Astrid and Jesse exchanged confused glances with each other before Astrid nodded.
"Just a few," Astrid muttered before taking a few steps into the hallway, opening a closet and pulling out two already ruined blankets that had been worn and coated in dirt.
"Why?" Jesse asked as Astrid handed Juniper the blankets.
Juniper took the blankets happily. “It gets colder than hell out there. I want to make sure you two are warm. That and it’s nice having a blanket to sleep with.” She told them gently. The blankets were shoved into her bag and she lifted it to put it on, sighing softly.
“You two ready?” She asked softly, eyeing them carefully.
Astrid nodded confidently, her eyes quickly trailing the house one last time as she prepares herself to set out for the longest, furthest walk she's ever taken. She couldn't be more excited for the possibility of her brothers reuniting finally. Even if Roger had become like a street rat, Astrid was willing to accept him. Even if Roger had become a rich man, living life in the floating cities and only visiting the towns below, Astrid was willing to accept that. She just wanted to see her brother again.
"Let's go." She uttered with soft determination.
Juniper nodded curtly, opening the door to the house and gesturing for them to exit before her. “Nothing will happen to the house right?” She asked slowly, softly. Her eyes wandered around the neighborhood. It looked safe enough.
She turned back to Astrid, grinning st her happy face. She hoped she could help find this brother for Astrid.
Jesse shook his head, pointing behind him with his thumb.
"Polly takes care of it. She doesn't want strangers getting anywhere near the house of her best friend."
From Jesse's explanation, he sounded like he was in a good mood.
"See ya in a bit, Polly," Jesse called to the dog as he stationed himself in front of the house, wagging his tail patiently.
“Oh. Good…” she blinked at the dog, still afraid of it. “Bye Polly…” She said weakly, sliding around the dog.
She looked at Astrid and smiled softly. “Alright, Let’s go…”
Polly let out an affirmative, and somehow very friendly, bark. Astrid giggled and with that, they set off. Astrid managed to grow lost in thought during the walk, as she allowed herself to do that every morning, but Jesse still struggled to calm down. His eyes shifted everywhere, his hand shaking very slightly, and occasionally resorting to fidgeting as he hung his head a little low.
Juniper noticed his fidgeting and moved to his side, gently grabbing his hand and squeezing it. “Hey, it’s alright…” she said softly. Smiling at him. “It will all be ok.” She murmured. “Nothing will happen. I’ll make sure of that.”
Jesse's face nearly flushed as he nodded at Juniper, attempting to hold himself back as he revealed a gentle, soft smile.
"Thank you, I'm sorry I was so untrusting at first," Jesse stuttered, clearly forcing his words as all linguistics escaped him.
He heard Astrid giggling behind him, and he knew she'd tease him at every opportunity.
Juniper smiled softly at him, a light blush coating her face. She let go of his hand and brushed a strand of her face out of her eyes and laughed nervously. “L-Let’s go, Shall we?” She asked softly, smiling at him.
She looked to Astrid and giggled. “Your brother is a little nervous.”
"More than a little," Astrid giggled as Jesse hid his red face, pushing Astrid as she snickered.
"I'll turn this party around." Jesse threatened, warranting a laugh from Astrid.
"I'm older!" She retaliated, stuffing her hands in her oversized jacket pocket.
Juniper blushed lightly, giggling. “Just a little more.” She winked, moving to nudge Jesse.
She listened to them talk and laughed softly. “Now come on you two. Let’s keep going.”
Astrid continued her stifled laughter, but once they reached the farthest Astrid had been on her morning walks, it was her turn to be nervous. She paused, her steps starting to grow a little shakey, as she looked up at Juniper and Jesse in anticipation. Jesse returned to Astrid's side and, without getting too uncomfortably close, attempting to nudge and encourage Astrid further.
"C'mon, I'm right here, and I'm okay with you going further," Jesse spoke in a calm voice, one that he doesn't use too often.
