Chapter 20: Forgiveness

Zamir thought that they were going around quite a lot, but then he was happy that Odale would try to get along with her mother. He really liked Odales' mother, she was very understanding. He thought.

When Casmére opened the door, her eyes were red from crying and she was still sobbing. She hugged Odale tightly.
"I'm so, so sorry, amica." she said, "I should have t-told you, but I just didn't dare to. Please forgive me."

"Of course, mum." Odale said. "And I'm sorry that I reacted the way I did. I just... wish I knew earlier."

"I wish I had told you earlier. Please-"

"Let's leave it, okay?" Odale said, "You're already forgiven, and I'm tired."

"Of course you are." Cashmére couldn't help, but to smile. "Do you want some dinner?"

"Would Zamir be invited, too?" Odale asked.

"Of course." answered Cashmére. "I've made traditional snowplainian food."

Cashmére had made Ocean Treasures, which were a soup with fish, seal, clams and crabs served with kelp-bread. In the Eastern Snowplains, it was usual with seafood, as there was so much fish in the waters around there. There was quite much seal and whale as well. Clams and such had been usual once, as well, when the Eastern Snowplains had cooperated with the sea folks. Sea folks were all the creatures living in the sea, rivers and lakes, such as selkies, piscis (people who were half shark, half human), loreleis (powerful wizards living under the sea), merpeople and a whole lot of other alike creatures. But about two hundred years earlier, they had stopped cooperating for an unknown reason and had merely been seen ever since.

Meat was familiar and people ate it, but not as much as they ate seafood. Livestock was kept in GreenHouses, just as corn and grain were, but neither was they eaten as often.

Odale liked the soup, and the bread. It just felt... right to eat it. And she really liked the salty flavours. Suddely, something hit her.
"Mum?"

"Yes, amica?" Cashmére looked up from her bowl of soup.

"I know I should talk to Marcia, or someone in the Sick Bay about this, but-" Odale begun, but Cashmére cut her of.

"Cut it short." Cashmére said softly.

"When I was out in the snow, I... well, I didn't feel the cold. Maybe-"

Cashmére smiled. "You sure felt energic and happy as well, didn't you?" Cashmére said. Odale blinked. She was shocked. How did Cashmére know that?

"Yes, I did." she replied. "How did you know?"

"I'm surprised that Marcia haven't told you." Cashmére shook her head lightly. "People from the Snowplains doesn't feel cold the same way as others do."

"But I've felt cold before." Odale said. She felt doubtful to what Cashmére had said. How could that be true?

"We only feel happy and energic when it's cold enough. Then we have to have passed a certain age..." Cashmére leant towards Odale. "You've been feeling different lately, haven't you?"

Odale nodded, and blushed. Cashmére smiled a little bit wider, pinching her cheek. "You're growing up!"

"Mum!" Odale protested. Zamir snickered. Odale grimaced at him.

Later on, Zamir and Odale sat on Cashméres' couch. They were talking.
"You never told me the whole story." Odale suddenly said.

"I don't know, though." Zamir said, "Maybe some other day."

"Please." Odale begged. Zamir rolled his eyes.

"No, not now." he said. Odale sighed.

"Okay."

After a while of talking, Odale suddenly fell asleep on Zamirs' shoulder. Zamir fell asleep shortly after that. When Cashmére came into the room, she smiled. She went up to her daughter and ruffled her hair around.
"I love you." she whispered. When Odale stirred, Cashmére left. She didn't want to wake her up.

Late, around eleven o'clock, somebody knocked furiously on the door to Cashméres' house. Cashmére got up to open the door quickly. She didn't want Odale and Zamir to wake up. She thought they looked so sweet.

When she opend, she saw Marcia stand there. Marcia looked pretty stressed out.
"Is Odale here?" she asked. "I can't find her anywhere!"

Cashmére put a finger to her lips. "Shh." she said, "Yes, she's here. But she's sleeping."

Marcia let out a sigh, apparently of relief. "I was so worried." she said. "And is Zamir here?"

"Yes." Cashmére replied. "Marcia, don't mess with the boy-"

"I'm not going to mess with him." Marcia said, "I've found him a job. Well, almost."

"Oh?" Cashmére raised her eyebrows. "Well, good."

Marcia sniffed in the air. "Is that fish?"

"Yes, I made some Snowplainian food." Cashmére said.

"Oh." said Marcia. Cashmére leant against the door.

"Why haven't you told Odale about that we're cold-resistant?" Cashmére asked. Marcia raised her eyebrows.

"I didn't know she... you know, had experienced it." Marcia answered. "Of course I would have told her more if she had asked."

"Hm."

"And you're the one to talk!" Marcia snapped. "You merely wanted to tell her about Lorea! She didn't even know her name!"

Cashmére glared at Marcia. "Well, I just wanted to protect her. I suppose you were just to busy to care, wasn't it so?"

Marcia was close to say that at least she did something. But she didn't. Instead, she just took a deep breath. "Cashmére, we shouldn't fight. It's not necessary. And I'm sure that Odale wouldn't like it."

Cashmére sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry."

"At least Odales' here. I should leave now."

"Alright." Cashmére said, "Good...bye, I guess?"

"See you."