[IC] A Long Walk (Aisling and Bloonewb)

[Aisling]

Just outside of a small town, a gypsy caravan stopped. The head of the caravan gave a shrill whistle which meant that everyone was to get ready to go into town as an exhibit or a circus side show.

Noreene had to get her younger sister, Caroline, ready for her first showing of her skills and cuteness. Her blonde hair was rare in the caravan but she was a splitting image of her mother, Bridget. Caroline had her first tambourine which she was to shake and tap in rhythm to the various songs. Naureene was to make sure that she did her bit well or she would get extra duties if Caroline did not perform properly.

Once everyone was personally inspected by the head of the caravan- their father- the caravan rolled into the town. The younger lads were doing tumbling and juggling while the older lads were doing the music. The younger girls were dancing their dances and shaking the tambourines as they danced their way.

The older girls were doing the sensuous dances with the young mothers of the caravan. The young men were keeping an eye on the female folk making sure that none were kissed. They were short of members, both the male and the female.

[bloonewb]

Jacquelyn looked up from the dirt. A loud caravan had come into town, bringing with it exotic foreign performers. Jacquelyn got up from her sitting position, and wiped the red chalk off her forearms. Despite how sympathy inducing and coin obtaining that ploy was, it'll have to wait.

"Hello?" she called out to a girl of about 10-12.

"Whudduyawant?" The other girl mumbled back.

"Would you like to play a game? It's easy. We tell each other riddles. The one who can't answer loses, and gives the winner all the money they have."

"Okay," the other girl responded, slightly skeptically.

"Very well. I'll begin. I am a red bird-"

"No, you're a person."

"It's part of the riddle. I'll start again. I am a red bird who flies between thirty white horsemen. What am I?"

The other girl thought for a minute, scrunching up her face. It was obvious she lacked the mental capacity to solve this riddle. Jacquelyn struggled to contain her laughter, knowing that the moment she chuckled a bit at this, she loses her opportunity for a substantial coin gathering.

[Aisling]

Caroline was performing beautifully and was very captivating, Noreene noted as she danced with her partner. In and out then around forward, in, around front......Noreene danced. She was not as graceful as her younger sister. She had a different talent but was not allowed to use it yet. Granny told her to be more patient. Until then she would dance.

Noreene made a slight stumble for something about a pair of girls not far was off. Now she would have to practice that dance for an hour or so tomorrow as well as doing her chores. In spite of the fact that everyone knew that she was not graceful and she put forth her best effort, Noreene often made mistakes in her dancing.

The dance ended in the center of main street where those who did that particular dance could rest while the next group did their portion. She was glad that all she had to do was to rest.....

That is until suddenly a hat was plopped down in front of her. She glanced up and she saw her father who was placing th hats instead of Sean who was most likely girl hunting again.

[bloonewb]

Jacquelyn walked off with 5 bronze coins, leaving the other girl, whom she learned was named Betsy. She was part of that caravan that came in. "Wow, those people are real suckers," she said to herself quietly. She then looked over at the large street in town and saw two other girls from the caravan. If they're all as gullible as the first, she's in for a large payoff today. Perhaps even enough to buy some more cane sugar from the merchant that comes once a week. Mmmmm, cane sugar . . .

A hat was on the street, in front of the girls. Jacquelyn walked up to it and placed one bronze from their own money in the hat. "A beautiful performance," she said to the girl standing in front. "I want to be your friend. What's your name? Do you like riddles?" By the snake Hetuis, people are so dumb.

[Aisling]

"Hello there. Thank you for the coin. I do like riddles but i am a bit busy at the moment. Perhaps when I have a spare moment?" She caught her father's eye who gave a slight nod. Noreene tipped the hat towards herself which would remove the coins into a hidden area inside.
"So many people like to take our coins when we are not watching carefully."

Micheal came walking with Bessie who was in tears. He walked her past Noreene and Betsy whispered something to him that made him yank her along to the camp. Another male came over from another caravan and began talking to Micheal. A third male sneaked up behind the very distraught Betsy and kissed her fully on the lips very hard as well as intimately.

