As the sun began to set, throwing deep, rich colours across the sky, a convoy of trucks made its way steadily along the narrow road outside a small city in Italy. Tonight they would rest, and then tomorrow the circus would begin setting up for three night’s worth of performances.

At the head of the convoy, Bartholomew Monroe sat with his children, Cassidy and Cassius, in the cab of the truck which carried the gigantic circus tent in which they held their shows. As the convoy stopped, just outside the town, he climbed out of the cab, yelling orders to the circus people to set up camp before the light was completely gone.

With the sun setting, the group began to set up, with some lighting a fire so they could cook their food and see when the natural light had gone. As the flames flickered up, they warmed the colourful red van, and lit up the black boots which now stepped from the cab. The boots were followed by riding breeches, high waisted, and a large white shirt which seemed yellow in the flames, and was tucked in to the trousers. The wearer of these garments strode to the back of the truck and opened it up, pulling down the ramp and reaching inside.

“Come Apollo. If you come first, your mares will follow.” A black Friesian stallion emerged, eyes flickering in the firelight, and walked calmly down the ramp, encouraging the two mares, one golden and one chestnut, to follow. A hand stroked Apollo’s flank in congratulations, and then lead the three horses to a nearby tree. Once they were tied to it, the same hand fed them, gave them a bucket of fresh water, and covered them with their blankets. Only then did Dakota Farida join the rest of the circus people.

She gazed round at the odd group as they sat round the fire. One of the acrobats had his guitar on his lap and was tuning it to accompany their meal with music. Stew was cooking on the fire, and a warm, comforting smell drifted around the camp. The clowns looked strange and grim without their colourful clothes and bright makeup. The huddled together, throwing grim looks at the acrobats; it was well known that the two groups disliked each other, although no one knew why. It had always been supposed that they were always fighting because they were the two most popular acts in the show, but nowadays that was not the truth. Perhaps they had just continued with the old ways. The lion tamer sat next to the Ringmaster, Bartholomew, and they were muttering to each other as they usually did. Old friends, they stuck together through thick and thin.

Dakota’s scan of the group was put on hold as the stew was served, and she returned to her seat with a bowl of the warm, meaty mix, and began to eat, letting it warm her frozen insides.

The last of the sun had now disappeared, and they sat with only the camp fire to light them, and the music of the acrobats to entertain them.

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Author guidance for This exercise

Performance Schedule:
Ringmaster opening
Acrobats
Horse riding
Magic
Clowns
Lions/ tigers
Knife throwing
Whips
Contortionists
Elephants
Grand Finale (everyone)


Jerin Fabrisio
Job: lion tamer, will also work with tigers Appearance: light brown hair, tanned skin, he has a large scar on the left side of his face, stretching down from his temple to his jaw. He won't tell anyone how he got it. He is slight, but strong, as all circus folk are.
Personality: will develope through the story.

Dakota Farida
Stage name: Madame de la Lune
Job: Horse rider and trainer/ Whip artist
Appearance: Black loosely curled hair down to hips, slightly tanned skin from Spanish roots, and dark brown eyes. Slim but curvy, handsome, wears high waisted riding breeches and a loose shirt when not performing; when doing her tricks she wears a smarter version.
Personality: Strong and fierce with a temper. Passionate, likes to perform but mainly does the job to look after her horses, especially Apollo. She either likes people or doesn't, and generally speaks her mind.
Other: Has a black Friesian stallion that no one else is allowed to or can touch. The stallion (Apollo) will bite or kick any other people.

NAME: Cassidy Monroe
AGE: 17
FAMILY: Father - Bartholomew Monroe
Mother - Died in circus accident when Cassidy was 7
Brother - Cassius Monroe (17, Twin)

APPEARANCE: Long thick brunette hair which falls to her waist in loose ringlets.
She has dark eyes and her complexion is fairly tanned after
touring through Europe.
She's 5ft 4 and smiles easily.
She doesn't think herself pretty & she looks like her twin,
Cassius.
PERSONALITY: Cassidy is caring - like her Mother - she loves the animals but doesn't agree with the way they're treated. Her father is strict and controlling. She was homeschooled until her mother died and since then she taught herself. She's modest and humble.


(Just an FYI for her twin)
Cassius 17
Thick brunette hair which curls on his head. 6ft. Also tans easily in the sun.

Name: Corinne Anderson
Stage Name: Nadia Petrova
Age: 20
Act: Assistant in a knife throwing act
Appearance: Tall with ink black hair that reaches the middle of her back and pale porcelain skin. Appears very delicate and slender but is actually deceivingly strong through years of training and setting up and pulling down tents.
Personality: As Corinne she is quite shy and retiring but as Nadia she is fiery and confident. She loves being on stage and can't imagine doing anything else with her life.
Other: Has never known any other life than that of the circus. Lost both her parents when she was seventeen and has taken her mother's place their knife throwing act

Name: Matthias Moon.
Age: 55
Act: Magician and Illusionist
Appearance: Short greying hair, gaunt face with prominent cheekbones. Small goatee. Around 6 foot. Wears a black cloak with intricate red and golden spirals and designs.
Personality: Quite introvert and likes to stay out of the way. Loves the art of performance and comes greatly to life while he performs. Cares strongly for all his circus kin, particularly Maria, one of his assistants( the other is Bobo the monkey).


Alianna Gereggi
Looks: curly red hair to waist, slight, huge green eyes very pretty and tough
Personality: no nonsense, witty and sarcastic
Acrobat

updated Nov 16 '11 by Stargazer