Lalianus surveyed the damage to Torryn's house after those awful people's attack, looking at the indents left by rocks thrown at the walls. He'd been warned that humanity could be hostile to itself, but this was utterly baseless.

Whatever Torryn might have done in the past, it did not justify harassing him like this and so often.

Torryn was gentle and kind, and a very good ear petter. Lalianus didn't understood what the problem was. It seemed very clear to him.

He would try to ask later. Lalianus would have been willing to ignore this if Torryn didn't want to tell him, but the human himself seemed very convinced he deserved harsh treatment, and that Lalianus would not stand for.

But for now, he had another matter to discuss. He went back inside the house where Torryn was moving some kind of contraption made of a stick and a brush at the end around the floor. Lalianus had no idea what the purpose of this was, but Torryn was wise, so he didn't question it.

"I think it is time for me to go find my purpose," Lalianus announced, excited to see the world. As long as he didn't run into those bully meanies, at least.

Torryn paused, then nodded, all without looking at Lalianus directly. Lalianus was not very good at reading human faces for emotions, but he didn't seem very happy. "If you fly north, you will find the capital city. That is where the largest number of people are. I think even just your presence will help them feel hopeful."

Lalianus blinked at Torryn, tilting his head, confused. "I won't fly over there. How would you keep up then?"

Now it was Torryn to stare at him, only with surprise. "Oh, you want...me to come with you."

Lalianus nodded, drawing his wings in a bit. He'd not realize Torryn might not be able to or want to. "Yes. I...don't know your world. And I like you, and the things you do."

Torryn smiled a little bit, though if Lalianus were to only focus on his eyes, they almost seemed sad. How were human faces so expressive? "The things I do? You mean petting you?"

Lalianus nodded with fervor, his ears flopping. "Yes. That. Also, you are an excellent hugger."

Torryn chuckled a little. Lalianus' ears perked up at the noise. It was so pretty. Torryn in general was so pretty. The star in particular liked his black hair, whose color reminded Lalianus of his home, and the fur that grew on his chin and around his mouth. And he had the nicest green eyes. Maybe Lalianus should try petting him in turn.

"Well, I...do want to help you," Torryn said, grimacing. "I just think my presence might do you more harm than good. I am hated everywhere in this kingdom and the next."

Lalianus felt his eyebrows move together in what he understood to be annoyance. It seemed human faces just did this. Lalianus would certainly not try to hide his displeasure at mentions of Torryn being bullied. "I want you as my guide."

Torryn sighed, but he nodded. Good. "Very well. I apologize ahead of time."

Lalianus swished his tail in more displeasure. "No apologizing. I am honored to have you with me. I sense no ill will from you, so I have decided you are good."

He stomped to underline it, his boots making the noise properly loud. He was still not used to wearing shoes, but he was managing. Lalianus understood why humans needed them. He'd stepped on a small rock earlier, and it hurt very much.

Torryn hung his head a bit, but he nodded. Good, at the very least he was not questioning Lalianus' decision.

And he was coming with him. That made Lalianus flutter his wings in excitement.

"May we go now?"

Torryn winced, but he nodded once more. "Of course. I will simply...pack something for the journey. I do not have much to help us along, I'm afraid, certainly not money." He paused. "You...do not require food, do you?"

"No," Lalianus confirmed. "All I require is the light of my father or my mother."

Torryn hummed, grabbing something from a nearby closet. It at first looked like more clothing to Lalianus, but then he noticed straps. This must have been one of those bags he'd heard about.

"Good. Because I only have a few loaves of bread on hand."

Lalianus watched Torryn go to a cupboard and pull out three round items that the star assumed was the aforementioned bread. He went over to sniff it as Torryn wrapped the loaves in cloth.

Lalianus let the smell settle in his human nose for a bit before deciding what he thinks of it. "I want to bite it."

Torryn chuckled once more. "Ah. I see you are acclimating well to the world. I can give you a piece to taste if you wish."

Lalianus grinned. "Yes. I would like that. I've never tasted anything before."

Torryn picked up a knife and sliced off a piece at the end of one of the loaves, holding it to Lalianus. The star eagerly bit into it, yanking a piece off and munching.

It was such an interesting experience to chew, the bread soft yet with a tough outer layer, but Lalianus quickly forgot about that as his eyes went wide. It tasted so good.

He'd heard his older siblings talking about tastes, about things that were salty, and sweet, bitter and sour, but he'd had no way to imagine any of that. He wondered which of the four this taste was. But he liked it, no matter what.

Lalianus bit off another piece of bread, humming happily as he chewed.

"Oh, you can take the slice," Torryn said, offering him the rest of it. Lalianus thought about it as he swallowed, then shook his head.

"No, I like this better. I like you offering it to me," he explained, continuing to eat until the slice was gone. He beamed after swallowing it all. "I like food."

Torryn smiled as he finished packing up the bread. "I wish I could offer something more interesting than just bread. Perhaps, hm...."

He went to rummage around the cupboard again, producing an orange stick of some kind.

"This is a carrot. Maybe you can try that? Much more flavorful than bread."

Lalianus sniffed it, narrowing his eyes in concentration, then biting off the end of it. He munched for a while, not liking how tough the food was very much. But the taste was nice.

"I like bread better," said Lalianus, nodding to himself. "This is fun! How many other foods are there?"

Torryn smiled. "So many kinds. I'm sure the king will give you any food you wish to try." Torryn sighed then, and Lalianus nuzzled him. He didn't know why Torryn was sad, but he had to fix it.

"I like it better when I get food from you though," Lalianus said, humming. "Anyway, we go now?"

Torryn nodded. "Yes, I am almost ready. Just a moment."

