Marie woke up feeling drained. The previous day had taken a lot out of her and she was still suffering from the lack of sleep the night before. Her grandmother had spoken to her all the way until dinner. After that, she left to go speak to the Abbelorés.
She hadn't just been interested in the events that took place in the park, she'd asked about the Sports Festival, the rock incident, as well as the other bullying she and Callie had been subjected to. She'd also asked if she'd ever been confronted by the parents before. She hadn't.
But there was more weighing on her now than the bullying and what happened to Callie, there were the previous day's revelations. She had no idea that Aunt Mora had been a famous dancer. How such a glowing accolade could possibly be the source of ugly rumours about her was still unclear, but imagining her quiet, reserved aunt performing on stage in front of a cheering crowd was difficult. Then, there were the revelations about her own mother.
She knew that even true stories tended to be blown out of proportion, the historical books she read often said as much, but from what her grandmother told Mrs. Towers, she got the impression that there was some truth to it.
As Marie stared at her mother's back while she made breakfast, it was hard to imagine her stoic, calm mother as a passionately vengeful killer; the one who had rocked her to sleep as an infant, who had bathed and clothed her since hatching as an individual of violence and brutality.
"Callie might be coming home today."
Marie's thoughts came to a screeching halt and her mind refocused on the present. "Really?"
"I said, 'might'," her mother stressed. "It depends how much the swelling goes down but she seems to be healing well. You can tell your friends but only your friends."
Marie nodded firmly. She wasn't going to tell anyone else who might like to spoil a reunion.
When they left the house to go to school, Marie half expected Aunt Mora to be at the end of their footpath again, but there was no one.
Marie wondered exactly what had happened after she went into the school yesterday morning, what kind of exchange had happened between Mr. Kelpgarden and Mrs. Towers. It can't have been too bad for the latter of have shown her face again at the end of school. Had Aunt Mora said anything else?
"Is Nana going to come again today?"
Her mother glanced down at her. They were holding hands as they walked to school. "Probably not in as dramatic a fashion as yesterday but I'm sure she will. She has a lot more people she needs to talk to. Oh, and Marie, try to use more discretion today. Do you know what that means?" She was talking about her "discussion" with Mrs. Towers yesterday.
Marie grimaced. "Don't say anything?"
"Close enough."
"She might still be angry though."
Her mother looked unconcerned. "People like her are practically angry for a living and they antagonize other people because it's the only thrill they can get out of life. I became a housewife to look after my family; she became a housewife because she had nothing else to do."
That, Marie wasn't entirely sure she understood, but she wasn't about to ask her mother to elaborate.
The usual crowd was in front of the school but it seemed much less animated than usual, more subdued and nervous, creating a tense and awkward atmosphere.
Marie spotted the bullies' mothers in a knot furthest from the school gate. They were talking with a few other people. She was honestly surprised she showed up. Earning the scorn of a matriarch often did bad things to one's social standing.
As they drew near, people noticed their approach and conversation quickly died. Many of the other mothers tried to pretend they didn't exist other than going quiet. It was a very different reaction from the usual dismissal and hostility Marie was used to.
Her mother released her hand. "Come right back home," she reminded her.
"I know."
"And if anyone tries to mess with you on the way home, child or adult, I want you to scream as loud as you can." Marie slowly looked up at her mother and saw the seriousness in her eyes. "I mean it, Marie."
Hearing the iron in her mother's voice, Marie swallowed and flashed a pale green before hurrying into the school, sincerely hoping, more than ever, that nobody messed with her after school.
After hearing that Callie might be coming home, Floa, Tandi, and Raven all wanted to come and see her. So after school, they all went together, and just like Marie had hoped, they encountered no one.
Seeing the lights on in Callie's house was the first sign that things were going well. Marie had never asked if she could bring friends over but she figured as long as they asked before entering the house it would be fine.
Marie knocked on the door and Uncle Gren answered. He looked exhausted, as if he hadn't slept in days. Maybe he hadn't.
Marie said, "can we all see Callie?"
She half expected him to day "no". After all, Callie was still recovering or she might be asleep. To their delight, he smiled and invited them inside, but asked them to keep their voices down.
They removed their shoes and neatly arranged their backpacks against the wall before her uncle led them down the hall to Callie's bedroom, though Marie scarcely recognized it when she got there.
