Moon Child

06

{Parents}

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Jake had taken the boys back to their marui, angrier than ever. Father proceeded to speak with the boys, along with Ixchel and Tsireya, who was in the marui folding blankets when they had all come in.

"They were making fun of Kiri, sempul," Ixchel explained, grabbing her remedies. "That is why they fought, they were being bullies, calling them names. Sit." Roxto sat on the floor in front of his sister so that she could check for any wounds. She handed him fruit to eat while he sat.

"You boys know better," Tsireya mumbled under her breath with a shake of her head.

"Oh shut up, sister—"

"Hey!" Aonung looked back at the ground, rolling his eyes. Tonowari rose from his seat. "You boys do know better. We have welcomed these people here, and yet you cannot seem to make them feel welcome. Your sisters are. Your sisters are not going around fighting people."

"She pounced on me, Father! She had her knee in my stomach and threatened to punch me!"

"And you're lucky I didn't, otherwise you would have many more bruises on your body—"

"Enough!" Ixchel hissed, going back to her work. Roxto was trying not to laugh and this made her smile a little. "That is enough. You will not taunt these people any longer. You will not bully them, you will not call them names, you will not touch them. I want this to be very understood. We are their hosts. They are staying here for safekeeping, and you are not making them feel safe. I will not explain this once more." He sat back down. "And if this ever happens again...Ixchel has my permission to do whatever she would like as your consequence."

"Sempul, kehe!" Aonung complained, turning to his smirking sister. "Ke lu muiä!"

"It's not about fairness, Aonung. Disciplining you is fair. And my disciplining has proven to not work, so maybe Ixchel's will."

"Wiya," Aonung scoffed, stomping out of the marui. Roxto got up to follow him, thanking his sister for tending to him. Tonowari gave Tsireya a look and she set her things aside, hurrying out of the marui to do something else productive. Ixchel was the only one left, and she knew that Tonowari had things to say to her.

"You pounced on him?"

"He was going to punch Lo'ak, Father," Ixchel explained. "He was out of control." Tonowari nodded. "I yelled at the Sully boys too, I didn't just yell at Aonung. I will apologize later."

"You are so rough with him, oare'eveng." Ixchel sucked her teeth, dismissing her father's words. "I expect it from Roxto and Aonung, they are brothers. But you are so rough with him. And he loves you, maite."

"I know—"

"All you do is yell at him," her father laughed. "He just wants to be there for you, he looks up to you, Ixchel."

She shook her head. "No he does not. Tsireya and Roxto, maybe—"

"And Aonung too," he stressed. "He speaks of you to your mother all the time, his kind big sister, how much he loves to hang out with you, and do the things that you are doing, he has always been like this. He has always wanted your attention."

"So he fights?"

"Maite. You are not hearing me," Tonowari sighed. "You should be kinder to him as you are to your guests. Yes, he was rude and it is good that you stopped him, that you keep him in check. But every now and then...you should let him know that you do not hate him. That you see him, yes? All he wants is for you to be nice to him, kame?"