A few days after Liberation Day, the morning came quietly.
Amy was sleeping deeply, snoring softly with her mouth open. One small hand rested on her round belly, the other stretched across the bed. She slept as if tomorrow did not exist at all. Whenever she woke up, drool would usually slip from the corner of her mouth—proof of how deeply she slept.
When the smell of food reached her nose, she suddenly jolted upright.
"Food!"
She kicked the blanket away, which had been warming only one foot—the other had escaped sometime during the night. She slid off the bed and made her way toward the kitchen, which was just beyond the bedroom, close to the stove.
She wasn't tall enough to see what Lucas was cooking. What stood out to her most was the tattoo that stretched from his arm up to his neck. He always rolled up his sleeves, and it looked as though the markings extended even further—like a beautiful drawing etched into his skin.
Lucas stood at the stove wearing his usual white shirt and brown trousers. He wasn't wearing shoes; his bare feet pressed against the cold floor. A light beard filled his jaw, and his curly dark-brown hair reached his ears. His features were ordinary—but warm.
As he cooked, Amy tried to peek over the stove to see what he was making. She failed.
Lucas glanced at her and smiled.
"Good morning."
Amy looked at him, only now realizing she had followed the smell.
"Good morning, Lucas."
Lucas stepped away from the stove and walked to the coat hanging by the door. He called out,
"Amy, come here."
She ran over immediately. Ever since they arrived here, he had allowed her to go outside alone.
He pulled some coins from the coat pocket and placed them in her hand.
"Go to Mrs. Marta and bring us some bread so we can have breakfast. It's eggs with meat."
Amy's eyes sparkled.
"Meaaaat!"
She hurriedly put on her shoes and tried to rush out wearing only her light clothes. Lucas stopped her and dressed her in her own coat—a small brown one that reached below her knees, with a hood to cover her head.
"Now you can go."
"Bye!" she shouted, slamming the door behind her.
"Meaaaat!" she yelled as she ran.
Lucas opened the door once more and said calmly,
"Come in. You don't need to hide anymore."
---
Amy didn't stop running, shouting "Meaaaat!" as she went. She passed by Rod the meat seller, who was pushing his cart and grilling small skewers for anyone who stopped by.
"Good morning, Amy," Rod called out.
"Good morning, uncle!" she replied while running.
Amy was fast. She was full of energy—always wandering the city ever since they arrived. People had grown used to her presence; she was always poking her nose into things and asking questions.
She passed by Hana, the Mardion flower seller.
She was beautiful, and her horns made her even more so—curving like a gazelle's.
"Good morning, Amy."
Amy waved quickly and kept running.
One greeting after another—until she reached Marta, the human bread seller. She wasn't old, but she was older than Lucas. At least, that's what Amy always said.
"Good morning, Auntie," Amy said.
"Good morning, little one. Do you want bread?"
Amy nodded repeatedly, fast and excited.
Marta laughed warmly. She looked around and didn't see Lucas.
"Where's the boy who's always with you?"
Amy frowned slightly.
"You mean Lucas, Auntie?"
"Yes."
Amy's eyes shone.
"Lucas trusted me to come here and buy the bread by myself!"
"Oh," Marta smiled. "So you're a big girl now. Someone we can rely on."
Amy nodded enthusiastically again.
"How many do you want?"
Amy handed her the coins. She still didn't know how to count—Lucas hadn't found the time to teach her yet.
Marta packed the bread into a bag and added a small cake.
"This is for you. And here's the rest of the money."
Amy left the shop quickly, then stopped, turned back, and said with the cake already in her mouth,
"Thank you, Auntie!"
She walked this time instead of running, afraid the bread might fall and Lucas would be upset.
---
As she walked, she passed a dark alley.
A voice whispered,
"Little girl… could you give me some bread?"
Amy looked into the narrow passage. A large figure clung to the wall. His clothes were worn—almost new, but stained recently. His hands were clenched tightly.
She hugged the bread closer, refusing silently.
"Don't worry," he said softly. "I won't hurt you. I just want to feed this little one."
He opened his hands, revealing a small chirping chick.
Amy hesitated. She looked at the bread, then at the tiny creature. Slowly, she took one loaf and handed it to the giant.
He thanked her, overjoyed, and asked her to feed it herself. She hesitated again, then gave in. He showed her how to soften the bread crumbs with saliva so the chick could eat them.
Amy's eyes sparkled. She forgot all about breakfast as she fed the chick. The giant watched her, arms open.
"I can't feed it myself," he said quietly. "My hands are too big."
Then he asked,
"Weren't you going somewhere?"
Amy suddenly remembered.
"Yes! Lucas told me to bring the bread for breakfast!"
Silence fell.
"BREAKFAST!" Amy shouted.
She grabbed the remaining bread and tried to run—but the giant caught her by the collar and lifted her onto his shoulder.
"Hold on," he said gently. "Where do you live, little one?"
"At the end of the street, on the left," she said. "My name is Amy."
He chuckled.
"I'm Edior."
As he ran, Amy noticed the small horn on his forehead. She said nothing.
His hair was long, unlike most adults she knew. Lucas's hair was strange too—she always imagined it as noodles. Uncle Rod always wore a hat.
But Edior's hair reached his shoulders, chestnut-colored. His skin wasn't dark—just not pale.
---
Edior moved quickly, using his strength to get her home faster. Amy enjoyed the ride, seeing the world from above.
"This is even higher than Lucas's shoulders!" she laughed.
When they reached the building—small rental apartments with nothing more than a room, kitchen, and bathroom—Amy thanked him.
"Nice to meet you, Uncle."
Edior knelt.
"And you, Amy. Just call me Edior next time."
He placed the chick gently on her head.
"Take the little one with you. I can't feed it properly."
"Goodbye," he said.
"Goodbye, Edior!" Amy replied, smiling.
She entered the building, climbing the stairs carefully—bread in her hands, the chick chirping on her head.
"Do you think Lucas will let you stay?" she whispered to it.
"He won't throw you away."
Then she laughed.
"Your name will be… Chirpy? No—Tetak! Yes, Tetak. Come on, let's meet Lucas."
Suddenly, a loud crash echoed from the end of the hallway.
Amy froze, clutching the bread tighter as she stepped forward.
Before she reached the door, Lucas was thrown out of it—the door shattered into pieces as his body slammed into the wall.
Lucas growled at the figure stepping out of the room.
Then he turned and saw Amy.
"Amy—run!" he shouted.
He realized she couldn't move.
Summoning his strength, Lucas struck the figure before it could reach her, forcing it back inside. He rushed to Amy, grabbed her—along with the chick—and dragged her outside.
"Run!" he shouted.
Amy stood frozen, gripping the bread, shaking.
Lucas grabbed her shoulders.
"It's okay, Amy. Now run!"
She ran.
She didn't know where—only that she had to run.
Until she collided with someone