violet eyes. "Hello." She mouthed, her voice weak.
"Hi." Toddlyn shuffled awkwardly.
"Luna, Toddlyn will be your guard on your journey to justice." Toddlyn looked up at Theresa in surprise."
"What?" Toddlyn asked.
"Toddlyn, you said you wanted to know who you are. This is who you are." Theresa answered, laying a delicate hand on her head and sweeping her long red hair back.
Toddlyn looked from Theresa to Luna. "Luna?" She squared her shoulders, Luna blinked at Toddlyn, her lips pulled in a frown. "From today on, I will protect you." She stepped up to the dirty girl, vowing her life to the other.