S a l e t é I I

XIV - Mains - Quatre

As the three of them reached what appeared to be the halfway point of the street, Monet paused, turning back to her two companions. The girl in red looking her way was enough to get Cassia to focus, and her earlier concerns quickly faded into the background as she spoke.

"Alright, we'll split up here. It doesn't look like there's going to be anything straightforward today, but that doesn't mean we can't pick a few things up."

She turned to Klavdiya, her tone clear and concise, taking on that tutor like vibe she could so easily carry.

"Klavdiya, see if you can take some of these things..." She began, taking off her backpack, Klavdiya moving to remove her own as she saw what she was doing.

"Try and get some food for them, five cans at least." Monet instructed as she handed her a few of the things that Uliana had swiped.

"Does it have to be cans?"

"Preferably. If you can't manage five, then maybe mix some other things in, but try your best."

"Yes miss!"

Klavdiya acknowledged Cassia before she began to head back the way they'd come from, one last grin coming to her face.

"Good luck! Find some cool stuff, okay?"

"I'll try." Cassia replied, a little unsure of her ability to produce results, managing a thankful smile regardless.

They watched as Klavdiya headed off, her confidence intact, before Monet gave Cassia a brief pat on the shoulder.

"Come on."

Cassia was sure to follow, and as they set about reaching the end of the old street - where the road continued into that obliterated tunnel - the activity of those in the area showed no signs of slowing down.

Would people be here all day, coming and going like this? What about the stall owners? When would they go home? Everything was cast in the weak glow provided by those old, struggling lights, fixtures that almost looked more like imitations of streetlights rather than actual streetlights, like someone had tried to recreate one with whatever parts they could find.

Lower Merveille wasn't completely basic, but it was certainly right on that verge; comfort was achievable, with a mixture of effort and luck. If you could just find everything that you needed each day, then maybe you had a chance.

How many people could actually find everything they needed each day was something that Cassia wasn't so sure of.

As they went on their way, she still couldn't spot anyone who looked as if they dealt in what she needed, a steady feeling of dismay beginning to rise within her, accumulating with each stall that they observed. More people handling foodstuffs were present, including folks with goods such as wheat and oats, whilst one young woman was providing so called dehydrated fruits and vegetables, which didn't sound entirely appetising to Cassia.

"It looks as if we're dealing with mostly grocers." Monet said as they drew nearer to the end of the road, the caved in tunnel now visible ahead through the groups that remained before them.

"Are we going to have to get food too then?" Cassia asked.

At first, swapping their things for food had seemed kind of odd, all things considered, until she soon recalled what Monet had said before - they could swap what they didn't need with someone who did want it.

She was trying to remember all of these lessons and pointers, she really was.

"It looks that way." Monet said, her voice a little more distant as she took in everything around her, soon becoming her sharper self again.