[center] She dipped her fingers into the water, well away from the fisherfolk and those washing their clothes. The group seemed occupied, so she had made her way away. [color=FF7F50][i]Another minute to think, I guess.[/i][/color] Really, Tabitha was fucking tired of thinking. Tired of walking. [color=FF7F50][i]Tired of everything.[/i][/color] That hadn't changed. Not for some time. [color=FF7F50][i]Two weeks and then some.[/i][/color] Plenty of minutes to think and widen the hole that had been drilled into her heart. 

[color=FF7F50][i]Plenty of time to stare at the wall. Or at some water. Whatever.[/i][/color]

 It didn't do well to reflect the harlequin's full visage, but Tabitha was thankful for that. Looking at herself was horrifying, in its own way. There was something in her that scared her, something that felt too much like the C-Route. [color=FF7F50][i]Too much like bad memories.[/i][/color] The water broke around her extended digits, creating small ripples that were torn downstream. [color=FF7F50][i]Does it even matter?[/i][/color] She raised her hand, fully prepared to smack herself again; but there was no fury in it. No indignation at her own weakness. 

 The sound of it was pleasant enough, though. A gentle lapping at the bank she crouched on and a the unbroken flow of Silverbrook's namesake. [color=FF7F50][i]Or, at least I think that's why they call it that. Hell if I know.[/i][/color] Tabitha grunted and lowered herself, crossing her legs and letting her hand dip beneath the surface. [color=FF7F50][i]Bite me, I fuckin' dare ya.[/i][/color] She slowly lifted her gaze, looking at the people; feeling the warmth on her back. [color=FF7F50][i]Somethin' wrong with 'em, for sure. Don't seem dangerous, though.[/i][/color] 

 Without thought, she touched the gun at her side with her dry hand; eyes drifting over them. Hearty waves greeted her, and broad clean smiles. [color=FF7F50][i]Huh, wonder if my teeth look bad.[/i][/color] That didn't really matter, she figured. [color=FF7F50][i]It's day one, gettin' a toothbrush ain't really fuckin' matter, yet. Besides, I'm...we're goin' home soon, anyway.[/i][/color] A smile found its way to her lips, and she waved lazily in return. It was bitter, but the residents of SIlverbrook didn't seem to know the difference. 

 [color=FF7F50][i]It doesn't matter. Whatever.[/i][/color]

 Soft footsteps made Tabitha turn. A smile greeted her warmly. Less intense than the others, perhaps even natural. A young boy, wearing a clean set of rough-hewn clothes. The two stared at each other for a minute, Tabitha's smile slowly fading. She spun herself, without much grace, to face the child. Her hand came from the river cupped, cradling the water. She brought it to her mouth and drank, all the while staring. [color=FF7F50][i]The hell ya want? Can't ya see I'm busy...[/i][/color] Busy doing what, though, came the question. [color=FF7F50][i]Being hurt,[/i][/color] she told herself, [color=FF7F50][i]over and over.[/i][/color] 

 [color=FF7F50]"The water ain't bad,"[/color] Tabitha said, hardly surprised, [color=FF7F50]"ya folk drink this all the time?"[/color] They weren't quite at eye-level, but it was close enough. The boy studied her, carefully; trepidation plain in his fidgeting, despite the smile on his face. [color=FF7F50][i]Kinda cute. Weirdin' me out, though.[/i][/color] Then again, she knew they were strangers who had just strolled into town. The others had made themselves busy getting food, and finding a path to Magician.

 [color=FF7F50][i]Honestly, I ain't wanna eat. This whole fuckin' trip has been a mess, I just wanna lay down and-[/i][/color]

 [color=c4df9b]"Are you a clown?"[/color] Asked with all the innocence in the world. Tabitha took it like a punch in the stomach. Her mouth set in a firm line, arms crossing her stomach. [color=FF7F50][i]No goddamn way. I ain't havin' this conversation.[/i][/color] She stared at the child, holding back the malice she suddenly felt. [color=c4df9b]"Because we don't usually get a clown, during the festival...it's..."[/color] Now his smile faltered, finally fading. He knelt close to her, whispering. [color=c4df9b]"...It's not normal."[/color] 

 [color=FF7F50]"I ain't a clown,"[/color] Tabitha said, leaning slightly forward, [color=FF7F50]"and I ain't wanna have to explain. I ain't here for ya festival, whatever it's about. Just passin' through."[/color] The child nodded, in response, but didn't rise. Something about him frowning seemed incredibly ominous. [color=FF7F50][i]Wait, he's usin' me to hide right now![/i][/color] She didn't turn her head, but with what Tabitha remembered of the river and people she had been staring at; she was, when turned, a perfect obstruction to their line of sight. At least for someone his size. [color=FF7F50][i]Smart kid. Wonder whatcha gotta say.[/i][/color]