Callie's bedroom was almost perpetually messy, save the few times a year when Aunt Mora managed to get her to clean it, a process which usually took days and a whole lot of removed privileges. In the time Callie was gone, perhaps Aunt Mora had cleaned it.
A small table and chairs were arranged on the right side of the room, opposite the bed which was between the window and her closet, with a pile of stuffed animals tucked into the corner on the window side of the bed. Everything else appeared to be put away.
Aunt Mora sat on a stool at Callie's bedside, an empty bowl on the night table next to her. She was wiping Callie's head with a damp cloth. She looked at them as they entered.
She smiled and whispered to Callie. "Your friends are here. You want to see them?" Marie heard no response but Aunt Mora soon beckoned them forward, telling them to keep their voices down.
Cautiously, unsure of what they would find, they walked towards the bed, and the sight that greeted them shook Marie's soul.
Callie lay supported by pillows. She had dark bags under her eyes, her skin was pale, and there was a bandage wrapped around her throat, which still appeared swollen and purpled underneath. Every breath came in a soft wheeze and Marie was surprised she could breathe properly.
Tandi grasped Callie's hand touched their foreheads together and began to cry softly.
"We were so worried about you."
Callie managed a weary smile and gently stroked one of Tandi's tentacles. That was when Marie noticed a most striking change to Callie's appearance. Her long tentacles, which were her pride, were no longer there. They had been cut sharply, leaving only a few centimetres of length on the side of her head. So they hadn't been able to save them.
"I was nah worried," Floa insisted as she went to the other side of the bed. "I know 'ow tough you are. I knew you'd be back sooner or later." Despite her words, Floa's eyes were hardly dry either. Callie looked at her without turning her head and managed to reach over to touch her friend's cheek.
Raven expressed her greeting through tuk'yan, but it was no less heartfelt, and Callie returned it.
Despite the smiles, Marie could tell something was off. Callie's smiles were forced, at least partly. She was obviously glad to see her friends but there was something else going on. When it came time for her greeting, Marie grasped Callie's hand tightly and asked her, "What's wrong?"
The smile vanished, and Callie's eyes darkened then fell lower. Her other hand went to the bandage around her throat. Marie then heard a louder wheeze as she took a deeper breath.
"I don't know why this happened." Her voice came out in a hoarse, croaky breath that was barely more than a whisper. They all had to lean close to hear clearly. "I just did my best. Why did I get punished for it?"
Sadness and helplessness was written all over everyone's faces. While Marie carried her own sense of guilt, the others seemed to be carrying guilty feelings of their own. She had no idea what they could possibly feel guilty for when it had been her that caused this to happen, but she wasn't going to bring that up now.
"It wasn't your fault," Tandi said softly. "They were just angry and jealous that you did so well at the Sports Festival."
Callie wasn't satisfied with that answer. "But why?"
"We don't know. The whole school's been talking about it since it happened. We just don't know, Callie."
Marie patted Callie's shoulder. "Nana's figuring that out right now, I think. Maybe when she finds out she'll let you know. Has she been to talk to you yet? Don't talk, just yes or no." She didn't want to strain Callie's voice or her dream as a singer would sink.
Callie flashed green then through a series of other colours and patterns managed to convey that she'd visited her in the hospital.
Tandi leaned forward and brought her voice down to a whisper. "Callie, did you know that your mom was a famous dancer?"
Marie grimaced. She didn't think now was the best time to bring that up, not while Callie was healing. Callie's eyes went wide and she actually turned her head slightly in Tandi's direction, eliciting a painful wince that twisted her facial features.
"It's true. I asked my parents and they said she really was. They didn't seem to like the fact that I knew though and told me not to ask her about it."
"I heard about it from, Dad," Floa added. "Actually, that's where all of us heard about it from. Dad met your mom in front of the school yesterday."
Callie swivelled her eyes towards Floa, puzzled. Her confusion was understandable, given that Aunt Mora had avoided going to school for so long except for special events.
Marie explained. "Just like we've been bullied by those boys, your mom's been getting bullied by their moms. I think she stopped going to school because she was afraid the bullying against you, maybe both of us, would have been worse. Mrs. Towers tried picking on me yesterday."
