Butterfly calmed down a little bit more as she walked. When they got to the park, Butterfly thought about how Ty said it was hard for Tses to show her emotions. Maybe Tses just retreated to not trying to show any emotions at all when things got bad, even if it did involve her brother. When Tses spoke to her and apologized, Butterfly started to feel bad. She didn't mean to get so upset. It's just that she really cared about her brother and she was worried that he was hurt. She told Tses, "It's okay. I guess we just have very different ways of reacting when something bad happens and it doesn't help any that both of us are really upset and worried about Ty."

When Tses told her what Ty said about being around her, Butterfly chuckled and smiled at Tses. " That sounds like something my brother would say." Butterfly paused a moment then asked, " Why is it so hard for you to show my brother that you care about him?"

Tses was a bit relieved when they started talking again, and tried not to sigh. One less thing to worry about for now. She was glad the girl cared about Ty enough to defend him, but was also glad she was understanding where Tses was coming from. It was hard to work together until you saw things eye to eye, and they had to build more of a relationship before that started happening. Right now they were just two strangers, trying to hunt through central park to find a missing boy. She wasn't sure where they would look, or what they would find, but somehow, they had to make it work out. For the sake of the mission.

The park was pretty empty today, and there were only a few couples and dog walkers moving around. Trash cans were stationed every few feet along the path, most starting to overflow with the weather slowing the trash pick up. Tses glanced at some of these as she moved, and listened as Butterfly talked. She was quiet for a second, then responded. "Because... I only cared about one person before. There was a fire, we got separated, and I never saw her again. I got used to being on my own after that, and I didn't have to care about anyone. I don't know how to show someone I care."

She crossed her arms across her chest, and glanced up at the sky, then back at Chloe. "Teaching me to show I care about someone would be like teaching you to steal. Could happen, but takes time."

Butterfly looked around the park at the few people that were there. She tried to find a direction that they should start at to look for Ty but the park was just wide open space. She never really got to know the park that well. The last time she was there she was just trying to find a park bench to sleep on. And that didn't take that long to find.

She listened to Tses as they walked. When Tses said I don't know how to show someone I care and then talked about having to be taught how to care for someone, Butterfly responded quickly with "You know how to show someone you care. You just said yourself that you cared for someone before. So you can show someone you care, you just don't want to because you're scared you'll get hurt or hurt them. Its not a matter of teaching, it's a matter of letting yourself do it. You can't always be scared or insecure in life, otherwise you'll miss out with people that are important to you or those who could be. Trust me, I know. I've never had someone to really care about me until I met my brother. I've always been scared about having people to leave me and I still do, but I'd rather show people that I care when they show me that they care, than to make it seem like I don't and then just push them away in the process."

>>"You can't always be scared or insecure in life, otherwise you'll miss out with people that are important to you or those who could be."

Tses listened to the little speech, and controlled herself enough to keep her expression neutral. Her first instinct was to be defensive, but she knew it would just spark an argument. Plus, Butterfly was right. she didn't want to care about anyone, because it meant pain. She didn't see the upside to that. It just would end badly. It was easy for Chloe to give advice now, but what if Ty didn't come back? Would she still feel the same? Would she forgive him and keep caring? It just seemed so pointless. Yet, she kept looking everywhere for some sign of the red-tinted hair and the slim figure of the pick-pocket. She couldn't stop hoping, but she sure tried stopping herself from caring.

"Its easy to say that, but it's harder to do it. At least for me. I can tell myself all I want I'll be better about showing I care. But then the situation comes to it, just doesn't work out. And then there's this. Ty's gone, and I don't know what I hope to find... Part of me worries he's hurt, but the other half of me worries he just left....left us. If someone cares about you one moment, then leaves you the next, what's the point?" she kicked at a rock in the path, and it clanged against a metal trash can. Her eyes widened slightly as she looked up then, and she felt herself hurrying forward, noticing a familiar little while tail poking out of the trash.

"No way..." She ignored the trash and rescued the tiny white tiger from the rubbish. Luckily, the last few objects were just fast food bags, and it wasn't dirty. But it was still frightening to see something that important in the trash can. Her brain scrambled with thoughts, and she glanced at Butterfly, then the tiger, uncertain of how to take this find. "He.... Ty's mom gave this to him... He carried it everywhere... why would he throw it away?"

Tses was starting to wonder if he really had left them. After all, he lost his mom... maybe he held onto the tiger, but in a way, maybe he was hurt that she'd left him.. She didn't know the full story, but Tses sometimes felt angry with her own mom being dead. To her, the woman abandoned her and her little sister with an abusive man. If Ty saw his mom that way, he could have been so mad at Tses he took it out on the little tiger, and tried to just get some space. Tses knew he'd regret the action, so she couldn't let the tiger get tossed out. But... she was so confused, and it showed in her face as she shifted between worried and upset. It was too much to process.

