After all we went through we had managed to find the birds, my two Nimble Moss Monkeys were damaged and needed time to heal. The Eastern Marsh Warbler was safe and sound aside from it's injuries. Rohnen had also managed to get his Ash Crane. As for the Shrill Shrike, we managed to capture it as we headed back to town. 

We hurried to the adventurers guild, thankfully we were quick enough to arrive before they closed the counters so we could turn in our commission. 

We got three gold, one per bird and 33 silvers and 33 bronze coins to split for turning in one of the monkeys

The two monkeys hugged each other as they chittered and chattered their goodbyes to each other and we left. 

"Today's commissions were exhausting, I can't wait to go home, a nice warm bath would suffice" Rohnen grinned and Vadela threw a look at him. "Spend, spend, spend, spend. Is that all you know how to do? Save money for once, you don't want to stay in the orphanage forever do you?" Vadela scoffed and she rushed ahead. 

"Pfft. money is used to increase the current lifestyle, who needs savings when you can just enjoy at the moment" Rohnen called after her. 

"You're not saving too right?" Rohnen asked me.

I looked to the side, attempting not to meet his gaze for the tiny tidbits of money that I was saving. 

"So.... you too huh.... FINE I GET IT, LET US ALL SAVE MONEY" Rohnen impulsly shouted and he stormed off. 

I just sighed, Vadela and her loner nature, Rohnen with his hot-headed joker personality. What about me, What did I do, Thinking about it, I couldn't see how i acted. 

As someone once said "The most mysterious object, will always be oneself. its easy to observe others and pick their habits, but can you fully realize who you are?" 

I took those words to heart and did a bit of soul searching as I walked. "What, Who and Why am I?" I muttered to myself and arrived home, the orphanage.

Rohnen had calmed down and Vadela happily seated at her seat.  I joined them at the dinner table and took a piece of the hard bread being served. "I have an idea" I said simply and both turned to look at me. 

"If..... if we save money, then maybe we can buy a house, anyone can buy one as long as they pay the rent right?" 

"Thats cool, we can decorate it however we want, and no one will care" Rohnen grinned at the idea. 

"The expenses we could save from owning a house is great compared to this place" Vadela added. 

"We can go house hunting tomorrow, if push comes to shove we can always just build one" I said. I grew excited. The prospects of our own house.

At that moment the owner of the place clapped his hands.

"Alright children, I have an important announcement for you all so listen up. 

There will be an event tomorrow and you can find some future parents, so rest early and prepare your finest"  he said and walked away.

Excited chatter exploded from the crowd of orphans and in our group Vadela spoke first. "Must be nice having a family, I wouldn't be eating this gruel if I had one"

Rohnen took another piece of bread and after taking a bite said "Well, I have you guys, I don't need no family" 

I had mixed feelings about parents, sure they would protect me from danger and they would feed me properly, but then there are "those" people. The ones who use you as a shield, or slave traders, or hazard laborers. 

This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

I shuttered to think who I could possibly end up with.  Honestly I think the three of us as is could possibly be the most peaceful time I had in my life.

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The next morning we all lined up inside the orphanage. You could see scrubbed cheeks, clean nails, neatly dressed boys and girls of all ages fitted with their best attire. 

Vadela had on a little skirt and a sweater vest. Rohnen had a dress shirt on and long dress pants, and I was likewise. 

The owner was giving a lecture on how to appropriately behave and the penalties that would be given for anyone who screwed up. Rohnen had a confident smile and Vadela gave off a meek aura.  

As the bells chimed noon, a hoard of people rushed in.  Some kid went forward to serve food and drinks, others offered to help people to chairs. Vadela, Rohnen and I went and grabbed trays ladled with multiple appetizers and went around serving.

To say the least we did that the entire day from noon till late in the night,  There was  a lot of speaking from people to the owner and as time went people were pulled from duty and disappeared. 

By days end I fell exhausted to the ground. The last of the customers cleared out and a few people cheered when they left. 

I fell over panting, my legs felt like jelly and I could barely stay conscious. As I lumbered to bed I barely remembered to turn in my month's rent and quickly grabbed the appropriate amount of gold and headed toward the office.

As I neared it I heard voices, not wanting to disturb them i waited outside the door and that was when I heard it. 

"So that sell off was a success? Good good,  Ha ha, 1 diamond for each child was a good deal." someone laughed but my mind stopped working when I heard a certain word.

I rushed back to the doors to find Vadela and Rohnen to see if they were safe. I pushed my tired body to my limits and sent a silent prayer to what ever god would listen to a small child like me and hope for my friends to still be there. 

I burst into the room that my friends and I shared and saw Rohnen lazing around on the bed. 

"Hey Vale, wha'cha doing so out of breath, excited to sleep that much?" Rohnen joked but I wasn't in the mood. 

I gasped for air and then asked "Wheres Vadela?" 

"She disappeared during the event, I guess she was adopted since I couldn't find her ever since"  Rohnen shrugged and opened a comic book. 

"No.....no... no no no no.... " I exclaimed and grabbed my things and started to run. "Hey where are you going in such a hurry, calm down" 

"I can't.... Rohnen today the event was to showcase our work ethic..." 

"Yeah so what?"

"You don't understand, the people today.... they wanted the most able-bodied people, because .... .because...... they."

"Get to the point already, i don't have all night".

I fell to the ground and stared at the floor, all fight in me just dispersed. 

"Slave traders...... the people we were giving food and helped out were slave traders" 

"wait wait, hold up.... you mean" 

"Vadela was bought by them"  and my exhausted body fell out under me and I crashed to the floor and blacked out.