Warning: Just a heads up there is some minor swearing in this chapter.
2. Rift
Shopping at the mainland markets was Kale’s least favorite job. Usually Myrina would send Katsumi with him but she had insisted that Katsumi stay home with her. Kale would have argued, if it would have mattered. His sister always won. This time Myrina couldn’t be mad at him. He hadn’t found what she wanted but he did find something better. A dog.
He had seen the dog on his trips to the market. The shopkeepers had constantly chased the poor thing away. The dog would try to steal scraps. Kale felt bad for him, he ended up buying some extra food and giving it to the dog. On his last day he found the dog wondering the quay. Kale decided than that he would give the dog a home. The duo left the mainland and headed home.
It took until the early dawn to reach the docks. There was no way Myrina could be upset. Kale found himself thinking. This dog was perfect.
“Rina!” He called. There were only a handful of people up at this hour but he didn’t care. Myrina was always up at this time. Luckily for him Myrina had come running. This was one of the few times he was glad that it wasn’t Titus. Titus hated being woken up early and was always in a foul mood when that happened.
“Kale!” Myrina gave him a smiling in greeting. “welcome back” she glanced behind him searching for the crates that should have been unloaded.
“Where is everything?” she questioned. Kale shrugged.
“It was a slow time at the market. There was a famine in several farming communities” he could see her annoyance building. “There is an upside. I did find something that could help”
Myrina let out an annoyed sigh. Kale always had some sort of scheme. Without someone watching him, he would find a way to get around doing some types of work.
“What is it?” Myrina asked. Kale just smiled and jogged around her.
“You will find out” he called as he left her alone at the bottom of the stairs.
The sound of a bark made Myrina turn. She found a dog with a note attached to the collar. She gave the dog a pat on the head and took the note off the collar.
For my favorite little sister! His name is Obi. I know mother gave you a lot of new jobs and duties when she gave your the title of Creator. Some of the people in town mentioned that a pet can help relieve stress. I am certain that Obi can help!
-Kale
Myrina looked down at the dog.
“Hello Obi” at her voice Obi jumped around wagging his tail. She reached down to pet the dog. He jumped up and licked her face. Myrina couldn’t help but smile. She had to admit it was a cute dog.
Later that day Katsumi cornered Kale in garden hut. Paper in hand.
“Kale I need a favor” He looked up form the carving he was making. Katsumi couldn’t tell what it was, it just looked like a pile of small wood boards.
“Of course, anything for my best friend” she smiled at his reply. She placed a sheet of paper on the wood working table.
“So it is almost the day that we celebrate the spirits. I found some notes in my journal on how to celebrate and I needed some fresh plants. The thing is the one plant I need is hidden away on an island in the middle of the ocean. Would you be able to go get some for me?” she gave him an apologetic smile. She knew that she was asking a lot, Kale had just returned from a long trip and he probably wanted to relax but until A new tribal sister joined she would have to stay on the island. Leaving Myrina alone on the island even with Titus, Pasar and Geo here it could be serious trouble.
“Of course. I would be happy to” Kale moved away from the table, taking the paper off the table. He saw the sketches of what the plant looked like and what type of soil it would grow in. “We will be back with your plants”
The two made it to the small island by midday. It was uninhabited but pathways had been laid out to make traveling the island easier.
“I don’t really see why we need to be here Kale. We have plenty of plants at home that could be used” Titus grumbled. Titus hated leaving the island. He wasn’t as curious or adventurous as Kale or Myrina. The youngest of Mahina’s children was more content staying home and reading or watching the stars.
“This is very important! We should always honor those who we have lost. Besides we won’t be long” Kale replied. Titus let out a dramatic sigh. Kale forged ahead ignoring Titus’s grumbling. Titus finally found the plant they needed, buried deep in the ground.
“See that wasn’t so bad” Kale grinned as they walked back towards the docks.
“Maybe for you, I don’t understand how you handle this heat” Titus replied wiping the sweat from his forehead.
“I can’t even feel the heat” came the elder brother’s reply. He couldn’t stop smiling. Sure he had done a lot of traveling but it wasn’t so bad. He was helping out Kat and his family.
“Of course you wouldn’t” Titus snapped. “You are too blinded by love” This caused Kale to laugh.
“I don’t love Kat, not like that. She is family. I am happy to help family” he replied, not noticing that Titus had stopped walking.
“You hate helping Myrina” Titus pointed out, trying to keep the annoyance in his voice from showing. Arguing with Kale wasn’t easy. Especially not when their mother was around. Mahina had a soft spot for Kale.
“You always complain about doing your part in the tribe but when ever Katsumi asks you for something you jump out of your seat and run off to do things. You would think she was creator or some sort of goddess on earth. She isn’t really a part of our family and you should be loyal to your family first.” Kale turned to look at his brother, surprised at his words.
“Katsumi has been like a big sister to you for years!” Kale replied. He couldn’t believe Titus would say that.
“I love Katsumi. Don’t get me wrong she is wonderful and has been a good friend but working on things for Myrina should come first” Titus wouldn’t budge on this point even as he could see Kale’s anger building. He did his best to keep his cool in the face of Kale’s building anger.
“Katsumi is actually trying to help the tribe! Unlike our sister, Myrina has been spending all of our coins on frivolous shit!” Kale’s hands were shaking slightly. “Kat has been working had and trying to learn new tasks. Myrina has just been sitting around doing nothing but wasting our money and making life harder. Not that you would understand. She doesn’t have you doing much but making us work.”
“Myrina is our creator and sister! You have no right to speak of her in such a way!” Titus spat. “She is trying to make everyone’s life easier! You are just trying to undermine Myrina! I don’t know why you would! She is trying to get our tribe back on track. You are upset because Myrina isn’t giving you special treatment like mother! You are terrified that you will lose everything once mother passes, you would much rather see anyone else ruling the tribe so long as you can keep living in luxury!”
Kale stared at his brother, confused as to where these words were coming from. Titus had never been this angry before. He had never said anything like this before either. Kale opened his mouth to ask what his brother was talking about when Titus shoved him to the ground.
“Titus! What the hell” Kale shouted. Titus ignored him and stormed back to their boat. Kale got up and dusted himself off. Thankfully the way back to the quay wasn’t long. Maybe Katsumi could make him some salve to help with the bruising he was sure to have.
“I thought I would have had to swim out after the boat” he joked when he had boarded their boat. The glare Titus gave him was enough to keep Kale form speaking to him for the rest of the ride. Titus left him to tie up the boat when the had reached the docks of Helike.Kale had made it back to the tribe as the sun began to set. He was greeted by the site of Katusmi weeping on the main path.
“Katsumi what is wrong” he put a comforting arm around her drawing her close. Kat sobbed.
“Kale” she took a few shaky breaths. “Kale your mother…she is with the goddesses”
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