Intermission 9 Page 23

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“I did my best to teach you our old ways, the way Kotaca taught me.”

“But the life we had to settle for, living in the city… I’ve never felt like I’ve done a good enough job.”

“You have so many city ideas. Human ideas.”

“Maybe.”

“But it’s all influenced by what I learned from you.”

“Like how we have to look out for each other because the Empire won’t.”

“I suppose you just have a broader idea of ‘each other’ than me.”

“And I learned how to find my own food and stuff, just like our ancestors!”

“You take it from other people who aren’t paying attention.”

“That’s not true!”

“Sometimes they ARE paying attention.”

“Ricki!”

“Heh heh.”

“Though, nowadays we’re growing most of our own food.”

“Which still isn’t how our ancestors did it, but… well, change is inevitable, perhaps.”

“Probably.”

“…You know, there’s something I’m surprised you haven’t asked me.”

“What’s that?”

“You haven’t asked about your parents.”

“Oh.”

“Well, they died in the attack, didn’t they?”

“Aren’t you more curious, though? About who they were, or what they were like?”

“You were so young, you don’t even remember them, do you?”

“No…”

“But I remember you.”