"I like meat too," Ezra says quickly. It's just more expensive, harder to steal, and doesn't keep as well as bread and fruit. "Loth-rat pie's the best!" Just in case Garth'zel's never had that local dish before.

The talk about food has its intended effect, though, leaving Ezra feeling better about leaving and coming back. He takes a step down the ramp, then pauses for just a moment. "I put your box back on the 'fresher counter." He'd briefly thought about keeping it, but at eight years old, he hasn't become so much of a thief that he'd steal from someone who's been nice to him. Even if it would be really nice to have a box like that. Then he takes off down the ramp, pockets full of food that he can have for dinner tonight - and with his little heart more full of hope than he's felt in a long, long time.