Floa scoffed. "She was tryin' to save 'er image in front of the other parents. Blew up in 'er face. Trying to bully a Matriarch's granddaughter right in front of 'er 'as to be one of the dumbest things in the world."
Callie now looked even more confused, her eyes darting between the rest of them rapidly as if searching for answers.
Marie patted Callie's stomach through her blankets. "Don't worry, Callie, everything's going to be okay. Your mom was really brave. She stood up and faced her bullies, for you."
Tandi gently put her hand on Callie's arm. "After what happened to you, she probably thought keeping away wasn't working anymore so now she's fighting back."
"And we're fightin' back too," Floa added, smacking her fist in to her palm in a manner very reminiscent of her father the other day. "So by the time you get back, you'll be able to do your best without worryin' about someone gettin' their feelin's 'urt. Nobody else tried to 'urt you, after all."
Raven added, "we're your friends. We don't want you to have to hide your art."
Callie looked at all four of them in turn, then her eyes started to water as a genuine smile spread across her face. Marie leaned in and gave her a careful hug.
"I'm your manager, remember," she whispered. "So let me take care of it. You just make sure you look after that throat so when the talent show comes around you can sing the roof off."
Callie hugged her back, careful not to move her neck.
"And you'll be better soon, right?" Tandi asked. "You'll be able to come with us in time for the Cavern Run?"
Callie smiled at her and turned green, and Marie had a feeling she'd be there regardless of her condition. Worrying as that might have been, it was good to see Callie with her spirit back.
A corti'riun was a rare thing in Calamari County. Silvie wasn't sure there had been once since she'd been a child.
A corti'riun was a formal community meeting to discuss and come to a decision on a particular issue. In this case, the issue had to do with the three boys: Murl Admus and Drang. Their actions had disturbed even families not affiliated with them. They might not have been sure if they could believe the rock incident was their fault, but the sworn testimony of a priestess made what happened to Callie virtually irrefutable.
The conclave was being held in the school gymnasium just over a week since the assault on Callie. Silvie sat next to Natam. They sat one one side of the room together with Gren and Mora; the Kelpgardens, and the Abbelorés. On the other side of the room were Mrs. Towers, Habrung, and Inker, the mothers of the three boys. Their husbands were not present, which said something in itself.
Between the two groups was the rest of the community, crowded into seats arranged in long columns. Virtually every family in town was represented there.
The town governor presided over the conclave, sitting behind a desk on the gymnasium's stage, his expression grave as the security officer in charge of the investigation read off Priestess Winterveil's affidavit.
On the right side of the stage, not out of sight but out of focus, Reina sat with two of her matrons, one of whom had her shoal bordering Calamari County, giving her a vested interest in the conclave's outcome. Unfortunately, they were not permitted to directly participate in the conclave unless invited to and were limited to observing, and even that was only because members of her shoal were directly involved.
After the affidavit was read, security read the sworn statements from the clinic staff, showing pictures of Callie and Marie's injuries and the crime scene, pointing out the spots of blood that had fallen onto the ground and a spot where the pea gravel had been badly disturbed where one of the larger scuffles had taken place. They also showed Tandi's wound from the rock incident a month earlier.
Once he'd finished, the security officer departed centre stage to sit off to the side, should he be called upon again.
"The base evidence for the incidents has been presented," the governor said. "Would anyone care to dispute that these incidents occurred or in how they occurred?" His eyes were directed towards the bully's side of the room. Their mothers shifted uncomfortably but said nothing. Nobody else said anything either.
"Then we move forward. Mrs. Towers, Mrs. Habrung, Mrs. Inker, do you have anything to say in defence of these actions?"
Towers stood. "We do, Governor."
"This aught'a be good," Rull muttered under his breath.
Silvie suppressed a scowl. The revelation that Rull, the bouncer then bartender of Mora's old club, was in town hadn't been a pleasant one, nor was his inadvertent revelation of their pasts. Even though it had worked out for the best with the other parents, it was bound to lead to a lot of uncomfortable questions from their children.
While she wasn't nosy by nature, all children were curious creatures and Marie wasn't the type to ignore secrets dangled right in front of her without investigating them, a trait she inherited from Reina. She had a sharp mind and given time, she would put the pieces together and learn the truth, a truth Silvie had been trying to keep from her: her shameful past.
