Snippet #1300942

Cal continued down the busysteet, stopping every now and then to peer at a stall or into a shop window, but didn't linger anywhere for long. There were Orderlies everywhere, and while there was small chance any of them would recognise her, dressed as she was with her hair mussed, the last thing she wanted was to be carted home. ESPECIALLY dressed as she was with her hair in this state. Her mother would kill her.
A small dog approached her, smiffing at her knee and she bent to scratch his eagerly awaiting head, giggling a little as he licked her hand in response. He wandered off a little way, looking back as if waiting for her to follow, and she did so, weaving around people until they, she and the dog, reached a small opening, beyond which laid a stretch of river, bordered by a large hollow log. Two more dogs sat there, and she approached them cautiously, but they seemed friendly enough.
Then she caught sight of the man sitting behind them, a large pile of money in front of him and a confused expression on his face.
What in the world? It was a strange sight, even for a city such as this.
"If you just sit there like that, someone's going to rob you," she commented quietly, not making any move toward him but staying by the dogs, reaching down to scratch another.

**

Alys stood, edclaring that she was ready to continue, and together the twins walked deeper into the wood, silent now, for many strange things could appear here at the wrong word. After a time, they reached a small clearing, hidden competely by the trees and bushes until youwere standing right at it's entrance, and here they sat, facing one another with legs crossed.Again their minds entwined, and reaching out mentally they sent out a call, this time of beckoning and urgency, wanting to be notciced. They waited, and after a time a small figure wound it's way between the trees, coming to sit beside them.
"Greetings, children," the creature known as Jia said, and the twins responded in like, not taking offense to the cat calling them children, as the small, black creature was far older than any other they had met.
"We have come for council, Jia," Sam said, his voice quiet and respectful.
"Jia knows this," the cat replied, stretching one leg out to start idly cleaning in before he continued speaking, "You have come to ask Jia how to go about creating a change in the city."
"Yes," Alys agreed.
"Jia knows that you cannot do this alone. You must find allies. There are people waiting for you."
"What people? What allies can be found in this place," Alys asked, the disbelief evident in her voice.
"Jia knows not. Only knows, there is one within the walls of the palace. She will help you. The others you must find for yourself. But you must find them, nothing can be done without these friends." The cat stretched, it's back arching on the ground and stood, "Jia must go."
"Wait!" Alys cried, "You haven't told us who this girl is, in the palace? Noone is in the palace, besides that wretched Sensibility and her stuck-up daughter!"
"Then you already know who you seek," Jia responded, "But you need others too. Find others. Girl will find you."
Then the cat was gone, invisible in the darkness of the trees, and Sam stood, ready to leave.
"But we don't know anything more than before!" Alys' voice was full of frustration as she spoke, "That was no help at all!"
"You know how these creatures are, Al. They'll tell you exactly what they want you to know, and nothing more. But Jia is good, if that's what he says we must do, we have to try to find these people, these friends."
Alys nodded, no choice but to agree for now, and they made their way back through the trees, cautiously crossing the gap and into the fifth district.