He was small and skinny, with a soft goat tail that twitched nervously, and small horns sprouting from his spotted, light brown hair. His eyes were large and wet with tears.

"S-sorry..." he whispered, wiping his nose with his sleeve. "I got lost..."

Nika crouched down to his level.

"Hey. It's okay. Come inside, it's cold."

The boy entered hesitantly, looking around in awe. When she handed him vegetables, dinner, and fruit, he ate slowly, with immense gratitude, as if every bite were a gift.

"Is this... for me?" he asked quietly.

"Yes. Everything for you."

He smiled broadly. His tail twitched faster.

"Thank you..." and then, even more quietly, "You're as nice as a mother..."

That evening, Nika found him small pajamas. The boy squealed with delight as it proved to be the perfect solution.

"Can I stay here tonight?" he asked cautiously.

"Yes. Tomorrow we'll go into town and find help, okay?"

"Okay..." he replied, but there was a hint of fear in his voice.

While Nika was getting the bed ready, the boy quietly went to the kitchen. His goat tail twitched with excitement. From a tiny bag, he pulled a jug of warm goat milk. He poured it into a mug, placed his hands on the rim, and closed his eyes.

"Please..." he whispered. "I want to stay. I want her to be my mom. I promise I'll be good..."

He returned to the bedroom, holding the mug with both hands. His brown, spotted hair fell over his forehead, and his horns seemed even smaller in the lamplight.

Nika smelled the hybrid's natural scent – goaty, warm, milky. She smiled gently.

"What do you have there?"

"Milk..." he replied shyly. "It's made... when you really like someone. For Mom."

He handed her the cup, trembling slightly.

"Milk is very good for a good night's sleep, Mommy."

The boy shivers with cold, and Nika takes him to bed.

Gently, almost unconsciously, they rub their noses against her shoulder. That's what little children do—testing a scent, making sure someone is real. When Nika doesn't pull away, something inside him softens.

**She allows it...

It means I'm hers.**

He doesn't say it out loud. Not yet. He simply leans closer and rests his forehead against her cheek, closing his eyes.

**If I could, I would sleep here forever.

I would watch over her sleep.

I would be quiet.**

Nika lets out a surprised sound when the hybrid licks her ear. Goats had a weakness for licking and loved to mark territory or loved ones this way. He also rubbed his small horns against her and made a goat-like 'meeeee' sound.