The whistle pierces the air attracting the grubby child's attention. Dmitir ceases his loud sniffing and wipes his nose on his patched worn sleeve. Dmitri’s stomachs growls as he shakily turns towards the whistle. “Please don’t let it be Lance!” Dmitir begged in his mind.

Lance was the owner of their tenant room and they were behind on rent by two copper coins. It wasn’t their fault that ma and pa had died the summer before from the sweltering fever. Back then, he was only 5 years old, while Laura was 12 and Clara barely 2.

It wasn’t fair, but his ma and pa could have been cured! It’s just that they didn’t have the money to buy form the apothecary. Ma and Pa still died despite Laura’s care and didn’t leave them a single coin to them. It was only thanks to charity that they managed to even bury their parents in a small plot with a stone for their headstone. The landlord forced them out of their home and the three of the lived on the street for a full moon. They only survived due to the mercy of those who would give them a coin here and there and leftovers to eat.

If it wasn’t for Laura, he and Clara would have starved. It was Laura who did her best to care for them despite their life. And though Laura could have easily abandoned them or became a streetwalker, Laura found hard, but honest work. Laura found work as a laundress and made an extra coin for mending travelers’ clothes. And though Laura was exhausted from her long day, Laura never complained and still found time to surprise them with a small treat or toy here and there.

In the evenings, once work was done, Laura steadfastly showered them with love. She would happily play with them and tell them wonderful tales and legends. But even find time to carefully teach them their letters and numbers. Their parents had sent Laura to school to become a merchant. The teachers praised Laura’s talent and assure them she had a bright future. But with ma and pa’s death, that dream was shattered. And though Laura could have easily found a sponsor for her schooling, he and Clara would have been sent to the orphanage. But Laura refused as their parents were orphans too.

Ma and pa had been born into wealthy merchant families, but an attack on Olden-Rise by a flock of monsters left many dead. As a result, the town was heavily fortified and was rebuilt to withstand even a large army’s attack. The result was that the birth of the Olden-Rise guards. Guards who whose arrows would never miss and instant kill. Their reputation was so great that any guard could find a superior position in any other fort.

However, that was too late for their parents. Ma and pa said the orphanage wasn’t itself wasn’t a terrible place, but back then with such a large arrival of orphans the orphanage was unable to simply cope. Too little food for too many mouths to feed and with winter coming it was a drafty place. But worst of all, the children thieves and the fiendish adults. Horrible things would to happen to children who were not wary of their surroundings nor cautious enough of an adult’s intentions.

After hearing of their parent’s childhood, none of them wished to live their nor much less be separated. For even if the streets were dangerous, they would be able to stay together. Destitute they may be, but they were happy together. Luckily, his elder sister, Laura found a cheap room for rent to house them through the upcoming winter. However, this week Laura was behind and had not earned enough to cover the rent.

With a heavy sigh, Dmitir trembling faces the whistler and gapes at the young female who stares at him from across the murmuring fountain. His eyes widen in surprise at the tall girl’s reserved gaze. Dimitr has never seen such pale skin that almost looked blue in the bright sunlight. The tall girl had dark black, almost blue hair in a long braid with blue/black cat-slit eyes with an eerie red surround the pupil. It was most definitely that strangest girl he had ever seen.

The young female waves at him to come cover as Dmitir hopes he did not annoy her. Dmitir reluctantly trudges over trying not to flinch lest she whap him on the head. The girl gestures at him to hold out his hand to her.

Dmitir gingerly stretches his left hand out to the girl as the young female drops something cold and heavy in his head. A noble child had done the same thing and handed him a hex stone for fun. The noble’s child and friends roared at his sickly face. It was a week before the Hex went away and all the while Dmitir was stuck ill in bed.

Trying not to flinch, Dmitir peeks at the objects in his hand to only find 2 shiny copper’s glittering in his palm. Dmitir gapes up in shock as the young female wraps his fingers around the coins. Pressing her finger to her lips, the girl signals at him to not make a sound or maybe that she was mute? It wasn’t that uncommon as he knew plenty of folds that were mute for one reason or another.

