CA   What?

CA   Oh. You found something.

She beams, holding what resembles a prairie dog with both hands.

CR   So fluffy XD

CA   I can see that.

CR   You're not even looking!!

CA   I'm using my peripheral vision.

CA   That is clearly some kind of rodent creature you've scraped off of a highway.

CA   A victim of a perfectly avoidable collision.

CA   It likely has no outstanding traits from the others.

CA   So get rid of it.

CR   Actually, this one died naturally!

CR   I found him by the dry grasslands!

CR   Maybe there wasn't enough food? Poor guy

CR   But he has a big bite taken out of him XP

CR   It's too big to be a scavenger bird, but wow! I've never seen a body half-eaten!

CR   I was thinking of leaving him there for nature to take over, but

CR   I was also thinking of a nice little burial

CR   What do you think?

CA   Hmm?

CA   You're still holding it?

CA   Carrie, I told you to put it b-

CA   Augh!

You recoil when she suddenly thrusts it towards you, as if expecting you to cuddle it as well.

CA   Not in my face, Carrie!

CA   Don't you know how disgusting that is?

CR   What?

CR   Nothings dripping anymore XP

She brings it closer to her and caresses it as if it were a dog. Your frown couldn't be more disapproving.

CR   Isn't he cute?

CR   He must've died so recently, his fur is still soft!

CA   'It' is dead and likely swarming with parasites.

CA   So I wouldn't bring it so close.

CR   Eww!!

CR   I wouldn't pick up anything with maggots, Cassie

CR   I made sure he had nothing on him X(

CA   There are parasites smaller than that!

CR   How small?

CA   Ones that can't be seen with the naked eye!

CA   Why do you think we clean ourselves every day?

CA   Because there's always filth we have to cleanse ourselves of.

CR   Hmm...

CR   Sounds made up X)

CA   ...

You grab it from her using only your thumb and pointer finger. You pray that soap and disinfectant will sufficiently sanitize any unsavory points of contact.

CR   Hey!

CA   I've been forgiving enough of your deviancy.

CA   But you can't be doing these things. Not here.

CR   Cassie, come on...!

CA   We need to get in their good graces, not scare them.

CR   They might like it!

CR   What if they do rituals with animal corpses or something

CA   One - that is a ridiculously presumptive fallacy.

CA   Second - that is not an outcome we want.

CA   And third - what kind of religion does that, if any?

CR   A cool inclusive one XD

CR   You'll never know until you find out!

CA   ...

CA   Clearly, an appeal to reason is lost on you.

You groan and stand up, leaving your notebook aside. Then, you walk over to the cliff's edge.

CA   This is for your own good, Carrie.

Caroline shrieks with horror and runs up to you, grabbing your shirt.

CR   CASSIE!!!!!! DX

CR   Please please, no! Do you know how hard it is to find roadkill here?

CR   Just give it back, I promise I won't keep it!

You face her.

CA   We've made it here together, Carrie.

CA   With two feet on the ground but inches away from a precarious fall.

CA   One wrong move, and we'll lose all semblance of stability.

CA   Something as small as this?

CA   It could be enough to tip us over the edge.

CR   I...

CR   I know, I know, just...!

CR   I just wanted to show you... that's all!

CR   I promise I won't show it to anyone from the village

CA   A promise?

CA   Hardly a persuasive basis.

CR   Please! I won't ask for anything else!

CR   Cassie... please...!

CA   ...

You step away from the edge and toss the cadaver into her hands. She sniffles and clutches it as if it'll scamper out of her grasp at any moment.

CA   And for Gods' sake, use those gloves I got you.

CA   We can just wash them after each use.

CR   ...

CR   But you took them

You sigh.

CA   That's a misleading statement.

CA   If you recall, it was their fault for having things lying around like that.

CA   They probably haven't noticed what's gone.

CA   Even if they did, we're far away. We're safe to use what we have.

CA   Understood?

CR   ...mmm.

CA   Now, put that down.

She places the carcass on the ground. You bring out your hand sanitizer bottle and squirt it liberally onto your hands and hers. It'll do for now; the village is a ways away from this particular hill. And you don't trust her not to touch other unsavory things once she's out of your sight.

Then, she takes out the gloves from her pocket and puts them on. They're not particularly fancy, but they're sturdy enough to last her a while.

CA   See? They look nice on you.

CA   They even match your dress.

CA   Who says I never do anything for you?

She picks up the body again, giving you a half-hearted smile.

CR   Thanks

CR   I'll... take care of this one

CR   Find a good place to bury it

CR   That way, no one else will be able to see it

CA   Don't go too far.

CA   We don't want to be late for dinner, again.

CR   I know

CR   Bye, Cassie

You watch as she walks back down the hill, muttering under her breath. Perhaps to the creature, more than herself. She's always been strangely sentimental about the dead.

Then, you reclaim your seated spot on the stone, picking up the notebook and where you last left off.

CA   Hmm.

It's been just over a week since the two of you arrived at this community sequestered between mountains. Or, rather, stumbled upon. The people here are welcoming, devoutly so. There were no questions about who you were, where you came from - just if you were tired, poor, and hungry. Caroline doesn't understand what a boon that is. She's still a child, acting like this is just another pit stop in the ever-lasting Luciano roadtrip. But you won't take such people for granted. No, here is where everything begins.

You'll figure out exactly how things work here. Then, you'll ascend to your rightful place. For her. For everyone.