Anibeli's POV

  I woke up crying again. I wiped my eyes with dirty sleeves again. It was morning, and though I didn't sleep well, if I tried to sleep again, it would just make me... just so tired.

  I was so tired. I was so very scared. Where was momma? And dadda? Had they really... had they really abandoned her? I wanted to cry again. To scream, to cry and to curl into a ball and hide. But... but...

  But I was getting so very hungry. I had to find food, no matter how very terrified I was. So, I fixed her face into a sneer, which her mother had called adorable, and set my back straight like I was taught.

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  I was a Berekel, by the emperor. And I would not hide, nor cry like I wanted. I would get through it, I told herself. My family would come for me, I desperately told myself. I was a Berekel, and we did what we had to.

  So I headed to the forest, with a bit of resolve, in search of food.

  Nezekiri's POV

  She was so very... interesting. I could see her gather herself, and advance into the unknown in search of her goals. That was admirable.

  She was likely off in search of food. At least, that's what I would be doing. Shelter was a non-issue at the moment, and water was easy enough to find in my opinion.

  As I stalked the child, I continued to pour over the words I had heard, and am continually hearing. I knew two languages well, and had bits of others. So, I should be able to piece the bits into something moderately coherent.

  I stalked the child all day. And things were looking up. She had found a small stream, and within its shoreline was some kind of small tubers. She had found food and water remarkably quickly. Now all she needed was a home close by and a weapon for survival.