The car rocked gently while moving on the tracks, lulling both boys into a deep sleep. They probably fell asleep because they both knew that they had each other, and always will.

Barney didn't know where the train was headed; he just wanted to skip town and all its lost thoughts. Waverly would only cause problems for them in the future. Clint just trusted his brother's judgement.

Barney also tried to avoid thinking about the future...that is, if they had one. It seemed pretty unlikely with how things were currently playing out with their decks of cards. He wasn't sure what to do when the train stopped.

Clint was thinking about the future too. But his only vision was with his brother. He wanted to stay with him forever and ever; if only they both thought that way.

"Jump!" They both yelled as they leaped off the train and to the hard, dirt ground. Clint rolled to soften the blow, just like Barney told him seconds before. It still took the wind out of him, but he kinda liked the feeling of adrenaline it gave him.

"Alright, good job. Now, we should head into town," Barney commanded while pulling a compass out of his bag. The crack in the glass fractured the image a little, but the crimson line was still legible. Barney didn't know which way to go; he just intended to head north and cross his fingers.

"Then what? Aren't you too young to find work?"

"Well, yeah. But I think they'll understand, we just have to give it a shot." I could also try and lie, Barney thought, but he didn't tell Clint that because he knew he would get a lecture.

The boys hiked through the woods for a few hours, still finding nothing. They had long run out of water in this heat. It must've been in the dead of summer. The lack of a cool breeze was also not helping their situation.

Instead, all that was found was brown and green smudges of Earth in the form of dirt and trees and plants. Acorns cracked under their feet, the pungent smell from animal droppings took over their noses. The noises made by insects and wildlife filled their ears.

Barney's throat felt dry. He had given Clint the last droplets of clean water and was now paying the price. He put on a strong face for his brother, not to worry him, but could definitely feel his facade slipping. He was determined not to crack. No, nope, not a chance that Barney Barton would give in.

That's what he told himself before they came across a pond. A pond with water in a bluish tint, and plants growing at the bottom in the center. Clint had known they were approaching a source of water from the recent abundance of life around this specific area. But he thought it was just his own wishful thinking; an illusion to play tricks.

Barney greedily drank up the water, not caring about the consequences. He couldn't even think straight to know it was a bad idea. So he just kept slurping it into his sand paper moith.

Clint ran inventory on supplies. They were still pretty full on crackers, their previous experiences of being malnourished were definitely becoming useful. Having recently drunken some water, he didn't investigate the pond water. Although, Clint did fill the bottle, being careful to not get any bugs. At least the ones they could visibly see.

Barney didn't start feeling the effects of drinking dirty water until nearly a whole day had gone by. It started with him throwing up- twice. Then, he started getting dizzy and falling over onto his knees.

He would've accepted his death if the circumstances were different. But unfortunately for him, Barney had his brother to care for. He knew he couldn't just disappear from Clint's life right before his eyes. Clint kept him fighting in a battle waged between life and death- whether or not it was his intention.

"You can't keep going like this, Barney!" Clint cried out while helping his elder brother up to his feet for what felt like the millionth time that hour. His face looked white and ghostly, too pale for anyone's liking.

Barney, starting to get annoyed by his brother's constant whining, was about to argue back. But then, Clint gasped. Barney opened his unfocused eyes and spotted flashing lights in the distance.

The colored lights covered the horizon line, glowing up the sky. Red, blue, green, yellow, orange, and purple shades of the color wheel lit up. It was beautiful to the pair of brother's; it meant life and civilization. It also presented the offer of help.

Leaning on Clint, Barney managed to follow him to an array of tents. Well, more like large sheets of red and white and yellow lying on the dirt. Several people stood by; some had brightly colored hair, while others carried pieces of equipment.

The first person to notice the boys was a rather big bellied, plump, and short man. He had a top hat in his hands along with a black coat lined with buttons.

"Are you kids alright? You ain't looking too hot," he said the last part while looking at the dark circles beneath their eyes and Barney's vampire face.

"Are you hiring-" Clint blurted out. His brother elbowed him in the ribs; Barney had hoped to sweeten the blow by using manners and showing their good sides. Clint noticed his grim expression and added, "-sir?"

The man looked at them both carefully. Ignoring their obvious cases of pain, as it was written across how they moved and thought, he looked at their eyes. There was a lot to see from inside of them in the eye. There he saw the absence of shine and light. The absence of happiness and joy and love. What he saw was neglect and abuse... But he also caught a glimpse of hope; their fight wasn't over yet.

"Welcome, my friends, to your new family. Welcome... To Carson's Carnival of Traveling Wonders!"