Carlos smiled ruefully. "I regret very much that I have no skills to present, as do you - I shall have to content myself with watching, I suppose. Though how I shall choose between all you excellent dancers, I confess I don't know." This last was pure politeness, as they all knew he would faithfully frequent the crowd around his sister, though she was smaller and younger and the crowds around her, if there were indeed some, were never quite the size of Mirielle's.

_________________

Mirielle smiled a bit at these words, but just as she opened her mouth to reply, she heard music being struck again, and stifled a sigh. Apparently, she wasn't through practicing for that evening, even though Rene had made it seem she was. "Excuse me.." she then murmured to Carlos, making her way back over to the fire.

_________________
<center>
</center>

Eponine stood a ways from their camp, the firelight making dappled patterns on her face. The music struck up again as she percieved the small group to be gypsies. She bit her lip and hugged her viol tighter, it was so cold and the fire looked so inviting.

_________________

Gabriel sat near the edge of the group, silently watching the others and listening to their conversation. He heard a twig snap behind him and turned. A woman was standing in the half-dark, hugging an instrument to her and looking longingly towards the fire.

Lisette glanced over her shoulder-the road behind her was empty. <i>Good.</i> She stepped off the dirt road, melting into the shadows of the forest and walked parallel to the road within the shelter of the trees. As she walked, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a cloth bag-the result of her last stealing. The bag felt heavy. She made a face. <i>That was almost too easy.</i> she thought. <i>The man was so old and drunk he didn't even notice me behind him.</i> She shook her head and put the bag back in her pocket. Up ahead in a clearing she could see the glow of firelight, and hear faint music. Curious, she moved towards it.

((she hasn't met the gypsies yet))

Evelyn looked out past the fires into the forest, her emerald eyes catching glimpse of another girl in the distance. She couldn't really see her expression so she decided to find out who it was and invite her to their campfire. It wasn't exclusive really, just a band of gypsies dancing the night away.

She stood up, the white gown falling about her feet as she walked towards the girl holding the instrument, the bells upon her ankles ringing in a slow tune as she moved, the firelight dancing upon the golden specks of her gown

_________________

The waves that C R A S H E D upon
The R O C K S that you were trying to step along

And in my head I heard them play a S O N G

Eponine was slightly surprised when Evelyn came towards her. 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude. But it looked so warm and well its cold." Eponine's lips where tinged blue and her hands slightly shoke.

_________________

Belle fidgeted restlessly from the other side of the fire. She wanted to dance - worries about the Midyear's festival, her and Carlos' lack of money, or her younger siblings whom she hadn't seen in more than a year, plagued her and she wanted to dance them all away; to feel the wonderful sensation that she was beautiful and talented and not a ragged girl off the streets of Paris. But she was intensely shy and hardly knew anyone sitting around the fire besides Carlos. Belle shifted, sitting cross-legged in the dirt and twisting a strand of hair around her finger while staring into the fire to avoid looking at anyone.

_________________

Gabriel was about to go invite the girl to warm herself by the fire, but he saw Evelyn get up and walk towards her. He turned around. The woman was more likely to accept an invitation from another woman than from a strange man.

Lisette stood at the edge of the clearing. Her dark clothes and hair blended in with the forest-only her dark eyes glinted in the firelight. She slid back a step as a woman in a white dress left the circle, walking towards another woman in an old dress.

Evelyn placed her hand on the woman's shoulder and could feel her cool skin through the fabric. This woman needed warmth and fast.

"My name is Evelyn and I would be completely daft if I did not invite you to join the fire. We have plenty of food and warm drink as well as blankets to get you warm. How about it?" She asked the woman holding the instrument hoping she accepted. She didn't want the other to pass out from hypothermia

_________________

The waves that C R A S H E D upon
The R O C K S that you were trying to step along

And in my head I heard them play a S O N G

Eponine gasped unable to express her thanks. Evelyn was pleasent and had an eager smile on her face that made Eponine want to laugh in happiness. No one had ever been that kind to her. "I'm Eponine." Was all she managed to gasp out.

_________________

"Eponine, that is a pretty name, very unique. Well I expect you to be very hungry so let us go, we also have clothes if you wish to change." Her smile still warm and full of life, her golden skin and white clothes added to the warm feel as she turned back towards the campfire waiting for Eponine to join her.

_________________

The waves that C R A S H E D upon
The R O C K S that you were trying to step along

And in my head I heard them play a S O N G

Gabriel heard Evelyn talking to the woman behind him. He turned around and gave the woman a warm smile, motioning with his head towards the fire.

Lisette stayed in the forest, watching the scene quietly. She thought about stepping forward into the clearing and joining the group. They looked friendly enough, and it would be nice to sit beside a fire for awhile instead of walking along the cold road.

Evelyn smiled at Gabriel who was motioning towards them to join the crowd around the campfire. She turned back to Eponine and nodded.

"How 'bout it them Eponine, will you join us?"

_________________

The waves that C R A S H E D upon
The R O C K S that you were trying to step along

And in my head I heard them play a S O N G

Eponine blushed scarlet as Gabreil smiled at her. "Aye, I'll join you." Her head swam with happines, making her feel dizzy. She went and sat close to the fire, reached her cold hands out to its warmth. Her viol laying forgotten in her lap.

_________________

Evelyn sat beside Eponine and handed her some warm soup and bread along with a glass of hot cider, all of which would hopefully warm the girl up.

"You play the viol?" Evelyn was a lover and music and dance and loved to learn about other instruments since she could not play, she could dance though

_________________

The waves that C R A S H E D upon
The R O C K S that you were trying to step along

And in my head I heard them play a S O N G

In a village nearby, a girl by the name of Annalett had locked herself in her small room, and now was painting a picture on a piece of cloth she had baught. The cloth lay spread on the floor while she worked. She worked unblinkingly, like she was in a trance...

_________________

(}--{)Imagination Inspires Ideas -Zandain(}--{)
Married Cloud Strife 9/17/08