After a few hours of turbulent riding, the girl woke groggily, rubbing her hair onto her face and yawning loudly.

"Luli. Where are you going?" the girl shrugged. "I don't want to be in the factory any more." "Why not?" "Because they're mean. They hit me with big sticks." "But-" "Do you have any money? I'm very hungry. I don't want to die."

The question stunned Farryn, but she nodded. "Well, my name is Farryn. I'm going to Tuckson. We're only a few hours away, and then I can get you some things. Then what will you do?"
Luli sighed. "Then I'll find someone to get me more money." she says. "I'll be rich." Farryn couldn't help but smile. "You will?" "Mhm."

They sat together in silence for the rest of the journey. When the train finally stopped, in a small town a little ways away from Tuckson, Farryn stood, brushing her dress off. "Come on then, Luli." she said. The girl nodded, hopping off of her seat. Farryn wondered again at how little she looked.

"How old are you, Luli?" she asked the little girl as they dismounted. The girl paused, almost tripping the large man behind them Farryn grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the way as the girl counted aloud.

"I'm five." she said, settling. They stopped out into the cold breeze of the morning, navigating through the throngs of people. This town was little more than a train situation; the nobles in Tuckson didn't want it in the city, so it was placed outside it instead. But that didn't mean they were lacking for a market, and Farryn guided Luli and herself through the throngs of people.

"A pie!" Luli cried suddenly, startling her. She stopped, tugging on Farryn's hand. "Ah- yes yes, I see it," she muttered, noticing the sign Luli was pointing to; a steaming pie drawn onto a bit of wood by a stall. "Would you like a slice?" Luli nodded vigorously. "I want a big one!"

They fought their way towards the pie cart, where the owner was shoving slices of pie into little burlap bags. "Good morning Madam." Farryn said, smiling brightly at the woman. "Two passes for two slices." the woman said in response.

Luli tried and failed to peek over the cart. "I want lemon pie." she said, pronouncing lemon as ly-mon. The woman shrugged. "I have apple and veal pie. One or the other." "I'll get two veal slices, if you please." the woman shoved her little spatula and brought up two slices, shoving them in a bag and then shoving it at her.

Farryn dragged the pair away from all of the commotion, settling down on cobblestone stairs that led into the train station, Luli close beside her. "Here you are." she said, carefully handing her the already soggy slice. The little girl frowned. "I don't want it." "Wh-what?" Farryn blanched at the proclamation, but Luli handed the slice back. "I want lemon." she insisted.

"I don't have lemon." Farryn said, baffled. "And I thought you were hungry?" Luli nodded intently. "I really am. I'm starving to death." "Then eat it!" "I don't want it."
Luli sat herself down beside her and crossed her arms haughtily. She looked like a displeased lady and, in her confusion on what to do, Farryn decided to just start eating her own pie. She was hungry, and she didn't want to waste any time once she found a ride to Tuckson.

The pie crust was dry and brittle, but the filling was hot and tasted good. She ate it quickly to make sure she didn't soil herself with the filling. She wanted to keep her new clothes clean.

New clothes. She looked over at her tiny companion, still sulking. What would she do with her? She would need new clothes.

She finished her slice and unwrapped the second, placing it carefully on the girl's lap. The girl looked down at it, wiping at her face. She took a crumb, reluctantly eating.
"Why did you want lemon pie?" Luli sniffed. "Because I miss Mama's lemon pie." "Oh." Farryn tried to remember if there was anything her mother had made that she held as a favourite. "Was it good?" "Mhm. She was the best pie-er ever."

She ate her slice quietly, finishing every last piece. "Was it as good as your mother's lemon pie?" Farryn asked her. She shook her head. "Dummy. Mama was the best pie-er." "Right. Sorry."
She let Luli wipe her greasy hands on her dress and then took her hand. They went in search of a carriage, and found one, this one more formidable than the dirty cart Farryn had ridden in all the way back in Berkerly's. This one had real seats, and it was even covered.

Luli and Farryn were the first to enter; there would be two other passengers they would be sharing with. "Where are we going?" Luli asked, as she settled onto the plush seats, itching a scab on her knee. Faryrn picked a lice from her hair, shuddering. "We're going to Tuckson, remember." "Why?" "To find..."

Farryn stopped. She hadn't uttered a word about Her to anyone, ever. Not since then. But Luli was staring at her, expectant. "To meet who!?" she jeered, grabbing Farryn and shaking her hands. Farryn blinked. "We're going to find my... we're going to find someone. The second best pie-er."
"Hmmmmm." Luli evidently did not believe her, but she seemed to take it for an answer well enough. "Will he make me a pie?" "She. And... I don't know. Maybe she will."

They continued to wait, and outside it began to rain softly. Farryn rested her head against the wall, and felt herself drift off to sleep.

"Mother, where are you going?" the blonde-haired girl called, longing in her voice. Her mother turned from where she stood, already halfway down the street. "Liv." she dropped her eyes to the ground. "Don't leave me!" the girl screamed. A woman who was not her mother appeared behind her, holding her back as she cried to be let go, screaming at her mother through the door.

"She's sick." her mother said. "She's sick and mustn't be near you." "Come back!" "I can't, Liv. She's ours too. I have to take care of her."

The pounding of the little blonde girl's fists on the chest of her captor became an undertone to her screams. As she kicked and yelled and begged, her mother walking away, vision wavering, the dark-haired girl watched from the fogged window of the carriage she sat in. She watched the mother's eyes as she turned away from her daughter and joined her. As they turned hard and cold."

When Farryn woke it was darker, much darker. Luli was asleep in her lap, and their companions chatted idly; a woman in a plaid green dress, with a child and her bearded husband. She greeted the two with polite nods, and they responded with warm smiles.

"Is she your daughter?" the woman whispered, pointing to Luli. Farryn shook her head. "I'm not quite sure what she is." the man chuckled. "How does that work?" he asked.

Farryn paused. "Well... she is an orphan now. And I've found her." "Then you are her sister." the woman said simply. Farryn choked out a "Well..." but the woman shook her head. "We must take care of others, you know? How old are you, dear?" "Eighteen. Almost nineteen." she lied "A grown woman. She will be fine in your hands. You mustn't worry. After all, wouldn't you love to have a sister?" she chuckled. "I always wished for a baby sister like her in my youth."

"I have a sister." Farryn whispered. The pair did not seem to notice, falling idly back into their own conversation. Farryn rubbed her shivering arms and closed her eyes, but all she could see was a head of blonde hair.

They arrived soon after, and Farryn carefully carried Luli over her shoulder and paid. Her corset was no longer a safe place to store things, evident from the embarrassment she had felt as she tried to wriggle the money out.

She was much too tired to begin her search, so she carried Luli towards the nearest inn she found. It had a tavern on the bottom floor, and she practically had to fight her way through the crowds of rowdy and drunk patrons to get herself a room.

She checked for any mice or rats and then set Luli up on the bed, conceding to get her some decent clothes and a bath for all those lice the next day. Was it even a good idea to sleep next to her? She kept her head up on a separate pillow, surprising herself by giggling at the notion of the creepy crawlies traversing its height to rest on her head. As she drifted off to sleep her last thoughts were of lemon pies and hot water.