Crashing through foliage with a swift fox at her heels, Aysel Rolek ran for her life. Dramatic perhaps, but to the child, returning to that awful old building was worse then death. No sooner had she been released into the orphanage’s care, the girl had bolted for the trees the moment she was freed. She had kept running, even after the shouts of men and concerned staff died down, bent upon finding her way out of this place as soon as possible. “Do you really-- Ow-- have to-- ack! ow-- keep running away like this? Ouch-- ow-- ow!” With difficulty, Palladium posed the question to his girl. Having crashed through every obstacle they had encountered along the way, his muzzle was covered in thorns and thistles, while his paws were trying to ignore briars.

“Of course-- Do you want them to take us to some snobby old couple? They’d make us eat gruel… or… or worse!” Admittedly, Aysel doubted this herself, but she couldn’t allow them to control her now, not when she had a real family waiting somewhere. Surely there was someone left, a grandfather or aunt… she wouldn’t complain so long as they were hers. Gyptian families were a tight nit group, in general their kind were far more loyal to their people then most gave credit, yet here running franticly from the law was a Gyptian with no clan to call her own. “That’s fine. That’s just great, but.. but Aysel, can’t we stop running now? Please? I-I’m begging you!” Sympathy trickled through the child as her pace slowed, stopping in a glen where she thought them to be safe. Laughing dryly she looked to their rear, “Hah, they’ll never find us now! We did it Pal! I think you may have beaten your usual record, I’m impressed!”

For a daemon, Palladium had a strange habit, preferring to remain on Aysel’s shoulder rather then walking on the ground or soaring through the air. In truth, he could have done whatever he pleased, his form was not been settled, but he seemed to prefer remaining closest to his human. Thoroughly amused by her daemon’s skill at keep up, Aysel knelt to the ground and patted his head gently before beginning to pluck the burs from his coat. “I say!” Palladium huffed when the first bur was ripped out of a tangle. “I say, that we find ourselves a nice cozy little family and stay there. Doesn’t that sound nice? There are plenty of families around here, crawling with ‘em. Aren’t they good enough?”

Quieted, Aysel’s smirk disappeared. In silence she continued her work in removing spiked knots from her daemon’s plush fur. “Aysel?” He blinked his bi-colored eyes at her curiously, expectant of an answer, though clearly aware he had struck a nerve. Immediately her tugging grew more rigorous, any gentleness replaced with stone. “It doesn’t sound nice, and I ain’t settling for some slouchy bunch when my own family is out there sailing the seas!” Flinching Palladium’s ears flattened to his head, yelping quietly from both reply and plucked briar. He was certain some hair had been lost. Softening, Aysel’s brow furrowed, her eyes a swirl of sea green and sky blue. Finishing the job Aysel recoiled her hands into her lap and pressed her forehead into her knees.

Shaking himself, short cream fur washed over Palladium's body, his shape transformed to that of his usual ferret guise. Padding over to the huddled child, Palladium gulped dryly while trying to come up with a reply. “H-Hey now, don’t cry Aysel. We’ll… we’ll find a way, I’m sure of it.” Hoisting himself up onto his haunches, Palladium rested his small furry paws upon Aysel’s knees. “C’mon now… smile for your Pal?” Suppressing a twitch, Palladium endured the awful taste in his mouth from saying his human’s favored nickname for the daemon. Through a mess of wavy brown hair, two twinkling eyes peered anew at the ferret. Lifting her head, Aysel’s smile lit up her face, and the ferret returned a bright eyed glance. “Oh Pal,” the girl leaned forward and planted a kiss upon the daemon’s small head.

