Chapter 4
Childish Answers

"Come on, one of yah'll win already." Ciecro let out an intentionally loud yawn.

"Hush." Jaron glanced at Ciero, hissing, "I'm trying to think."

"Can't yah tink fasteh?" Ciecro grumbled, rolling on his back. Despite how bored of the game he was, the ceiling was just as dull, so he tilted his head upwards till he could see their faces upside-down. As he watched Jaron grab a red piece, Ciecro let out another big, careless yawn.

"Ciecro!" Jaron snapped. "Shut up!"

While Jaron's upside glare was funny to look at, Ciecro didn't appreciate the outburst and was about to fire back till Seliph beat him to it. "Ciecro, please try and be quiet."

Crossing his arms and sulking, Ciecro watched the two resume their lame game. Slowly, his eyelids started to droop as Jaron kept silent, planning his move. He watched Jaron finally pick up one of the wooden, black pieces on his side and jumping one of Seliph's pieces. "Your turn," Jaron said, a bit nervous about his move as Seliph browsed the board.

Since it was Seliph's turn, Ciecro stopped trying to hold back his yawn. Jaron gave him an annoyed look, while Seliph more or less wasn't bothered, focusing on what to do. The Frogadier grabbed a piece, taking one last look before jumping three of Jaron's pieces and setting his piece at the end. "King me, please."

Jaron's mouth hung open in complete disbelief. "Wh-…bu-…how? Uh…"

Normally, Ciecro would giggle at Jaron's mind exploding in front of him, but he couldn't help himself to one more yawn, thus becoming the target of Jaron's anger exploding.

"Damnit Ciecro, can't you hold your stupid yawning‽"

"Bu' I'm tired an' watchin' yah'll play dat is borin'." The Charmander yawned again, rolling on his back and closing his eyes as if he was asleep.

"Then how about you go to bed, you stupid baby!" Jaron shouted, starting to stand on his feet before Seliph pressed a hand on the angry Totodile's shoulder, laughing at his brother's fuming.

"You'll get me next time."

Jaron crossed his arms and sulked.

Seliph started putting the pieces away. After a few seconds of neither sibling doing anything, he looked up at Jaron, saying, "Come on, don't be like that. It just takes some practice."

Jaron rolled his eyes. "I doubt I'd beat you." He knelt down to help pick up the pieces, as Ciecro continued not helping. "I bet I'd sooner beat Uncle Tethe than you." Jaron paused for a second, staring at a piece before looking his brother in the eye. "Why do you think Uncle Tethe came here?"

Seliph shrugged. "He probably has his reasons."

"Grown-up reasons." Ciecro sat up and spun around to look at the board.

"Yeah, you're probably right, Ciecro. Tetheron visiting before Uncle Swift and Uncle Garon's turn seems uncanny." Seliph resumed putting the pieces away.

"Plus mom was pissed at seein' 'im," Ciecro added, standing up. Crossing his arms and staring at the board, He just stewed in thought before mumbling absent-mindedly, "I can't wait till I'mma grown-up."

"Huh? What did you say?" Seliph looked at Ciecro, tilting his head slightly.

"Grown-ups getta know an' do all dah tings us kids aren't supposed tah do." Ciecro brushed his foot on the ground like he was kicking something light. "I wish I was a grown-up, den maybe dad would lemme do tings instead of babyin' me."

"Well, I wouldn't say he's babying you," Seliph said with a smile, flipping one of his red pieces like a coin. "Plus, we are still in training."

Ciecro scowled in return. He looked at the piece in his brother's hand, tensing up a little as he focused on it. "…Sure" The Charmander turned around and walked out of the room, leaving the other two bewildered at his tone and exit.

Easy fo' him to say, Ciecro grumbled in his mind as he shut the door behind him. He walked up and pressed his head against the wall, staring the floor with a frustrated gaze. After a few minutes of internal complaining, he heard Gathor's voice coming from past the door.

"Kids! Come 'ere!"

"Coming dad!" Seliph's voice answered as Ciecro walked over to the door. The Charmander placed his hands on the door, listening for the two to leave. Once he was certain the two had gone, he slowly opened the door, his heart beating faster and his breathing getting heavier.

He squeezed himself through the crack and softly shut the door behind him. The flame on his tail flickered vibrantly as it shook parallel to his hands. After taking a deep breath and calming down, Ciecro let go of the knob and tiptoed over to their beds. He got on all fours and reached into the straw on Seliph's bed, feeling around inside.

Come on, where is it? I know he put somethin' 'ere. His frustration grew at his lack of success till he felt something hard. In a moment of excitement, Ciecro wrenched his hand out of the straw and gazed upon his findings.

His eyes shot open as he felt something hard. He pulled his hand away out of instinct. Taking one last look at the door, Ciecro reached in and after a short count in his head, removed the object from its hiding place.

