Helping a friend (Loolaalee, Tarlof)

Amaya looked up in excitement. "Yes! That's him! He owns the Ember Island players now, so my family and him are really close, and I think he and my mom used to be friends. Wow, I had no idea you would know him! He's in the city now, although I don't know where. Could you help me find him?" Amaya asked, a smile appearing on her previously sad face.

''i can get you to his home,'' she replied, thinking back to the fundraiser, ''but if your mother is looking for you then that won't do anything.'' she though for a moment. do you remember anything about the area you last saw them in?''

Amaya shook her head. "All I know is that it was close to the train station. But that wouldn't matter, they would probably be on the carriage by now, and I think they are going to Takeda's house. The problem is I don't know where that is. I'm not even sure if it's the same residence as the one you know," she said solemnly. She looked back toward the room where she had last seen Anika, wondering if she would be okay. She didn't seem to like it at the orphanage.

''well i'm sure he is,'' she replied, ''unfortunately i have to cook for the children and won't be able to take you until tonight. so why don't you stay and eat. then i can take you home. ok?''

Amaya didn't want to wait. She knew how panicked her mother would be, and she was starting to feel lonely, even though there were children all around her. She wanted to get back to her family so badly, she wasn't sure if she could wait. Then she realized that waited was probably her only option. She looked down at the ground and simply nodded, trying to fight the tears that were threatening to spill out of her eyes.

anika watched as miss Tiánměi talk to amaya from around a corner. she knew how the girl felt, she remembered when her parents died and how the nightmares still haunted her dreams. she came around the corner gracefully. ''miss Tiánměi, can amaya and i go play until dinner?'' she asked. 

Tiánměi  looked at her. she knew that anika was trying to chear up the little girl. her decision was easy. ''only the back yard.'' she said. ''stay in my sight ok?''

Amaya looked up at Anika, quickly wiping her tears away with her sleeve. She smiled at the thought of going to play. Then she saw something in Anika's eyes, a mischievous look. Her smile grew into a grin as she realized that Anika was up to something. She decided to follow her out into the yard so they could "play". Hopefully, Anika was coming up with a way for Amaya to find her family. Or, she just wanted to play with Amaya. Either way, it was something to do, so Amaya followed happily.

anika took amaya's hand and led her to the yard. she had a small fort of her own there. she couldn't always play with the other children. she was too smart, always winning at the games they had. miss Tiánměi had stocked the fort with books and a few games. anika had a few dolls but the thing she kept safest was hidden in here. she was considering showing it to amaya. even miss Tiánměi didn't know she had it.

Amaya followed Anika outside. She looked at the little fort as they got closer. It wasn't anything too lavish, but it was good enough for Anika, it seemed. Amaya noticed that there were many books and games strewn about the fort, which Anika had no doubt been using before. Amaya noticed that Anika seemed a little excited, but just shrugged the thought aside. "Wow, Anika, this fort is so cool! Is all of this yours?" she asked.

''yes,'' anika replied as she lifted a floorboard. ''miss tianmei had it built for me because the other children didn't get along with me.'' she pulled out a long wide package with a little difficulty. ''these were my parent's most prized possessions.'' when she pulled the cloth aside a beautiful cherrywood koto and a set of katana were revealed. the katana were black with red wraps. the sheath was cherry with dragons carved into it with gold leafing pressed into it. ''my father was the last shengli man in the world. they were murdered 3 years ago.'' tears came to her eyes as she spoke.