Adjusting herself so that her knees were firmly upon the mossy ground, Aysel looked around them curiously. “What do we do now?” Aysel asked, sounding distant. Crawling into his human’s lap, Palladium coiled into a ball and fluffed his tail, which had lost much of it’s sheen thanks to their escape through the brambles. Licking it tediously Palladium paused to speak. “You wouldn’t like my answer,” he responded sardonically, returning to his grooming. Aysel rolled her eyes down toward the furry head and stuck out the tip of her tongue. “Alright fine, Mr. Moody. Don’t help.” Turning her torso slightly, Aysel feigned anger, crossing her arms sourly and turning up her nose. She couldn’t act for long however, as the corners of her mouth were already starting to raise in a wry smile. “We should figure out how to get up North, or wherever you seem to think that Gyptian family of yours is." Palladium stated casually, eying his tail with a morose gaze.

How long had it been since the child had heard a woman’s voice? Long enough that the very tone sounded strange, unnaturally kindly and down right too sweet. Remaining with this thought, both daemon and girl trained their eyes upon the woman in their midst. Palladium jumped off of Aysel’s lap as she girl sprung to her feet, ready to run away. But then the words began to make sense. This person thought they belonged somewhere. Scrutinizing the woman, Aysel looked for her daemon. The dark feathers were nearly impossible to see given the light in the glen. A bird.

Crossing her arms, the child tried to act tough, pulling down her chin until it nearly met with her collar bone, her dark hair falling about her face. Palladium rounded about his human’s thin legs, taking on a shape he had not used before, a tall silent black dog nearly matching Aysel’s height as he stood before them. “I’m not supposed to talk to strangers, or go anywhere with ‘em. Gobblers take children like me.” Steely tones were spoken with difficulty, she would pretend that her family was nearby, that she needn’t go anywhere with anyone.

Looking to Palladium her eyes caught a wary glance from his, her own widened having just realized his shape. Palladium opted to use his ability to change as a means to communicate best, his message was coming loud and clear. Aysel didn’t want to think it, but this lady probably wasn’t the best company. “My daddy told me that Gobblers take children away, up to the North and they never see ’em again.” She had heard it from a ‘father’ of sorts, but he certainly not her own. This woman didn’t need to know that though.

Aysel… stop talking and start running! If I told you once I’ve told you a thousand times-- It’s too dangerous to be an orphan! C’mon lets just run back to that orphanage and-! Lecture mode was clear as Palladium’s voice bounced off her mind. She flashed him a warning glance. What good is it to tell me to be more trusting, if you’re ready to sound the alarm when a lady offers to walk us home? What can a lady do? Haven’t you seen those fussy things traipsin’ across town before? Their minds are filled with rubbish! Aysel knew the response without having to hear it, though in truth the child didn’t want to hear what the daemon had to say. He was usually, upsettingly correct.

“You needn’t worry ‘bout me miss, I’ll be safe. See them trees over there?” Pointing to the hacksaw path Aysel had just forged through a bush. Looking to the lady, and thinking fast for a lie that would make Palladium’s skin crawl, Aysel found the exact thing to say. “My brothers are down yonder, hunting for some man that cheated out on his tab. Their just in hearin’ distance, you know? So there be no trouble here Miss.” A whine escaped Palladium’s muzzle, how could that child come up with such terrible lies? Aysel would have readily told him, it’s what kept them alive all these years. Of course, it was also what sometimes led to the worst of troubles, but nevermind that. Dusting off the front of her shabby dress, Aysel flashed the woman a smile, pleasant, without a touch of nervousness, Palladium did more then enough of his share of doubting and worrying, that she needn’t have to.

Neither Aysel nor Palladium could understand what the woman found to be so funny. Perhaps she simply didn't understand the lady's humor, but the notion to laugh at such a thing made the child involuntarily wary. The whole ideal of a lady out and about at night seemed odd, Aysel remembered clearly that most women were in the house nearly all hours of the day, especially at night.....

'Aysel! Remember those stories they tell children at night? Bad things happen when you go with strangers.... I really don't like this Aysel... not at all.'