"Huh? Why does he have a key?" Bewildered, Ciecro peered closer. It was rather plain looking, though it had some distinctive markings unlike the others. Going full sleuth, Ciecro browsed over it, hoping for some kind of clue.

"Ciecro!"

Ciecro about jumped out of his scales as he threw the key up in the air. Quickly he dove and managed to catch it before it hit the ground.

"Ciecro! Where are yah‽" Gathor's voice boomed from behind the door.

The nervous Charmander pressed the key tightly to his chest and answered. "C-comin' dad!"

"Well hurry up. We have tings tah tawlk abou' an' don' have all night!"

As the sound of Gathor's footsteps stopped after another door slam, Ciecro plopped down relieved. However, not wanting to make them wait longer, he quickly crawled back to the beds. Ciecro took one last long look at it, memorizing the décor and design of the rather boring key, before placing it back and standing up.

He rushed towards the door, grasping the knob with his hands but suddenly paused. His eyes lowered as he looked to the side. Maybe…maybe I should- He looked back at the beds, debating in his mind. After a few minutes, he shook his head and with a determined scowl on his face, he faced the door and twisted the knob.

Silently, he went down the short hallway to where the light from the front room touched the dark corridor. He paused just behind the open door, taking a second to breathe before stepping around it and into the light. His parents had moved the chairs to one end of the room, sitting in them as if they were judges while his two brothers waited on their respective stools, moved from the eating room.

Without a word, Ciecro made his way to the last empty stool. He could feel the chills from everyone looking at him as the thoughts on his discovery lingered in his mind. Shoving all this tension as far into his head as he could, Ciecro reminded himself no one saw him as he climbed up and got comfortable.

Seeing he was seated properly, Gathor gave a confirming nod to Freya, who proceeded to clear her throat. The three kids in front looked at her as Freya began. "Your father and I have been talking and we've decided a few changes are in order."

Ciecro leaned in closer as did the other two.

"Firstly, training exercises will be on the mountain. Secondly, we're adjusting the boundary rule to the end of the front yard."

"That much‽" Jaron blurted out, quickly closing his snout shut after a disapproving look from his father. The little Totodile curled a little in his seat. Both Seliph and Ciecro stewed on this news, till Jaron unclamped his snout and asked a follow-up question, although more respectful this time. "Did we do something wrong?"

"No, this isn't punishment," Freya replied with a calming smile.

Jaron let out a breath of ease, Seliph tilted his head, while Ciecro looked at their mother and asked, "Den why?" All eyes focused on him once more as he repeated, "Why are yah sayin' we can't play in dah forest pas' dah fron' yawrd?"

"It's just a temporary measure, Ciecro. The town is busier this time of year so we are trying to avoid trouble." She looked at each one of them as she asked a more general question. "Remember why we made the boundary rule in the first place?"

Jaron was the first to raise his hand. After a confirming nod from Freya, Jaron answered, while scratching the side of his head a little fuzzy on the details. "Was it when we accidentally scared that ugly lady near town?"

Ciecro shriveled in his seat as did Seliph. Yeh, she was ugly. Ciecro agreed in his mind, trying to wipe the newly popped up memory from his mind. Suddenly, he heard a snort. Looking up, he noticed Tetheron repositioning himself in the chair while doing his best to suppress his giggling his with claw. His dad apparently found it amusing too, keeping his eyes shut but a big grin on his face.

"Jaron, a Jynx isn't ugly…just different," Freya scolded mildly, rubbing the back of her face with a tired expression. Her eyes scowled immensely as the room was filled by Tetheron's uncontrolled laughter.

Ciecro smiled at his Uncle's reaction, laughing to himself but not daring to join out loud.

"Sorry mom," he heard Jaron say, but upon looking at his little brother, Ciecro noticed Jaron was trying his best not to laugh too. Seliph also had a hand pressed firmly against a shaky face, trying to avoid making noise either.

Ciecro took a breath and waited for the laughter to die down and Freya to begin again.

"In any case," Freya resumed with a bit more firmness in her tone. "We're halfway through Xern so traders will be coming to pivot their wares in town. We don't want to have another incident like that."

Ciecro's smile faded. He looked at the other two, who nodded in obedience.

"Ciecro?" he heard his mother say. His eyes were fixated on the floor as his grip on the stool tightened. He could feel his heart beat a little faster, as he looked his mother dead in the eyes confidently and asked. "Bu' why now?"

Freya raised a brow. "I thought I explain-"

"Bu' why dis year?" Ciecro pressed further, his eyes narrowing a little as his yearning for an 'adult' answer grew with every second passing.

"Ciecro, don' interrupt yah mother," Gathor rebuked.