"First of all, our boys responded out of fear, fear of the bad influences that these girls represent. Perhaps they overdid it but it came from a good place. They recognize that there is an expectation to set the example for everyone else and feel that they have a responsibility to maintain the integrity of the community. They might not be able to put it in those words but that is core reason of why they did it."
She paused for a heart cycle, judging the audience's reaction before continuing.
"Some called some of their earlier actions bullying, but that's hardly the case. I would call it attempting to isolate a potential contagion."
Oh please. Silvie thought. How many dictionaries had this inkyora read preparing for this meeting?
"I don't know about you," Towers said to the crowd. "But I don't want bad influences affecting my children." She pointed across the room at them. "Influences of wanton violence and promiscuity. I don't want them or their spawn around my children and I know most of the rest of you don't either. Our boys knew this and they were doing what they could to prevent it. Perhaps they went too far, but it was from a place of responsibility and good intentions. They were just trying to do their best in a bad situation."
Her argument made, a confident looking Kishi Towers sat back down. A quiet murmur passed through the crowd and the governor looked over a paper on his desk before turning his gaze towards the other side of the room.
"Mrs. Cuttlefish, your response."
Mora stood, resolute and unwavering. Silvie placed a hand on her arm, giving her just a little reassurance and support. All of them had things they wanted to say, but Mora was the one who needed to speak the most. It was her daughter who'd been nearly killed, and she was the one their opponents held in the highest contempt.
Mora faced the assembled crowd. She didn't even look in Towers' direction.
"Yes," she began, "I made mistakes in the past. Yes, I did leave home at fourteen, yes, I became a club dancer. I happened to be very good at it. It was steady, well paying work and it dealt with the bills. It may have been the culmination of my mistakes but I wouldn't call it a mistake in itself considering it let me live a decent life and helped me meet some of the most important people in my life."
Silvie watched the reactions of the crowd. They were all looking back at Mora, she had their full attention. Good so far. Mora went on.
"I know my past is a little unseemly and I never wanted my daughter to find out about it. I was ashamed of it, ashamed of my mistakes and the consequences that resulted. I hid my past from my daughter because I didn't want her to be ashamed of me, and because I didn't want her to have to suffer for my mistakes."
She paused and swept her gaze over the crowd.
"That's why when rumours started spreading about me, I hid myself from the community rather than face them. I was afraid of Callie finding out, I was afraid that everyone would make fun of her or bully her because of my past. Even if I had to isolate myself, if it meant my daughter could have a good childhood, it would be worth it. But it didn't stop. My daughter was bullied, publicly ridiculed, and scorned by some, not because of anything she did but what I did."
Her gaze hardened into a mild glare. "You've all made mistakes in the past. Imagine if your child was made to pay the price of those mistakes. They don't understand why it's happening to them, they don't understand that they did wrong. You hear about the awful things their going through every day. You know it's your fault but you feel powerless to do anything about it and you wonder why your child is being made to suffer in the first place when they did nothing wrong and even you aren't the same person that made those old mistakes."
Mora stood straighter, her mantle tinged purple. "I am not the same person I was back then. I'm not strutting along a stage, I'm looking after a home. I'm doing laundry, making breakfast, lunch, and dinner for my family. I'm caring for a loving husband and raising a beautiful daughter, who doesn't deserve the harsh treatment she's been getting."
Emotion was starting to taint Mora's tone. She needed to wrap things up before she got emotional and started going off script.
"Imagine hearing your child was hurt and then showing up at the clinic and seeing them lying on a bed, bloody and a tube coming out of their throat because the doctors had to cut a hole in it to keep them from suffocating. How would you react? I know how I did. I was heartbroken, angry, wondering what I could have done to prevent this. Another mistake to add to my list" Her voice hardened. "But it isn't one I intend to make again. I'm going to fight for my daughter's right to be herself, no matter what anyone thinks of me. I'm not the person I was, and Callie may be my daughter, but she isn't me. If you have a problem with me, then come and see me. My daughter doesn't deserve to be bullied because someone's too chicken-hearted to face me themselves. I'll fight for my daughter. Wouldn't you?"
Mora bowed her head then sat back down. Silvie handed her a tissue and rubbed her back in short, gentle strokes.
"You did well," she whispered.
Mora managed a nod but other wise didn't respond. She was dealing with too much emotion.