As if bid by his words, the child felt her heart begin to race, panic running rampant upon her mind. She didn't want to get gobbled up, not now, nor ever! If they did experiments on her, or harmed her in anyway, she knew Palladium would feel it as well. That in itself was a tormenting thought. She recalled only minutes before, pulling burs from him, she knew how it hurt, knew it well, and for that, she usually avoided such things. Closing her eyes tightly, as if to block out the situation Aysel gave in to the fears. Dropping to her knees, sobbing began to wrack her frail figure. She couldn't help it, even if she had wanted to. Perhaps she was a sissy after all!

"I'm sorry Miss, I'm- I'm awful sorry... Truth is, I ain't got no brothers or sisters 'er nothing. My mother is dead, died 'cause of me, and my father... I ain't never seen the man. I'm just... just nobody Miss.... but I can't go with you anywhere, cause you see.... my daemon is all I've got Miss.... and he don't like you, miss... Oh no, he doesn't...." As if to back up her words, Palladium glared at the bird, barring his teeth and growling "Go find your own way back lady, you've done more then enough damage here! Get moving or I'll- I'll... I'll rip you to shreds!" Snarling as viciously as he could Palladium stood before his human. She needed someone to protect her, and in this cruel world, that person had to be him. Who else would?

Trying to make peace with herself, Aysel rubbed tears from her eyes. Now wasn't the time to be a sissy, only the prissy rich girls acted like that, Aysel hadn't the right to put on airs enough to think someone else cared about her. She was on her own. That was the reality of it. Beside her, Palladium was beginning to feel ridiculous, hostility wasn't in his nature, but his need to protect Aysel urged him to continue. Shivering uncontrollably, Aysel pulled her hands around her abdomen and hugged herself tightly, her head was bowed and remained so as she did her best to steel her nerves and calm her childish heart.

She must've appealed to the woman's better nature, a weak and helpless child left upon the streets without a home to call their own, surely it was out of pity that she continued to speak to Aysel. With introduction, Aysel lifted her head ever so slightly, finding to her surprise, that Palladium had been holding his ground the entire time. Lifting her eyes to see the lady once more, Aysel pushed back any thoughts of miracles in the event, but was losing the battle. The lady felt sympathy for them, pitied them! Yet, Aysel couldn't seem to see it that way, for she was merely amazed that another human being had stayed and even introduced themselves to the child.

Shifting, she began to stand cautiously, as if fearing attack in her moment of weakness. Wide eyed, Aysel stared at the woman called Agnes for a long time. Until finally, she wrapped her arms around Palladium, simultaneously silencing his act of fierceness. Changing again, his canine form gave way to that of a kitten, which Aysel hugged close to her, planting a kiss upon his head as if to thank him for his bold protection. She was indeed grateful. Deciding to respond to the woman, she introduced herself. "I'm Aysel," she said meekly, hiding her face behind Palladium's furry head, having transformed into a marten, Palladium's extra weight caught Aysel slightly by surprise, though she quickly recovered and hoisted him up from where her hold has slipped. Coiling his tail around her arm, Palladium glowered toward the other daemon, still fuming but increasingly calmer whilst being held so gently in his human's arms.

Though she doubted the woman's words, she did listen to her, and while thinking it over, it seemed awfully enticing. Good people didn't exist in her world, she never saw them. Or rather, those she did see, were no better off then herself, and could do nothing to help her, only share the knowledge that neither one would have a place to sleep that night. The very concept of kindness had been lost to her, having had much taken from her, she couldn't quite grasp the thought that anyone would want to give her anything.

'I don't trust her daemon, nor her. Aysel we can't trust them!' Pressing his muzzle into the crook of her neck Palladium exhaled, clearly worried still.

'What choices do we have now, Pal? She's offering food... and she made a promise that nothing would happen, en't that reasonable?

