The Lore Wain and Her Nephew Pt. 31

Nala nearly screamed when Clef grabbed her arm but quickly found that his grip was very weak so she didn't.

Kinabrick narrowed his eyes as he looked at Clef suspiciously for his sudden action.

Clef stared at Nala intensely and murmured, "Don't..."

Nala was unsettled but easily pulled her arm away. "Clef, your mask is wet around your eyes... Your wet mask might irritate your skin if you leave it on..."

Clef still protested even though he was too weak to actually stop her. "Don't..." He repeated again.

Alagatha looked over at Clef from where she was and then at Nala. "He wears that thing all the time. Just leave it be." She looked down into Nibble's face in her lap and sadly chuckled. "Woulda look at Nibble... His lizardy tongue is sticking out..."

Janner looked around at the tired heros before realizing something. "Mom...?" He asked anxiously.

Nala looked back at Janner from her position beside Clef.

"Where did the little girl go?" Janner asked with fear in his eyes, already knowing the answer.

-

Cynthia felt her knees starting to protest against her as she struggled to stand and look at the creature in the tree.

Whatever it was hopped down from that high branch and stood in front of her at the base of the tree. From what she could make out, it was a humanoid shape figure a little taller than her.

Cy didn't know why but she didn't feel afraid of it. She stared at the being with tired eyes.

Through the darkness, it extended a hand.

She couldn't tell if this was another child or a ridgerunner at first but she slowly gathered that since it came down from a tree and had normal looking hand, she guessed it was a ridgerunner. Cy didn't take the hand as she wasn't trusting of the figure. She remarked in gibberish as before.

To Cynthia's surprise, she could understand the following words the ridgerunner spoke.

"Must go." A female voice spoke into the darkness before grabbing Cynthia's arm, yanking her to her feet.

Cy screamed but it was immediately covered by the female ridgerunner's hand.

"Shhh, they'll hear you!" The ridgerunner exclaimed in a whisper.

Cy, despite having limited hearing, could hear the sound of a herd of moos coming their way. In that moment, she became frightened.

With surprisingly strength and speed, the ridgerunner picked Cy up piggyback style and made a run for it.

Cynthia clinged to her in terror, hearing the moos getting closer.

-

After a few minutes of speaking with his mother in tears, Pummi entered the room once again.

When Pummi saw that their mother was worked up and wheezing, his grimaced and looked at Zarabean with hatred. "Must you do this every time you shown up?" He walked to his mother and gave her a hug.

She whimpered and covered her eyes with her hands.

Zarabean was still on his knees, sobbing quietly. He didn't respond to Pummi.

Pummi suddenly acted out and kicked his brother in the face through the bars.

Zarabean went flying back and hit the bars behind him. He held his hooked nose and found it was bleeding. His green eyes looked up at Pummi with clear anger.

Their mother suddenly slapped Pummi across the face. "Don't kick your brother!" She wheezed. "Oh, how I wish your father was here!"

"Ow! Mom!" Pummi held his cheek which was forming a hand print on it. "I don't deserve to be hit-"

"Yes you do! The counsel is deciding his fate- not you!" Their mother struggled to breathe and she started having a coughing fit.

Pummi gently patted his mom on the back, suddenly looking very concerned. "Take it easy, mother..."

Zarabean looked worried for his mother as well even while his nose was bleeding.

Pummi glanced over at his brother and sighed. "Sorry for kicking you in the face." He said more to appease his mother than to actually apologize for his actions.

"Zarabean forgives." Zarabean replied despite knowing Pummi didn't mean it. He wanted to go along with it to help his mother calm down.

Their mother finally got a breath and looked at the two of them. "Pummi, please get Beanie a cloth for his nose..."

Pummi obeyed and handed Zarabean his handchief, which was just a used rag in his vest pocket.

Zarabean took it and held his nose in silence.

"Now... I need to talk with the counsel..." Their mother started hobbling for the door.

"Mother..." Pummi went to protest but he silenced himself when she looked back at him with those big brown eyes.

She nodded to them and told them she loved them before hobbling out.

Pummi waited a moment before looking back at his brother with disdain. "You're lucky mother still loves you. You don't deserve her love."

"Do any of us?" Zarabean remarked as he looked back down at the floor. "Pummi...?"

"What, worm?" His brother scoffed, clearly wanting to hit him again.

"I really forgive you for this." Zarabean looked up into his brother's cold eyes. "And I'm sorry for leaving without saying goodbye."

Pummi's glare softened for a moment, knowing that Zarabean was genuine in his statements. Instead of forgiving him, he turned away and changed the subject. "I'll be back in the morning. Pray the rats don't visit you." He said before leaving Zarabean alone once again.