"Anything else to add?" The governor asked.
Destini Abbeloré stood up. "Yes I do." She turned and faced the crowd, angrily.
"I may not know their parents particularly well, I admit, but I've known Callie and Marie for a few years now. They've been our daughters' best friends, the only ones who never seemed to care what our family's annual income is, despite what some people think.
"Callie is a sweet girl who tries to be friends with everyone and treat them well, and Marie is one of the most polite, well-mannered children I've ever seen. When Tandi was hurt during the rock-throwing incident a while ago, they didn't run away screaming, they stayed and protected her until they could get her home, and they stayed with Raven during recess so she wouldn't be alone. I fail to see how such children could be counted as 'bad influences'." She glared in Tower's direction, then stared back at the crowd. "I'm more than happy to have them as our children's friends." With a slight huff, she turned away and sat back down.
Murmuring went on in the crowd as the governor regarded his papers again. "If there's nothing else, then we'll move on to the community at large. Does anyone have concerns they wish to raise?"
One at a time, members of the community asked questions. Most of them were in regards to the various rumours spread around and general misinformation. Fortunately, they had enough tact to not mention some of the more offensive rumours. Silvie absolutely did not want to address the one that suggested Marie was the result of an affair.
By the end of the questions, a lot of misinformation and false rumours had been addressed. The Kelpgardens had even gotten a chance to mention how their daughter had been bullied on the first day of school and derided as a freak simply for having a speckled mantle. With all that said and done, there was a decision that needed to be made.
The governor said. "Calamari County, do you agree or disagree that the attack on the child, Callie Cuttlefish was, in any way, justified."
Custom had the disputing parties facing straight ahead so they could not directly see the answer, but Silvie could see the reflection of red off the glossed stone walls. It seemed pretty unanimous.
The governor sighed, the sigh of someone who knew they were about to uncork a whole load of trouble. "Then the community is decided. This cannot be tolerated."
Towers stood up angrily. "Just a minute! My family has been serving this community for ages! You can't just do this to us because of–."
"Sit back down!" The governor barked. "Don't make this worse for yourself, Mrs. Towers. I dare say your position is precarious enough as it is."
Reluctantly, Towers seated herself, though she gave the governor a baleful glare. She wasn't used to being ordered around by anyone, much less a male near her own age.
"Might I make a suggestion, governor?"
The governor looked Reina's way and bowed his head gratefully. "Of course, Matriarch."
Reina rose regally and strode towards the middle of the stage, looking out over the assembly.
"The Wisdoms say that it takes a village to raise a child. Whatever punishment is given, the boys must be given the opportunity to learn from their mistakes, and they aren't going to be able to do that if they are ostracized by the community.
"What they did was extreme, not the sort of thing most children would do. To be pushed to such actions, I think outside influences had to be at play. Given what's been said here tonight, we can hardly hold them entirely responsible for the actions of someone else."
Towers stood up again. "Just what are you implying?"
Reina slowly turned her head and regarded the younger inkora coldly. "I'm saying that there needs to be an investigation to determine exactly what drove those boys to such extreme measures. We can't disregard it as mere bullying, there was something else pushing them. For their sake and that of everyone else, the true cause needs to be found."
Mantles flashed green among the crowd and the governor nodded. "But a punishment still needs to be given, Matriarch, one that satisfies the community."
"I know," she said softly. "Believe me, when I found out what happened I wanted to give them the worst punishment I could think of, but there's only so much a community can do to punish them without ostracizing them. That's usually the responsibility of their parents."
All eyes fell on Towers and her two cronies. Looking trapped, Towers yelled, "you have no right to criticize our parenting!"
"I have every right." Reina's slow, calm reply sliced right through Towers hasty response. "I was a mother when you'd barely hatched. I have raised not only my own child but I helped raise countless others as a matron, and as a matriarch I've helped raise countless more, including my own grandchild, whom you have gone out of your way to harm because you're too pithless to face another adult." She crossed her arms and glared down at Towers. "I think I have plenty of justification to doubt your parenting, and I barely know you. I think the community would support me here."
Mantles flashed green in agreement. That was all Reina needed to push forward.
"I suggest that the boys be forbidden from participating in any community events for the foreseeable future. That should not include school events: those are important for education and it can give them a chance to prove themselves. Perhaps their teachers can learn what's been pushing them if no one else is able to."
