Eyes of the Warrior

Chapter 2

When I was younger, and didn't have to help, I thought that putting together a celebration was easy, and couldn't understand what made it so hard. I didn't understand that our tribe was five hundred strong and growing, that younglings never stopped eating so extra always had to be made, that the pots grew heavy and hot. All I understood was that if I waited, warm and sweet things would be spooned into my mouth by The Matriarch and sub-matriarchs.

Now... Now I understood.

I understood that the youngling males liked to sneak inside and steal treats when they thought no one was looking, that the tiny younglings, barely five years old, would be standing at the doors and underfoot, begging for treats that weren't ready, and that a pot filled with melted cocoa and sweetened milk grew very, very heavy when you had to pour it slowly to ensure none was wasted.

I definitely understand.

"Shurgal! Keep your fingers out of my pot!" My brother froze when he heard my yell, his fingers covered in rich chocolate and inside his mouth. "This is the third time, and the very last time I ask you before I ask Mou-mou to ban you from the kitchen."

My brother picked me up with one arm and held me close, his forearm tucked under my thighs and he took his fingers out of his mouth to speak. "Now, my sweetest little sister-"

"I'm your only little sister." I interrupted him, my arms crossed over my chest, not impressed by his attempted flattering.

"Which makes you the sweetest! Now, as I was saying, don't you need a taste tester, tiny one? Just to make sure you don't burn this pot?" His teasing of my mistake last year, when I had been distracted by a few of the other younglings to play instead of watching the bubbling pot, made my insides boil and my face turn even more red.

He gasped as I thumped my fist on his face, frowning at him until he put me down. "I don't need a taste tester that will tell me he's not sure about the flavor just to get more! And I will not burn this pot!" I turned away from him and waved behind me. "Now, shoo, go away before you make me mess up."

He dramatically gasped and hugged me from behind. "Who is this cruel youngling that has taken the place of my adoring little sister? Tell me, cruel minx, where have you hidden- Ouch!"

Mou-mou stood behind us, her spoon raised to strike him again, and growled out. "If you have time to bug the youngling, then you have time to help your father put up the stands! Out with you, out!"

Shurgal pouted as he released me and moped out of the kitchen, giving me a backwards look before leaving.

Mou-mou stuck her spoon into my pot and tasted the chocolate, nodding her head and patting mine as she rolled the thick liquid around in her mouth. She grabbed a few spices from above me and walked back to her pot, shouting out brisk orders to the sub-matriarchs.

A few moments later, once Mou-mou was out of range, the sub-matriarchs began gossiping amongst themselves.

I hear my name and Shurgal's being thrown around and decided to listen in. What I heard made me blush.

"... And did you see the way Shurgal held the foundling? Same way his father held his mother once he made it clear he wanted her."

What!? I thought he held me like any other siblings do each other!?

"And how the Foundling handles him?" A squeal. "Oh, it's like they were already lifepartners~!"

No, no I don't! ... Do I?

"Oh, but weren't they raised as siblings? Isn't that wrong?"

Yeah, that's right, I'm his adopted sister! There's absolutely no way he could want me as his life mate!