Chapter 8: Security

Hicks led Anno into the inner room, and several beast cubs followed, all looking at Anno with curiosity.

After staring blankly for a while, they started rummaging through the food and put it all on the long table in the middle.

The room in Anuo's sight wasn't very big, but it felt much warmer as soon as she entered. In the middle of the room was a long wooden table that could seat about ten people. Old sofas and cabinets were placed against the walls, and some dolls and other children's toys were scattered on the sofas.

In the middle of the right wall is a fireplace, which is still burning, but instead of wood, it is burning a kind of stone. The stone is red-hot and is burning with flames, making a crackling sound like wood.

The innermost part is an open kitchen, with hot water boiling on the stove. The water in the pot is already boiling, and under the pot is a burning red stone, the same one as the stone in the fireplace.

The scene before her was very similar to the environment in which she used to live, but there were also many differences. It was more comfortable than where she used to live, and it exuded a reassuring warmth everywhere.

She watched as the children, who resembled various animals, rummaged through drawers and cabinets. One child climbed onto the stove in the open kitchen, opened a cabinet, and took out various foods one by one, while another child caught them below.

Hicks put her on the sofa and went to help the two children get their food.

As soon as she sat down, Huo Yin knelt down at her feet.

She watched Huo Yin's actions; he was like a small beast with horns on his head, sharp claws on his hands, and black scales covering his exposed skin. A long tail swished from time to time like a puppy's.

Sensing Anno's gaze, the tip of his tail curled around her ankle and rubbed against her.

With just a small gesture, she could sense Huo Yin's deep dependence on her.

She bent down, gently tugged at the tail on her ankle, then patted the spot next to her, gesturing for him to sit on the sofa.

Huo Yin blinked as he watched her movements, sat up from the floor, rested his head on the sofa, and tilted his head to look at her.

Anno was charmed by his actions and couldn't help but smile. She patted his head and stopped guiding him.

"Hicks, this is black sheep's milk curd. Can the Fire Seed cub eat it?"

A girl handed Hicks a clear jar, and Hicks patted her head: "It's edible, but not a staple food. Go give it to her."

Hicks thought that letting the children spend some time with her would make her relax and less wary.

The girl was delighted to hear Hicks's words. She walked up to Anno with the jar in her arms and said cautiously, "Little one, you can eat this first if you're hungry."

Anuo smelled the milky aroma emanating from the jar, took out a piece and handed it to Huo Yin, then took out another piece for herself and ate it.

The girl watched as the Fire Seed cub didn't seem to mind the cheap milk cubes at all, and ate them with great relish. She stuffed the entire jar into the cub's arms, completely forgetting what Hicks had just said about it not being a staple food.

Anno had just drunk a can of nutritional supplement and didn't feel particularly hungry, but she had a strong craving for food and wanted to eat more and more as she ate.

She would eat one piece and then hand another to Huo Yin. The other children all wanted to come up and touch her, and talk to her. As young beast-type cubs, their beast genes made them want to touch and get close to things they liked.

They have a natural affinity for fire, in particular.

But Huo Yin stood guard beside Anuo, baring his sharp teeth and glaring at them fiercely whenever they approached, his tail swishing back and forth.

They could sense the warning from Huo Yin, and the dragon-like scent he exuded frightened them.

Hicks and the eldest child went upstairs to rummage through Anno's old clothes. When he came down with the clothes, Anno and Huo Yin had already finished the whole can of milk curds.

Anno looked at him while holding the empty can, and even started hiccuping.

Hicks was somewhat amused and exasperated, but he didn't say anything. Since she had finished eating, he squatted down in front of the cub, took the empty can from her hand, and prepared to put clothes on her.

Huo Yin, who was standing to the side, said, "Even on a snowy day, I can smell her scent from a kilometer away."

Hicks paused, glanced at him, and said, "Simple deodorizers won't remove her smell. Mike will bring back a more potent deodorizer later."

The Flame Spawn had just emerged from the petri dish and still carried the smell of the culture medium. The unique scent of the culture medium combined with the Flame Spawn made it instantly recognizable as a newborn Flame Spawn.

Even people who have never been in contact with fire will understand through their natural genetic reactions that the taste belongs to fire.

Hicks took off the trench coat that was covering Anno and used the other children's old clothes to help her put them on one by one. Anno dodged Hicks's hands and tried to dress herself, but Hicks was obviously experienced in taking care of children and quickly and efficiently helped her get dressed.

The clothes were a bit big, and Anno's hands were tucked inside. Hicks rolled up her sleeves twice to reveal her hands.

Looking at her slender, delicate hands, Hicks's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

The little ones in his family, at the age of the Fire Seedlings, are all chubby and healthy, while she looks a bit thin, as if it's due to malnutrition.

Hicks couldn't understand why she was born from an abandoned petri dish factory.

He used to work in the inspection department and knew every step of the process of the birth of the spark by heart. He also often came into contact with various special events, but the spark cub in front of him was too special. This was the first time he had encountered such an event.

After changing Anno's clothes, Hicks pulled Huo Yin up from the ground, preparing to help him change his tattered clothes as well.

Huo Yin dodged his hand, took the clothes from him, and took off his tattered clothes, revealing his scarred upper body.

Anno looked at the crisscrossing scars on Huo Yin's body, which were quite shocking to see on a child who was only seven or eight years old.

Some of these scars had just scabbed over, resembling wounds left from fighting with wild animals.

She reached out and touched the scars on his back. Huo Yin paused in his dressing, his scales immediately covering the scars on his body. He quickly put on his clothes, afraid that his scars would frighten An Nuo.

Huo Yin looked at Anuo's gaze and took her outstretched hand, rubbing it against his cheek: "Don't be afraid, it doesn't hurt."

A pang of heartache flashed in Anuo's eyes. How could she not feel pain? To suffer so much harm at such a young age.

She recalled how she had struggled through the apocalypse since childhood, covered in injuries. She was extremely sensitive to pain, but could only endure it alone.