Chapter 6

"There she is!" Ani called. She pointed at the small, red-haired girl.

"Hey! Come here!" Ani shouted down at her. They had climbed up an abandoned house and were standing on the roof. The girl looked up at them, then took off running. Poor girl. Luna thought. She must think we're Chasers. They followed the girl until she was cornered.

"Don't kill me! Please!" The girl said. Ani's eyes softened.

"We won't kill you. We're here to help you. You've probably heard of Kiatana Outcast, right?" Ani said. The girl nodded. "Well, Kia rescued both of us. You can come back with us, if you want to." The girl looked at them, fear shining in her blue eyes.

"Are you sure you're not going to hurt me?" she said in a quiet voice. Luna's heart felt a sharp stab of pain. This girl didn't even have a weapon to protect her from Chasers. I wonder how long she's been on the streets, Luna thought.

"It's ok. We just want to help you." Luna said gently. The little girl shivered, and stepped closer to them.

"Ok. I'll come with you." She said. Ani smiled.

"I'm Ani, and this is Luna. What's your name?"

"I'm Nina Orphan. I-it's nice to meet you." Luna fished a slice of bread from her pocket. Niko had stole it that morning.

"Here."

Nina's blue eyes bugged out. "For me?" she asked. Luna nodded. Nina smiled and ate the bread quickly. She swallowed and wiped a crumb from her freckled face.

"Thank you, Luna." Nina said earnestly. Luna smiled. She and Ani led Nina back to the camp. Nina looked around the camp, her eyes wide.

"There are so many of you!" she exclaimed. Luna smiled. Nina was so... innocent. There really weren't very many of them. About thirty, tops. Not counting Kia, though.

"Nina, how old are you?" Luna asked.

"Nine years old. My birthday's in a month, though!" Luna smiled again. She forgot her birthday a long time ago. It wasn't like she was going to celebrate anything.

"I'm going to take Nina to Hinto, ok?" Ani said. Luna nodded. Ani led the small girl away. When they returned, Nina sported a new bandage on her knee. Nina rushed up to her.

"I saw Hinto! He's kinda weird, huh? But look, he fixed my knee!" Nina pulled up her pant leg to show Luna, though she could already see it through the big rip. "I didn't even know there was something wrong with it! But Hinto found it! Isn't that cool?" Luna nodded and grinned at Nina's excitement. She got a piece of food from the basket by Kia for Nina. A nice, smoked vole. Nina's mouth watered. She gobbled it down. Ani watched in awe.

"I have never seen anyone eat that fast!" she exclaimed. Nina grinned. Nina went to Kia to get a blanket. She came back, holding a pastel green one decorated with daisies. Nina clutched it protectively. Luna led her over to where Ani and Niko were sleeping.

"Who's that?" Nina whispered, pointing at Niko.

"That's Niko, Ani's twin brother." she responded.

Nina nodded. "Ok." They lay down, Nina pressing closer to Luna. Luna closed her eyes, and fell asleep.