Her anticipation slowly changed to dread as she slowly came to the end of the list."Oh, please let my name be there!"She shook her crossed fingers as ...if to shake out some magic and there right at the very bottom she saw her name printed in bold black letters.Sarah wanted to jump up and down and do a backwards flip like she used to do in gymnastics. However, she was more mature now. Accordingly, she did her level best to look bored with the whole thing. Sarah was determined not let on how. I SLEPT FOR a long while before I stirred. My room had blackoutcurtains so I couldn't tell if it was still day or not outside, sincethe butterflies glowed either way. As I sat up, I could tell that Ihad been changed at some point into a sleeper... and I assumed a drydiaper. The one I had on didn't seem to be wet, so I wondered 'howrecently?' I stood up in my crib and stretched. I looked at theLittleProtect watch on my wrist and saw that it was about three hoursafter I last remembered looking at. "I made the mistake of having a drink with Hubert. Nothing's been the same since." It always happens, my dear. Rest assured, it's not your fault." I'm not complaining. Yet. It's been an interesting evening." Evening? You haven't been to bed yet?" Well ... not exactly." Oh? I see. God, they are so thoughtless. Come on. Choose your priority. Food, shower or sleep?"I grinned at him then. "Those are the only options?" You are incorrigible, it seems. No wonder you got tied up with them both." Well,. “We will finish this later, elf bitch.”“Oh, I think not.” The stranger walked to my side and faced the trio. “She is now my friend, and I take up for my friends.”I gritted my teeth at the smug bastard’s words, but I held my stance and glared at the leader instead. The brigands picked up their dead companion, and disappeared around the next turn in the road. I wheeled on the man. “Since when are we friends, and since when do I need a protector?!”“I’d say right about the time I spoke to your.