Title: Out Of The Black, Into The Sun Author: Merrov (Gypsy Lupin-Black on Fanfiction.net) Disclaimer: River and all the other wonderful characters belong to the god Joss Whedon. I am making no money off this. Just trying to spread the Firefly goodness around!

This is dedicated to the strongest, most wonderful little spirit I ever knew, taken at only 4 months of age, but with me always.

Chapter 2: Persephone

Persephone was a strange place. Chaotic, yet everyone seemed to have a purpose. River wasn't really sure what to make of all the different people and impressions as she rode on the back of the mule to get engine parts with Kaylee. Simon hadn't wanted her to leave the ship at all, but everyone else had things to do. Kaylee said she could use the extra hands, and before Simon could say no again, River was sitting on the back of the mule, goggles down, kitten in the leather satchel over her shoulders. Both River and the kitten had turned and stared at Simon, as if daring him to tell them to get off. Simon had thrown up his hands and told them to be careful, earning a kiss on the cheek from Kaylee before they left the ship. Mal had come up to the bridge while River and Wash were landing. He'd watched silently for a moment, then reminded River that Persephone was going to be a different place now that the Alliance's big secret was out. River had just nodded. She knew that already.

Boxes, boxes, crates, crates, cartons, and more boxes! Finally the mule was loaded, and Kaylee handed over the coins. River took stock of the mule as she climbed on top of the highest crate. The back end of the mule was sunk much closer to the ground then it should have been. It would be a slower ride back to Serenity. River found that she didn’t really mind. Kaylee started the mule and they eased out of the warehouse and into the crowded streets of the Evesdown Docks. River smiled as she looked around, taking in everything the crowd was doing.

Feelings, impressions, actions, reactions, they were all connected and made up the life and breath of the streets. It wasn’t just the current crowd, either. River could feel the beat of thousands of feet, the crunch of tires, and the coughing and humming of millions of engines backward and forward in time. Normally, this would have been the ingredients for a cacophony that River would not have been able to stand. It would have sent her running for the ship, for the gentle hum of her hiding place-- a crawlspace directly under the engine.

Today was different. Her kitten meowed and poked his head out of the satchel that River still carried, and watched the crowd curiously. Maybe it was his little presence, so close to her, that enabled her to take this chaos. There was certainly no mathematic explanation for the shifting crowds, the scuffling dust and rocks, the smells of cooking food, blood, exhaust, and powder. River looked down at her little slice of serenity, and gave him a bright smile. She’d have to remember to thank Jayne for giving this little body of fluff and curiosity to her. Perhaps she’d knit him a hat? “Kaylee?” River called down from her perch.

“Yes, River?” Kaylee didn’t turn to look at her, she was too busy watching the people, making sure no one ran in front of the mule.

“Can we get some yarn? I want to figure out how to knit.” that earned River a quick glance. Then Kaylee laughed and nodded.

“Let’s drop this load off, then we’ll go for a walk, ok?” River nodded and watched as they turned a corner and Serenity came in sight.

River liked being able to walk around Persephone. Mal wasn’t as worried now about the Alliance looking for Simon and her. Of course, Simon was still worried, but he always worried. It was part of what made him a good brother and doctor. River smiled and followed Kaylee down the busy street.

Nothing was visually different about her surroundings, but she could feel it. River could feel the shift in the way people thought and viewed the Alliance and the world in general. What they had done- getting Miranda’s secret out- had made a difference as surly as the worlds turn.

“River? You think we should look here?” Kaylee pulled River out of her thoughts. She looked where the mechanic was pointing and nodded. The street vendor had a colourful display of crafty things- things for kitchens, things to hang on walls, clothing patterns and fabrics. If anyone would have yard for cheap, it’d be this place. While Kaylee spoke to the vendor, River poked through the wicker baskets full of sewing kits, fabrics, patterns, paints, and brushes, until she finally came upon what she was looking for. Tucked under a sack of paint brushes, River found a rainbow lining the bottom of the basket.

Pink, yellow, purple, red, blue, orange… it was all there. Any colour she wanted. River slowly sank her fingers into the bundle, feeling the soft scratchiness of as her hands disappeared in the clouds. She closed her eyes, just feeling he strands, until her fingers came upon something hard and metal. Pulling it out, she found herself examining a pair of yarn hooks. A smile quirking her lips, River pulled the bundled rainbow out of the basket and carried it and the yarn hooks to Kaylee.

All bought and paid for, River raced Kaylee back to Serenity, rainbow clutched to her chest, kitten bouncing in his satchel. The sun was out, River was laughing, running, chasing Kaylee through the streets of Persephone, all the way home.

*-*-* Please review!! ^.^ More soon!