Lysar smiled cheerfully as she carried a massive cauldron of food to the table and plonked it down on the heavy cork mat in the table’s centre. Around the table were more beings than Lysar had expected, but she always cooked too much, so it wasn’t a problem.
“Dinner is ready, eat up, kids!”
Everyone else hesitated at first, waiting for someone else to go first, and eyeing the smallest being at the table. Eventually, Rethais grabbed a large spoonful of stew and poured it into his bowl. Slowly, his three sons followed, all pouring themselves some stew too.
Still smiling, Lysar poured some stew, then broke some bread into it. She turned to the smallest being, a curious look on her face.
“Are you not hungry, little one?”
Psiksi shivered awkwardly, feeling far smaller than usual. “Sorry… I just wanted everyone else to go first…”
“Nonsense!” Lysar beamed. “You are our little guest! You need to fed most of all! You are all skin and plating, little Psiksi!”
Rethais nodded in agreement. “You need some meat both in your stomach and on your bones. We are happy to look after you and help you back on your feet.”
“Well, the parents are, I am not so sure!” Revan interrupted. “Mum, are you really going to adopt every dishevelled Threanic around?”
Rethais glared at Revan. “Really, kid? You mock not just me but the weak and lost as well?”
Revan recoiled, keeping his eyes down. “Well…it is just… That little Skyavok is a bit… controversial. Even by my standards. Heck, even by Trismit’s standards.”
“You would leave him out there on his own?” Trismit hissed. “Any one of us would be killed if out there on our own! We have to stick together and help each other!”
“We cannot help others if we get caught out ourselves…” Relkay muttered, adding his own opinion. “We risk getting into trouble. Especially with Psiksi here. Trismit is not a problem, he is somewhat inconspicuous. But Psiksi is obviously a famous Skyavok that was illegally brought from the space port.”
Trismit shrugged. “Not true. He came through the space port legally. Just did not have anywhere to go. So I brought him here!”
“But why though, Trismit?” Revan asked. “Why this guy?”
Trismit blinked in confusion. “Because he needed help. The same way you all help me.”
“I can leave if you want…” Psiksi muttered. “I’ll leave you all alone…”
“Nonsense!” Lysar was smiling still. “We are not adopting you or anything, little one. We are just helping you. Please, ignore Revan and Relkay, they are just being funny.”
“I am not!” Revan protested. “I just do not want your asshole of a boss finding out about Psiksi.”
Rethais sneered, leaning back as he finished his stew. “Do not worry about that, Revan. Kenon has a… short memory when it comes to individuals. As long as Psiksi does not do anything stupid and keeps his head down, we will all be fine.”
“Yeah… but still…” Revan sighed. “Everything is messy and scary right now.”
“Understandable,” Rethais smiled reassuringly. “These are… interesting times. But we must help each other in these times, lest we leave each other behind…”