Of course that was taboo and most people were distracted by the forbidden sight. They knew that in a very few days, that girl would be married to the guy. Noreene reached for the hat as she glanced at the sight in fear of someone taking the hat and contents.

[bloonewb]

Jacquelyn saw the two people kissing, one of which was Betsy. It was a very effective distraction. She looked back at the hat, which earlier had been moderately filled with coins, but was now empty.

"So many people like to take our coins when we are not watching carefully," the other girl commented. Darn, she missed her chance. Not everyone in the caravan's so dull after all.

"How about I tell you one anyways. Ok, here goes. I shorten as I age, but stop with the wind. Take some time to think about it." Jacquelyn says, walking off to go browse the town market. "Here, when you're not busy anymore, we can talk over some of old Billy's soup. It's really good."

[Aisling]

Noreene was not too sure about the girl and she thought that she knew the answer anyways. She stood up and picked up the hat.
Sean walked over to the lad and spun him around.

"Lay off my daughter, boy. Now take me to your parents and I mean now." Sean snarled at the boy as he grabbed the boy's ear.
"Take Betsy to the girls' wagon. I'll be back in a bit."

"Yes, sir. Come and I'll get Granny to fix you a bit of tea." Micheal spoke more gently for he knew what was to come to Betsy and
Olivia will be extremely furious unless she too was 'taken'.

Meanwhile, Noreene had caught the undertones of the first problem. Which was the pick pocketing from Betsy. Noreene went to her mother, Bridget who sighs wearily as she listened to her daughter.
After the story was told, Bridget went into town to see what she could see. What she did see was Olivia flirting brazenly with several males. She walked up to Bridget and with her arms crossed, foot tapping,
"Just what are you lads doing with my Olivia? I swear this town is pure evil. One daughter has her money stolen from her then roughly kissed. Another daughter who ought to know much better, is showing lads way too much leg. At least Noreene had the sense to tell me that Caroline is out and about. Now then your names lads." she spoke in an authoritative manner.

Caroline was walking about looking for the girl who stopped and talked to Noreene. She wanted a friend and thought that maybe she would be a friend to talk to. She was the youngest of the caravan except for the three babies.

[bloonewb]

The evening was nice and calm, as it always was. A cool breeze blew from Old Grandfather's Mountain, in the northeast. Jacquelyn sat on the edge of the fountain in the town square, sipping slowly at some of Billy's soup. This was one of the few times of day she just sits there and enjoys the mild southern weather. The bell in the church strikes six times, signifying the time of day.

Jacquelyn looked up and saw a young girl, with blonde curls, slowly bouncing down the street. She smiled, guessing she was also part of the caravan. Those wandering nomads always seemed to have huge families. The little girl looked friendly enough, so when the girl looked in her direction, Jacquelyn would wave in a friendly manner.

[Aisling]

Caroline skipped her way to the girl for she was not at all shy and very bright for her age.
"Hi! How are you doing?" she spoke very politely and stood a short distance off to one side.

Noreene kept an eye on Caroline and saw her mother coming rather quickly. She caught her eye then gave a slight shake. A short nod and she passed on to the other side of the fountain knowing that Noreene would look after the girl. She needed to find Sean and take to these young scallywags to him as well as a sad looking Olivia.

Noreene meandered along until she came to a few males who walked very quickly towards her. She didn't any intrusion yet she had no other female around until Peter came along. He walked right up to Noreene and spoke
"You of all people should know better than being out here where you can get caught. Betsy was caught and if the rumor is right, Olivia was caught flirting with three."

Noreene hissed to him as he talked to her.
'Caroline don't turn'

Peter glanced up at the males to see if they were still approaching or not.

"How might I assist you, gentlemen this evening? Noreene, go sit at the fountain now and wait until I fetch you." Peter spoke as he roughly
shoved Noreene.

"You could be more gentle, you know. Unless you are an overgrown mastodon." Noreene retorted then acted as if she was hurt as she walked over to the fountain. She only had a couple coppers in her pocket but they would well enough.......

