Damian stopped mid-step, his head turning toward the sound.
A little girl was sprinting across the courtyard, her small legs pumping as fast as they could carry her, dark hair flying behind her.
She looked maybe six or seven years old, wearing pajamas that suggested she should have been asleep hours ago.
'She seems familiar...'
His mind worked backward through recent memory, trying to place where he'd seen her before.
But before the connection could form, the girl reached him and wrapped both arms around his leg in a crushing hug.
"Thank you!"
The words tumbled out breathless and sincere.
"Thank you for saving Papa and Mama and me today!"
And suddenly the memory clicked into place with perfect clarity.
'Ah... she's one of the survivors I rescued from Lufen Portal.'
Commander Reeves had been holding her when Damian emerged from the dimensional barrier.
Damian crouched down slowly, bringing himself to eye level with the child.
