The boy wrapped his arms around his stomach as he followed the two teens, and with each step, his legs wobbled and shook.
"Hey, Gruffy," Marcia said, "are you okay? You're falling behind."
Peering up at the two, the boy took a shaky breath, opening his mouth to answer, but nothing came out. His shoulders drooped as if his arms were tied down to his sides, and his legs felt as though they began to sink into the ground.
Jonah walked back, placing a hand on the boy's head, ruffling his hair, nearly knocking him over. Suddenly, a loud grumble rumbled across the boy's belly. His cheeks flushed red.
"Are you hungry?" Marcia asked.
"Well…" Jonah said with a ridiculous smile. "You're in luck, because Ma makes the absolute best food. It tastes like heaven!"
"Don't be silly, Jonah. Food can't taste like heaven."
"No! It really does." Jonah lifted the small boy off the ground and over his shoulders. "Let's go, we are almost there. I can already smell the bread and meat cooking."
The boy wrapped his legs and arms around Jonah's neck and forehead as the older boy took off through the forest at an insane speed, and in the distance, the boy could just make out smoke rising from a large rock sitting atop the ground. And as they moved closer, he noticed a path leading down to a barely visible door coupled with a window.
"Hey, Gruffy, how are you feeling?" Marcia asked, as a loud gurgling erupted from the boy's stomach once more. She giggled, "Don't worry, little stomach, we are almost there."
"We are home!" Jonah swung the door open and walked through it. Inside, the house was well-lit despite being underground. The walls were covered in murals filled with trees, and the furniture had loose books and papers all around. In the kitchen, a woman stirred a pot sitting on the stove, filling the air with an inviting smell.
"Welcome home." She said while turning to face the group. She wore a white apron, and as she wiped her hands on it, she smiled at the kids. "Who is this?" Her voice was gentle, and she moved gracefully around the table as she approached.
"This is Gruff," Jonah said as he lowered the small boy to the ground. "I named him!"
The boy's throat tightened, and his chest heaved as he looked up at the woman. She was tall and muscular, and her long brown hair was pulled back into a neat ponytail. A scar cut across her face from her chin to the bottom of her right eye. The boy watched it as she moved closer, kneeling down to his level, when a gurgling roar escaped from his stomach.
"Well, someone is hungry." The woman laughed, and her face lit up the room. It felt warm.
"I can give him my share." Jonah pointed at his chest.
"That's very generous, Jonah. But I made plenty of food today, enough to share." The woman held her hand out to the boy, "What do you say, Gruff. Would you like some food?"
Nodding his head, he reached out and grabbed the woman's hand. It was rough, like Smith's hands, and she clasped his so gently as she led him over to the table. Lifting him into a chair, she quickly made him a plate, placing it in front of him.
"Let me introduce myself," the woman said as she sat down. "I'm Nancy, but these two call me Ma. Feel free to call me whatever you are comfortable with."
The boy shifted in his seat while watching the food piled onto his plate. He gulped. "I can stay?"
"As long as you wish to, you can stay here."
"I like that."
"You must be starving," Ma clapped her hands together and bowed her head. The other two followed silently as the boy watched them. "Now let's eat up!"
"I'm starving!" Jonah exclaimed, "Eat all you want, Gruff!"
Without hesitation, the boy… Gruff began shoveling food into his mouth, barely taking the time to breathe between each bite. Tears rolled down his face as his new family watched him eat. He held mashed potatoes in one hand and a chicken leg in the other. Gravy dripped down his chin like a beard, and he said, "Tis i' goo'." Ma, Jonah, and Marcia smiled, adding more onto his plate each time he ran out, as if the joy of watching Gruff eat was enough to satisfy them.