Shaking his head as if he had tasted something foul, Palladium sniffed distastefully. He would remain the skeptic, and just as such, he continue to be cautious. Aysel did agree with his reasons, it was far less troublesome to count only upon yourself and your daemon, letting yourself be led by someone else was the ultimate test of courage, to trust that the other person would guide you in the right direction. It was a hard thing to do, at any age!

" It's awful nice of ya Miss, right kindly... but.... Why.... would you do that?" Aysel fidgeted, pressing her bare toes into the mossy ground, she tried to keep from shivering. True enough as it was that she was accustomed to freezing temperatures as well as heat, the night always brought on the added chill of the unknown. Safety was compromised when the world around you was black and paranoia told you of the creatures lurking just out of sight.

'Aysel...'

'We en't got a place to stay Pal, you know that. Gotta stay somewhere, just for the night. Then it's back on the road, we'll get outta here and on to the North.'

At least that was her plan. There were a volume of other things to consider, but she being a child, hadn't the capacity to think of them.

A blush passed over her face when Agnes commented upon her name. She’d never thought it to be anything grand, pretty was certainly far from her mind. Faint longing flickered within the child’s breast upon the mention of her mother. She missed her. It didn’t matter that Aysel had never seen the woman, nor had she ever spent time with her. But the stories told by her foster father, made her dream of the lady who spoke in a voice like a lark’s song, whose eyes were green like the sea, and just as mysterious. Yes, the description of her mother had always entranced her. The innkeeper kept meticulous detail regarding her appearance, a fact which his wife did not take lightly. Long luminous black hair, like waves upon the ocean as it fell upon her back. Young in the face, beauty left untouched by wrinkle or crease. Smooth olive skin, soft as silk.

Her mother. Aysel often wished for some other world, where her mother had lived, where she knew who her father was, and where they lived happily ever after for all their days. There wasn’t a day she would let herself think of her mother though, not if she could help it. The thought only brought sadness, and this deep seated sense of longing. Blinking, Aysel saw Agnes in another light. She was after, all a lady. There was something different about ladies. Men were tall, rough, and expected to be so, but women were entirely different. There was a sense of poise, inner ambition that was held in dainty hands, it was inside every woman. Aysel hadn’t thought she wanted to be like a lady, but something in a kindly smile, of a feminine face, made her wonder.

Relaxing, Aysel smiled somewhat, failing at the attempt by much but trying nonetheless. Watching with inquisitive interest, Aysel scratched the top of Palladium’s head. He sniffed, shifting into the shape of a young boar. He was sulking? Oh yes, indeed he was. Aysel almost laughed. There was something about his shifting that she found comedic. Turing from something as small as a bug, into larger forms both furred and not, she couldn’t help but find it whimsical. ’Oh Pal, en’t this a bit silly? C’mon… She ain’t so bad.’ Snorting Palladium thrust his nose into the air indignantly. Snickering slightly, Aysel pat his head. Tacit agreement between them, Aysel followed Agnes’s lead.

’What if they try somethin’ underhanded?’ a rock rat shaped Palladium eyed Aysel with wary beady eyes, even in his gaze cried disapproval. Rubbing his face with his small hands, his tail twitched idly. ’Then we run away, simple, see?” Looking onward as Traska looked back, Palladium leered and twitched his nose. I’m never going to be a bird; they’re nothing but a bunch of flying chickens.’ Closing his eyes in agreement of this decision, Aysel giggled quietly. 'If you gonna fall, you’d fly away bird-like wouldn’tcha? You done it before.’ Huffing indignantly, he bristled with short fur, ferret shaped, now. ’That was different- You’ll not ever see a bird out of me again! No way. I’d fall first!’ Kept up in their conversation, Aysel looked forward to see Agnes laughing. Peculiar as it was, she was more or less stymied. What was funny? Maybe it was one of those nonsense thoughts, I’m sure her head is full of them.’

