Snippet #1790753

Daiyu finished mending Patrick's pants. Melanie was sitting now, sulking in silence. She had done of a lot of that since Nathan had told them that they were loading up a wagon with their belongings and making for a new place. To the children it was a grand adventure, to Nathan the prospect of so much and to Melanie, it was just the worst thing she could have imagined.

No one had asked Daiyu what she had wanted to do, course what she wanted did not matter. The Porter's treated her well and she could not really complain but this was not the life she would have wanted. Daiyu pushed the thought away and picked up another piece of material. She had cut a few scraps into the shape of a person and stuffed it with hay, stitched it shut and added some yarn for hair. Now, Daiyu focused on embrodering the little doll with a face. It would be a gift for Helen. Daiyu would make a dog next for Patrick. Her singing kept going, softly.

In front of her Patrick was playing with some rocks he had gathered before the caravan had pushed out that morning. The wagon's movement kept jostling the little pile over, frustrating the boy who was trying to build what appeared to be a tiny house with them. Helen was playing with her little stuffed bunny, talking happily away to it. Daiyu paused in the midst embrodering the mouth to look out the back of the wagon. There was not another wagon behind them. The horse's stone had caused them to fall to the end of the line. Nathan seemed unconcerned.

Daiyu enjoyed the unobstructed view. Behind her dust was settling for the horse and wagon's passage but to the sides were trees and wild flowers. It was peaceful and quiet, despite the horse hooves as they kept moving. Melanie broke the silence snapping at Patrick for the noise of the rocks rattling. The woman rubbed her head. Daiyu closed her eyes and breathed in softly. She raised her voice just slightly as she sang, a calming song to help ease the tension. Her eyes still focused on the road behind them as she did so.

Helen at some point climbed into her lap, snuggling close. Daiyu smiled but did not stop her song. It would be a short time now and the wagons would stop to water the horses, feed the children and allow people some relief from the jostling movement of the wagons. Daiyu sang, Helen dozed, Patrick played.

The sun neared noon and the wagons slowed. Eventually, Nathan pulled them in with the rest. He quickly slid out to tend to the horse. Daiyu moved Helen from her lap and climbed out the back of the wagon. She raised her arms to help the little girl down. Placing Helen down, Patrick jumped down to join his sister and the two immediately running off a short way.

Melanie climbed out, "Daiyu start the food please. Children!" Her voice was harsh as she called the pair back. "Stay close." Melanie began to help Daiyu. The two pulled out some bread and a couple of apples. Nathan finished up with the horse and was chatting with a few of the other men as the women put out the small lunch. Someone began to pull on Daiyu's pants. "Yui...Yui...I need..." Helen's eyes were wide and the child's dancing made it clear she need to relieve herself.

Smiling down at the girl, Daiyu took her hand, "Helen..." Daiyu started to tell Melanie what she was going to do when she was cut off by the woman, "Just take her. Patrick too. Patrick! Go with Daiyu." Daiyu sighed slightly at the woman's rough treatment of the children but escorted the children a distance away into the bushes.

Letting the children relieve themselves, Daiyu scanned the ground for plants. A small colourful gathering of plants caught her eye. Sweet white and purple flowers nestled in green leaves. Daiyu took two steps and crouched to pick them. The sight of the small blooms made her smile. Picking them she stood and turned back to the children.