“Are you okay?” Noah asked. Belia inched forward, unknowing whether to be on defense or not. She touched her nose against Noah's arm. He glanced at her. “It's okay, Belia. She's in trouble, so let's help her, okay?” Belia nodded her head once.

Looking up, the girl's aqua eyes wavered.

“Hello?” she said. Noah breathed a sigh of relief.

“I'm glad you seem okay. What happened?” Noah asked, helping her up. The girl looked between him and Enya before her gaze landed on Belia.

Running up to her, the girl said with twinkling eyes, “Oh! What a cute creature. I've never seen one like you before.” Belia flinched, taking a step back.

Noah stroked her fur and said, “This is Belia. She's a little defensive, so please give her time to get used to you. May I ask your name?”

“Aww, I'm sorry, Belia. I didn't mean to scare you. My name is Pandora. Let's be friends, okay?” Belia turned her head towards Enya, as if asking for help.

Don't look at me like that. I still don't trust you, no matter what Noah says. Deal with her on your own, Enya thought, trying to escape unnoticed, but Pandora whipped her head around before Enya could take a single step.

“Oh! You're cute, too. What's your name?” Pandora asked, practically skipping up to Enya.

Another annoying person... Enya's gaze skipped over to Noah for a second where she could see Belia smirking, if that was even possible. Oh, shut up.

“Well?” Pandora said.

“Enya.” The groan escaped her lips before she could mask it.

“Aww, that's such a cute name for a pretty girl like you. My name's Pandora.”

“I heard.” Enya averted her gaze, irritated with the same bright smile she had been seeing all day.

“Oh, really? I forgot I said it, haha.” Pandora raised her eyes for a second. “You're so small! How old are you?”

“Twelve.”

“Wow, haha, makes sense. I wonder if you'll be my height when you're my age. I'm seventeen, by the way!” Enya nodded.

How can I get away...

Sensing Enya's irritability, Noah strolled up to the two girls and said, “It's getting kind of late. Me and Enya need to go before the animals come out.” Pandora's face fell.

“That's too bad.” Her expression brightening, Pandora said, “Oh! I know. Is it okay if I come with you guys? It'll be fun.”

A loud groan roared from Enya as she turned her back on them.

“Sorry, but we don't live together. Maybe Noah will let you sleep over.”

Running up to the departing Enya, Noah said, “That's rude, Enya. She seems like she really wants to stay with us. You could just sleep in my cave for tonight, right?” Enya glared at him.

“No. I can't.”

“Please? She doesn't seem interested in me at all. If we split, I think she'll follow you, so isn't it better to stay together? Or, do you want to be alone with her?” Enya flinched at his words.

Grumbling, the next word slipped out of her lips, laced with hatred. “Fine.”

Noah turned to Pandora to see her trying her best to pet Belia's fur, but every time she leaped at her, Belia swung to the side with terror clouding her eyes. Belia glanced at Noah, a whimper almost erupting from within.

At the sight of Belia, Noah scrambled over to them, standing in between the two.

“Please, stop! Belia doesn't like it when strangers touch her.” The corners of Pandora's lips drooped. She stepped backwards. Once he was sure Pandora would stay put, Noah told Belia in a soft whisper, “I'm sorry, girl. I didn't mean to leave you alone with her. It won't happen again, I swear.” Belia nodded once, the movement slow and hesitant. Noah started to walk away with Belia glued to his side. He motioned for Pandora to follow without looking at her.

~

The fire crackled, casting a warm glow on Enya's skin as she squatted down and threw another piece of wood in. She flipped the fish sitting inside it to the other side.

Should be done soon. I hope everyone likes it.

Enya looked over her shoulder to see Pandora splashing water on Noah as he tried to wash his hands. Her light giggle floated across the wind. Belia sat in the cave's entrance, watching the two with an exasperated look. Enya stood up and strolled over to her. She leaned against the cave wall and stared at the two idiots as they threw water at each other.

“Those two are annoying, aren't they? Too hyper for my taste.”

A noise almost like a breath slipped past Belia's lips. Enya was sure it meant yes.

Her gaze flitted downwards to Belia's twitching ear, to her cool, gray eyes, to the vigilance in her stare.

“Look, I don't trust you, but I get you care for him. I don't know why you do, but I do understand that. So, I'll try to let my guard down around you. Just, do me a favor, okay? Alert me if anyone comes near, and protect him at all costs.”

Belia stared at Enya, as if searching her soul. After a moment, she looked away and uttered a small bark.

“Thank you,” Enya said, looking back to the two, who fell on the ground, laughing hysterically. Their clothes were soaked through. It's a good thing you changed out of your suit. I'm sure you wouldn't want it to get ruined.

Enya trodded back to the fire and checked the fish. Seeing they were done, she called everyone over and handed them each a fish on a stick.

“Wow, this tastes really good. I can't believe you did this with just a fire,” Noah said, his eyes sparkling and his mouth full. He opened his mouth to take another bite before gasping, “Oh! Wait, give me one second.” He darted into the cave and brought back the bag he received from the woman in the marketplace. Digging through it, Noah handed everyone a piece of bread. “Here, you guys can have some. I got it today.”

“But, didn't that woman give this to you? Are you sure you want to waste it like this?” Enya asked, turning the bread over in her hands. Noah showed her a big smile.

“Yeah, you're wasting the fish you caught on us, right? It's a fair trade.” Enya looked at the bread before taking a small bite.

I didn't ask you to waste this on me, though. Who knows when you'll get more of this?