[bloonewb]

"Hi, how are you?" asked Jacquelyn. "Do you also like the sunset?" The sun was indeed setting, it's rays jutting out from behind Old Grandfather's Mountain.

[Aisling]

Caroline spoke with a smile.
"Yes, I do. And soda. I have enough money for two sodas. One for today and one for tomorrow. We will be most likely leave after that."

[bloonewb]

"Where will you go?" asked Jacquelyn. She was interested in what the other girl had to say. She has never been far from home, and the great world intrigues her.

[Aisling]

"Don't know. Where ever Dad says to go we go. Maybe not for a few days. Betsy and Olivia are in trouble." Caroline spoke as she shrugged.
"Caroline! You shouldn't say such things." Noreene spoke firmly.
"But it is the truth!" Caroline protested.
"No wonder you are rarely left out of the camp. Try to behave yourself or I'll flag Peter." Noreene spoke back authoritatively.
Caroline just shrugged and looked away.
"Amadán" Noreene turned her back towards Caroline which meant that both girls back was towards Jacquelyn now.

[bloonewb]

Jacquelyn attempted to listen in to their discussion. Being small, even for her age, people didn't tend to take her seriously, and therefore weren't too afraid of letting a few secrets slip near her. She hoped these two were the same.

[Aisling]

Caroline was watching the discussion between the males while Noreene was watching for their mother as she kept an eye in the window to see what was going on behind her.

[bloonewb]

Night has begun to fall. The sun is nearly completely gone, and the moon hung high in the sky. Tonight, it was a near full moon, roughly three quarters of the way there. This meant something strange happens in the woods. "See that?" asked Jacquelyn to the other two, pointing at the edge of the woods. There, a few colored lights seemed to glow for a few seconds, but disappeared when you looked directly at it. "There's the Forest of Illusions. The adults tell us not to go near there."

[Aisling]

"That looks cool...... do you think we could go in there, Noreene? Please...." Caroline asked with shining eyes.

"Not without Mum's and Father's permission." Noreene spoke as she watched the lights.

"The answer is absolutely not. Now follow me back or suffer the consequences." Father huffed in anger.

"Yes, sir. Bye...." both girls responded sadly as they walked behind Father.
Mother gave Betsy and Olive a push forward behind the other two which was shameful due to that they were behind their younger sisters and between their parents.

Peter and Micheal followed behind talking quietly.

[bloonewb]

Jacquelyn was suddenly struck by the desire to see what went on inside the caravan. So she got up from the fountain and followed the two girls and their father from a safe distance. There was something going on, and she wanted to know what it was. So she tailed them all the way to the wagon chain, occasionally picking up a few words from the two other older boys.

None of the wagons, Jacquelyn saw, were very big. They would most certainly be cramped for 3 people, and even more so for 4. Yet the father and mother shoved their children into it anyways. Then, she suspected one of them was going to turn around and spot her. So she hurried off in another direction. I should stop taking such large risks for so little gain she thought to herself.

[Aisling]

Betsy and Olive were shoved into the parents caravan while Caroline and Noreene were told to go to there room and stay there.

"I wonder what will happen to them, Noreene. Will they have to go to another caravan? We hardly have anyone in ours anymore." Caroline asked as she sat on her end of the bed. She pulled out her old doll from the cubby hole where she hid it.

"I don't rightly know. Betsy won't be able to do as other women. Olive can hold her own. I kinda hope that when they get married they stay with us." Noreene spoke softly from her bed.
"You will have the long bed to yourself and I'll have the long bed to myself." Noreene spoke softly as she sat there wishing for something to eat.

[bloonewb]

Jacquelyn has made up her mind. She was going to talk to the other two, by Hetuis. As one who has never made many friends, she cherishes every moment she has spent talking to someone (doubly so if she steals from them later). Also, they travel a lot, going from place to place. She imagined entire cities full of gullible, naive minds with full purses and empty heads.

So Jacquelyn snuck into the wagon that Noreen and Caroline were sent to. She spent copious amounts of time hiding behind trees and dodging to another closer one when nobody was watching. Eventually, she reached the wagon and peered in.

"Hi," she whispered.