The tall girl takes the bag filled with food next to her and places it into his arms. Dmitir gapes in wonder as the girl motions for him to leave with her hands. Dumbly Dmitir carefully places the coins into his shirt pocket and dumbly walks away. Fearful that his precious gift will be stolen, Dmitir runs away without a word of thanks. Darting through the crowd into dirty back alleys, Dmitir makes his way to a one room shed built under a stairwell.

“Sister hurry up and open up!” Dmitir yelled.

His older sister, Laura wretches the door open and impatiently puts her hands on her hips as she taps her foot against the floor, while his younger sister, Clara copies Laura’s actions. Laura opens her mouth to yell as her eyes widen in shock at the food in his arms as Clara eyes widen in awe.

Shaking her head, Laura skeptically says, "Where and from who did you get all this food from young man? I know that we are poor, but we are honest citizens of the Kingdom of Leair with our pride and our dignity. Our parents taught us to be honest and kind to others. They most assuredly did not raise to be a pair of thieves!"

Dmitir steps back at the stern glare and severity of his older sister’s tone. "It's not what you think sister. I mean-,” Dmitir stammered under Laura’s gaze. Laura glares and motions him to head inside and confess his sins. Laura’s gaze had a way of causing grown men to break out into cold sweat and instantly obey.

Dmitir quickly enters their home as his older sister closes the door behind him. He carefully places the bags onto their small, scratched wooden table. They had found the table being thrown out by the local owner of a tavern and the tavern owner had graciously allowed them to take the table home along with three sturdy, but old wooden chairs.

Inside and sitting down on a stool, Dmitir hesitates and skips over his encounter with Lance. “I was at the fountain and a mute girl whistled at me. She handed me the food bags and then shooed me away. I promise ya by our parent's graves that I didn't steal the food and that this is what really happened!” Dmitir honestly declared.

Laura listens in slight disbelief to Dmitir’s words, but his vow on their dead parents swiftly convinced her. "It's you, not ya. Please correct your way of speaking little brother. We are poor, but not uneducated," Laura strictly said, before continuing, "Oh and in case, you didn't realize little brother, that girl that graciously gave us the fruit is not mute. Mute people can't whistle."

Turning swiftly on her heels, Laura picks their younger sister, Clara from the floor. Gently holding Clara in her arms, Laura raises her eyebrows at him and keenly says, "Well, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and wash your hands!"

Remembering the coins in his pocket, Dmitir mysteriously says, "I have one more surprise for you, my beloved sisters. Please close your eyes and hold out your hand, I promise that you will be most pleased, Laura. "

Laura unwillingly does so as Clara giggling does the same as Clara’s sparkling green eyes are visibly seen peeking from in-between her tiny fingers. Dmitir reaches into his pocket and places the coins into Laura’s outstretched hand. “Open your eyes,” Dmitir happily said as Clara squeals in delight and claps her hands together, while Laura gaped at the exact amount needed to pay their rent.

Laura swiftly gathers Dmitir into her arms as they stand there tightly holding each other closely in their arms. Laura offers a small prayer in her heart of thanks and kisses the forehead of Dmitir. She had been so worried about to pay for this month’s rent, but providence had provided a way.

What is the name of both our saviors? And did you thank them?" Laura said as she pulled back.

Dmitir guiltily glances down and rubs his toes into the dirt. "Our savior is the same person. I forgot to ask her name, since I thought she was mute." Dmitir said and with more hesitation added in a whisper, "I also forgot to thank her properly."

Larua’s gaze threatens to burn through his skull, before a well-deserved smack whaps him in the side of the head. "We have to find our savior and at least properly thank her. She mustn't think that just because we are poor that we lack manners and any traces of civilization. Especially because my beloved younger brother is a complete and utter idiot. I am trying to show our savior that the rest of our family does know the meaning of gratitude,” Laura said as she led the way out of the house, but not before locking the door behind them.

