Peri knew the plan, but that didn't mean that she had to like it. That was a fact though that she wouldn't admit to herself, because if she had to admit that she did not like the plan than she would have to admit to herself exactly why she didn't like the plan. She had survived the last two years and not let anyone come closer than Wolf had, but even then she had never let him as close as he had been before the virus. There were many reasons that Peri should and should not follow the plan set out before her, but in the end she would do her part. She was merely a distraction and that's what she told herself as she stepped off her house boat.
Earlier in the day, Peri had helped prepare the trading post for the night's festivities, but for the past hour she had actually spent time on her appearance. It wasn't that Peri didn't take pride in the way she looked, but when you lived the lifestyle of the River Runners there really wasn't any time for such trivialities. In fact it have been two year since she had last actually put on make-up. It had reminded her of her mother showing her how to do so when she was young, and that in itself had strung. It had make her change her mind for a moment and she had thought of backing out of the plan. To hell with the Mountain Lions and to hell with the River Runners, she didn't need them. Unfortunately she did, and the problem with showing everyone that you don't really care for anyone is they don't see the problem with using you as a distraction. That's exactly what she was... a distraction.
Sometimes Peri disliked the fact that the River Runners relied so heavily on the Mountain Lions, but then again with them the small tribe would starve in the winters. The other problem was that she was attached to her tribe mates and she knew what would happen if she backed out of this little plan. Looking back into the mirror she had shut down immediately as the picture of her made up with flowers in her hair came into view. It had been one of the things her mother had always done for her in the summers, and it was something she couldn't afford to remember.
Slowly making her wake through the crowd, in her bleach white dress there was little doubt that that garment had been made by her own hands. It was ripped and torn fabric that she had bleached, but somehow the dress had come out exactly the way she had wanted it to. It stood out and that had been the goal, to make her visible to all so they knew where she was. by this time she had shut off her emotions as really at this moment they were of little use to her and it was not as if she was known for her emotion in most situations anyhow.
Peri had not been told who the drifter was going to be nor had she cared, she only knew that the girl would say please twice in a row and that would be her signal. In all honesty she had wanted to know as little as possible, and no one in her shoes could have said any different.
When the hand touched Peri's arm, she had been miles away not really thinking about the present, but there was little to really guess at as the words came from the other woman's lips. Turning toward the hand that had her arm, she looked over the girl before her. The Lions had done a good job, she looked the part, now hopefully she could act it as Peri did have every intention of saying goodbye in her own way, even if he wouldn't understand or notice. She wasn't daft enough to think he would forgive her for this and in some ways it was perfect for her and actual end to one of the only weaknesses she had indulged in.
Now it was time to act and the only positive thing she could think were that the words spilling from her mouth were natural. "What's wrong?"