On the morning of the third day of their new lives, the day after Tomoma had given them names, the three girls slept. They were not in a bed, but curled together on a small, soft pallet on the floor of the modest guest room, as if they were still in the forest.
In the center, Planeta lay on her back, her breathing even. On either side of her, Luminareza and Volym held her hands, their smaller fingers laced through hers. The three of them were a single, tangled knot of limbs, a small island of safety in a world they did not understand.
The sun, just as it had in the forest, found its way in. A persistent, golden ray slipped through a gap in the simple curtains and fell directly across Volym's face.
She stirred first this time, her eyelids fluttering. She blinked, the light sharp and unfamiliar. Her first sensation was the warmth of Planeta's hand; her second was the scent of the room. old wood, dried herbs, and dust. She looked at her two sisters, their faces slack and peaceful in sleep, and a wave of quiet affection washed over her.
But it was followed by a chill. She was awake, and they were not.
Her gaze drifted to the closed wooden door. She was afraid to go downstairs alone. In truth, not one of the three truly trusted the gray-streaked, kind-eyed man who housed them. He was a stranger, and his smiles, while warm, were still the smiles of an unknown.
So she simply sat up, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. She looked tiny and anxious, her eyes wide as she watched her sisters breathe, their presence a silent comfort.
A moment later, a sound made her flinch.
The soft, slow creak of the door hinge.
Volym's heart hammered against her ribs. She held her breath, watching the gap widen. A shadow fell into the room before a person did. She tensed, ready to scream for Planeta, but the figure that leaned in was just Tomoma. His movements were slow, his feet silent on the floorboards, clearly trying not to wake them.
He saw her, and his weathered face broke into that same warm smile. "Good morning, Volym," he whispered, his voice a low, gentle rumble.
Volym's fear eased, but she was still trembling. "G... Good morn-"
"Shhh," he cut her off gently, putting a finger to his lips. "Lower your voice, little one. Your sisters are fast asleep."
Volym nodded, her voice dropping to a tiny murmur. The fact that he was worried about her sisters' sleep touched something small and trusting inside her. "Okay... good morning."
He smiled again. "Come downstairs, if you don't want to go back to sleep."
Volym hesitated. Her eyes darted back to Planeta and Luminareza. They were her center, her safety. To leave them, even for a moment, felt like stepping off a cliff.
Tomoma seemed to understand. He didn't pressure her. Instead, he walked quietly to the window. Volym watched as his large, rough hands gently took the edge of the curtain and pulled it, closing the gap. The sharp, golden line of sun vanished, and the room was cast back into a soft, shadowy peace. Her sisters were no longer in the light.
That small, kind act settled the matter. It was a gesture of protection.
Volym nodded. She carefully, silently, untangled her hand from Planeta's and slipped off the pallet. As Tomoma held the door, she glanced back one last time, then followed him out. The click of the door latch closing, hiding her sisters away, sent a strange, lonely pang through her chest.
She followed Tomoma down the narrow wooden stairs to the ground floor.
It was one large, open room, part-kitchen, part-living space. Through the wide back window, Volym could see that Tomoma loved to grow flowers; pots of red and yellow blooms lined the sill, and the garden beyond was a tangle of green.
The air smelled of damp earth, lingering woodsmoke, and something herbal. Motes of dust danced in the sunbeams that slanted through the window, illuminating a large, sturdy table in the center of the room. Outside, she could see a few scrawny chickens pecking at the dirt near the same kind of tall, watchful trees that had shaded them in the forest.
A quiet thrum of peace settled in her heart.
She sat on the floor, tucking her knees beneath her again, and simply looked around with shining, curious eyes.
Tomoma watched her for a moment, his own expression more serious. Finally, he sat down at the table, crossing his legs. "So, Volym," he said gently. "Would you like breakfast now, or will you wait for your sisters?"
Volym turned to him, her nervousness momentarily forgotten, and replied in a voice that was surprisingly loud and sweet in the quiet room. "I'll wait for my sisters!"
A small, genuine smile touched Tomoma's lips. He leaned forward. "Alright. Then... tell me. Where are you three from?"
Volym's brow furrowed. She tilted her head, her expression one of pure confusion. "From? ...What does... 'from' mean? Are we supposed to be from... somewhere?"
Tomoma went very still. He studied her, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes. He was, in fact, glad it was Volym who had woken first. She seemed more open, her caution softened by a childlike need for connection. Planeta was a little guardian, her eyes always suspicious. Luminareza was a sharp-edged shadow, watching everything. He knew, with a certainty that settled in his bones, that there was something deeply unnatural about these three girls.
