waiting game [open]

Mockingjays sing their sweet melodies high above my head, fluttering through the trees in breif flashes of black and white. everything is so still, so quiet. Peaceful. In all my life, I have never known true happiness or peace. And I probably never will. Not in Panem. A soft whistle rings through the forest, but this wasn't the cheery cry of a mockingjay, though they happily take up the tune whistled by another person. The gentle tune is closely followed by soft foot steps. My eyes snap open. Sixteen years old, and one fall from a tree has made me feel several times my age. I should be back to normal in a few days time. I struggle to my feet, yanking out my knife. I sway dangerously on my feet and the forest swims before my eyes. I place my opposite hand on the trunk, and raise my blade.

"Are you alright, Miss?" My vision clears, and I find myself looking upon a small, blond haired girl. She can be no more than seven or eight years old.

Cautiously, I lower my knife. The girl appears nervous. Now standing, I not only tower over her, but wield a blade. If she had been frightened at just seeing me curled against the tree, chances are I'll only scare her more if I keep this up. I let my hand fall the rest of the way to my side. "Fine." I answer gruffly. My eyes graze over the woods. Nothing seems out of the ordinary, but I keep a firm hold on my knife. "What're you dong out here on your own?" I ask, a bit suspiciously. There's no way a child as young as this is wandering the forest on her own. My gaze shifts uneasily, but this little girl is the only other sign of intelligent life I can make out.

The girl cowers under my gaze, looking nothing less than terrified. Feeling a bit guilty for frightening her so, I reluctantly slide the knife back into my belt. I'm feeling a bit steadier on my feet, so I remove the hand I braced against the trunk and fold my arms loosely across my chest. The girl begins to speak again, and though I can tell she's edgy, presently she doesn't seem so fearful. "I was just going for a walk and I guess I got lost. I live with Miss Peregrine in a big house near the ocean." A house? That was just about the last thing I expected to hear. Never once, in all my years out here, have a come across any sort of house, nor any sign of one for that matter. "Oh. Is Miss Peregrine your mother?" Peregrine. Like a falcon. And why the 'Miss'? Perhaps the woman she speaks of isn't her mother at all. "I'm Riley," I add quickly. "What's your name?" I ask, trying to more sound friendly.

ooc: Okay, thanks :]

The tiny girl gazes rather sadly at the ground. "No, she's a very nice lady who took me in after I escaped from the lab in district six." District Six. My District. Rather poor and scruffy, but filled with people working with science and just about anything in that category. Medicine included. I can still remember my mother's little apothecary shop, how I'd always hurry out when a new patient arrived. And the rumors, of course. We all heard the stories, but I always believed them to be myths, tales made up for entertainment. I never dreamed the rumors claiming children were being used as lab rats were true. I can only stare at this little girl, a living peice from what I knew to be only fairytales. "I'm from District Six too." I say quietly.

Claire. And she never knew her parents? "I'm sorry." I say, and I speak both for the fact that she does not have any idea who her parents might be, and that this girl was, as she called it, a lab rat. "So, what happened to you,why were you lying on the ground earlier? It seems like it's too cold outside to sleep on the ground." One corner of my mouth pulls up slightly at the mention of my previous predicament. "Yeah, it's still too cold to sleep on the ground. I fell from the tree, must've been a bit of ice on the branches." I say. "Guess I hit my head pretty good too." I add, running my hand over the back over my head, where it is indeed rather sore. Again, Claire averts her eyes, this time to glance at the sky. "It's scary here at night." I shift my gaze upward as well, and sure enough, the first stars are begining to appear amongnst the black sky. I nod slowly. "Don't worry," I say. "We can stay together until we can get you back home."