Rensa was the last one back to Hoshu Village, as expected. Some villagers who had most likely been making their way far into the orchards had greeted the strange group of travelers and were talking warmly with them about staying for a few days and The Harvest. Some of the men seemed fascinated by the customs of the village, while some of the women were flirting with them. Anreya and Eriki seemed especially interested in Hak and Jae-ha. Woron and Shi-dae were speaking with Yun and Yona with interested tones.

She hoped to slip by unnoticed, but someone announced her presence.

"Hello again!" Zeno waved at her excitedly, he bounced over to her. She was surprised at his energy and enthusiasm. "You sure do walk slow, is it always hard to get around?" He asked.

Normally, Rensa would have been hurt by his words, but he did not seem to mean any offense, in fact, though his smile was bright, his eyes were intelligent and compassionate. "Yes, it has taken me some time to get used to, but I get to where I need to go eventually." She explained softly.

She felt multiple eyes on her, but ignored them. What pulled her attention away from the man, was what the villagers said next.

"Excuse us, we need to get to working." Anreya said, and Rensa noticed her new cold tone.

"Yes, excuse us." Woron growled and led the others into the forest.

Hak and Yun watched them go.

"What was that all about?" Yun asked.

Rensa sighed. "I apologize for the inconvenience. Chief Dai-ir is housed in that hut, he oversees The Harvest. He'll help you find a place to stay. Do not mention my name." She pointed them to the largest house in the village and then started for her own home.

When she was about halfway across the main path in the village she heard something squeaking behind her. Furrowing her brows she turned to look but no one was following her. She took another step and she heard another squeak. Something fluffy caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. There was a squirrel leisurely making its way towards her ankle.

"Pyu-kyu" It purred up at her like it knew who she was.

"Hello there." She said and slowly reached her hand down to it, not wanting to startle it. It didn't even flinch, instead it caught hold of her wrist and began climbing up her arm, coming to sit atop her shoulder.

"You're a friendly little guy, aren't you?"

Its answer was rubbing its cheek against hers. She smiled softly.

When she arrived home it was late morning. She gave it a quick once-over. Her front door was still intact, and it didn't look like anyone had entered, so she went inside. Everything was as she left it, and she sighed in relief as she closed the door behind her. Her hut was small, with a bedroll in the far corner, and a small stone-enclosed fire pit set into the wooden floor, close enough to keep her warm during the cold nights, but not too close to catch anything on fire. Near the pit was a box filled with some fruit and herbs she had collected In the corner closer to the door there was a chest filled with her few possessions.

The squirrel leapt off her arm and started running circles around her home until it came to a stop in front of her food box.

"Don't eat it all. I need dinner tonight." She said as she lowered herself onto her futon and set her crutch next to her. She pulled the slipper off her foot and set it with her crutch within reach. She stretched and allowed herself to sit for a little while.

The squirrel watched her curiously and scurried over to her as if searching for something. When it did not find what it was looking for, it touched her bare foot with deliberate intelligence. Rensa had never seen an animal act like that before. It knew something was wrong, and was looking for what he knew to be missing. Her other leg.

Rensa pulled her dress up to where it covered what was left of her knee, revealing the long empty place where the rest of her right leg should have been. "It's gone. I don't have it anymore."

The animal didn't make a single noise, though she somehow knew it understood what she was saying. It carefully jumped up to her good leg and came to curl up in her lap, like it was afraid to hurt her. It quickly fell asleep.

Rensa was impressed at the squirrel and wondered where it had come from. It obviously spent a lot of time around humans.

She allowed it to rest and followed it's lead, napping for a short time.

She was pulled from her slumber as a soft knock sounded at her door. Not the usual antagonizing banging she received from the village children. Was this a new tactic they were using? She didn't immediately go to answer it, waiting for the mocking laughter to start, though it never did. Instead she heard two soft knocks again, so she answered the door, after first moving the squirrel from her lap. Rensa was able to make it without her crutch, but she had a hand on the wall to keep her balance as she opened it just a crack.

A bright white color caught her eye and she knew it was Shin-ah, one of the journeying travelers, so she opened the door wider.

"What brings you here?" She asks.

He said nothing.

She waited, staring into the dark eyes of the mask he wore.

Finally he lifted his hand and pointed past her. "Ao." He muttered.

She knew he was talking about the animal asleep on her blanket. "Is the squirrel your pet?" She asked.