He kept his voice soft, but his smile faded slightly. "Yes, little one. Everyone comes from somewhere. We all have a home. When we... when we are born, for example, we find our mother beside us."
Volym's confusion only deepened. "M... Mother?"
He hesitated, seeing the utter blankness in her eyes. She truly didn't know the word. He thought, Are they abandoned? Orphans? But they looked nothing alike. From different parents, then? Were they slaves, perhaps, who escaped from a compound-
THWACK.
The thought was obliterated by a sudden, violent impact to the side of his head. It felt as though someone had struck him with an iron bar. Stars exploded behind his eyes.
"Aaaargh!" he roared, clutching his skull and tumbling sideways off his stool.
He looked back, vision swimming. Luminareza stood where the stairs met the room, her small body radiating fury. Her eyes were not childlike; they were sharp and cold, and her little hand was already raised to strike him again.
"S-Stop!" he yelped, scrambling backward on the floor. "Stop, girl! What are you doing to an old man!"
A second blur of motion shot past him. Planeta sprinted across the room, not stopping until she had snatched Volym up, pulling her into a fierce, protective hug. "What did you do to our sister!" Planeta yelled, her voice a low growl.
Tomoma was too stunned to answer. Before he could even form a word, Luminareza was on him again. Her second blow, a small, hard fist, caught him square on the jaw. "AIEEEEE!" he howled, collapsing flat on his back, the wind knocked out of him.
Luminareza stood over him, breathing hard, her arms crossed with an air of furious confidence. "Don't you touch her again."
In the middle of it all, cradled in Planeta's arms, Volym was just stuttering, completely bewildered by the sudden violence. Luminareza ran to her, her anger vanishing instantly into worry. "Are you okay, sister? Did he hurt you?"
Volym shook her head, her eyes wide. "O-Okay? Yes, I'm fine... but... why did you hit Tomoma? H-he didn't do anything to me."
Planeta, still holding her tight, demanded, "What? He didn't yell at you? Or grab you? Why were you down here alone with him?"
"Y-you and Luminareza were sleeping," Volym explained, her voice trembling. "I woke up first... He just asked if I wanted breakfast until you came... You were sleeping so deeply. He... he even covered the window for you."
Planeta and Luminareza went silent. They stared at each other for a long second, the protective fury draining from their faces, replaced by dawning comprehension. They both let out a long sigh. "Oh," Planeta said. "I see..."
Luminareza, her cheeks slightly pink, marched back over to Tomoma, who was groaning on the floor. She unceremoniously stepped right onto his stomach, making him wheeze. "Hey! Get up, old man."
"N-Not... an old man..." Tomoma gasped, wincing. "How... how can you be that strong? You're just... children... damn..."
Luminareza tried to hold back a giggle, her lips twitching at his pained expression. Then she failed, and a bright, sudden peal of laughter burst out of her. Planeta, seeing the absurdity of the scene that the grizzled man felled by the tiny girl, make her began to laugh too. Between them, Volym just smiled, her cheeks pink with embarrassment. "Sorry..."
Several hours passed. The three girls did nothing.
They sat on the floor in the main room, backs against the wall, simply watching Tomoma as he tidied up, his jaw and temple faintly bruised. Tomoma found their stillness deeply unsettling. In his experience, children were explosions of energy. They ran, they shouted, they broke things. These three just... watched.
"Aren't you bored, girls?" he finally asked, unable to stand the silence.
The three looked at each other, then Luminareza looked back at him, puzzled. "Are we supposed to be doing something?"
Tomoma sighed, his confusion about them growing deeper. "Uhhh... well, the world is wide. You can run around. Play. Explore... Ah, what am I saying." He saw they were listening to him with rapt attention, like students awaiting a lesson. "Well," he continued, "I don't rightly know if it's safe for you to go out alone... but the village folk already saw you with me yesterday. And they don't forget new faces." He unconsciously rubbed his stomach where Luminareza had stood, wincing. "And..." he added with a dry, pained smile, "I suppose you can protect yourselves."
As he spoke, he saw a sudden, shared spark light up their faces. It was a silent vibration of excitement that passed between them. Their eyes, all three pairs, began to shine with an intense desire to see the world they had only glimpsed.
Tomoma sighed again. "You can go."
In an instant, all three were on their feet. "Let's g-" Planeta started.
