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(And the next part about Cade)

@mayacat (You can have Kenma find Cade just after this if you want)

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Cade stepped out onto the street. Twilight had now fallen transforming everything into a grayish blue color. Shivering, Cade gripped the steaming bowl tightly. The stew was still too hot to eat, but the bowl felt good against his stiff hands. The air had grown so cold so fast! He turned his steps towards the Knot House.

A stiff wind blew through the city, whistling in the cracks of the building and chilling Cade to the bone. He lowered his head slightly and pushed forward, trying to ignore the weariness and cold that seemed to pull him down. But in spite of his efforts he felt as if he were slowing down, slower. . . and slower.

“Cade!” suddenly a voice startled him and a white-clad form seemed to materialize in the road before him.

“Ainsley! What are you doing out here alone? Where’s Nathan?”

The nine-teen year old girl stood, her frame illuminated by a shaft of moonlight. Her reddish blond hair fluttered around her face. A face so beautiful and yet so troubled! Her honey brown eyes sought Cade’s face, and she spoke again, in that haunting voice, “The government arrested him today. On suspicion,”

“Oh Ainsley. . .” Cade’s face registered shock, while his eyes were full of sympathy.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” she continued, her voice tired and sad, “I had to come talk to you. They searched the house and took almost everything we own!! Not that we owned much in the first place,” tears formed in her eyes and a ragged cough shook her. Slowly she sank down to a sitting position on a chunk of concrete.

Cade leaned over her, “Ainsley. . .are you alright?” he laid a hand on her forehead, “You’re burning up with fever!!”

“Yes. . . I’ve had a cold for three weeks now. . . I just can’t get rid of it. . .It’s settled in my chest . . . sometimes it’s so hard to breath,”

“Here, put on my jacket, you’re gonna get pneumonia if you don’t have it already!!” Cade set down his stew and helped her put on his jacket.

“Thank you. . . you really should keep it though. . .”

“No! You’re sick and starving and you’ve been working in those dirty factories all day. And with your baby coming. . .” he bit his lip for a moment, “Take this and eat it. It will help you feel better,” he held out the stew to her.

“Cade!!” her eyes widened as she took the warm bowl, “Where did you get this?”

Cade smiled at her surprise and pleasure, but did not answer. She ate hungrily, talking little. Finally she finished and set the bowl down beside her. Wearily she laid her cheek in her hand and stared down the narrow alley.

“I only wish Nathan could taste something that good right now. . .” she whispered as tears filled her eyes, “Who knows what he’s facing in that dreadful tower, my poor husband!!” she shuddered and covered her face with her hands, trying to choke down sobs.

“Ainsley. . .”

“No Cade, don’t try to talk. Just sit with me like you used to.” she looked up and saw his hesitation, “Nathan wouldn’t care at all,”

Cade sat down next to her on the concrete and gave her arm and comforting squeeze. The light strawberry blonde head dropped to his shoulder and a shudder trembled through the undernourished frame. He could feel the tension in her very soul. The need to cry fighting against her desperate attempts to be strong.

“Just cry if you need to Aine,” he whispered, “I don’t mind,”

She gave a half-sob, half-choke that turned into another wrenching cough. Her shaking arms crept around Cade’s neck “It’s thinking what it must like for him without me that makes it hard,” she whispered.

Cade swallowed hard, and leaned his head against hers. They sat for a few minutes with no sound but her choked crying. Then finally she leaned up away from him slightly and looked at him. He looked down into her pallid face and haunting eyes, his russet eyes glistening with sympathy.

She was the first to speak, “But you’ve probably got to get to the meeting,” slowly she let go of him and stood up, turning as if to go.

Cade jumped up and caught her arm “Ainsley wait!! Where are you going?!”

“I don’t know!!” she suddenly burst into violent sobs, “It’s too awful!! I hate it how the government has turned this city into wreckage and now suddenly thinks they can turn it all around just like that,” she snapped her fingers, “With some stupid campaigns!!”

Cade squeezed her arm, “I- I know. . . I-I wish there was something I could do. . .”

She shook her head, “You’re doing all you can- and they’ll do all they can to stop you!! It’s just not fair! What a dreadful world!!” she was crying so hard now that each sob shook her from head to toe.
Cade slowly put both arms around her and pulled her to him in a loose hug. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered.

She nodded, letting her head drop to his chest. Her tears soaked his shirt as she replied, “Thank you. You’re the first person that’s said that to me all day, not even mother offered sympathy. The hardship has hardened her too fast. Besides she has all the other children to take care of,” she cried on, then gradually her sobs calmed a little.

Cade spoke, “I’ll take you to the Nest, then I’ll see what I can do to free your husband,”

“You don’t have to take me in. . . there are many in the city far worse off than I,” But even as she spoke, she leaned against him a little more as if she could not hold up her own weight another moment.

He held her out at arms length, and looked her in the eyes, “But Ainsley, you’re my sister,”

“Not by blood. You don’t have to feel indebted to me because our family took you in. It was the right thing to do. You had no family that you knew of and you were hurt!”

“But I am responsible for what happens to you. Your father is dead—and Nathan—isn’t here to take care of you anymore. It’s my responsibility now,”

“You’re too kind Cade,” she smiled faintly.

He let his hands fall from her shoulders, “Come on,”

She shook her head, “You need to get to the meeting,”

“Then I’ll take you to the Knot House and to the Nest when the meeting’s over,”

“It’s no use Cade, I-I. . .” her voice faded and her eyes went blank.

“Ainsley? What is it?”

She put a hand to her head and the other over her heart. Her body went limp and she fell.