As they got to the village, they could see people coming out their houses and filling the streets with their stalls.
The shopkeepers were opening their windows and getting ready for the day. A few people were sweeping any dirt away from their stands and shops.
Zaya hadn't seen this side of the village as she had always been hidden away at the back of it.
She had done her best to avoid contact with anyone, as the orphans who did were normally chased away because the deterred customers or were thought to be thieves.
As Zaya thought about those hard times her head dropped. Sienna noticed and said, "Look over there, that's the shop we are going to."
Zaya lifted her head to see the store in front of them. It had an arched doorway and flowers in pots outside.
On the wooden door, hung a sign that had open written on it. As Sienna pushed the door open a ring appeared from the bell hanging at the top of the door.
Zaya's spirits were lifted by the flowers outside and the decoration inside the shop. It had hangers, with clothes on display as you entered.
On the right-hand side was a desk with an old lady sitting behind it. She had a bright purple and yellow shirt and a colourful head scarf.
She had big beads hanging around her neck, which were a glossy brown colour. The beads and colour attire contrasted well with her light brown skin.
As she heard the ring of the bell and saw Sienna walk in, she took her glasses off her face and stood up, "Sienna, my darling. It's so good to see you", she said ecstatically.
"It's good to see you too. What has it been, two months now. How have you been?", Sienna asked.
"Has it already been that long", she said while placing her hand on her head and thinking. "I guess it has been that long since the last monster sightings."
"I've been well, thanks to you, but how have you been?", the lady said. Zaya hiding behind Sienna's leg peaked around the corner to see the lady more.
"And who might this be here. It seems you haven't come alone but brought a little companion with you", the lady said.
Sienna gestured Zaya forward from behind her, "This little one is the reason we are here today. Go on introduce yourself," Sienna said, while nudging Zaya even further forward.
"I'm Zaya", she said, with a shy expression. "I'm staying with Sienna after she saved me from the cold", she said. Sienna smiled down at her.
"Well, aren't you adorable", the lady said while pinching Zaya's check. "Nice to meet you Zaya, my name is Zanele and this is my clothing shop."
"Well now that you two know each other, Zanele can you help get some clothes together for Zaya. She unfortunately doesn't have anything besides what she is wearing", Sienna said.
Sanele looked at Zaya, "Don't you worry Zaya, we'll have you walking out of her with the best outfits I can find. Just follow me for a second so I can get some measurements for you."
Zanele walked to the back and Sienna gestured for Zaya to follow. At the back of the shop was a staircase leading to a second floor, but underneath was a room filled with mirrors.
Inside Zanele grabbed a long, flexible piece of material that had markings all over it. "Come inside Zaya and stand in the middle", she said.
Zaya stood in the middle of the room and could see her reflection on either side and in front of her.
"Okay, lift your arms", Zanele said. Zaya lifted her arms up and then Zanele grabbed the material around her chest and waist and wrote something on a piece of paper.
Curious, Zaya looked at the numbers written down, "What are those for", she asked. She hadn't seen a tool like this before.
Zanele looked up at her, "I'm using a measuring tool, to measure your body and see what clothes will fit you. The numbers I just wrote down are your measurements. You can put your arms down now."
Zaya, still curious, continued to watch as Zanele measured her shoulders, legs, arms and neck.
"Okay, can you stand under this for me Zaya." Zanele gestured at a pole on the wall that had a piece sticking out. "This is to measure your height", Zanele said.
Zaya stood under it and Zanele pulled the piece that was sticking out down until it touched the top of her head.
"Okay, step away, so I can see the number." Zaya looked behind her to see numbers etched all the way up the pole.
Zanele wrote the number down on the small piece of paper that she was using. She got up and looked at Zaya, "How old are you by the way Zaya?"
Zaya started counting on her hands, "Eight. I'm eight years old", she said while holding up her fingers for Zanele to see.
"I see", she said with a worried looked. Zaya was short for her age. She was only 100cm, when she should have been more than 120cm by now.
Zanele walked out the room to find Sienna. Sienna was browsing the clothes on display at the front of the shop, while waiting for them to finish.
"Sienna", Zanele said to get her attention. Sienna stopped browsing and turned to face Zanele.
"Zaya is quite small for her age. I don't know if she has been eating enough or eating the right foods", Zanele said.
"I thought she was", said Sienna. Sienna then explained to Zanele how she had found Zaya on the streets near death and that she had only eating a proper meal with her.
She didn't know what or how much she had been eating beforehand. "That poor girl", Zanele said. "Don't worry, I'll find her some clothes even if I have to adjust them a bit."
"Don't stress too much Zanele, even if it's just one outfit for now. Just something other than the rags that she currently has."
Zanele nodded her head and walked up the stairs to the second floor. Sienna walked over to the room under the stairs to find Zaya.
She was still standing in the middle looking at herself in the mirrors. Zaya hadn't seen her new body in this world yet.
She had thin brown hair that flowed down her back to her shoulder blades. She had blue eyes with a tint of green in them.
Her ears hid under her hair, and her nose was small, flat and pink at the point. Her hands and feet were small attachments to her small limbs.
As she spun in the mirror looking at herself, she noticed Sienna standing behind her smiling.
As Zaya stopped and turned to face Sienna, Sienna chuckled to herself, "Are you having fun?", she asked.
"Yes", Zaya said, while walking over to Sienna. Sienna reaching her hand out to Zaya and she grabbed it.
"Why don't we look at the other clothes in the shop while Zanele finds something for you to wear."
Zaya nodded her head and the two of them browsed the displays while Zanele adjusted some outfits to fit Zaya.