"Wait!" Tomoma held up a hand. He went to a hook by the door and took down a small leather pouch, pressing it into Planeta's hand. It was heavy with a few coins. "Take this bag, Planeta. In case you want to buy something."
Planeta looked at the bag, then at him, confused by this new rule. "Oh. We have to... exchange things... for other things?" "Yes," Tomoma said, his smile returning. "Like that."
Luminareza didn't wait. She yanked the door open and burst out into the sunlight, letting out a whoop of pure excitement. Volym followed more slowly, a hesitant, wondrous smile on her face as she stepped over the threshold. "Luminareza, wait! Be careful!" Planeta called after them, the responsible guardian, before jogging to catch up.
Tomoma watched them go from his doorway. "Those girls," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. "They are truly, deeply strange." He sighed, turned, and went back to his gardening.
The sunlight was blinding after the dim house, and it felt warm on their skin. They stood on a dusty road. There were only a few other wooden houses, and not many people. Their house was near the edge of town.
"What should we do?" Luminareza asked, practically vibrating with energy. "Well..." Planeta said, looking down the road. "Let's just... walk a litt-"
"Aaaah!" A sharp, terrified shriek ripped from Volym's throat. In a flash, she was gone from Planeta's side, scrambling to hide behind her back, clutching the fabric of her shirt. Luminareza spun around, fists raised, instantly dropping into a combat stance. "What?! Who touched you, sister?!" she demanded, her eyes scanning for a threat.
Planeta sighed, her own heart slowing down. "It's alright, Luminareza. It's... it's probably just that little creature."
Luminareza and Planeta both looked. On the path, sitting and calmly washing its face, was a small, orange creature with four legs, a long, twitching tail, and pointed ears. It was a cat.
Luminareza's battle-ready expression melted into one of pure annoyance. "Volym... why are you afraid of something so small?" "M-Maybe..." Volym whispered from behind Planeta, "Maybe a long tongue comes out of its mouth... and it swallows me."
Luminareza rolled her eyes. She took two steps toward the cat and yelled, "Aaaaaah!" The cat, startled, bolted into the bushes. Luminareza turned back to Volym with a sly, triumphant grin. "See? We're scarier."
"B-but..." Volym murmured, peeking out. Planeta reached back, patting Volym's head. She pulled her around and gave her a quick, firm hug. "Don't be afraid, sister. We're always with you." Luminareza, seeing the hug, smiled wide and came over, patting Volym's head too. "Come on," Planeta said, finally taking Volym's hand. "Let's walk."
They walked together down the dusty road. Volym kept her hand locked tightly in Planeta's, her eyes wide, taking in everything. Luminareza, however, was a blur, darting from their side to inspect a shiny rock, a strange flower, or a buzzing insect, only for Planeta to call her back. A few older villagers, sitting on their porches, called out "Good morning!" to them. The girls just stared, unused to the greetings, and kept walking.
They walked until the quiet road opened up into the entrance of a marketplace. It was not the same one as before. This one was larger, louder, and more crowded. It still smelled of spices and animals, but the stalls were cleaner, the buildings more permanent. The roar of voices, laughter, and shouting vendors hit them like a wave.
Volym shrank back, her grip tightening on Planeta. Planeta hesitated, her heart pounding. She felt a surge of anxiety. Should we be here without Tomoma? It's too many people. But Luminareza, her eyes wide with sheer, unadulterated curiosity, didn't hesitate for a second. She plunged straight into the crowd. " Luminareza, wait!" Planeta yelled. But she was gone. Planeta and Volym exchanged a panicked look. They had no choice but to follow.
They held hands tightly, weaving through the sea of legs. They were amazed. There were tall, colorful houses, stalls piled high with foods they had never seen, children their size running and screaming in play, and flowers spilling from every window box.
"Look!" Volym said suddenly, her fear forgotten, pointing with her free hand. "Look there! That food... it looks delicious!" Planeta and Luminareza followed her gaze. It was a large table piled high with golden-brown, glistening pastries and breads. "Do you want some?" Planeta asked softly.
Volym's cheeks flushed pink, and she smiled, nodding eagerly. "Yes, yes! I want some!" Planeta looked at Luminareza. "What about you, sister?" "Yes, I want some!" Luminareza replied instantly, as if she had been waiting to be asked.
