#bear w me im still figuring out the new formatting w legacy smh

[etoilebleu]

@thorrncrowned for cassian from maria !

1852.

the eight year old had made it this far. boarded a ship as a secret stowaway across the small ocean that separated her from a brighter future. so her mother had advised her before she succumbed to her illness.

leaving maria to fend for herself.

the final image of her mother haunted her. knuckles white as they gripped her tiny hands, gasping for air to say her father's full name and where to find him, the look of everlasting love in her tired gaze.

the child was practically skin and bones when the ship made it ashore, maria making her way off as soon as she could without being seen.

the next week she spent continuing to steal food to gain her strength somewhat back and find out more details about where her father might be. it was an exhausting process. a few close calls were already made, running from guards left and right any time she was spotted.

they considered a dirty, starving and homeless thing a pest. not wanting anything to do with her or to help her. so it was only natural she act as feral as she could to scare them given the opportunity.

one evening it seemed like all her patience was going to pay off. a grand party was happening, giving her enough bodies to weave through to get as close as she could to him.

lord cassian langston. they had the same eyes. heart beat wildly in her chest, mia gripping the pillar she hid behind, getting as close as she could.

until she felt a hand snatch at her back. gasping, eyes swiveled up to an angry guard, sneering at her. " finally got you now! thought you could pick pocket in here, aye? "

maria screamed bloody murder in frustration, writhing around in his grip wildly until her feet swung far back enough to kick him in the crotch.

she was dropped immediately, the girl making a run for it, bee-lining for the preoccupied lord, a few people gasping in terror at the sight.

she had to talk to him. she came all this way.

his unsuspecting child slammed into his side, dirty fingers gripping and clawing at his expensive coat with wide eyes, breathing heavily in fear, gaze swiveling back to the oncoming danger.

a few more guards showed up in retaliation, shouting and running to circle cassian and pull the thief off of him.

" I'm terribly sorry, lord langston. please forgive the intrusion. you'll be back to your festivities in just a moment. " yet they were struggling to pull her off.

maria screamed once more, teeth gritted and growling while she kicked at them. " PAPA PLEEEEAAAAAASE ! " she cried out desperately, tears forming in her big brown eyes.

one grunted, grabbing the back of her neck in an attempt to steady her from doing anymore damage. " oh please! anything to get out of her crimes. she's a good for nothing thief! you say the word and we'll try her for her crimes. ASSULT on top of it. "

they finally pulled her off, it taking three officers to hold an arm and her legs, maria bending all around in an attempt to bite them.

" I'm NOT A THIEF ! I came by boat to meet my PAPA. " beginning to tremble while the tears fell. resembling the child she actually was now and not a wild beast.

" please. my mama is dead. you are all I have now. " but what reason did he have to believe her?

maria began to sob uncontrollably, crumpling in the officers gasp, terrified of the thought.