Her eyes rolled, watching the boy make his decision as easily as a cornered kitten, or obvious as one anyway. The urchin could measure patience by the space between her freckles, and just because she couldn't tap her foot didn't mean she wouldn't leave the boy waffling on the other roof. He'd already dropped something, nearly doffing the hat of a copper below, and after leaning over to size him up she really wished she hadn't. Charley had been just about to ditch her newfound partner in crime to the fruits of his illicit labor when he crashed noisily at her feet.
Again, her eyes rolled at his grinning clumsiness only to snap back up. She gave him a curt nod, feeling a small flicker of hope in her chest. It was one she hadn't realized had still been burning. There was hope for the black-haired sausage-dropper after all, as slim as it might be. Charley started apace but soon let him lead the way, keeping a wary glance on the bobbing hats in the street below. The last thing she needed was to be led straight into a trap, her collar had been stretched too many times by the town's constable's already.
The urchin could hear the calls of the coppers fading beneath them, giving way to the bustle and calls of High Street. Here, the roofs were closet together, enough to just hop right over. Each time they crossed to a new building, she felt her heart skip a beat and silently counted down to herself.
Five, four, three, two, one.
Each time, Charley was relieved to hear no shouts from below, no high-brimmed hats appearing from over the edges of the roof. Her nerves, as rigid as iron since they escaped the party, felt like she had held them so long they'd rusted over.
Four, three, two one.
Three, two, one.
Two, one.
One.
Perching on the last row before High Street, the urchin could draw a breath freely again. They'd lost their tail at last, the coppers taking a wrong turn or just plain given up. Since she wasn't about to be nabbed for her five-finger discount today, Charley stuffed them in her pockets, feeling for the last crumbs of what she had taken from the party. Not much left, just a piece of fruit and a few crumbs from a roll. Vested shoulders shrugged to herself, it was still worth it for the look of shock on the faces of partygoers.
A smug grin settled in on her face. She'd lost the coppers, and not her hide. Now it was time to lose the other boy. The urchin was sure he could fend for himself at this point, all he'd have to do was climb down a roof. Then it was just a short stroll to blend in with High Street. Since he took so quickly to roof-hopping, she had all the confidence he could handle the rest just as well.
Charley chuckled to herself, letting the thought last her until her feet hit the ground. Then she turned and sniffed, letting her nose lead her in a new direction. After a chase like that, her stomach still had more than enough room for another party full of food.
Again, her eyes rolled at his grinning clumsiness only to snap back up. She gave him a curt nod, feeling a small flicker of hope in her chest. It was one she hadn't realized had still been burning. There was hope for the black-haired sausage-dropper after all, as slim as it might be. Charley started apace but soon let him lead the way, keeping a wary glance on the bobbing hats in the street below. The last thing she needed was to be led straight into a trap, her collar had been stretched too many times by the town's constable's already.
The urchin could hear the calls of the coppers fading beneath them, giving way to the bustle and calls of High Street. Here, the roofs were closet together, enough to just hop right over. Each time they crossed to a new building, she felt her heart skip a beat and silently counted down to herself.
Five, four, three, two, one.
Each time, Charley was relieved to hear no shouts from below, no high-brimmed hats appearing from over the edges of the roof. Her nerves, as rigid as iron since they escaped the party, felt like she had held them so long they'd rusted over.
Four, three, two one.
Three, two, one.
Two, one.
One.
Perching on the last row before High Street, the urchin could draw a breath freely again. They'd lost their tail at last, the coppers taking a wrong turn or just plain given up. Since she wasn't about to be nabbed for her five-finger discount today, Charley stuffed them in her pockets, feeling for the last crumbs of what she had taken from the party. Not much left, just a piece of fruit and a few crumbs from a roll. Vested shoulders shrugged to herself, it was still worth it for the look of shock on the faces of partygoers.
A smug grin settled in on her face. She'd lost the coppers, and not her hide. Now it was time to lose the other boy. The urchin was sure he could fend for himself at this point, all he'd have to do was climb down a roof. Then it was just a short stroll to blend in with High Street. Since he took so quickly to roof-hopping, she had all the confidence he could handle the rest just as well.
Charley chuckled to herself, letting the thought last her until her feet hit the ground. Then she turned and sniffed, letting her nose lead her in a new direction. After a chase like that, her stomach still had more than enough room for another party full of food.
![[Image: bZbZdaH.png]](https://i.imgur.com/bZbZdaH.png)