Two months after her arrival at the circus, Brightfeather came to her, as she was bringing the goats in for the evening.

“I’m gonna leave, tomorrow. I’ve always told the old man.”

Dreamspears blinked and turned from where she'd been filling the hay net, wondering if she’d heard wrong. Leaving?

“Leaving?” she asked, confused. By ‘the old man’, he meant Rosesweet, the circus owner.

Brightfeather nodded. His face was sad, but determined. “Woman in the village says she can get me a job, and I’m gonna go for it.”

Dreamspears didn’t know what to say. She had known Brightfeather wasn’t going to stick around forever, and he was old enough to work legally now, but already?

“A good job?” she asked, hating how her voice broke on the last word.

He nodded. “Pays double what I’m gettin’ here doing odd-jobs, and it’ll be less work.” He at least had the decency to look embarrassed about it, “Sorry to leave you in the lurch like this… You can always ask-”

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“No, no it’s ok” Dreamspears said, cutting him off. “I can look after the goats on my own, that’s not an issue. It’s just-” She slowed, unsure how to word it. “I haven’t had many friends, you know.”

Brightfeather hesitated, and walked towards her. He spread out his arms and pulled Dreamspears into a hug. She resisted the urge to draw back, and instead rested her face in his shoulder, trying not to cry.

“I’ll miss you.” It was muffled, but he heard it and she felt him nod.

“Me too,” he said, so quietly that she almost didn’t hear it. Then louder, “look after Washesblack for me, ok?”

She nodded into his shoulder as she hugged him, tears making wetting the fabric of his shirt. “She’ll be fine” she mumbled, “She’s gonna be a scout anyway.”

Brightfeather laughed, his voice breaking slightly, and pushed her back. His eyes were bright with tears, and she reached up and rubbed his face.

“None of that,” she sniffled, “you’re gonna get a good job, and if it doesn’t work out, the circus’ll be back round in a year anyway!”

He nodded, and leant forward, knocking his forehead into hers. “You take care of yourself, you hear?”

She closed her eyes, unable to look at him anymore, “You too man.”

When she opened them again he was gone.

-

The meal that night felt very empty, with only her, Berrygreen and Washesblack. Brightfeather had said his goodbyes to them separately, taken his knapsack and left during the afternoon. She hadn’t even thought to ask where he was going to live so she could send letters, and the other two didn’t know either.

The next morning the goats were antsy and restless, searching for somebody that wasn’t her, but over time they got used to it.