As Torryn went around collecting items that he needed but Lalianus didn't know the purpose of, the star bounced on his feet, very excited to meet other nice humans.

He watched Torryn put on another layer of clothing that covered up his tunic, and it was also thicker than it. Then he pulled up a part in the back, covering his head with it.

"What is the purpose of that?" Lalianus asked, very curious as he stared at the fabric covering up Torryn's hair and part of his face.

"Of what?" asked Torryn, then he touched the edge of the cloth as he no doubt noticed where Lalianus was staring. "Oh, it's a hood. It's...to blend in better."

Lalianus pouted. "So people are not mean to you?"

Torryn smiled at him. "It's okay, Lalianus. I simply do not want you to see it. Come. We should go. We should cover some ground before sundown."

Lalianus immediately forgot his worries as he nodded, running out the door. He was so curious to see more of the way humans lived. He'd heard there were hundreds of thousands of them in the world, with different cultures and customs.

Lalianus didn't really know what a culture was, but he was incredibly curious to find out. And he was also curious to meet strangers. That was something he'd never be able to do in the sky. All the stars knew each other, and in fact it was very hard to grasp that humans regularly met people they did not know.

It was so interesting.

Once outside, Lalianus smiled up at the sky, at the sun, waving at it. "I will make you proud, father."

He then went to inspect a nearby tree, hugging it, wondering if it could feel it. Everything around him was so alive. It was so much different from the sky.

In case the tree could feel it, Lalianus nuzzled his cheek against its bark for good measure, gasping when the rough bark stung his skin.

He stepped back, pouting as he rubbed his cheek. Okay, he should not nuzzle trees.

"Are you all right?" asked Torryn, who had now joined him, looking Lalianus over.

"Yes, of course," Lalianus replied, smiling. "I just thought maybe the trees liked hugs. The results are inconclusive so far."

Torryn's eyes softened. "I don't think they are complex enough for that. But it's very nice of you to try."

Lalianus beamed at Torryn, liking when the man said nice things about him. They started to walk up a hill, toward a cobbled road. "Do animals like to be hugged? The ones you've carved?"

Torryn chuckled. "Not particularly. Animals are shy, and humans can be dangerous. But if you bond with one, they can become companions." Torryn sighed then, his eyes aimed at the ground. "I used to have a dog I loved very much. Bonding with a creature unlike you is a wonderful, interesting experience."

Lalianus hugged Torryn as they kept walking, wrapping a wing around him. "What is a dog?"

Torryn leaned against Lalianus. "Oh, they are furry, four-legged beasts. Very loyal, very affectionate, very cute. But also useful to defend one's property or life. I am certain you will see many of them once we get to the capital."

"What happened to yours?" Lalianus asked, wrapping his wing around Torryn a bit tighter as he noticed people in the distance, watching them.

"I'm not sure. I was imprisoned for a while. And then banished. I haven't seen her since. I hope she is happy and found someone else to be with." Torryn sighed, and Lalianus' ears drooped.

He would either find this man's dog or get a new one. However that worked, it was necessary. This he swore.

As they kept walking, they finally reached the road. There were a couple of houses up ahead. This must have been the village those bullies had come from. But Lalianus was excited to meet the rest, anyway.

And they seemed eager to meet him, running into houses only for everyone within to emerge to welcome him. Lalianus couldn't help but grin when he saw everyone wait by the road for him and Torryn to reach them. There were even two humans waiting on the road itself.

But when they got close enough to properly see their faces, there was alarm in their eyes. Cries of outrage followed as several humans rushed forward.

At first Lalianus thought they were coming his way, but then he gasped when they grabbed Torryn instead, dragging him away from the star.

"Torryn!" he cried, about to run after him when a hand grasped his arm.

"Oh, thank the sun you are all right," said the woman holding him. Lalianus barely paid any attention to her though, trying to pull away so he could run after Torryn who was being restrained.

"What are you doing?" Lalianus cried, finally managing to get free of the woman's hold only for a tall, wrinkled man to block his view of Torryn. This was one of the people who had been waiting on the road itself, Lalianus suddenly realized. And the woman was the other one.

"I am so sorry, divine. Did he hurt you?" the man asked, concern in his eyes. Lalianus tried to look beyond him to check on Torryn. "He will never hurt anyone ever again, this I swear."

"He didn't hurt me! He helped me," Lalianus said firmly. "I broke my wing when I fell from the heavens. He took me in and helped me heal. Let him be."

"Do you know of his crimes?" the man asked, making Lalianus pause.

"Well, no, but I know he thinks he's done bad things in the past," Lalianus said, a bit hesitant because he wasn't sure what the man expected to hear. "But that does not mean—"

"He tried to manipulate you, your divinity. I am very sorry. He is a very bad man who would seek to return to his station by using you. The moon only knows what he must have done to you to hide his evil," the man said, gently pulling Lalianus along to the houses with the woman.

Lalianus was so overwhelmed that he couldn't even manage to try to stop them. He looked back, desperate to help Torryn somehow, but he was already being dragged away.

"Don't hurt him," he said, his voice shaking a bit, his chest feeling tight with worry. "He's done nothing but help me."

The man and woman exchanged a look, then the man nodded. "He will not be harmed for now. Only imprisoned. He will be tried for his crimes. Now please, come, divine. I will explain everything to you."

Lalianus wanted to resist, but he didn't know what he could even do. He didn't want to fight with these humans, especially when he wasn't strong enough, nor skilled enough.

He wasn't even sure where they were taking Torryn. He couldn't see him anymore, not over the nearby houses.

There was only one option—explain to these people that Torryn was harmless, and very helpful and nice, in fact.

Lalianus nodded to himself, even as his insides twisted with worry. He would listen to what these villagers had to say. And then he'd explain why they were wrong.