Cold Hollow scraps

Jasper waded through the crowd with Sadie close behind. Shabby dens surrounded them, as did the bitter scent of death, and the moans and cries of hundreds of men, women, and children pounded through the caverns; it beat beat Sadie down and she called out to Jasper.
"What is it now?"
"These people. They need help."
"We have to focus. We've got a kid to take care of now."
"We should help these people, Jazz. We can help them."
He paused for a moment, looking around as if to scan for the best route through. In the distance he could make out to small bodies slumped in seats. In front of them a man stood facing a table, leaning with his palms planted upon the table, and his head hung low. He sighed, and turned back to her.
"There are plenty of stars in the sky, huh?"
QShe nodded, pushing her lips into a tentativeq smile.
"Promise me nothing bad will happen. I'll split off and be back by sundown."
"I'll be careful."

"How's my sweet honeysuckle?"

Cold rain. Cold rain blown down, splattered upon the world. The trees, the rocks, and the dirt. Hard rain speckled moonlight against the black sky and fell and fell.