The Charmander shut his mouth but kept gazing at Freya, who was rather confused at Ciecro's constant gazing at her. She broke her gaze from him, probably trying to think of what to say.

However, Tetheron leaned in closer to his nephew. "Yeah, trust me pal, this year isn't a good one to have you all out."

Ciecro tilted his head, confused.

Seeing all eyes were on him, Tetheron shrugged as he elaborated. "Well, I mean, I've been in town and I've seen some weirdos there right now." He patted his chest in affirmation. "Like, tons of them around, so that's the main reason why it's this year, right Freya?"

Tetheron had a confident smile on his face as he looked at the leering Freya. Gathor also looked at Tetheron with a disapproving look.

Ciecro looked at his Uncle with a leer of his own, more or less since his parents were.

"Are they more Jynx?" Jaron innocently asked.

Freya sighed deeply before answering, "No Jaron…not 'more Jynx'." As she answered, she growled at her brother a little.

Ciecro focused on the scene of his mother eyeing Tehtheron like a head to bite. Slowly, his eyes drifted to his Uncle, currently trying to do damage control and suddenly. "Den who?" Ciecro asked.

"Tradesmon," Freya quickly replied, glancing at him for a second. "And Xern is their major trading month so we're going to respect their space, right Tetheron?"

"Aheh, right, yeah of course." Tetheron answered his laughter clearly showing remorse for his earlier attempts to help.

Ciecro's eyes lowered as his fists tightened. A scowl formed on his face as he imagined the key from before in his hand. No. He quickly raised his head. "We scared dat ugly hag three years ago." Hopping off the stool, Ciecro stared his mother directly in the eyes. He felt warm inside, powerful even as he defended. "We're betteh abou' dat stuff now."

"Ciecro, mind what you say," Freya scolded him, but he wasn't gonna stop now. He just kept staring right back at her scowl with the best scowl he could pull. At least, till Gathor's voice grabbed his attention.

"Ciecro, Yah mother told yah already. Now sit down."

Ciecro's gaze fell, but he clenched his fists. "But…but da-"

"Ciecro."

He looked at her and instantly regretted what he saw. Freya was out of her seat, staring down at him with her snout slightly raised. Her eyes were as calm like white and orange glass. "Just a few days ago you were spying on the guest I was going to see, correct?"

Ciecro froze as his eyes widened. All his momentum felt gone as his head fell slowly. His nerves tingled all over as he felt his mother's stare still digging into his head.

"Correct?" Freya asked again.

Reluctantly, he shook his head.

"The clearly you haven't gotten better about it."

The words felt like a Brick Break on his Protect. His eyes widened as they stared at the floor. Desperately, he looked up to her and said, "What? But yah didn' have a problem wit it den."

Her eyes narrowed. "Do you speak for how I feel?"

Unclasping his fists, Ciecro just looked at his mother, frozen.

"I was busy with our guest, so disciplining you slipped my mind. But I don't want my son getting into any more trouble because of his curiosity and recklessness. Dragging this out further won't change my answer. Now sit down before you earn a punishment, Ciecro Valm Almkin."

The use of his full name felt like a deathblow. His head lowered as his shoulders moved slightly inwards. He closed his eyes as he felt the eyes of everyone on him, the silence just adding to the torment. Slowly, he turned around and walked to his stool and climbed up on it, trying to avoid eye contact with anyone.

Once he was back in place, he just kept his eyes shut, curling himself inwards a little as he just wished the meeting was over.

"Any other questions?" Freya asked.

The following silence felt like an eternity for Ciecro. Part of him wanted to ask, to get his answer, but he couldn't do it.

"Get some sleep. We have an early day tomorrow. Dismissed."

Ciecro waited till he heard the two walk past, not opening his eyes for a second. Whatever they were thinking or expressing, he didn't want to know, same for the three adults. He just got off his stool and walked out, shutting the door.

He stood there in the darkness of the hallway, lost in his defeated thoughts as he watched the other two go down the hallway towards the back of the house to get ready. Nothing felt good and in the end, his best wasn't enough. His fists clenched as his anger started to pick up, burning up from the shame he felt.

Slowly, he looked back at the door, a small scowl forming as his body started trembling again. Trying to be as quiet as he could, Ciecro crept back to the door, pausing with every step to suppress his nervous shivering.

Once at the door, he pressed the side of his head against its rough, wooden surface and the metal plating of the keyhole. The fire on his tail picked up slightly as his shivering died as he focused on listening.

"What were you thinking?" The angry voice of his mother uttered from the other side.

"I'm sorry, I thought he'd go for it," Tetheron defended before Ciecro heard the sound of a whack followed by Tetheron grumbling.

