The still was alone, no one in sight, when Willa reached it, and she grunted, sucking her teeth in mild annoyance, before she heard Kitty whistling somewhere through the trees. Kitty was always whistling, usually tuneless big band and swing stuff, though it'd changed a bit since she'd started hearing new colored music back in town. Jack had taught Kitty to whistle early, real early, before even Vi had gotten the hang of it -- another thing she resented the only remaining Avett boy for -- right about as soon as they'd all learned she'd never learn to talk. As far as Willa was concerned, teaching Kitty to whistle was the last good thing her piece of shit twin brother ever did. 

Cupping her hands around her mouth, Willa walked up to the still and gave a short, sharp whistle of her own. The answering whistle stopped almost immediately, and a few seconds later, Kitty came traipsing out of the woods, grinning, skinny arms loaded down with a pile of sticks. 

Willa frowned. "You out here alone?"

Kitty stopped smiling and hesitated, which Willa took as a yes. The willowy brunette cursed under her breath and watched as Kitty began to go on the defensive.

"Don't start with me," Willa interrupted impatiently, walking over to relieve her teenaged sister of her load. "I told you you ain't allowed to stay out here on your own no more. Just like I told Vi not to [i]leave[/i] you out here on your own no more. The hell is she, anyway?"

Kitty pouted for a second before shrugging, stooping to shove a few bundles of skinny twigs under the basin of fermenting mash. Willa watched, suspicious for a moment before relenting. 

"No, guess you don't," she muttered. Her youngest sister was smart as a whip, but she'd always been a shit liar. 

She was hardly surprised Vi had cut and run again. Kitty was always more than willing to prove her use, staying entire nightlong shifts out at the still on her own if she could -- though even Vi was cautious on that end of things. And their red-headed middle sister sat still about as easy as coal turning to diamond. Really, Willa'd have been more worried if she returned to find the other girl ready and waiting. 

But that was neither here nor there. Vi was flighty and irresponsible, but even she was careful -- and angry -- after the still explosion a few years back. 

Willa must have had her nostalgia face on, because after a moment, Kitty elbowed her with an apologetic smile, and pointed to where she'd had a row of clay jugs already set up and labeled -- three Xs and a rose sketched in charcoal -- for filling and running, if Vi ever got back. Kitty was clearly proud of herself, and Willa found herself smiling nonetheless. 

"Yeah, yeah, alright. Listen, I'm gonna trust you to get back home on your own?" Kitty made a face, and Willa laughed aloud. "Alright, then. You been out here since dawn, girl. Git. Go get some sleep -- and [i]get to school on time[/i] for Crissakes. I'm not tellin' you again, you ain't got nothin' else to decide until at least summertime."

Kitty considered arguing, then decided she was too tired. Standing up on her toes, she pecked Willa once on the cheek before disappearing back through the way she came, her repainted bicycle crunching along through the underbrush.