The boy had left home, as he was wont to do often.
There was no doubt he would go back, one day. Until then, he travelled. He roamed. He swindled.
A cute face, a small stature. People stopped and people dropped. The boy was glad, the boy was proud. The boy was getting better at surviving on his own.
One day, the boy rested in a forest. It was cold, and it was dark.
His fire attracted the attention of another pitiful being.
The beast was not cold. It didn't need the fire.
The beast was alone. Expelled and rejected by all, what else was there to do but investigate a fire from a vulnerable traveller?
"Oh, hello pet" cooed the boy.
The boy was not picky: any company was good company to him.
The beast?
The beast was pitiful.
Pet was honoured at its new name.
As human as the beast looked, it never had had its own name, and it refused to use the one of the body he was taking over.
The lack of violence aimed at him fuelled the boy's courage.
He got up, ignoring the fact that his head barely reached the Beast's navel.