Interest sparked when humor was explained. It was an amazing thought, that once upon a time, this lady’s daemon changed shape like Pal. Aysel was at the age, when anyone over twelve years of age seemed old, past twenty? Well, that was ancient. ”When did your daemon settle? They settle when you get old, right?” By no means did she intend to sound crass, but the simple truth was she hadn’t the manners to use tact. ”My mother…. Her daemon was a falcon, a bird. Like yours. Mommy called him something; I can’t remember the name though. But I heard… I heard he was very proud looking, he stayed with my mommy through all the pain, he stood by her always. Pal and me… we gonna be like that too someday… always there for each other. Are you and your daemon like that too?” She sensed Palladium soften, his head nuzzled against her neck, and she stroked him from head to tail. That was one thing they knew for certain, they would indeed always be there for the other. To have it any other way was absurd, anyhow.

All this talk, and Aysel began to feel something vaguely familiar; the twang of distant regrets in the family she was so harshly barred from. She had watched the arms of soft, warm mothers hug the sobbing shoulders of young children, the stern, careful guidance of a father to his posterity, and the jovial play of siblings oblivious to the world around them. All her life, she had watched these events, and long since her departure from the care of her surrogate family, did she ache for the touch of a gentle hand upon her shoulder, of soft kisses on her forehead and the gentle sweep hands through her long hair. It was the dream that drove her forward. Any creature would have surely died if they had felt what unfathomable neglect she had since her tender years, yet Aysel seemed to be the exception.

In her mind’s eye, Aysel saw her mother, with a great falcon perched upon her slim shoulder, a faceless father with a white suit and indistinguishable daemon. In truth, the child had never wished for something so strongly, to have a home and parents that loved her. It would have been simple to settle for a nice enough family, at least two Gyptian families had offered, seeing her as one of them, half or no- however, she simply couldn’t settle upon the thought. So she kept herself alive, with the hope for one glimpse of the family she had so long dreamt of, the strong Gyptian family which her mother had come from, people of the north, of the great seas and of her past. She would search for them until the child hadn’t air in her lungs, for that desperate was her longing. Twisting her rough expression, her lip quivered with pent up emotions. Pushing back wild strands of hair, Aysel looked down to Palladium, a meek snowy white ermine curled into her shabby pinafore. He grieved for his human, feeling her pain, and the emotions which she felt too overwhelmed to express.

’Let’s not think of this anymore, Aysel. We will find ourselves the family you dream of. We will, or I, Palladium will die trying!’

Kissing his small head, her face still melancholy, Aysel peered up to the lady; Agnes. She toddled after her quite silently, listening to the woman, though whether much conversation sank into her was debatable. How many a winter had she felt the icy fingers of frost reach toward her, yet never before had she felt so cold bitterly cold. What was it about these thoughts that made your heart hurt so strongly and feel as though it were a cold stone in your chest? Never mind that. She shook herself, reminded of Palladium’s words, not to think of this anymore. He was correct in this instruction. Thinking too much upon the subject would leave Aysel nothing more than a sobbing child upon the street. What Gyptian would take pride in a child so weak? You had to be tough to live the way they did. Certainly her survival to this point proved she was not a weakling, however she felt it a must to continue the act.

Heavy eyelids weighed upon her star-like eyes, Aysel hadn’t realized exactly how tired she was until this point, when she felt the hazy register of sleep too long delayed. How many days had she gone without it? It wasn’t important… she could scarcely remember a time she hadn’t gone without such desperately needed sleep at one point or another. It was, after all, just another part of the job. Her feet began to drag, and a light sigh passed from her lips, voicing her fatigue without intention. Palladium jumped from her arms, attempting to lighten her burden, and rose up into the figure of a young wolf pup, at his human’s heels to give cautious leverage should it be needed.

”Miss? How far into town we goin’? I ain’t tired or anythin’ I was just curious.”

Shaking his muzzle, Palladium restrained the need to lecture his charge, her lies were of two natures, scandalously thick, or so pitifully transparent that he couldn’t help but feel bad for her pride’s sorry attempts to appear strong.