On the fifth anniversary of her viral video, Glad sat in Anino Garden, surrounded by family.
Ariel. Kim. Rigen. Colene. Maya. The council. The community. Hundreds of beings who'd become her world.
"Five years," she said, addressing the crowd. "Five years since a girl with a phone changed my life."
Laughter rippled through.
"In that time, we've built something I never imagined. A community. A movement. A family." She paused, emotion thickening her voice. "I've lost people I loved. Gained people I can't imagine living without. Fought battles I never expected. Won victories I never dreamed."
She looked at the statue of Anino.
"None of this would have happened without a cat who attacked a drone. None of it."
More laughter.
"Anino—Dad—taught me that protection doesn't have to be loud. That love doesn't have to be declared. Sometimes it just... watches. Waits. Is there when needed."
A warm breeze circled the garden.
"I miss you, Dad. Every day. But I feel you here. In this garden, this community, this family you helped build."
She raised her glass—blood spritzer, naturally.
"To Anino. To community. To all of you—my family, my heart, my home."
"TO ANINO!"
The celebration lasted until dawn.
Creatures danced. Humans joined. Children played.
And somewhere, a cat purred.