(From Serenity)<br/><br/>River had followed the others, at least for a while. She was in high spirits. Her being so relaxed was generally considered a good sign, though they all knew at any minute everything could change. So long as she didn't come across that signal... There was only so much she could do to avoid it.<br/><br/>But something caught her eye and she rounded a different corner, soon finding herself separated from the group and wandering a little further. Whatever it was that had distracted her was soon forgotten and she just walked about aimlessly, glancing around her with interest.<br/><br/>She had wandered into a part of Shangrila that the "tourists" didn't get to see. Her eyes widened. So much desperation... So much pain... The buildings were dilapidated, streets filthy. And the people who passed her rarely looked up from the ground. Those that did had eyes that were dull with resignation or feverishly bright.<br/><br/>There was a figure curled up in the shadows of a building that had been abandoned long ago on an otherwise deserted street. Her eyes grew even wider. Dead? No, she saw the rise and fall of the girl's chest. It was a girl, though how she knew that she didn't know.<br/><br/>She walked over to her and gently shook her awake. The girl started and scrambled back. "It's okay," River said. "I want to help you." It wouldn't do much. The poor thing looked so sick. Far too thin and her skin had a yellowish tint. One week and no more. But at least it would be spent in comfort. She pulled a little velvet bag out of her purse and offered it to her.<br/><br/>There was enough in there to get her by for a week in comfort in a place like Shangrila or allow her to indulge. "Please, take it," she said, closing the girl's hand around it. Without another word, she started to walk away. She smiled sadly when she heard the thank you that was called after her. Now, how to get back to the marketplace and find everyone...