The Wolf's Den

Path 2: Ryland, Chapter 9

        Large dresses made Ryland uncomfortable, but it was worth it when she thought of the goal they were going for. After soothing Mousina, she'd agreed the next night to help them with something to wear, which was helpful in many ways. Mousina, who chose to stay home and read a book, clean the house, things like that. At the least, she was better mentally and physically than before, to a degree. Stepping into Cinderella's ball with Tom's arm in her own, she felt elegant, more so than she usually did in dresses. Tom was far more at ease than her, but Red and Levi seemed the most uncomfortable, as there were few children here and Mousina held their original clothing.

        "I suppose we should split up into two groups. Levi and I could potentially act as a brother and sister, though we look nothing alike, Might get Cinderella that way, to ask her some questions without getting attention from her prince. He's a nice guy unless his story gets changed for the worst," Red said, a sigh warily. "C'mon, Levi, let's go get food. She may want to eat."

        "Hey, Red, hold on, how do we know which ball this is?" Tom said.

        "Oh, yeah. Starlight dress is the first night, moonlight dress is the second night, and sunlight is the last night."

        "Thanks, Red. Go have fun." With a wink, Tom waved the children off, studying Ryland's face. "Shall we dance? I see no harm in one dance."

        Ryland laughed softly, a nod in reply, utterly enchanted to dance with someone who wasn't Tilli. "I may be a bit rusty, but Tilli and I practice dancing all the time. Or, well, we did in the orphanage, and then in the apartment without Adrieve there."

        Leading her in the dance, Tom nodded seriously, still looking around for Cinderella at the same time as he was focusing on Ryland. "Tell me more about it."

        "Well, I was left as a baby in the orphanage, and Adrieve was dropped off there when she was five. She was angry, and I don't think she ever forgave her parents. No one ever adopted her, because she demanded that I demand they adopt us both. Adrieve kind of... Latched onto me, unfortunately, which led us to the labyrinth of rooms we're going through now. Adrieve tried to burn down the orphanage, and it... Didn't go well."

        "What about Tilli? You love her more, from the sound of it."

        "Tilli was 11-years-old when she was left behind, crying on the porch for hours until someone found her. The orphanage didn't like children, even as new children continuously got left behind. I told someone a girl was crying outside, and it turns out her father was really sick, a single parent with no relatives, and he wanted to give her hope. Adrieve hated her, but she loved bossing Tilli around. I loved her at once, and she spent the first year sharing my bed at night, even if she wasn't supposed to."

        "Tilli sounds like the perfect sister."

        "She is... I just hope she's alright." Sighing softly, Adrieve shook her head softly, the dance coming to an end. Looking around, she grinned, seeing a dress made of starlight. "It's her! She's nearby!"

        Tugging Tom gently along, she watched Red stop Cinderella before the prince could see her, slowly coming to a stop and joining Levi a distance away, while Cinderella spoke to the child honestly. When it was over, Red rejoined them.

        "I know where they are. We've got to move fast," she said. "let's go, we've spent too much time here. We need a quiet room and our clothing back, then we need a new game plan. We've got trouble coming."