"Next time, keep your stupid beak shut and let me handle my own son, damnit." Freya grumbled, then sighed as she added, "Now they'll be wondering who is coming to town. Arceus, ugh…"

Ciecro's eyes narrowed, tensing up at the following silence. He relaxed a little once Gathor spoke up, "Don' worry, Freya. I'll make sure dey focus on dey're trainin' tomorrow."

"It's not that…Gathor I hope I wasn't too hard on Ciecro. I know he's just curious and he didn't do anything wrong, but…"

"I know, I know," Gathor's comforted in a gentle tone.

Pressing closer, Ciecro mouthed, "But what?" His previous skittishness replaced by the anxiousness of getting what he desired.

"I'll be sure tah check on 'im."

"What about Jaron and Seliph?" Tetheron asked, causing Ciecro to grumble at the conversation shift.

"Seliph already knows and Jaron will obe-"

Ciecro wrenched his head away before she finished, staring at the keyhole shocked. 'Seliph already knows?' Ciecro's eyes lowered as his gaze drifted to the light coming from under the door. Dat key…Did mom give 'im dat?… A scowl started to form as Ciecro rubbed his arm. Why Seliph? He sniffled. It's not fair. The poor Charmander rubbed his snout with his arm, till suddenly he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Ciecro?"

The Charmander let out a scared, "Dya‽" as he spun around, almost punching Jaron in the face.

Jaron backed up, raising his arms to protect his face as Ciecro's startled expression shifted to a stressful angry leer. "Jaron," he angrily whispered.

"I'm sorry bro, you didn't come so I came to see-" Before Jaron had the chance to finish, Ciecro clamped his jaw and looked at the door. After a few seconds for the shock to die off, Jaron pulled at Ciecro's grip on his snout, trying to tell him to stop amid the forced clamp.

"Quiet, do you want to get us into trouble?" Ciecro chastised in a whisper. The rebuking worked and Jaron stopped trying to pull Ciecro's hands off.

However, both their eyes shot open as the sound of footsteps came. Shit! Ciecro screamed in his mind. Seizing Jaron before the poor Totodile had a chance to think and quickly pilling him to the wall, Ciecro remained absolutely still.

"Kids?" their mother said from the other side of the door.

Ciecro held tightly onto Jaron's snout, pulling the Totodile as much into the corner made by the door as possible.

Despite the discomfort, Jaron didn't struggle, equally worried about getting caught. After looking down the corridor, Freya sighed and mumbled something as she shut the door.

Ciecro sighed in relief as he let go of Jaron, who gave him an angry look.

"Did you have to hold it so hard?" Jaron angrily whispered, rubbing his poor snout. "I'm not five, Ciecro; I can be quiet without your help. So stop clamping me shut. I don't like…it?" Jaron's hands lowered from his precious snout as he noticed Ciecro pressed against the door, trying to listen in. Raising a brow, Jaron walked next to Ciecro and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Hush," Ciecro commanded, pressing his head harder against the door. After a few minutes, the light underneath the door went out, followed by the sound of a door being shut. "No, no, damnit dey moved." The Charmander broke from the wall, stomping his foot on the ground.

Once he had settled, Ciecro just looked at the ground, only look up once Jaron walked in front.

"What's wrong?" Jaron leaned in closer. "Why were you listening on mom and dad?"

Ciecro scowled at Jaron. Crossing his arms, Ciecro snubbed him, refusing to answer.

"Huh?" Jaron tilted his head at Ciecro's rather mean reaction. Growling a little, Jaron pointed at his brother and said "Mom and dad said we shouldn't listen on them. So why were you listening? What did you hear?"

"I didn' get tah hear nothin'." Ciecro replied, attempting to shut the conversation down. "Now let's go tah bed." Ciecro was about to head down the hall till Jaron stepped in front.

"You did too hear something. You almost got us both in trouble for it. So I think I should get to know what they said too."

"I said, I heard nothin'." Ciecro repeated, growling a little.

Jaron wasn't backing down, however. "That's not true. Stop being unfai-"

"Jus' shut up!" Ciecro snapped. Keeping a firm gaze, Ciecro watched Jaron's former defiance shrivel back into surprise and then timid remorse. After a few sniffles, Jaron held the top of his snout, saying, "I'm sorry. You don't need to tell me."

Ciecro paused, his eyes dropping a little as Jaron rubbed his snout. After taking a glance at the door, Ciecro sighed and turned towards Jaron. "Sorry…"

There was an awkward silence, before Ciecro put a hand on Jaron's shoulder, making him jitter or a second. "Let's jus' get ready fo' bed, okay?"

Jaron just slowly nodded, quickly turning around and heading to their room.

Ciecro just watched in silence, his fists clenching. Once Jaron was gone, he put his head against the wall and just let out a gruff exhale. Aggressively, he pushed off the wall before walking towards their room. He kicked the wall hard, but not enough to hurt himself before exiting the hallway and shutting the door behind him harshly.