Another cold night

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Adriana tossed the piece of bone she had found a bit earlier into the drain cover. She then snuggled tightly up inside the box that had been her home for a few days now. Last night was horribly cold, and already tonight was maybe even colder. The little girl shivered, her bones shaking and teeth chattering, she closed her eyes to try and forget about the dark scary alley that she was in and not think about the possible dying in her sleep from starvation. Instead she tried to imagine if maybe she lives in the castle and was in a big bed right next to a arm fireplace to keep her warm. It put her to rest, and took her mind off things, but in the morning it would be the same old story. Find food so her stomach stopped yelping at her and find some more blankets off some other kid who didn't make it through the night.

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Roe and Tabatha, the girl who followed him around everywhere, had just gotten to this city. It was one of the last places in the world Roe hadn't visited yet, but his very experienced eyes captured every single detail of the city as he explored it. He passed the alleys, smelling the stink and rot that came from them with great disdain. Then his ears twitched as something in the back moved. Roe furrowed his brow very slightly and told Tabatha to hang back. He made his way into the alley, following his ears to the spot of origin of the sound. There was a little girl inside a box, curled up and trying to stay warm. She looked like she hadn't eaten in awhile, and this didn't suit Roe well at all.

"Hey, little girl, are you okay? Would you like some food?"

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Adriana was awoken by a voice, she hadn't heard what they had said but she saw two shadowy figures that were looking at her. "Here, take 'em" she said frantically ripping off the small blankets on her. She had seen it happen before, people taking things from the weaker. And if she refused death would be for certain. The cloths laid at the person's feet and she curled up even tighter back in the box.

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Roe furrowed his brow as he realized Tabatha had followed him. She never did listen to him much. But the girl was so frightened. Roe took off his sword and handed it to Tabatha, then picked up the blankets at his feet. Slowly, he walked over to the frightened girl and knelt in front of her. He was a tall elf, a couple inches below seven feet, so he hoped he didn't scare her too much. Roe set the blankets down next to the small girl.

"It is okay. I mean you no harm." He said in his most soothing voice. He was still getting used to speaking this tongue after almost a century of leaving it alone. With small, slow movements, Roe reached into his heavy coat and pulled out a small satchel that was attached to his belt. He reached inside and pulled out half a loaf of bread and some cheese, then set it down on top of the blankets with a smile. "Please, take it. You have more need of it than I do." He said kindly.

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Adriana slowly unraveled again and reached out to take back the blanket and get the food. "Thank you," she said very quietly and began to eat.

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"You're very welcome little one." Roe said. Tabatha walked over and squatted next to Roe.

"Hi! I'm Tabatha and this guy here-" she points at Roe "-is Roe. Do ya' mind letting us know your name?" Tabatha asked. Roe examined the little girl carefully. She was skin and bone pretty much, dirty, and no more than five years old. This wasn't right. Roe took off his heavy coat and immediately felt the chill from the air. It was freezing, and all this girl had was some thin blankets. Roe visibly got unhappy at this and handed the girl his extremely warm coat. "Here." He said, watching the girl eat the bread and cheese like it was candy. He wouldn't let this go on if he could help it.

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"Adriana," she said with food in her mouth. It was a bit mumbled. Adriana shook her head at Roe, "No mister.. You need that."

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Roe chuckled. "I've been on this planet long enough to know who needs what more than I do." He said with a smile. He laid the coat on the girl's lap. "Plus, I have a spare at the inn. I don't need that one." He said. He looked up at Tabatha, who was pulling his hair to get his attention. He walked away with her, out of earshot of Adriana.

"We can't leave her like this..." Tabatha started. Roe cut her off.

"With my line of work, do you really think it'd be good to adopt her?" He countered. Tabatha looked down, thinking, then looked back up at him.

"You only have five years left. Just don't let her know what you do in those five years... Please, I'll even take responsibility for her... I just don't want her to die." Tabatha whispered. Roe pursed his lips and swore quietly. Then he turned to the little girl with a smile and walked back over to her. He knelt down to look her in the eye.

"Adriana, how would you like to sleep in a warm bed?" He asked her seriously.

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Adriana looked up with a sparkle in her eye, "You. You really mean it?" she asked with food still smeared a bit on her face. This was like a answer to her prayers!

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Roe nodded, still smiling. Then he held his hand out to her.

"You can stay with us as long as you like." He said, dead serious.

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Adriana took the tall mans hand slowly and grasped it as firmly as a small and weak little girl could. "Are, are you sure?" she said shivering still.

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"Yes." Roe said, feeling how weak the child actually was. He stood and picked her up, carrying her in the crook of his elbow like he had for Tabatha ten years ago. Tabatha bent down and picked up Roe's coat then slung it over the girl's shoulders. She would warm up quickly.

"How about you tell us about yourself?" Roe said, turning out of the alleys and making for the inn.

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"um, well I am five and. My parents died.... I think my other siblings died too..." she sniffed as tears began to form in her eyes.

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Roe coughed as the child began to talk, then reached up and swiped a tear off of her grimy face. "Okay. How about you tell us what you like. And the first thing you get when we get to the inn is a bath young lady!" He said, trying to make the girl smile.

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Adriana frowned. She hated baths. But she wasn't going to complain when she was getting a bed. She turned her frown into a slight smile, "Okay. I like circuses and jump roping and face painting and a like ribbon twirling and I hate peas!" she giggled at the end of her statement.

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Roe chuckled along with the girl at the peas statement. "Don't worry, I hate 'em too. And I think there's a circus somewhere around here... Or we could start one." He said, pondering that possibility. An elvish ring master.

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Adriana's eyes sparkled as she looked up excitedly at the man. "YOU OWN A CIRCUS?!" she was so excited. "This is going to be sooooo cool!" she became very jittery with excitment not realizing that Roe was not really from the circus. She had thought he said that though.

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Roe had to supress his laughter at the child. He supposed he'd have to get ahold of a circus animal for her at some point. "Not yet I don't, but maybe one day. If you promise to help, that is..." He said. He could see the inn about five minutes away now.

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"Oh yes I could help with everything!" she exclaimed. "The big cats and the tightrope and the elephants and oh! I could be a ribbon twirler!"

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Roe smiled as the child shouted in joy at the circus idea. "I think you'd make a fantastic ribbon twirler!" He said. He heard Tabatha chuckle behind him.

"You'd make a wonderful father..." She whispered, just loud enough that his sensitive ears could pick up what she said.