 [color=c4df9b]"I didn't really think you were a clown. You don't smile enough to be a regular clown...I've already seen the others...I..."[/color] the utterance was soft, and carried with it some weight that Tabitha didn't understand but fully felt, [color=c4df9b]"I'm just trying to...figure out why..."[/color] Then it clicked for her. Pain laced his words. She didn't know where it came from, but she knew the signs of it well; she wore them daily, now. 

[color=FF7F50]"What're ya fightin' kid?"[/color] Slowly she put a hand on his shoulder, though the movement wasn't one Tabitha entirely wanted to make. [color=FF7F50]"Got somethin' to do with what's goin' on around here?"[/color] A nod, full of fear. [color=FF7F50][i]Why ya gotta come to me with this? Ya said ya saw the others. I ain't wanna...[/i][/color] The thought went unfinished; Tabitha determined not to lie to herself in this instance. It was the same as it used to be with Rani, a hand on the shoulder; a gentle squeeze, self-loathing and [i]somehow[/i] concern for another living being. [color=FF7F50][i]I really gotta stop. This ain't gonna end well.[/i][/color]

 It never really did.

 [color=c4df9b]"[i]Him.[/i]"[/color] It lingered in the air, pointed at Tabitha like a dagger. Her gut said it was exactly who she was thinking, but her mouth didn't want the words to pass. [color=c4df9b]"He digs into your head and starts taking things..."[/color] Tears brimmed in young eyes, and horror bloomed in the harlequin. [color=c4df9b]"It's why they [i]smile[/i] so much. They don't remember!"[/color] He was still kneeling, but his breaths came and went in rapid gasps. His voice hadn't risen much, but Tabitha still worried about it carrying across the water. [color=c4df9b]"They think the festival's for us. It's not...it's just more...more of the same."[/color]

 Tabitha stood, releasing her gentle hold on the boy's shoulder. [color=FF7F50]"C'mon. Let's get out of here."[/color] The harlequin stood, stretching, as nonchalant as she could be. There were no eyes on her back, nor was there a sudden change in demeanor from those gathered at the river. [color=FF7F50]"I ain't feel like sittin' down any more. Walk with me, kid."[/color] Something in her spoke. [color=FF7F50][i]The child begs for mercy, without sayin' it.[/i][/color] It was her voice and her thought, but the words felt foreign; shoved through a filter she wasn't familiar with. [color=FF7F50][i]Shall we give it to him?[/i][/color]

 As she guided him away from the bank, her hand idly slipped to the gun Tristan had given her. Tabitha looked down at the boy who had warned her. His eyes were pointed at the ground, his hands curled. [color=FF7F50][i]Keep it up, kid. Ya ain't gonna have to worry for too much longer.[/i][/color] The houses and various shops were at her left, as she walked along their backs in silence. Neither of them spoke for a long moment.

 After that moment passed...the question was finally asked.

 [color=c4df9b]"Where are we going?"[/color] He didn't smile. She did. Lightly, she mussed the kid's hair. He wasn't aware of her intention, and she wasn't sure she could go through with it. Part of her, however, a distant and vibrant part of her, was sure this course of action was best. [color=c4df9b]"You should go back to your friends..."[/color] It was hard not to laugh, that his concern was still for her; after what he had said.

 [color=FF7F50]"I ain't got many friends, kid,"[/color] that didn't sit right, now that she had given herself to that luminous shadow, [color=FF7F50]"What's ya name, anyway?"[/color] They were still trudging along. The markets were bustling. Trade here and there. Strangely, few seemed to mind the strange girl as she walked by; just outside the rim of their daily bustle. All oblivious smiles. [color=FF7F50]"My name's Tabitha. I ain't from around here, but ya already knew that."[/color]

 [color=c4df9b]"Ellard. I'm Ellard. H-Hello Tabitha. I'm...I'm not from here, either,"[/color] It seemed a struggle for the boy to say that. He looked up at Tabitha, half bathed in her shadow; his eyes bright and without their earlier despair. [color=c4df9b]"Are we going to the path?"[/color] She smiled and nodded, fingers still on the grip of a strange firearm. 

[color=FF7F50]"Yeah, Ellard. That's where we're going."[/color]
[/center]