"Oh," Rohan said when she explained Mr. Jack to him. "I guess that is different, but lots of people have stuff like that," he said with a wave of his hand. It wasn't true of course, but not that the young shapeshifting Rosenite knew. "Ooooh," he said when she explained that she lived in Sularia but didn't typically like to play outside. "I guess I wouldn't want to be outside if no one wanted to play with me either," he admitted. "But, I am glad you came out today. Even if those boys were bullying you, I'm glad I could make a new friend!" he said cheerfully. 

He grinned, again with pride. "Yup, that's my mama and papa. Papa's a werebear, so he plays with me as a  bear all the time. Mama says that I have that in my blood which is why I can shapeshift myself so well!"

He waited eagerly for her to pick an animal, and with how long he was waiting he thought she was going to pick something tricky. "A bear? Heck, that's easy!" he laughed, and immediately shifted into a bear, though it was not overly huge. He was still big enough that he could have let Hazel ride around on his back if she wanted. He grunted at her, and then turned back into a boy as she requested a giraffe. That one was a bit harder for him, he had never tried it before. He looked ridiculous being all legs and neck, but he trotted around to make Hazel giggle. 

They went through a rather lengthy list of animals, Rohan always trying to do something to make Hazel laugh, even turning into a squid that blew bubbles at her and splashed around in the pond a bit. When Lily came up behind Hazel, Rohan was waddling around as a penguin, and shifted back quickly when the Yellow Queen appeared. "Hi, Auntie Lily," he said with a big smile as she came and ran her fingers through Hazel's pretty dark curls. 

"They were bullying her and tried to take away Mr. Jack," Rohan explained. "I made sure they stopped though," he added proudly. 

Hazel was laughing so much she thought her stomach was gonna cave in on itself. It was actually hurting. She enjoyed the animals he shifted into especially the squid. She couldn’t tell if she liked it or if Mr. Jack did but she appreciated it. She laughed as the bubbles hit her in the face. Her nose twitched a bit as she laughed when one landed on it.

Once Lily was there the queen looked between the two children and smiled. “That was mighty brave of you Rohan. Hazel needs someone who can protect her like you can.” Hazel blushed a bit.

“I do not,” Hazel was quick to try and say she was strong enough to take care of herself. The squid plush was up against her more as she stared up at the queen with a pout.

“Hazel,” Lily said in a stern voice. “It’s not that you can’t. It’s that you shouldn’t.” She got down so she could be on Hazel’s level and she gave the girl a smile. “You are so strong that you could have really hurt those boys.”

“I know but I got Mr. Jack back so that it wouldn’t happen,” Hazel muttered to Lily quietly.

“Because Rohan helped you. You can’t stay inside all the time. You are a Rosenite, we like the sun, grass, and flowers. I know you do too.” Hazel gave Rohan’s aunt a gentle nod that she was right. “Rohan, how would you like to hang around Hazel whenever she is home in Sularia? That way she can go out and about and enjoy all the fresh air?” Lily looked over at Rohan and smiled.

“What if others start to pick on Rohan because of me?” Hazel blurted it out.

“I think that Rohan can take care of himself… besides, I don’t think anyone has a death wish. Ro is very capable of taking care of himself but can you imagine what his parents would do if he couldn’t?” The thought made Hazel’s eyes go wide.

“So why do people pick on me? My mama is really strong too.”

Lily brought her finger over and booped Hazel softly on the nose. “Your mama can’t bring the whole damn city down. However, I’ve noticed that you never get any trouble when your mama is home. So people are scared of her but they are also scared of you. You know that right? It’s not that they are picking on you because you are different, it’s because they are scared.” Lily was gentle with the girl.

Hazel nodded to her. “It’s all Mr. Jack’s fault. If he wasn’t so scary people wouldn’t treat me so badly.”

“That’s right and someday your mama and papa will figure it out. That’s grown up business and you shouldn’t know anything about it until they need you too… ok?” Hazel nodded to Lily who rubbed Hazel’s curls again. “Good, now Rohan. I’m serious she needs someone to be with her so people don’t do that. It’s very important that she doesn’t lose control. If Mr. Jack were to hurt someone they would think she did it… and we would have to enforce our laws here on Hazel. Alright?”

Rohan almost pouted when Hazel decreed she didn't need someone to protect her. Well, he knew she was right, he had seen what Mr. Jack was getting ready to do, but he still wanted to be helpful. He stayed quiet while Hazel and his aunt discussed what had happened, all the while sitting cross-legged and playing with the grass absently, though he occasionally looked up at the little girl and his aunt as they conversed. 

He looked up when Lily's attention turned back to him and she asked him a second time if he would be Lily's friend in Sularia and stay with her so that she could play outside without anyone bothering her. The idea of Hazel having to be punished by Arriese law made Rohan nervous and he nodded. "Yeah, I understand, Auntie. I can be Hazel's friend. I don't think people will mess with us if we are together," he said, sounding a little unsure at first but gaining more confidence as he went. "Besides,  she likes that I can turn into animals," he added with a smirk. He looked at Hazel.

"Will you let me be your protecting friend?" he asked her.