Here we are, enjoy.

Disclaimer: I'd like to say that I own it, but I don't.

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Chapter 3: Food and friendship

Tormod's PoV

What just happened? The thief just left. Without getting back at that... What is he anyway? Why does he got a tail? And strange ears...?´ He was amazed at the very least. That someone would fight for his own good like that in this town was rare. And against a thief as well. They where dangerous for everyone else.

But not for that man, it seemed to be. The boy took a few steps forward, forgetting all about that it could be dangerous. The half-beast looked interesting, and curiosity got the better of him.

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Muarim's PoV

Muarim was just about to take a big bite of his bread when he noticed a small sound behind him. He turned his head to see who it was. A little boy, a little more than an infant, maybe four years old, where standing a few feet away from him. He was very skinny, quite small and had dark crimson hair and the same kind of eyes. His clothes, if you could call it that, was basically a sack with holes for head and arms.

He looked miserable. Compared to the boy Muarim looked good, even with his torn, dirty clothes. A feeling overwhelmed him. Something he rarely felt before. Compassion. When the child noticed that Muarim looked at him he looked down at his feet, that where entangled in leather to serve as shoes.

" Eh. Sorry, I just..." He trailed off.

'Hmm. Shy little kid...´ Muarim thought. A new feeling came by him. Guilt, or something like that. A homeless boy, a beorc that can't survive without help, and Muarim himself was a laguz with a big piece of bread. He didn't have to think twice. The decision was already made.

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Tormod´s PoV

" Here..." The weird human stretched out his hand offering quite a bit of his bread to him. He was just about to accept the offer when he remembered something.

" I-I-I've been told not to take food from strangers..." His mother told him that a long time ago. Even now, after she died, he always remembered to do what she said.

" Are you sure kid? You look hungry." He nodded quickly.

" N-no! I-I'm not hungr..." then his stomach rumbled. He blushed and looked down.

" What's your name, boy?" He looked up again. The man still offered the piece of bread.

" M-my na-name is..." He trailed off again. He wasn't used to having a conversation with anyone and was quite unsure of how to react when someone spoke to him.

" Yes..?" The man asked, as if to help him answer.

"T- Tormod. M-my name is Tormod..." He looked at his feet again.

" My name is Muarim." Tormod looked up again, straight into Muarims eyes.

"Now we know each other. We're not strangers anymore (A/N Forest Gump, anyone?). Now take the bread before you starve."

Tormod didn't know what to say. He took a few steps closer and took the now damp bread (A/N: it's raining, remember? Muarim did his best to keep it dry and now it's damp). With tears of happiness threatening to roll down his cheeks he gratefully took a bite.

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Muarim´s PoV

Muarim couldn't help but to smile when he saw how happy the boy became when he ate. He took a bite of his own bread and looked around a bit. " It's getting dark. You should go home to your mom of dad of whoever takes care of you now. It could be dangerous out here if you are alone." Muarim looked at Tormod and noticed that the boy had stopped in his movements.

" H-hey, did I say anything wrong?" Muarim asked. A few moments of silence followed before Tormod spoke up.

" I'm all alone. Mama and papa are dead and no one cares about me…"

Muarim was shocked by this. Why wouldn't anyone care about a child? Are beorc this cruel toward their own offspring? He was about to apologise, polite as he is, when Tormod spoke up again.

" It doesn't matter, I've been alone for... I think it is one and a half year or something like that..." A moment of silence...

" How old are you, little one?" Muarim asked.

" I think I am three and a half years old now..."

" That's really young for a homeless boy..."

" Yeah..." Silence...

Muarim was about to take a new bite of his bread when he noticed that Tormod was staring at him curiously. "What is it little one?" Tormod blushed when he thought the he had been rude.

" Um, well... I-I got a name you know!" Tormod said, trying to change the subject.

" Yeah yeah, but that wasn't why you where looking at me like that, was it?" Muarim said while raising an eyebrow. Tormod looked down for a while before asking what he had been wondering for a while.

" Muaim, why do you have cat ears and a tail?" The eyebrow that had been going back to its original position flew back up again.

" You don't know what a laguz is?" He asked only to receive a blank stare.

" Huh? Lagwhat?" Tormod asked, curiosity still shining through his eyes. Muarim sighted.

" A laguz is a demi-human. A human with the ability to transform into a beast." Tormod nodded and smiled, clearly curious for more information.

" You see little one..."

" Tormod."

" Yeah. Humans, like you, are called beorc and sub-humans, like me, are called laguz. Calling a laguz sub-human is an horrible insult so never say that. The same goes for the word human´ so if a laguz calls you that, you'd better run and hide. Ok?" Tormod nodded again, still smiling.

" You seem to be smart for such a young beorc, Tormod. How come?" Muarim asked.

But then Tormods smile that he kept for so long faded.

" umm, Well. My parents... When they where alive they always said that I was a quick learner. My dad... was a Sage. I learned most of all I know from him... Like this." Tormod held out one of his hands in a fist and opened his palm and a small fire appeared. Muarim gasped.

'Magic! I've heard it takes years to learn and this child can use it!´ Muarim stretched out his hand towards the fire. It was pleasantly warm. Not to warm, but enough to make you feel good.

" How did you learn this?" He asked, not bothering to hide the curiosity in his voice like he had been raised to.

" My dad put me trough training almost as soon as I was born... But I only know how to use this magic so far, it's a really simple trick, and I don't think I will learn much more in my life..." He closed his hand and thus chocking the fire.

" Keeping myself alive takes up all of my time. I won't be able to train in order to get better..."

Muarim thought about this for a while before speaking up." Well, I guess it is kind of hard to survive on your own, in your age close to impossible. I'm new in the life of a homeless and need someone who can show me what to do, and you need someone to look after you, right? Do you think we should team up together? Safety in numbers, as they say."

Tormod looked at him, kind of taken aback from the offer." You...You would like that? Really?" The boy asked, nearly not believing what he heard.

" Well, you know... I do... I do need some company sometimes and... You're nice..." Muarim smiled and patted the boys head.

" Well, you know how to survive on the streets, right? And I'm a big guy that can protect you, and myself at the same time, we would have nothing to worry about." Tormod smiled ear to ear.

" Really! You're sure! Oh, thank you! Thank you Muaim!" He cried out and embraced Muarim, who couldn't help but to laugh.

" Ha ha ha! Ok, calm down. And my name is pronounced Muarimnot Muaim." Tormod laughed back at him and replied,

" And my name is Tormod, not little one." He said with a smile. Muarim smiled thinking that this would be an everlasting friendship...

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Now, don't yell at me for making Tormod speak well at such a young age. I made him a quick learner. My cousin speaks like this and he's not much older, I'm trying to stay close to logic here.

Review, if you want to make me happy.