He shook his head. "My friend." He explained simply.

"Oh, you must have been looking for him. I apologize for taking him." She said and opened the door wider. "You may come get him." She invited him to enter and shifted so he could move past her. She hugged the wall. He strode in and gently lifted the squirrel into his hands.

He said nothing as he exited, and Rensa reached for the door.

"There you are." She heard Yona call from a little ways away. Her long dark hair spilled over her shoulders as she leaned partially out of her doorway to see her entire group making their way toward the edge of town. Why were they not being escorted by one of the villagers? This day was full of surprises. They quickly caught up to Shin-ah who was holding Ao the Squirrel out for them to see.

"Oh good, you found him." Yona said brightly. Shin-ah nodded.

"Look who else we found." Hak pointed over to Rensa.

"Oh… Is this where you live?"

Rensa knew she was wondering why her hut was farther away from the clustered together homes of the village. "Yes."

"This is perfect! May we stay with you while we are here?" She smiled and studied her small hut.

"Have you spoken with the Chief yet?" She felt puzzled at so many sudden changes and new people at her doorstep. The men with the strange hair colors were gathered together. Yun was watching her as she leaned against the door frame.

"Yes, but because you were the one who brought us here, he told us to stay with you. Though he accepted our services for the Harvest." Yona explained.

Rensa sighed. She had told them not to tell anyone that she brought them here. Now they were going to be treated like she was. Like outcasts. "My home will not fit all of you."

"That's alright!" Zeno bounded up to her once more, followed by Kija.

"We are used to sleeping outside." Kija said. He spoke so formally.

"Very well… Yona may stay inside with me. Good luck to the rest of you, it is getting colder at night." She warned, looking at each of them in turn. When her eyes met Jae-ha's, she found him gazing at her with narrowed eyes. She dropped her sight to the ground immediately.

"Well, now that that's settled, let's join the villagers for the Harvest." Yun piped up, passing the bag that hung on his shoulder to Yona.

"Can I leave my glaive here?" Hak asked as he leaned it against the outside of the hut.

Rensa shook her head slightly. "Leaving it outside is a sure way to never see it again. Leave your things inside, I'll watch over them while you work."

She moved back to her bed and sat. They came in one by one and set their bags and weapons near the door.

"Thank you for looking out for us today." Yona grinned and Rensa couldn't help but half-smile back up at her.

"Let's go pick some fruit!" Zeno cheered and led the group away.

It was so strange how quickly they came and went as they pleased, like they owned the very ground they walked upon.

Jae-ha lingered in the doorway.

"Are you going to accompany us?" She heard Kija ask.

"Yeah, I'll follow you guys in a little bit." Jae-ha assured him smoothly.

Rensa deliberately did not look at him. She did not appreciate the pity in his eyes.

"I couldn't help but notice a few things about your life here." He broke the short silence.

Rensa ignored him, picking up her blanket and laying it over her lap.

"Living away from others, how the people treat you. I would recognize it anywhere." He was observant, she allowed him that much of a compliment.

"I do not see how it is any concern of a stranger the way I decide to live." She spoke rudely, not trying to hide her dislike for him.

"You've been imprisoned." He stated, and it was like he knew what it felt like to be entrapped in such a way. She did not want to wonder, because that would mean thinking more about him, and she did not want that.

"I am free to come to go as I please." She disagreed as she picked at a loose thread she found in the fabric on her lap.

"That isn't the same as being free."

Her head snapped up and she glared at him. "Don't stick your interest where it doesn't belong." She hissed. He was unfazed. "Go back to your friends."

He did not argue as he left and Rensa sighed. She didn't understand them, and she wasn't sure she wanted to. Why was he going on about her being imprisoned and not free? Why were they so happy wherever they went? Was it because they were family? Friends? She couldn't see how anyone could smile that much, especially while on a long journey, travelling to strange places.

She could not leave even if she wanted to. She couldn't survive on her own. While she knew much about the forest and what she used to see of the towns they sold their fruits to, once she was injured that freedom did indeed come to a stop. Because of her physical state, she could not risk leaving the town. There was no way to run if she were to be attacked, and it would take her a long time to reach wherever the forest ended.

She also couldn't stay. Her people did not want her there, it was sometimes painfully obvious. Because she could not support herself she had become a burden, and they decided to stop caring for her. They were a self-sufficient people.

She did not belong anywhere.

Jae-ha was right. She was imprisoned.