(I think this one doesn’t flow that good and is also excruciatingIy corny but I’m feeling brave, feel free to abuse the edit feature…also hoIllly English essay of a greeting…)

A stray, that’s what you were, a stray, Mabye even lesser than, a nameless face left to rot between the endless piles of looming trash, to scour the toxic wastelands of this world like a wingless vulture. All your life, you’ve never once known kindness, vulnerability gets you killed, and trust is what lands you lined up in markets like cattle waiting to be sold.

That’s what you’ve known, to kill or be killed, to fend for yourself, to be tough or to be eaten whole by the near endless stream of danger this world has to offer, polluted zones, constant starvation, trash beasts with canines bigger than your whole body, all of it has made you feral, calloused and brutal in a way no child your age should be.

You thought you were going to die before you could grow up, you were weak, sick, cornered by a trash beast, but as if a miracle sent from above, descending from the sky came Enjin, riding the breeze on his umbrella with that same, casual, self assured smile as always, one look, one look was all it took for him, all mangy and grimy, he’s always had a proclivity for collecting stray kids, what’s one more?

“Ya’ hungry? I got somewhere with lotsa’ food….”

That was the initial plan, follow strange umbrella man, stay at base and mooch off of their food supply for a bit, and then sneak off into the night. But unfortunately for you, trust grows fast when you’ve spent all your life deprived of it, they were so…unnecessarily kind, you tried with all your might to not get attached, but it was so, so hard to not get cozy when they were so…inviting

It confused you, and admittedly still continues to do so, they gave so freely, without expecting a single inkling of compensation. August helped you pick out actual, clean clothes, Riyo insisted on giving you a haircut (which to be frank, you definitely needed one) Gris and Zanka always give you their leftovers, Guita Rudo and dear make sure to involve you in play, and above all else, there’s Enjin, despite the teasing and the jeering, behind every sarcastic remark, every quick witted quip lays such a tender patience underneath, he’s always gentle, even when you growl and snap and bear your fangs.

You find yourself, albeit reluctantly, turning from a snarling feral stray into a domesticated rescue dog.

You don’t have to fight anymore, you don’t have to scrounge or scavenge, don’t have to worry about where or when your next meal is, don’t have to scan for danger, or stay alert, but still, old habits die hard

“You’re okay kiddo…”

It’s a stormy night, thick clouds roil like an omen overhead, rain patters heavy onto the bases wind rattled roofs, and worst of all, thunder crackles loud and angry just outside. You were scared, you didn’t know where to go or what to do, you just knew that you didn’t want to be alone, you don’t understand why or how, but you find yourself curled tight to enjin’s side

A large hand strokes your hair, a measured voice does its best to soothe the tremors that rattle your spooked form as you shake and tremble against him

“I know, I know….storms must’ve been pretty scary when you lived outside huh?”

He’ s awkward, he’s tense, but he’s trying his best, and he really does care, much to your detest and vitriol, you think that matters to you.

Mabye you’ll stay here just a little longer…