Ender meets Frankie in an alley near the Heartwood center and helps her remove a bucket from her head. He is quickly captivated by her lively personality, though shaken by the similarities between her and his lost sister.

• Frankie - Relationship Update (Acquaintance): "She, a beacon of reminiscence, evokes memories of a time long past; a daughter of light, woven from laughter and the gentle hues of dawn. She stands as a poignant reflection of all he has cherished and lost, embodying the bittersweet promise of a tomorrow that will forever elude his grasp. The sight of her stirs a complex ache within him—at once a source of warmth and a reminder of his own heartache."​

A new cat arrives and promptly introduces himself as Jun. As Frankie attempts, albeit unsuccessfully, to interpret Ender's name through his sign language, Ender is taken aback to discover that Jun possesses knowledge of sign language. Jun quickly comprehends what Ender is attempting to communicate, facilitating a clearer understanding among the members of the group.

As Jun attempts to teach Frankie sign language, her attention is quickly diverted by the arrival of a new cat, whose name she calls out: Victor. Ender starts to feel a bit uncomfortable with the growing group, and Jun quickly notices, checking in on them. Ender opens up about having been alone for quite some time, but Jun responds with a look of pity that inadvertently offends Ender.

• Jun - Relationship Update (Acquaintance): "Eyes like twin suns in the light, radiant and dazzling in their brilliance; a personality just as bright and burning. They long to unravel the layers of his being, to bridge the distance and perhaps bask in the warmth of his extraordinary presence. Yet Ender stands at a distance, fearful that in their pursuit, they might get burned, consumed by the harsh intensity of that unyielding light. They bestowed upon him a name, a luminous sign as resplendent as he himself; shared a truth so piercing that it stung to divulge. Yet in exchange for this revelation, all they received was a veil of pity—a gaze that cut deeper than any flame ever could."