With the sun steadily rising in the morning sky the tree arrived to find the fountain empty of anyone. Laura sighs in displeasure while Clara smiles at the beautiful, babbling fountain. Laura still annoyed with Dmitir says, "Well, the least we can do is head to the temple and give proper thanks there while praying for our unknown savior to be blessed."

“Yes, Laura,” Dmitir chimed in agreement. They carefully make their way to the temple of Dathan, the God of the Soul and the Void. The large marble temple gleams in the morning light. The temple is still rather empty as the crowds of believers have yet to gather. Passing large, intricate columns, they enter through a small doorway as smoky colored air fills the air in variety of incense scents fills their noses. Dmitir holds his breath and tries to not sneeze, while little Clara wrinkles her little nose in disgust and buries her face in their older sister’s shirt.

They carefully approach a small altar and stand in front of the beautifully carved altar, while a novice waves a lantern of incense slowly down the hallway. Standing in front of the small altar, Laura nudges Dmitir with her hips. Dmitir hastily bends his head down and closes his eyes. Dmitir prays that their savior be blessed on her journey and if possible one day have the opportunity to thank her properly.

Little Clara at seeing both of her siblings bend their heads down clumsily copies their actions and peeks at them with one eye every couple of seconds. Bored with their actions with large curious eyes, Clara peeks over her sister's shoulders and stares at the chanting novice until her siblings are done. Finished, the three leave the small altar as the large altar was already filled with pious worshipers.

The three make their way back down and through the plaza when a familiar male speaks out, “Well, well, just the faces I was looking forward to see," a drawling voice said. Turning to their sides they see Lance swaggering towards them. Dmitir and Laura glare at Lance as little Clara quickly copies her sibling’s actions as well. Little Clara cutely narrows her eyes at Lance and pouts at him and crosses her little arms in front of her to convey her seriousness.

Lance swaggers to a stop in front of them. With a drawl, Lawn says, "Well have ye my money? Of course, in a gesture of generosity, I'm sure we could come to some other arrangement Laura." Lance runs his eyes in a leering fashion over Laura's body.

Laura coldly steps forward and reaches into her skirt and in a curt voice says, “In that case you can keep it and share that kindness with another tenant. I would wish you well, but happily that is not the case. Good day to you, you horribly boorish man." They swiftly turn on their heels and march away as Lance gapes at their turned backs. Little Clara sticks her head over her sister’s shoulder and sticks her little tongue out at Lance's stunned face.

After a brisk walk home, Laura hands Clara to Dmitir as she unlocks the door. Closing the door behind them, little Clara runs to the table and stands on tippy toes to stare at the bags full of food. Dmitir plucks Clara from the floor and seats her on his lap as he takes a seat. Laura places a bowl before them and clean rag as Dmitir washes his and Clara’s hands. Finished, Laura takes the dirty water and rag away, before cutting some of the fresh fruit and soft bread into large pieces.

The moment, Laura sits down little Clara and Dmitir stuff their faces with food. Laura on the other hand tastes her food, before taking another bite. Full, little Clara crawls onto the table and peeks into the sack. With delight, little Clara squeals upon spotting a brown sack full of sweets. With great effort, Clara drags the sweets toward herself.

Spotting the sweet bag, Laura pries the bag away causing Clara’s lips to tremble with tears. Laura hastily says, “Let’s make these last.” Laura places two sweets in each of their hands with Laura only taking one for herself. They all excitedly chew on the sweets untasted since their parent’s death. After some pleading, Laura hands them two more sweets and takes one for herself.

Content, Laura takes a seat with Clara in her lap as Dmitir sits on the dirt floor and leans to rest against Laura’s knees. For the first time in a long time, Laura takes a day off and spends the time telling them stories and great legends until late evening. Finally, at seeing the late hour, Laura hustled them off to bed as Dmitir and little Clara protested, but still obeyed. They all slept together on a small bed raised off the dirt floor by a rickety wooden frame. And for the first time in many nights, they went to sleep without fear. Come morning, they would soon begin their hard-working day, but for now their sleeping faces reflected the happy children that they were filled with the hope of a better tomorrow.