The governor turned green in understanding then looked out over the crowd again, who were green as well.
"It seems we have a consensus. Very well, Matriarch, we appreciate your suggestion and will carry it out for the time being, until something changes."
Reina bowed her head, though she was not required to do so, and walked back to her seat.
"We are adjourned then," the governor said. "If the two disputing parties would leave first."
Towers stood up, faced the crowd and snarled at them. "You'll all regret this. Someday something will happen and you'll all realize that we were right all along and when that happens you'll come back begging for us to take charge."
Mantle flashing red and fuming, the three inkyora left out the side exit.
Silvie watched her go, eyes narrowed. She promised to herself that if they did anything to Callie or her daughter, she would personally send Kishi Towers' head to the moon, and whatever else was left of her to the ocean's deepest abyss.
The return home took longer than expected. Members of the community kept stopping them, offering heartfelt apologies, thanks, and condolences. It was another half hour before they managed to leave the school grounds. By then, it was past the children's bedtime.
They walked into Mora's house and removed their shoes. Baron, who'd been left to watch over their collective mob of offspring, greeted them.
"No trouble?" Falu asked.
Baron chuckled. "No, no trouble. The kids have just been eating snacks and playing in Callie's room."
She looked relieved. Silvie guessed that good behaviour was not Floa's usual. That would have to change if the girl ever wanted to stay in her house for any length of time.
"Anyone want a few drinks before you go?" Gren offered. "I don't know about you but I feel like I could use one."
Silvie concurred. It was a weekend so the children having to stay up a little past their bedtime was not a huge concern. Besides, after everything they'd been through, time to unwind would be good for them.
Rull helped Gren distribute a modest collection of drinks. Neither he nor Mora were big drinkers so the variety was rather lacking, but some red wine and gins were more than sufficient.
They all sat in the living room, letting the night's tension drain out of them. It was a night they were glad to have behind them. It was a victory, one that should bring positive change not only in the lives of their families but the community as a whole.
But Silvie thought it too early to celebrate. She'd dealt with too many vindictive parents as a security officer in Inkopolis to think it was over. Towers and her parasites would be back or their bad parenting would result in the boys taking further action themselves. She didn't know the true nature of their relationships but she'd seen enough to make an educated guess.
After roughly forty minutes of chit-chat, the Kelpgardens decided it was time to leave. The Abbelorés elected to follow their lead and retrieve their daughters. Silvie went with them.
Floa, Tandi, and Callie were seated around the small, child-size table opposite from Callie's bed. Callie was wearing a neck brace that allowed to leave her bed for brief periods. Mora proceeded them all into the room and regarded Callie sternly.
"I hope you haven't had that on all night."
Callie pouted, fat blotches of burgundy roiled across her mantle. "No, Marie wouldn't let me."
"You shouldn't need Marie to tell you to do what you're told. You should be old enough now to follow instructions."
Silvie searched the room. Where was Marie?
A small gasp came from Elliana. She had stepped further into the room than the rest of them, probably looking for Raven. She was gazing at the corner of the room near Callie's bed, seeming utterly captivated. Silvie took a few steps closer and soon saw what had grabbed her attention.
Marie and Raven lay snuggled together amidst the pile of Callie's stuffed toys, sound asleep. It was a scene that could have melted ice caps.
Elliana appropriated a free chair from the table, borrowed Raven's sketchbook and pencils; sat down and began to draw.
Destini uttered a soft groan. "Now, Ellie? We need to take the girls home for bed." She was ignored.
"I don't mind letting her stay," Mora whispered. "It's a weekend, and I couldn't bring myself to wake them anyway." She looked Silvie's way.
"I suppose it might be best to leave them. Marie hasn't gotten much sleep lately so I'm not about to wake her now."
Sighing, Destini relented and picked Tandi up. "We'll bring her some fresh clothes tomorrow."
"Will you be bringing some for Elliana too?"
Destini frowned and looked back at her bondmate who was still laser focused on the scene before her and on the sketch taking form on the paper.
"We'll see. First I'll bring Tandi to bed and then maybe I'll come back and check on her." She shook her head, and as she left the room she muttered, "it's like looking after three kids sometimes."
Mora chuckled then helped Callie out of the room to get her ready for bed too.