Butterfly looked at Tses as she spoke to her and watched to see how she reacted. She could tell that Tses was getting slightly upset at what she was saying, but Butterfly knew it was the truth. Sure it was hard to show someone you cared sometimes, but if someone cares about you as much as she thought Ty did to Tses, then Butterfly just didn't understand why it was so hard for her. Maybe she just had trust issues. Butterfly hoped that she could work them out. She wanted for her brother and Tses to be a couple and express their love between each other. Butterfly was thinking about this and about finding her brother when Tses was talking. She was half way paying attention when all of a sudden Butterfly's attention was brought back to reality. When Tses said No way..., Butterfly ran over to the trash can to see what Tses had found. When she peered in, she saw the tiger that Ty always had. When Tses asked Why would he throw it away?, Butterfly replied, "He wouldn't. Not for any reason. He loved that tiger. And he loved his Mom too much to throw it away."

It was at that moment that Butterfly began to really worry. She saw the worry in Tses's face as well. She knew that something really was wrong then. Someone had gotten to Ty and had hurt him. Butterfly just knew it. She could feel it in the pit of her stomach and it made her feel sick. The worst thought that could come to her mind was starting to look true, but Butterfly tried to push the thought out of her mind. She was so worried now that she started to cry. She missed her brother and wanted to find him, but she felt like they'd never see him again.

Tses didn't know what to do. She was overwhelmed by a feeling of fear, and a feeling of hurt. There was no way she could voice her worries to butterfly. The girl would deny that Ty would ever leave them, and would say the tiger was too important. But they were important, and why would he ever leave them? Unless he just had enough. Maybe he just had enough and that was that. He wasn't coming back.

He wasn't coming back, was he?

She took a shaky breathe, and started to reach for Chloes shoulder, then pulled back, uncertain what to do. She didn't touch people. She never was the first one to comfort or call to. Not since she lost her baby sister, but Chloe needed someone. If it wasn't Ty, it would have to be her, at least right now. She got her hand to reach out, and tentatively set it down. It wasn't much; not a hug, or something that may have been more reassuring. But like her happiest smiles, her gestures of kindness were few and far between. "Hey, Ty's a tough kid, and if we can't find him, he'll find us. He doesn't leave behind the people he cares about." does he? A voice echoed in her mind. That was a worry for another time though.

Butterfly was still crying when Tses put her hand on her shoulder. Butterfly looked up at Tses with tear streaked cheeks and said, "Tses, I'm scared. I'm scared that something bad has happened to Ty and that he'll never be able to come back to us. I don't wanna lose my brother. I love him. He's all I have. He was the best family I ever had. I've always been alone. Never had anyone to care about me and so much pain from that pent up. I just....I can't lose him.....I can't. He's the only one who's ever cared about me." Butterfly sat with her head on her knees, steadily sobbing. Through bouts of sobs, Butterfly said, "Why am I even telling you this? You don't even know me. Or have a reason to care about me."

Butterfly wasn't really paying attention to what she said to Tses, she just hurt so bad. She wanted her brother back. She felt so alone.

Tears....

Tears should not be allowed.

Tses didn't know what to do as Butterfly kept crying, and she clutched the stuffed tiger against her as if hoping it'd give her the strength to get through this. Her own emotions would have to wait right now. Chloe needed her help a little bit more. Instinct took over, from a time back when she was hardly 7, and her baby sister was upset. She reached out, and slowly pulled the girl into a hug, and ran a hand through her hair like she would comfort Kelarii. As much as she resisted showing emotions and caring, she would have done anything for her little sister, and in a way, this felt almost as important.

"Hey, it's going to be alright. Whatever happens, you're going to be ok, got it? Ty will come back, but even if he doesn't, you're not just going to be alone." She took a deep breathe, trying to keep her voice calm, and pushed her way through the conversation. It felt like she was swallowing glass, but with every breathe, it went down a little easier. Bit by bit, she was going to get through this.

"I know, I know you don't know me. And I know I don't have much reason to care. But I do, and I'm there for you... Because when I was only 9 years old, something happened to me, and I was never able to get back to my baby sister. But I always hoped someone out there helped her through it. At least I can kinda help you." She brushed a tear off Chloes face, and gave her a little smile trying to reassure her. In her heart, she was busted up into a million pieces.

But just like so many years ago, she put on a smile and didn't let her 'sister' see her fear.

Butterfly was still crying when she felt Tses bring her into a hug and run her hands through her hair. When Tses started to do this, Butterfly started to calm down some and hugged Tses back, holding on tight. She was still scared, but Butterfly just melted into Tses's comforting hug and calming nature. When she was younger and upset, she used to play with her own hair to try and comfort herself since no one else was there for her. Having Tses there to comfort her really helped.

