Rags exclaimed it herself as well, she was indeed not a dog. The feral habits kind of made it a possibility for her to be one but she succeeded Aya her test of having no dog qualities with an A+. Aya would rather have had her get a C or a D, that way she could still adopt her to be her pet but unfortunately that was not the case.
Aya had sulked on her own for a moment to show Rags how sad she was for her passing the test but they cheerfully continued shortly after. Rags didn't seem to find the reason Aya gave a fair or logical reason. Aya thought Rags was a bit further ahead in skill of delving as well with her climbing abilities and nose but everyone had their own specialty so she didn't particularly stand out. Aya could not look in Rags her head to see what she learned of the abyss but it didn't seem more than the average like herself. Rags was quite reserve most of the time so it was less obvious to notice that she was trying her hardest. From what she knew they could get a blue whistle when they get older and that way you would be allowed further down. Right now there was only one older boy in the orphanage who had his blue whistle. Aya thought he was about 15 years so he had the right to have it at least. She didn't think there was anyone else over 15 right now in the orphanage though. Maybe they left?
"You can go down more when you get your blue whistle Rags. Until then you are not allowed! They won't come to get you back, and if you do come back they'll be really angry!"
Aya placed both hands on each side of her waist and gave Rags an angry pout. The pout slowly formed into a angry smile as she could not hold her composer. It did not take for her to drop the act entirely before she noticed Rags looking elsewhere. She turned her head to the place Rags was looking and noticed a somewhat pale girl staring up at them in surprise. She seemed like most other kids of the city only a bit tidier. Perhaps she was from a middle class family? The older kid asked them a question about the lost children in the abyss. Rags had already given her a nod but decided to leave Aya to the word by staring at her. Aya seemingly stared at her in surprise for a moment, she didn't expect anyone to come up to her and ask her a question. If it wasn't for the sudden Chris appearing from the door she would have been frozen forever.
"Rags, Aya, dinner is ready."
Chris gave the two a short sign that their food was ready to be eaten and that all the orphanage kids and staff would be waiting for them inside before they start. They would always start with a short praise to god before they would eat. They wouldn't start without anyone still not attending at the dinner table. Chris noticed the new girl behind the fence of the playground apparently speaking to the two sitting on the rocks.
"Oh, you made a new friend? She can play with you again tomorrow, it is dinner time right now. Wave her off before you both come alright."
Leader gave the girl in the long dress a gentle wave before he shut the back entrance of the orphanage again and continued with setting the table while most of the other kids ran up to the table already seating themselves as they slowly started to play with their silverware and each other.
Aya stared after leader with both hands on her cheeks seemingly brainwashed simply by the sight of him.
"Y-yes leader! hehehe, leader called out my name. Lets go eat leader Rags. Oh! I-I mean l-lets go eat d-dinner Rags he.he...he."
Aya slid down from the rock and landed on the grass, she patted the dust of off her butt before she noticed the ignored girl once more.
"O-oh right..., u-um, I suppose I could tell you... Our friends went down in the abyss and didn't come back. B-but it is alright! We'll find them again! I'm positive about it!"
Aya jumped a little when she remembered that they had to go eat. Her expression became a little haunted when she mentioned about what would happen if they didn't listen.
"W-well we have t-to eat or l-leader will get mad! Bye!"
Aya dashed off towards the building and quickly made her way inside as to not upset leader.
Once inside Rags and Aya would be met with the spots at the dinner table being completely filled except for 4 left over spots. At each and every sitting spot a plate with food was set. After everyone was seated there were still two left over sitting spots at the table, everyone knew that these two sitting places was were Yuzu and Karen would normally sit. Everyone knew they still had every possibility to come back to the surface sooner or later and would definitly leave them a warm plate of food for when they would come back. All kids put their hands together, some closed their eyes and some looked up at leader who was sitting at the head of the table. After it was quiet leader softly started with a gentle smile on his face. You could still hear Aya gasp in awe at the sight of leader praying to the lord like you would hear every day during dinner.
"Dear lord, we thank you kindly for our water and food that you have brought to us today. We wish for you to help and guide Yuzu and Karen in these difficult times of dire need. Please keep them safe and healthy while they are helplessly on their own. We will continue to search so please god, keep them safe."
Leader gave a soft bow as he was finished and told them to go ahead to eat dinner.