The Redbird's story.

Esther looked at Elliot and sighed.

~~
Robert said goodbye and started to walk away again.

Elliot finished a few moments later and stood up and collected her clothes.

"Good day," she said simply and turned and began to walk back to her cottage.
~~~~
"Wait!" Cora said. "I mean....um...if you're new here, I could show you around town. There's not much to see, but there's the market," She offered nervously.

"No I wouldn't want to get you in trouble." Robert said. Looking back over his shoulder.

~~
"Good bye." Eshter said.

"You wouldn't get me in trouble," Cora said. "I have nothing else to do. I usually just read. It would be a nice change of pace for me," She said with a small smile.
~~~~
Elliot hung her clothes up outside and sat on the porch, sighing.

"Thats not what I meant." Robert said. He was lsightly surpised that she could even read. Most girls in this time couldn't.

"Oh, well if you don't want me to that's fine," Cora siad quickly. "I guess I'll see you around then."

Blake was walking up.

"Ok." Robert siad ad started walking again.

Cora watched him go and saw Blake coming. She rolled her eyes at him and went back inside.
~~~~
Elliot got up and stretched. She was done with her chores for today. She started towards Tyler's house. She wanted to know what that whole thing was about back there.

Blake followed Cora back inside.

Cora walked up to the room she shared with her sisters and shut the door behind her.
~~~~
Elliot stopped in front of Tyler's cottage.

Tyler was out front, he looked up at Elliot. He set the ax he had just been useing off to the side.

Elliot smiled and waved at him.

"Hey, Ty," She said. "Umm....what happened back there?" She asked.

"Where?" He asked not sure what she meant.

"With Esther," Elliot said.

Tyler sighed ad sat down.

"Ty....." Elliot said, sitting next to him. "Please tell me??"

"Elliot, we aren't little no more. We can't be around each other no more." Tyler said sadly.

A four year old Tally ran out of the house. One could see the dried green paste on her knees from how many times she had fallen.

"Eh??" Elliot asked. "You're sounding just like everyone else!! Who cares how old we are??" She demanded. "You're my best friend, Ty...." She said, quieter now. "Please don't...."

Tally jumped into Tyler's lap and hugged him. Everyone would think that was cute. But if Eliot hugged him, they cruse her soul, or something like that.

"But. . . It's not right, it's it's it's wrong for you to be around me." He said softly sadly.

Elliot shook her head, tears in her eyes. This couldn't be happening. He was the only friend she had left. The Redbirds had abandoned her, at least that's how she felt. She watched Tally with an expressioni that somewhat resembled envy.

"I......." She began, a single tear falling down her cheek. "Just earlier, everything was ok, and now.......you're telling me that you...." She paused and sniffled, wiping away more tears that fell. Once they started they wouldn't stop. She remembered the feeling of loosing him. She had felt it when she was just little, when she thought he was dead. She couldn't go through that again.

"You're......." She seemed unable to finish any of her sentences. She stood up and smiled sadly at him, her lips quivering with unshed tears.

Tyler looked at Tally, so he wouldn't have to see the pain in Elliot's face.

"I want to tell you something." Tyler said sadly, but then shock his head, he couldn't tell her that he loved him.

"No...forget it. Nothing......" She shook her head. She drew in a shuddering breathe, struggling to hold back the flood of tears that she felt coming.

"I......I'll miss.........." She shook her head again. "Bye, Ty," She said quietly, and turned and ran back to her cottage. She tripped and lifted herself up slowly, now covered in dirt. She made it to her house and slammed the door shut behind her, falling to the ground and sobbing. Her mother was going to be home soon, but she didn't care right now.
~~~~~~~~
Cora was in their room, reading a book. She glanced out the window in time to see Elliot. She frowned but then went back to her book.

Tyler hugged Tally, he kinda wished she was Elliot.

Elliot's' mother came home soon, only to find her daughter still sitting by the door and crying. Elliot told her what happened and they sat together, Elliot with her face buried in her mother's shirt, still crying. Elliot's mom had her arms wrapped around her daughter.

Blake walked up the stairs. He wasn't sure why.

~~
Tyler wacthed as Tally played.