Rosie Woodchuck was beside herself with grief. The orphanage was burning. As times were tough, the global economy crashed along with every local economy, the caretakers had quit because the state had to slash their wages. Rosie was retired and agreed to come in temporarily until things could be worked out, especially since she learned the children were practically on their own. It seems that she didn't arrive quick enough. She arrived at a scene of fire fighters frantic
The sight of the firemen became bleary as her vision was soaked in tears. Rosie was a strong old woman. A wise sage who many went to for comfort and stability. She had an inner strength that one could only achieve through decades of experience. Yet here she was crying like a little girl. Her head ached from her grief.
"Are you going to be okay," a small voice inquired. Rosie's tears evaporated as the image of a squirrel, maybe chipmunk hybrid, appeared. The girl looked to be about two years of age. In her arms was a bundle of fabric wrapped around a baby.
"Did anyone else get out?" The firemen might have evacuated them after all. When she arrived and didn't see rows of children outside Rosie had just assumed the worse and broke down. However, that might have been premature. The orphanage is located in a sparse neighborhood, maybe the fire fighters found somewhere to put them as unlikely as that sounds.
"Just Rouge." The girl sighed. The baby in the squirrel's arms started crying and Rosie immediately took it away from the toddler, ignoring the protests.
The baby was a cat, most likely female. She had a lavender coat and there was ruby jewel decorated on her forehead. The cat's cries slowed as Rosie rocked her until it stopped. The squirrel looked at the burnt building, too young to grasp the tragedy properly.
"Why were you outside and why were you doing with this baby, child?"
"I wanted to be a grownup and grownups take care of babies so I was taking care of her," the girl explained like it was the most obvious thing in the world. That brought a degree of mirth back to Rosie's heart,"so I was downstairs doing that watching TV, since I was a grownup no more bed time. Also someone arrived to put us to sleep before leaving so there was no one to stop me," Rosie wished that idiot had the compassion to stay the night until she got there, especially since there were infants. "Then I noticed Rouge was leaving, she told me that was her name, saying she was running away so I followed. My name is Sally Acorn by the way," Sally flashed a smile revealing a gap where her first set of teeth hadn't even finished coming in yet.
"Where is Rouge?"
"Over there looking at the truck." Rosie sprang into action determined to not be late. The bat was indeed looking at the shiny paint of the truck.
"Don't touch things that aren't yours." The bat looked at the woodchuck guilty. "Come with me," the bat followed Rosie back to Sally.
"Am I in trouble for leaving past bed time?"
"Rouge you are lucky for doing so. Now sit." Rosie reclined back on the curve, Sally and Rouge on each side, she rocked the cat back and forth maternally.
"Her name is Blaze by the way," Sally said proudly.
"How would you know that," Rouge said mockingly.
"That was the name tag on her crib batty." Sally stuck her tongue out at the bat.
"You are probably lying squirrely," Rouge got up to probably hit Sally before being forced back down by Rosie.
"Enough both of you, I'm sure Sally isn't lying. But don't stick your tongue out little Missy," Sally complied nervously to her tone the way all children, and most people, do.
"Are you in charge here?" What was probably the lead fireman came up to her.
"Yes, but I was just hired. The previous caretakers went on strike so I was coming in to start my job only to arrive to this."
"Well that means you are in charge here. So can you come with me?"
"Wait here," she said to two girls before following with Blaze in her arms. A police officer was waiting with a social worker.
"Did any of the other children survive?"
"No." The officer was blunt while the social worker look plain guilty.
"Don't worry we know the situation, you aren't in trouble for criminal negligence," the social worker said.
"That is not my concern!" Even the stoic officer felt fright in his blood at that. "What started the fire? Why was no one waiting on the children until I could get here."
"The firemen found a box of matches in the bedrooms. A few kids were playing with matches. As for the second one, the woman who was suppose to be waiting for you is under arrest and has criminal negligence charges, and endangering children charges pending." The officer had a hint of satisfaction when revealing the fate of the lazy care taker.
"You've seen that only three survived." The social worker looked on to the bat and squirrel who were gazing at the adult's meeting.
"What will be done with them?"
"They will probably be relocated to different orphanages."
That struck a sour note in Rosie. These girls were going to be placed back into a system that allowed this to happen. With apathetic agents who couldn't be bothered to do anything without good pay. One of which didn't bother to take a baby cat out of a toddler squirrel's arms.
"Screw you I've got this covered."