Arrietty was getting stronger every day.  She could feel the muscles in her arms at work as she pulled down on her milking tie.  The other end was wrapped around Spiller’s waist, the feral boy clutching tightly to the cow’s udder.  She girl looked up at him, blinking the sweat away from her almond eyes.<br/><br/>“I think that’s enough, Spiller!” she called up at him.  The boy grunted in response, letting go of the cow and dropping lightly to the floor.  The cow shifted its hoof in discomfort while he went about untying the string from his midsection.  She would make note to stop a little earlier next time.  Her father Pod had taught her many things about the art of Borrowing, and the most important thing was to take only as much as you needed.  Most Borrowers would be terrified of the thought of being discovered, even going as far as to pack up their entire homes and relocate far, far away and start over.  Not Arrietty.<br/><br/>It had been some years ago since she met Sho.  He was a frail kid, a kid nobody would listen to nor pay any mind.  Much like herself.  If it weren’t for him, however, she couldn’t imagine where she or her family would be now.  Not well, she was certain.  She owed him her life and more, and she wasn’t even certain where he ended up, or what had even become of his surgery.  It kept her up at night sometimes thinking about the fate of her friend.<br/><br/>“Bean,” Spiller grunted.  She’d been teaching him a lot of things about the civilised world, but progress was slow.  He was beginning to use his words more, which was progress, but sometimes Arrietty was uncertain what he meant by them.  She spied movement from outside the barn doors, and spurred herself into action.  Scooping up the thimble filled with milk, she plugged it with a shaved cork and handed it to Spiller, who tucked it under his arm and began climbing expertly into the rafters.  Maybe he wasn’t the best at communication, but Spiller was very good at the things he did know.  She always wondered how long that boy had been out fending for himself before the Clocks found him.<br/><br/>She coiled the string and slung it over her torso, freeing up her arms as she climbed after Spiller.  The barn had been their home for a week now, and they made a house up in the rafters around the attic.  It was tricky to navigate, and her parents both needed help now if they needed to leave their quarters, but with Arrietty and Spiller both full-time Borrowers, they hardly needed to.  Most of all, it was safe, save for perhaps the odd spider which came around, but Spiller was more than happy to keep them away.<br/><br/>Her long, auburn hair was loose and wild, cascading behind her shoulders like a warm hearth as she hauled herself up.  She used to keep it up in a tight ponytail, but she gave her clip to Sho as a forget-me-not, and she's worn it down ever since.  The barn door swung open, and the old farmer entered to perform his morning duties.  He was getting frail now, and Arrietty wondered for just how long he would be able to keep doing it.  She knew her father and mother would disapprove… but she just couldn’t help herself.  Sometimes she liked to lend a hand.<br/>The old man removed his hat and scratched at his balding head, looking down at the filled pail underneath his cow with a puzzled expression.  He picked up the pail of warm milk and carried it outside.  A small smile pulled at her lips as Arrietty disappeared into the shadows.