{o} riffraff, street rat

Soleil

Ten seems so far away, but there’s no jealousy in Soleil’s heart. It is a seed that doesn’t grow well in the verdant soil of her soul. Instead there is only amber eyes that go wide with appreciation, and a deepening of the trust she places without doubt in the older girl. Paige is older, and therefore wiser - she will keep Soleil safe. The logic seems flawless to Sol.

“No wonder you’re so cool,” she giggles behind her free hand, dimples popping in her grinning cheeks as they cross the sands to their destination. Unaware of the worry with which Paige watches her climb the log, she splashes down into the water on the other side and begins hunting for shells immediately. They are all so beautiful to her, strange and new as they are. Even the broken ones, passed aside by any other Torchline child, find their way into her reverent hands to be stroked and examined. “We didn’t have sand, or warm oceans. They were either icy on top or so cold you couldn’t even stand on the shore!” She shares the memories eagerly, forgetting for a moment that she will never see those snowy beaches again. Plucking a particularly large conch she turns to display it to Paige with wide eyes. “Why is it so big?!”

everyone around her seemed brighter and better
for having known her