[i]Jeanne[/i] - [u]A Lost Child[/u]

Tiny minuscule footsteps padding with ragged shoes across the rough cobblestone streets were the first thing Jeanne experienced upon entry into her fitful slumber. In the grasp of her tiny fingertips was an apple, and panicked eyes of blue looked to the due of furious pursuers as they swiftly gained ground. Futile as her efforts were, the little child still tried to escape, only to trip upon a stray stone and come to a painful, jarring halt. 

[color=f26522]"[i]You are my sunshine, my only sunshine...

     You make me happy when skies are grey[/i]..."[/color]

Weakly, she tried to stand. Only to be pushed down and held down by one of the infuriated merchants. Tears crept up as she bit her lip and tried her best to be tough, but the stinging pain of the scrape on her knee accompanied by the biting shame of having to steal food began to survive. 

[color=f26522]"[i]You'll never know, dear, how much I love you...

     "Please don't take my sunshine away[/i]..."[/color]

Picked up by one of the guardsmen that patrolled then, the tall imposing man roughly took her hand and guided her away from the crowds as the merchants still swore and cursed at her; even as she was escorted away. Finally, as they rounded the corner, the Policeman's voice seemed to echo to even greater lengths as he asked of her of a simple question. 

[color=9e0b0f]"Alrigh'. This is the secon' time this week. They caught ye' this time, next time they'll take yer hand. Where's yer parents?"[/color] He inquired briskly, sternly looking at the little girl, though not to cruelly as she couldn't have been any older than five or six. His bemused expression faded, once Jeanne quietly shook her head in fear. 

[color=9e0b0f]"Well, fess up missy."[/color] He stated, this time more sternly. [color=9e0b0f]"Where is ye family."[/color] This time, it wasn't a question. It was more of a demand.

In the world outside of Jeanne's dream, there was only a quiet, trembling whisper. A far cry from the steadfast woman that Lamia Scale had grown to know. [color=662d91]"Mommy is gone. Daddy too."[/color] Her voice, both in dream and out was meek, quiet, trembling, full of fear and misery. She had been alone, so hopelessly, terribly and terrifyingly alone. Sniffling, the girl fought the tears that were rapidly welling in her eyes in vain while they streamed down her cheeks.

She did not scream like a normal child's unhappiness or discontent. She would suffer in silence.

Within the confines of her subconscious, the Policeman reproachfully looked at the child and took her hand. Gingerly, he walked her towards a place that was different. A place filled with light and peculiarities. 

Such a place was Lamia Scale.

With a sudden start, the wings of light unfurled from Jeanne's shoulder blades as she shot painfully awake. Sitting up swiftly only to see the surrounding desolation, the Archangel instantly swiveled her gaze about looking for Yunin and his monstrous ways. Soon, as her ability to sense and see gradually returned to her, as did the still healing burns as Niti's magic was still very much at work. 

Ever a stubborn soul, she attempted to stand off her bed of petals and winced only slightly as her toes touched the dusted earth. Glancing at her Guildmates, of which the clear majority of them possessed an expression of worry and some even spooked, Jeanne looked at them all with a confused expression. Her first worry needed to be immediately addressed.

[color=662d91]"Is everyone alright? Yunin is gone, yes? Tell me that no one else got hurt, please."[/color] Spinning bout however, as she looked around her further, her gaze came upon Anna. One of those who had helped her so much in finding the ability to control her magic. Her worried expression turned to one of a warmly radiant smile and even in spite of her biting injuries and ragged clothing, Jeanne dove forward and gave the older Magi a warm hug.

[color=92278f]"It's been six years! Too long Anna, how have you been? Sorry I couldn't keep things under wraps here."[/color]