Snippet #1158714

Amunet smiled at Kit's soft and kind greeting to the little boy. She didn't know why, but Derris had already begun to pull at her heartstrings. She supposed she just needed someone to care for, and though caring for Kit helped a lot, the girl was way more independent than Derris would be. Amunet knew, in the near future, Derris' vulnerability would fill in the hole her sister's death had put in her heart. Glancing down at him, she looked back at Kit, thinking about Kit's question. She wasn't too worried about Derris being looked after. She had a feeling that he might even enjoy a bit of sneaking around, but she knew she was hungry. Just looking down at his skinny, malnourished body and feeling his slim hand let her know that getting some food in him soon was important.

"Our original reason for coming out can wait for another day," Amunet decided aloud before looking fondly down at Derris to show her delight, "Let's get some food into this little one." Her smile was bright and happy, though she could not pin down why this much happiness was within her. Gently ruffling Derris' hair, she bent down again to get to his eye level.

"Now, Derris," she began, her tone serious, "I'm trusting you with this. Miss Kit can't see, okay? While we're walking, I need you to hold onto her hand, so she won't trip." Once she finished, Amunet stood again and motioned for Derris to take Kit's hand, so they could go.

~~~

Derris looked tentatively up at Kit. He didn't respond when she greeted him, not because he distrusted her. In fact, he decided that Kit seemed like a very nice lady, but he suddenly felt shy and hesitated in talking to her. Still, when Amunet had asked him to hold Kit's hand, he obeyed, grasping her hand so lightly, he could barely feel it. As they walked, he looked between girls with curiosity. Kit was shorter, but she wasn't as short as him. She was pretty and nice-looking, like a princess, and he decided he liked her. Amunet was the opposite, taller and darker, with dark hair like him. She was pretty, in a different way from Kit, and after her magic trick, he knew he liked her too. He was glad to have met them.

When they passed the meeting spot, Amunet paused just long enough to scratch "GONE BACK" into the dirt using a stick before they quickly headed back to the mansion. After they were inside, Amunet led Derris into the kitchen, while he still held onto Kit's hand, and gave him a plateful of leftover quiche. Eyes wide, Derris released Kit's hand and scarfed down the big slice and then another, but he started feeling sick right away. He hadn't eaten in so long that the food was heavy in his stomach. Derris, however, kept his queasiness to himself, because he knew he could handle it. When he finished, Amunet took him by the hand again.

"We're going for a bath," she said to Kit before leading Derris up the stairs to her bathroom. He was very subdued and tired, but Amunet was too eager to have him clean before she let him sleep. Plus, she didn't want his grime on her bedsheets.