"P-Please! I didn't mean to m-make him upset! I'm so hungry! I-I just want-"

Zoey ran to thr girl, falling to her knees.

"Oh my gosh! Are you okay?! Where are your parents?! Did he hurt you?!" Zoey's words came out jumbled and panicked, she didn't care.

Rythian put his hand on Zoey's shoulder. "She's fine, calm down Zo."

He turned to the girl as Zoey got to her feet and he knelt on one knee.

"Tee, can you spare some bread or pork?"

Tee scampered into one of the chests and came back, clutching food for the girl.

"Good, now, where are your parents?"

The girl froze, staring at her feet. "I-I don't know."

Rythian and Zoey looked at eachother, concerned.

"Carer? Friend?" Zoey questioned, worried.

The girl shook her head. "All I remember is helping build some, place."

"What was it like?" Rythian was intreaged.

"Dark, underground, futuristic. And... full of mushroo-"

"Did they talk?!" Zoey cut her off, her eyes wide.

"The mushrooms? Yeah, but any outsider thought I was crazy. I suppose you do too."

Rythian's eyes widened like a bug as he slowly turned to Zoey.
Zoey's, not...crazy?! She's, not... alone in this?! Rythian thought.

"Y-You built that place? I knew mushrooms weren't that capable."

Zoey studied the girl, she had long, fiery, red hair with a blonde streak. Her eyes were green but seemed almost orange with fear. She was half the height of Zoey and wore a pale, green tank shirt with black, dirty jeans. They were ripped, she didn't look like the most fortunate girl.

There was a silence for a while as Zoey stared intently.

"I-I guess I'll be going back to, well somewhere th-then." The girl stuttered.

"No, no, no." Rythian protested, lightly grasping her wrist.

"What, you're like, eight? You probably don't know how to weild a sword let alone kill with it. You can stay here for a bit, Tee'll fix you up with a weapon, Zoey'll get you some food and I'll get you some clothes."

Zoey's face lit up at his generosity, she loved when he was kind. She smiled.

"R-really?! Oh my gosh! Thank you!" The girl screeched, hugging Rythian to his surprise. He reluctantly hugged her back, he didn't like children much.

"Okay, okay um, is it okay if she camps with you Tee?" He turned to him as he nodded and set up a bed in his tower immediately.

Zoey stepped forward, crouching down.

"What's your name?"

"I-I'm Astrid, I think."

"Hey Astrid!" Zoey smiled brightly, "I'm Zoey! This is Rythian!" Zoey pointed to him. "The dinosaur is Teep and that horrible, scientist guy is Duncan!"

Astrid screwed up her face and folded her arms.

Zoey laughed. "Exactly! But for now, he has other business."

Zoey stood up straight and let her hold her hand. "Come on!" Zoey raced around the camp, Astrid running too as she introduced her to the animals and mushrooms before showing her Tee's tower.

Focused, Rythian was busy working on some steel boots for her at his crafting station. The girls screamed excitedly as Ringo came up to them and he looked up. He smiled, she hadn't looked so happy since Nilsey Jr was born.
I've got a good feeling about this girl. Zoey's happy, I'm happy. He thought as Astrid hopped onto Tee's back and ran around, Zoey making sure she didn't fall off.
A really good feeling.