Leo kicked a pebble down the dirt path, hands in pockets, sun warm on his neck. First solo mission: *don't die within the flower fence.* He could already hear Selene's voice in his head like a paranoid parrot.
He rounded the bend by the bakery and spotted trouble on the hill—three kids circling a smaller one like hyenas. Pointy ears, black hair, clutching something fluffy to her chest. Elf girl. Getting shoved.
"Hand over the horse, freak."
Leo's stomach twisted. *Not again.*
He walked up quiet. One bully noticed.
"Beat it, shrimp."
Leo ignored him, eyes on the kid gripping the girl's arm. "Let go."
The bully puffed up. "Or what?"
Leo sighed, let it out—just a pulse. Not fire, not ice. Just *weight*. The air got thick, grass flattened in a circle, and the bullies' knees wobbled like wet noodles.
He lifted one finger. *Go.*
They screamed like he'd lit them on fire and bolted, tripping down the hill in a tangle of limbs.
Leo killed the pressure and offered the girl a hand. She stared like he'd grown horns, then took it.
"You good?"
She nodded, shaky. Dusting off her skirt, she pulled a ratty stuffed horse from behind her back—stitches popping, one eye missing.
Leo took it like it was made of glass. Inside: *Of course it's a plushie. Kids are predictable.*
He handed it back. "Guard it with your life."
She hugged it tight. "Thanks…"
Turned to leave—
"Wait!" She bounced. "Why'd you help?"
Leo shrugged. "Dad says if someone's getting picked on, you step in. Doesn't matter if they're a stranger."
Her face lit up like he'd handed her the moon. "Be my friend?"
Leo's brain crashed. "Uh—sure?"
"Really?!" She grabbed his hand, shaking it like a pump. "I'm Lyra!"
"Leo. Cool. Don't expect me to carry that horse."
---
They wandered the village paths until the sky turned orange. Lyra asked why he wasn't scared of her ears.
Leo blinked. "Why would I be? They're just… ears. Pointy ones. You're still a kid."
She went pink. He didn't notice.
Sun dipped. "Where's home?"
She pointed two houses down from his. "Right there."
Leo exhaled. "Good. Mom would've sent a search party."
Lyra giggled and skipped off. "See ya, Leo!"
He waved, already rehearsing the story.
---
Walked in to Caden and Selene on the couch, tea steaming.
"Hands," Selene said without looking up.
Leo scrubbed, came back, shoveled stew like a starving raccoon.
"So?" Selene asked. "Village survive you?"
"Met an elf girl. Lyra. Bullies were stealing her plush horse. Scared 'em off."
Caden leaned in, smirking. "A *girl*, huh?"
Leo frowned, mouth full. "Yeah? She's nice."
"Sure, sure. *Friend*."
Selene swatted Caden with a dish towel. "He's five."
Leo kept eating, cheeks warm. Didn't get the joke, but the stew tasted better than usual.
Later, in bed, he stared at the ceiling.
*Friend.*
*Lyra.*
*Pointy ears, plush horse, zero fear.*
He smiled into the dark.
Tomorrow, he'd sneak her an extra cookie from the bakery.
Flower fence or bust.