[Kates Frodo Temp]

Elhor looked around, able to see the crowd again. Many were staring at him, and he feared he must have said something foolish.

“I…I should go,” he blurted. But he made no move to do so. Instead, he looked at Nahai, who seemed like family to him already. “Please, my name is Elhor. Would you…be my friend?”

It was the single bravest action of the boy’s short life. "I must sound ridiculous! Why have they put up with me so far?"

Elhor had frightened himself now, and was reconsidering his actions. But there was no turning back!