When Tses began to speak, Butterfly looked up at her and paid attention. She nodded her head showing that she was paying attention and every now and then she would sniffle, still slightly upset. When Tses said that she cared about Butterfly and wanted to be there for her, Butterfly was so taken aback and surprised. She smiled and hugged Tses again, whispering to her "Thanks, Tses. You don't know just how much I needed that. I'm sorry about breaking down on you. I just...I can't be as strong as you." She smiled as Tses brushed a tear off of her cheek. "I"m sorry about your sister. I know me and Ty haven't known each other long, but I feel the same way about him and you did about your sister. It just hurts so bad to think about losing him. I didn't think you'd ever care about me. I thought that you just thought about me as some extra person to deal with since you and Ty were together. I didn't think you'd like me."

Tses didn't know what would happen. She wasn't a mind reader, couldn't predict the future, and couldn't solve the mystery of where Ty went. But, she did know one thing. She would find some way to get through it. She always did. Butterfly may not be strong enough to do it alone right now, but Tses would help her through it. They certainly wouldn't have a perfect relationship, especially since moments like these were nearly impossible for Tses to make it through. But with baby steps, this would get worked out. It was like learning to walk on a ledge: you took one step at a time, and you never ever looked down.

"Strength doesn't come right away; it's something you grow into. I don't want you to have to be as strong as me. Just, keep your chin up, and don't worry about the rest." Tses whispered, and shrugged. "And you're not just someone to deal with. I may be a jerk most of the time, but I know what it's like to have no one, and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. I may not be the perfect 'sisterly' figure and crap like that, but I do my best to be there when people need me. You know where to find me." Tses said with a little smile. Then, feeling a little awkward, she slowly pulled away from the hug and rubbed the back of her neck.

Butterfly listened as Tses talked to her and she wiped the remaining tears from her face. She tried to be hopeful, tried to be positive. Maybe Tses cared about her after all. She smiled as Tses spoke. She knew all too well that Tses was reverting back to shell and Butterfly could tell it by the way that she spoke.

Butterfly stood up as Tses pulled away from their hug. "Thanks, Tses. So do you wanna keep looking around for any other clues that Ty was here?"

Getting back to her feet, Tses tucked the tiger under her arm, and waited for Chloe to get up as well. She glanced around the park as people kept going on their way without so much as a glance at the girls. That was one of the hardest things about being in a city like this; sometimes, life just kept going on, no matter what you were going through personally. It was a 'look out for yourself' type place. It would be hard to find Ty, and she wasn't even sure where to start. If they should start. The tiger seemed like a bitter omen.

"We can look, I'm not sure if we'll find anything else though. It's starting to snow...." She added as a tiny white snowflake came fluttering down. Looking up at the sky, it was slowly filling with white crystals. If it turned into another blizzard, it would be hard to look anywhere.

Butterfly got up and looked around. People were steadily walking around still. She was still so focused on finding her brother that she didn't even notice that it had started to snow. When Tses began to talk, Butterfly looked back at her so she could pay attention. She nodded her head when Tses said they could look, but didn't know if they would find anything. Then when she said that it was starting to snow, Butterfly looked up and then around. So it was snowing. Butterfly smiled and then said to Tses, "Oooooh, it's snowing. It never really snowed in Macon. It's so pretty. Have you ever tried to catch snowflakes in your mouth before Tses?" she asked, before turning her head up and opening her mouth to catch a few snowflakes with her eyes closed. When a few hit her tongue, she closed her mouth and giggled a little. She felt like a kid again. Like nothing bad could ever happen. Then she opened her eyes again and her mind came back to reality. "Okay. Let's look a little more, but if it starts to get really bad, then we'll turn back and go back to mine or your apartment, I guess. If that's okay with you?"

Tses blinked slightly at Butterfly, and then slowly shook her head. "Actually, no, I haven't. Snow really wasn't fun for me as a kid... It was something cold I had to find a way to get out of living on the streets..." Tses said slowly, and watched Butterfly catch it. She glanced back up at the snowflakes, and was tempted to try. A snowflake landed on her nose, and she sneezed, wiped away the wet texture and decided against it. Snow just wasn't fun to her.

"Well, we can walk the loop of the park, heading towards the zoo." She suggested, and ran a hand through her hair. Wet moisture tickled her fingers from melting flakes. "And either place works. I mean, my apartment really isn't anything fancy. More of a place to crash than a home." She explained.

Butterfly listened as Tses told her about her being on the streets and dealing with snow. Butterfly just found snow as being a novel thing because she never really saw it around where she was from, but she could understand it being a bad thing for someone who didn't have a place to get out of it.

She heard Tses sneeze and she looked over at her and said, "Bless you." And when Tses suggested that they walk the loop around the park, Butterfly nodded her head and started to walk that way. "My apartment isn't great either. It literally is just a place to stay out of the weather. There is no electricity or running water. I really wish I knew somewhere that I could take a shower. Does your apartment have that?" Butterfly asked, really hoping that Tses's apartment did and would let her shower there.