[i]Why do I care?[/i] Kire stared at the boy, met his searching gaze. She pondered over what he had just said, words which she wished no other child in this world or in another should ever have to ask of themselves. [i]He needs the truth.[/i] “Honestly? Maybe partly because I’m selfish. Or that's what my cousin would tell me when she scolds me about putting myself in danger.” Kire sat down next to the pile of wood. “I feel responsible for what he does. And whatever he does, it reflects on my failings. I can’t rest until I make up for it.” She looked back up at Aeron. “But more importantly, Aeron, I believe in the opposite of what you had just said. Nobody is ‘not good enough’. Unless you are exactly the kind of person he is, or the kind of person this face-thief is, who would trample upon somebody else. I don’t think you’re not worthy of care. Or anybody in this mountain, for that matter.” 

She paused, looking at his expression to see what he made of her words, and smiled. “You know, back home, I used to be a leader to many people. So, I’ve had lots of practice caring for people I haven’t even met. They rely on me, even though they’d never seen me, and in turn I trust that they’d care for the land and for each other. I’d like to think we’re put on this earth to try and make one another’s life just a little easier, however we can. Of course, not everyone’s like that, and it’s a bloody difficult thing to do. But while I can, I’ll do it.”