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Chapter 20 - Make Him Smile

Sunlight warmed the glowing moss. Boboboy sat in the center, looking lost. The crew stayed back, giving him space. They didn't want to scare him.

Destroyer stood close. His long, teal coat looked bright against the green trees. He leaned on his dark staff-sword, watching quietly.

Tyrant sat nearby. He lifted a thin chain made of tiny, glowing flowers. He spoke softly, pointing at the petals. He explained how these special flowers only opened when both suns shone in the sky. His voice was gentle, like a teacher.

A few steps away, Bolo tapped his metal leg. It made a loud clang. He grinned, trying to look friendly. "See? Just metal!" he said. "Good for kicking junk." He puffed out his cheeks like a fish, making a silly face. He hoped Boboboy might smile.

Rambo juggled three smooth, grey stones. They flew in a smooth circle above his hands. He kept looking at Boboboy, his eyes asking, "Are you watching?" His smile was easy and kind.

Cragan and Crania sat together. They held up their huge hands. They made shadows on the bright moss. One shadow looked like a bird with a crooked wing. Another looked like a fat, wobbly dragon – more like a big sausage with legs. They chuckled, a low, rumbling sound, pleased with their silly shadows.

Faceless stayed in his hood. He moved slowly. He used a stick to draw in the soft dirt near Boboboy's feet. First, a circle for the sun. Then, a simple tree. Finally, a stick figure wearing a long coat and holding a stick like a staff. He pointed the stick firmly at Destroyer. This man.

They all talked. Their words were soft and warm, wrapping around Boboboy like vines.

They joked about the awful taste of their machine-made stew.

They laughed about the black dragon's sneeze – it sounded like a broken engine.

They teased Crania about the time his beard got stuck in a space toilet.

They named places the busy Nebula Market, the sparkling Ice Rings of Krios strange words that meant nothing to the boy, but felt like gifts.

They asked quiet questions: "Is the moss soft?" "Does the air smell like sweet leaves?" They wanted him to feel here, now.

Boboboy watched. Confusion filled his eyes like thick fog. He jumped when Bolo's leg clanged again. He pulled back a little when the red dragon-creature padded close to sniff his hand. He looked at the glowing flowers, the flying stones, the silly shadows, the drawing in the dirt. He heard the easy talk, the warm laughs. It felt odd, but not scary. Deep in his lost eyes, something flickered. Not memory. Not yet. But a slow waking up. He was here. With them. In the warm, green light. Boboboy. The name felt real. Solid. In the fog, it was the only thing he knew.

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