Juniper walked with confidence, smiling softly. She couldn’t wait to get back out there and show these two the world. And to help them find their brother.
“Aren’t you two excited?” She asked, grinning, laughing. “It’s so scary out there but it is also thrilling!”
Astrid nodded, her eyes gazing at the sight around her. The streets started growing busy with more lively people. They walked around like they had somewhere to be, determination and confidence in their eyes. The orange tint of the leaves on the ground adding a sense of beautiful autumn int he scenery. If it was this lovely just down here, what would it be like in the floating cities? Was it as beautiful and natural as this?
Juniper smiled at the rising sun. But she was secretly worried. It would get hot. Did they have water?
She turned to look at Astrid, sighing softly. Her eyes flickered to Jesse. These two had to be cared for. She had no time to worry.
"So, where's our first stop?" Astrid chimed, raising her eyes up in curiosity. The beaming smile on her face communicated a new kind of courage, and it infected Jesse, too.
The two lived looking behind their backs for so long, and for once they didn't feel paranoid.
“Middle of the fields to the east.” She said, pointing towards their general direction. “Safest place to rest. It’s rather comfortable in the hole I made too.” She admitted.
Juniper had to admit, she was excited too. The whole idea of not traveling alone made her feel good. She was wanted and needed.
Astrid's eyes sparkled when listening to Juniper speak. She turned to Jesse excitedly.
"Do you think we'll see Roger on the way there?" She exclaimed, shaking Jesse's arm. Jesse merely shrugged, unable to answer confidently.
The small female sighed softly, pulling the bag closer to her and watching a few ships flu slowly by. The bigger ships never moved very fast.
She listened in on the siblings’s conversation, frowning at the words. She hoped they’d find the missing brother.
As the sun took it's place in the sky, the people started to fill the area. Jesse fell into the crowd, a little behind Juniper and Astrid. Astrid noticed a few guards circulating the area, and could tell from Jesse's nervous expression he could see them too. Astrid sighed and tried to pretend not to look suspicious.
"How many times have you been around here?"
Juniper ignored the guards, humming softly as she blended easily into the crowd. “Me? More times than I can count.” She said softly, looking for Jesse and stopping. “Come on you scaredy-cat.” She teased gesturing for him.
“Do you want to come hold my hand so you’re not scared?” She asked teasingly, offering her hand to him.
Jesse smiled shyly at Juniper, nodding and reaching a hand toward Juniper, when something held him back, causing him to jerk backwards. Confused and worried, Jesse turned his head to see a tall, muscular man gripping Jesse's other wrist tightly, lifting it into the air. It was a guardsman.
"Those are some sticky fingers you've got there, bud." The guardsman's scolding voice rises above the whole crowd. In Jesse's hand was an unknown wallet, the ID on the outside with a photo of a man that looked nothing like Jesse.
Juniper immediately went to the rescue, she tapped the man and smiled softly. “Excuse me sir, could you let go of my friend? We saw a man drop his wallet and we’re trying to return it. But I’m afraid if you hold us back we won’t be able to get it to him.” She replied sweetly, kindly. She gently took Jesse’s hand and kissed his cheek. “Show us some compassion please…”
Astrid took her place next to Juniper and Jesse, curious and anxious at what was about to happen. The guardsman stooped to Juniper's height, squinting his eyes at her.
"You think I'm fucking stupid?" He muttered in her face before straightening back up and turning into the busy crowd, gesturing to someone.
"02! C'mere!" He called, causing another man to make his way through the crowd. The other man's face burst through the people, causing Jesse and Astrid to gasp.
The other guardsman's body was, on his right side, filled with mechanical parts and pieces. His face, half caramel colored and half metallic, lacked any emotion in them, but his right eye glowed red. The other was a normal, green eye.
Astrid's throat tightened as she struggled to whisper the words, "Roger…"
Her words were quickly drowned out by the first guardsman.
"This kid was tryna steal. You know what happens to thieves, right?"