How I Met Hena Chakelithp

Chapter 2. Equinox Feast

I finally finished this story! After working on it for three years, here is the product. If you don't mind, please actually read the story instead of just voting on every chapter and then moving on. I'd like you to just enjoy the writing and the plot, because How I Met Hena Chakelithp is my proudest work yet.
Thanks,
Isabelle
I was at my parents' house for the Equinox of Spring. In our country, it's New Year's Day. We celebrate it on March 1st.
We were sitting around the table talking. Kudika told us about her new discoveries at Hardlorn Castle. She kept hinting that she'd discovered something huge, but wouldn't tell us what it was. She talked over Kaliana's high-pitched laughing, my aunts and uncles' murmuring about money, jobs, and friends, and Chadi's furious chewing.
In time, she got everyone's attention, even his, and took a deep breath.
We all knew she'd discovered something huge and wanted to know what. Except for maybe my aunt and uncle, who owned an inn. I wondered if they knew already.
We looked at her expectantly.
"So, you all know that I discovered something huge three days ago on Hardlorn Island."
There was a chorus of "Yeah" and "Tell us!"
Kudika started to grin and look even more excited than ever.
"Okay. I found..."
Her frizzy black ponytail shook.
I was starting to wish she wouldn't build it up so much. I wanted to just know what it was and be happy for her.
But nothing could prepare me for what she said, when she finally did say it.

"A LIVING PERSON!" 

Everybody gasped, including me. Kudika continued:
"She told me she'd been sailing for two days on a one-person boat. She was looking for land and had run out of food. She saw land, crashed her boat, and collapsed on the beach of Hardlorn Island. She was unconscious when I found her and also half-starved. She said she was from a country called Pastrona. She had ribs like a skeleton. Her eyes are amazing, black as...as...ink. I took her to Papa's inn on Shilee Rhine, but she can't stay there forever. That's part of the reason why I wanted to tell you: if any of you want to take her in. She won't want to stay in my little hut; the rain comes in, it's tiny, and I'm not there half the time. I told the city parliament and they're sending out dragons with riders to look for her home. She's about your age, Srarori, except not as tall. Oh, and her name is Hena Chakelithp."
I felt a sudden surge of sympathy for this girl I'd never met. I wanted to meet her, to give her my company after five days of almost complete isolation. I looked at everybody. My parents didn't want another person in the house. I didn't blame them: Kaliana, my sister, was a handful. I looked at Aunt Hessia and Uncle Meckley. They were constantly busy with the inn so they couldn't pay any attention to her, and it was a family belief that it wasn't right to live with someone you never talk to.
I looked at Grandma and Grandpa. They certainly would talk to her and take care of her well. But they both were a little crazy in their old age. They didn't clean the house often, and slept a lot. I thought about what it would be like if I was Hena and had to stay with them. No, I thought. I didn't think that their old, musty residence would be the best place for Hena to recover.

I wished Hena could live with me. I sometimes got lonely, living on a 5-square mile island alone with my dragons.
It would be nice to have someone to talk to, someone I could have human conversations with. Suddenly I realized...that I could. Kudika had said any of us could take her. But I wanted to be honest with myself. I thought: How much was I home? Most of the time. Would I talk to her? Of course. My house was sturdy. I had enough food for both of us. I was busy planting and hoeing, but it was the kind of business that could be taken with leisure and that you could talk to someone while doing.
I had made up my mind.
I finally stood up.
"I would like Hena to stay with me. I think she would be happy and recover fast. I can never have too many friends to spend time with and I'm not too busy."
Everybody looked at me.
"You?" Kudika said, amazed. "The youngest?"
"Yes," I said. I had made my decision. Everybody looked at me. Their expressions went from amazement to a mix of utter respect and impression.
Finally, Kudika broke the silence, just like when you bend a willow stick until it finally gives out.
"Well..." Kudika said, "I suppose there isn't a reason you shouldn't."
I smiled. I felt dazed. I had made a very sudden decision that might change my life. For better or worse, I didn't know.
But right now, I was glad I had done it.