The move had gone according to plan. The Clock family – with the help of Spiller, a fellow Borrower and close friend – had set their roots somewhere safe, out of the way, but with enough room for all the little things they’d retrieved from the outside world. Somewhere their lives wouldn’t be put at risk.

Arrietty had been devastated by the move at first, but… eventually, she understood that it had to be done.

Plus, it wasn’t so bad. At the age of fourteen, she was now a true Borrower rather than just the ‘daughter of a Borrower’ for her valiant efforts to protect and rescue her family from the cruel human who had nearly wiped them out. But a large portion of the credit had to go to the young human Shawn, a boy who hadn’t been in the best of health but still put himself on the line to protect them. To erase any trace of their existence before the worst could happen.

She owed him a debt she doubted she could ever repay. If she’d ever get the chance to see him again, that is.

She hoped that the operation was a success. By all the stars, she hoped.

But she had to carry on. If not for him, then for her family.

Their prejudice against humans had lessened slightly following these events – that even if one had been cruel to them, it didn’t quash Shawn’s selfless, noble actions in keeping them out of harm’s way.

Still. Baby steps, right?

Arrietty prepared to go on her first solo ‘borrowing’ mission in their new home. Her stern yet caring father, Pod, was still a tad wary about letting his daughter go out on her own, but a few encouraging words from her frantically warm mother, Homily, convinced him.

She was growing up. She’d more than proven herself.

She could do this.

And so, clad in her favorite red dress and brown adventurer boots, she was off. Everything was going smoothly; she’d used her trusty tools to grapple up ducts, shift through vents and climb up surfaces. For her, this was second nature as a Borrower. She’d learned everything she knew from her parents, and she was confident she’d be able to put them to good use.

She wanted to make her parents proud… and a part of her wanted to make Shawn proud, too.

Once she clambered atop a desk, she smoothed out her dress and brushed a lock of chestnut hair from her face. Usually, she’d have her hairclip on hand, but ever since she gave it to Shawn, she never replaced it. Besides… feeling the wind in her hair felt really good.

Adjusting the bag across her shoulder, the young teen began to search for any small things that she could take: paperclips, tack pins, stray bits of string – anything that the person living here wouldn’t notice if they’d gone missing. That was the Borrower way, after all. Nothing big, just… small stuff.

Small stuff for small people, she internally joked, which she stifled a little giggle at.

This was a nice house, though. Whoever lives here must keep it in good shape.

…Wait. Were those footsteps? Were… were they home?

That can’t be right – she’d planned it all out, she thought they would be out all day…!

She had to hide.

A mug. That would work.

Once she was out of sight, she peered from behind its handle at who was entering.

She wasn’t expecting Shawn. She knew that.

A moment later, and in came the house’s resident, looking visibly exhausted as they flopped onto their bed. They must’ve just got home from a long day.

They looked harmless. That was a good sign.

Skrrch.

…Oh no. She’d moved the mug.

No. No no no.

They looked up, surprised by the unexpected noise.

We can’t keep moving. We can’t keep doing this.

…The grappling hook. She’d left it there.

What was wrong with her?

They came over. Curious. Inspected the hook. Confused.

They looked behind their mug.

And at that moment, their gazes locked on each other.

Arrietty was petrified in shock. She didn’t know what to say.

“…H-Hello.” she finally breathed out after what felt like an eternity.

Even if she was worried – terrified, even… she still felt like she should be polite.

Maybe it would help increase her odds of survival.

Maybe that was just wishful thinking.