But all three of them just stood there. Volym and Luminareza looked at Planeta. She was holding her breath, her small shoulders tense. This was her first time... buying. "Come on, sister!" Luminareza urged. "It's not a big deal!" "Then you do it!" Planeta snapped, her nervousness making her sharp. Luminareza immediately went silent, looking away and pretending she hadn't heard.
"You can do it, sister" Volym whispered, but she was cut off by a loud GRRRRRWLL from her own stomach. Planeta stared at her, then a small laugh escaped her lips, breaking the tension. "Alright, then. For you two."
She took a deep breath and walked toward the stall, her two sisters trailing behind her like ducklings. The baker, a large man with a floury apron, heard a tiny voice. "E-Excuse... mister?" He looked around, seeing no one, until he looked down. "Oh! Hello there, girls. What can I get for you?"
Planeta's bravery faltered. "I... I want... wait." She looked at the mountain of choices. "There's so much. What did you want again?" Volym and Luminareza were just as lost, staring at the pastries, unable to choose. The baker, seeing their dilemma, asked kindly, "Well, how much money do you have?"
Planeta quickly opened the pouch, poured the silver coins into her palm, and held them up. "Th-This is all we have."
Suddenly, a warm, musical voice came from beside them. "Hey now. Don't you dare think about ripping them off." A woman was kneeling beside them. She had long, wavy brown hair, wide, kind eyes, and a small, dark mole on her brown skin just under her lip. She wore a long, practical coat and smiled at them. "What do you lovely things want to eat?" she asked. "A-Anything," Planeta whispered, intimidated.
The woman gently took the coins from Planeta's hand. She picked out a few and handed them to the baker. "Three of the sweet Lajana bread, please. The fresh ones." The baker, suddenly very polite, wrapped three warm, sticky pastries in paper and handed them to the girls. The woman took the remaining coins and poured them carefully back into Planeta's pouch, closing it for her. "You have a good day," she said, her smile widening. "Go home safe." And with that, she stood up and walked away.
"She was a nice lady..." Volym said quietly. "Yes..." Planeta agreed. "You!" Luminareza suddenly shouted at the baker, "You evil baker! Why did you try to steal from-" Planeta yelped, grabbed Luminareza by the back of her shirt, and dragged her away as she was still yelling.
They found a small, quiet bench in a little garden square, away from the crowd, and finally sat down to eat. Volym was in heaven. She closed her eyes with every bite, humming with happiness. It was the best thing she had ever tasted. Planeta ate slowly, a faint blush of pride on her cheeks. She had done it. Luminareza, naturally, devoured hers in four bites, crumbs all over her face.
She finished first. Wiping her mouth, her eyes fixed on something. Another cat. This one gray and white. "the small creature!" Before Planeta could stop her, Luminareza was gone in a flash, chasing the cat across the square and back toward the crowded street.
"Luminareza! No! Wait!" Planeta yelled, scrambling to her feet, her own half-eaten pastry still in her hand. "The crowd! You'll get lost!" She ran after her, grabbing her food, anxiety knotting in her stomach.
They vanished into the sea of legs and carts. Planeta lost sight of her, panic rising. " Luminareza! LUMINAREZA!" She finally found her by the sound of a high-pitched, angry meowing. Luminareza was in a small alley, holding the terrified cat high in the air, laughing as it squirmed.
Planeta ran up, breathless and angry. "Don't run off like that! You'll make me and Voly... Voly..." She stopped. Her hand, which had been holding her bread, was empty. Her head whipped around. "Where's Volym?"
Luminareza, still holding the cat, looked confused. "What? Isn't she always holding your hand? Where did she go?" A sickening, cold dread dropped into Planeta's stomach. "C-Come on," she said, her voice suddenly thin. "Let's go back. Back to the bench. Before she moves. I wish that... she must just be lost in her slow eating."
They ran back, shoving through the crowd. They reached the bench. It was empty.
The sun was a fiery smear in the sky, casting long, purple shadows, when Tomoma heard it. He was stacking his last bundle of firewood for the night when a frantic, desperate pounding hammered on his front door. He hurried to open it, a smile on his face. "Ah, you've returned safely! Welcome h-"
The words died in his throat. He saw only two girls. He saw the raw, abject terror in Planeta's eyes. He saw the tension and deep, gnawing regret on Luminareza's face. Both were streaked with tears.
His heart stopped. "Where," he asked, his voice suddenly grave. "Where is Volym?"
Planeta's face crumpled. She looked up at him, her body shaking, and her voice came out as a broken, shattered whisper. "Sh... She's lost. We... we can't find her."