Falu had already left with Floa, leaving just Silvie, Elliana, and their two dozing daughters. Not knowing what else to do for the moment, she took another one of the chairs and sat beside Elliana.
She took an occasional glance at her sketch, seeing the two girls gradually take form on paper, but kept her main focus on the real thing.
Silvie had always found Marie and Raven's bond a curious one. The two rarely spoke out loud when they interacted, preferring tuk'yan or subtle body language, yet that spoke volumes for how close the two were. Sometimes they would sit together under the tree in their backyard like a couple of rocks, Raven sketching, Marie reading, and never communicate at all beyond greeting and farewell, pleased simply with each other's company.
She hoped that with things changing in the community, they would both come out of their shells a little more. Both girls held such great potential she didn't want them to feel constrained by outside forces. The Sports Festival proved that Marie had what it took to shine. With a little encouragement, Silvie hoped that Marie would continue to do so, then Silvie will have succeeded in raising a child worthy of a matriarch's granddaughter, thus proving herself worthy of her husband.
Murl staggered into the shed as the morning shone in through the dusty window. Drang offered him a hand but he refused it. He wasn't in the mood for sympathies.
Admus looked at him, wincing. He had a few marks himself. His mother's preferred instrument of discipline was a wooden spoon. Murl was still debating in his mind whether he would have preferred that over his own mother's leather belt. Drang didn't appear to have any marks on him. But then, he didn't bruise as easily as they did.
"Same old same old," he muttered as he sat against the far wall. "Old ladies come home angry and it's our fault."
"We knew we'd probably get caught once that priestess showed up," Admus muttered.
"I was hoping she wouldn't be able to recognize us." Murl drew a line in the dust on the floor then crossed it. "Mom wasn't even mad about that, she was mad that I made her look bad. She didn't care about what we did to the freaks."
"Same," Admus growled. "They don't care about us; they care about how we make them look." He tossed a speck of dirt from his shoe across the room. "Why did they even bother having kids?"
"Because they would have looked worse without 'em."
Murl tapped his feet impatiently, feeling helpless, angry, lost. He wished his father were home but he was gone months at a time for his work. He wouldn't be back for at least another month. It was a similar situation for Admus and Drang.
"So you guys can't go to the Cavern Run either?"
They flashed red. They'd all been looking forward to going to the Cavern Run for years. It was a rite of passage in Calamari County, proof of one's independence. They could go next year, probably, but then they'd be going with kids a year younger than them and that would be too humiliating.
"What are we going to do?" Admus asked.
Murl looked at him. "Do?"
"Yeah. Forget our moms, I wanna' get back at those freaks."
Drang looked at him exasperated. Murl shared his feelings. "Admus, it hasn't worked, we'd just get in even more trouble."
"I'm not talking about hurting 'em," Admus insisted. "I want to, but I know it wouldn't be worth it if we got caught. I just don't want them to have the last laugh."
Murl scowled. He didn't either. He refused to be seen as inferior to either of those freaks or their rich friends. They'd already gotten Tandi and Raven could be cowed with a glare, so there was no need to worry about them. Callie and Marie were the targets.
"A trick or a practical joke then," he murmured.
Admus perked up. "Yeah, that! We might get in a little trouble if we get caught but it's just harmless fun, right?"
"As long as we don't hurt them." Murl's mind worked, a plan forming in his mind. "And if everyone thinks we're somewhere else, then there's no way they'd suspect us either."
"Somewhere else?"
He grinned and waved them both closer. "In fact, I plan on making it look like nobody was there at all."
Author's Notes:
Turns out, trying to keep a made-up language consistent is really difficult. XD
So, the case against the bullies was pretty open and shut at this point, but the reason I added the scene was to go a little deeper into Silvie's mind and explain the justification the bully's mothers had for doing what they did. At least, the ones they showed publically. The role Mora takes in the future in Calamari Country betrays some of the private fears they experienced.
The last scene with Marie and Raven cuddled together was added on a whim but I kept it in 'cause I thought it would help relieve a little of the audience tension and let everyone breathe a little more before the scene at the end. Yes, they haven't had enough yet. Next chapter is the BIG ONE. It's the one you've all been waiting for and probably one of the best things I have ever written...
and you'll have to wait until next week to read it :P.