A train of wagons stood still on a large road, guarded well by glittering, decorated warriors. Children streamed between the wagons and a massive green jungle, carrying small bags stuffed with leaves and other edible plants. Leading the entourage of children was a small girl clinging to her older brother, her blind eyes turned towards the jungle behind them. The younger sibling was babbling endlessly to him as he towed her behind him, gently leading her towards a wagon. He waited patiently as she scrambled to get in, then passed his bag to the decorated guard, and jumped into the sheltered cart.
A commotion sounded outside, and the children who had yet to enter the carts fled to see what had sounded the alarm. "Stay here." The boy instructed his younger sister. She protested as he hopped the cart and waded into the crowd of muttering children.
Two archers held between them a young girl, who despite looking quite miserable at being caught, was not putting up a fight. Her matted hair and ragged clothes made it obvious she had not been part of the group earlier that morning. Her blue eyes flickered around frantically, locking on the boy with a glare.
"Kade?" A voice sounded from behind, as the blind girl pushed her way through the crowd toward her brother- with help from the surrounding children. He placed a hand on her shoulder, scowling.
"Alys, you should have stayed in the wagon." His reprimand was lost in the adults voices. They argued for a moment over the outcome of the stranger child. As guardians of the surrounding children, they decided to collect the unknown girl and bring her back to the city. It seemed, however, that a few wanted to throw her back into the jungle, despite the rapidly approaching winter.
A tall woman with cascading violet hair stepped forward, clinging tightly to a blade-capped staff, commanding the attention of the onlookers. A hush fell over both adults and children alike as the violet haired matriarch spoke.
"We do as we always have. The child returns with us." The woman declared. "I will not have innocent blood on my hands by throwing her back to the beasts. If you are so concerned by a mere child, you may feel free to bind her hands, or have her ride back with the other orphans." The archers holding the child bowed to their Matriarch, and pushed through the crowd of children towards the carts. Kade pulled his sister out of the way, back towards their ride.
Not long after taking reprieve in the shaded wagon, the back opened to reveal the Matriarch of the nomads, holding onto the shoulder of the forest girl. Seeing that the wagon was mostly empty, the woman pointed to the wagon, and left the girl to crawl in. With much difficulty- her hands were tied at the wrists before her- she made herself comfortable at the back of the cart, facing out through the open cloth door.
Kade watched on in silence. Alys scooted towards the back of the cart, oblivious to the other person riding beside her. He stayed silent as his sister seated herself near the wild girl, hoping that if nothing was said, the blind girl would not notice the other presence in the cart. The clank and clatter of the wooden wheels on gravel covered the sound of rustling cloth as the strange child adjusted herself, leaning away from the smaller girl as she stared longingly at the rapidly shrinking forest.
Kade met the other girl eye for eye as they sized each other up. He knew he would not come off as much of a threat, being all of twelve years. With messy black hair that he constantly flipped free of his clear green eyes, his determination was only visible in a stubborn set of his chin and his snapping gaze. His long limbs were set, ready in case he had to leap to his sister's rescue, should she need it. Only his callused hands and bruised knuckles stood as a grim warning to anyone who would think to harm his family.
The feral girl was tall for a someone he assumed to be his age. Her hair brushed the top of her shoulders, a deep and shimmering red. Freckles dusted her tanned face, and thick lashes framed vivid blue eyes. She was underfed at best. The strange girl blinked, breaking eye contact with Kade to gaze at Alys.
