July 8th, 1927 - Bainville, Montana

Dean and Viv had been with the circus for three weeks already, travelling across Idaho and up into Montana. Dean was pretty sure his older sister was sweet on the red-headed lion tamer Lola. He wondered if certain proclivities were more accepted in the circus than they were in the real world?

He guessed so, judging by the number of times he had spotted the hoop gymnast Elmer sneaking into one of the twins’ bunk carriage on the train.

Clara's prediction had also come true in that Dean and Viv had somewhat adopted her as a 'little sister'. Being new to the Cirque de la Lune herself, she was as unfamiliar with everyone there as they were, and so they learned the ropes together.

It turned out that Clara was an orphan runaway from Oklahoma who had joined her first circus when she was eleven. Her snake was named Dahlia.

Dean had been right about the ringmaster Salvatore - he was a real thug, snapping at people when his temper got the best of him and as far as Dean could tell he was responsible for some pretty serious negligence around the circus.

"He won't let us have a net," Juan had complained to Dean one night at dinner, "Says it makes the act less exciting for the audience and encourages us to be messy."

Dean soon learned that Juan and Anita were a couple, much to the chagrin of her father Raymond. This meant that they could often be found together, laughing and joking. It also transpired that wherever Juan went, Billie would be sure to follow.

Billie was an enigma.

There were times when the young, emerald eyed boy was the loudest of them all, using his entire body to relate dramatic stories and dirty jokes to the rest of the crew.

Other times he seemed to be able to make himself very small, (figured for a contortionist), and kept very quiet, placing himself on the periphery of the evening's events.

It was during those times when Dean found himself studying the younger boy. He had learned that Billie was a Polish immigrant, most of the circus workers were immigrants in one way or another.

He also discovered that Billie had no other family in the circus apart from Juan, whom he treated like a brother.

"Le cirque est la famille," Anita had a habit of saying. The circus is family.

Dean had never managed to speak to Billie alone and whenever his eyes caught with Billie's now, the younger boy would immediately flush and look away. Every performance night though, Dean would go to watch the trapeze artists' show.

He held his breath every time Billie leapt through the air, the familiar sweat from the first night still pinpricking up his neck. Dean would wait right until Billie's feet landed safely back on the platform before he slipped out of the marquee unnoticed.

Dean had, as per Lola's suggestion, been put in charge of the wolves. Lola had been visibly relieved, claiming that with the introduction of two new tigers that the sheer number of animals had just become too much for one person to handle.

Dean felt calmed in the presence of the wolves. They demanded nothing from him other than their daily feed and a good scratch behind the ears.

*

"They're quite taken with you," a warm voice made Dean startle, he turned round to see the circus vet Lawrence entering the pen. "They never quite warmed up to Lola the way the lions did. But then again, she raised those from cubs."

Lawrence was Inez's older brother and he treated the humans as well as the animals. It had been him that stitched up Dean's leg on the second night after one of the new tigers had lashed out at him in confusion and fear.

Lola had a habit of naming the animals after real people in the circus so she had called the tigers Lucille and Bernice, in honour of the circus' raven haired flame thrower and her bunk partner, the resident enchantress.

"Whose is that?" Dean nodded at the bloodied rag Lawrence was holding.

"Hmm? Oh, one of the flyers took a nasty tumble in practice this morning."

Dean tensed as he looked questioningly at Lawrence who gave a small smile in reply, "It was Billie. He's okay now though," Lawrence added after seeing Dean's anxious frown. "I cleaned up the gash on his forehead and told him to stay off his feet for the rest of the night."

"Salvatore won't like that," Dean muttered, turning back to stroke the large grey wolf's nose. "The Flying Foxes have got a show this evening; it's a routine on the high beam."

Lawrence quirked his eyebrow at Dean, "Yes I heard young Juan mentioning something about a new routine. I'm sure they'll be able to do it next week instead. Anyway, you asked to see me Dean? Something about a sore paw?"