The Missing Piece
The smoky, once-hot tettara went cold before my eyes. The others finished their food, got up, and left while I remained on the ground, heavy thoughts lingering in my mind.
Aourine.
She wanted to tell me something but… she didn’t.
What was weighing on her mind?
“Eralla…”
My head snapped towards Ma when she settled down beside me.
“Yes, Ma?”
“Eat. You have not taken a single bite.”
“I am not hungry…”
I shifted, getting to stand up. Just then, Ma reached out and grabbed my ankle, pulling me back down.
“Eralla.”
I sat back down.
“What is going on?”
I wanted to tell her, but would she understand it?
She still disliked Aourine and…
“Eralla.”
Her soft voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
“Ma…”
My voice faltered on my tongue. My hands curled up.
“Come, let me feed you.”
She insisted, picking up the slimy tettara and bringing it to my mouth. I obediently opened as she fed me like she used to when I was Quen-alla’s age.
“Is something bothering you, Eralla?”
I shook my head. Ma fed me another slimy piece. Hopefully, this would be the last time I ate such a plain meal.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“No.”
“Are you lying to me?”
I shook my head once again. She fed me another tettara, seamlessly dropping the subject. I was grateful for it.
“Good. You must eat — or else.”
She didn’t wait for an answer before offering more. I raised my hand to stop her.
“Ma, I am full.”
I pushed her hand away to get up from the ground.
Ma reached for my arm, but I slipped away before she could grab me.
“Where are you going, Eralla?”
I turned my head to look back at Ma.
“I am going to check up on Lylla. You know she has a habit of disobeying my orders.”
Outside, the giant ship was still visible. I spotted Lylla hanging out with Somala, her twin. She had a knack for ordering her around.
When would she learn not to use Somala?
“Eralla…”
My head turned to the side when I heard Fattaralla calling for me. I instinctively took a step towards her. I leaned down slightly to match her height; my arm hung freely beside me.
“What is it, Fattaralla?”
“I want to play Monomitt* with you.”
“Don’t you play it with Gibralla and Quen-alla?”
She hesitantly nodded, crossing her arms behind her back.
“Yes… but we are missing two members.”
My eyebrows furrowed.
“What do you mean you are missing two members?”
I stood up straight, tilting my head to look down at her.
“Their Maa-a won’t let them play. They say it is dangerous.”
Dangerous? The danger had disappeared, and I felt tempted to tell her, but honestly, I couldn’t be completely sure myself.
“Alright, I will play with you.”
She grabbed my wrist, pulling me to follow behind her. I quietly followed in her small footsteps.
Gibralla and Quen-alla waited for us in the open ashy field, at a distance from Aktoe. The ashfall had not affected it much since Rotana collapsed. Children played across the field, passing the time while the elders discussed their future.
Aourine hadn’t told me what went on in the elder’s hut.
“Eralla!”
Quen-alla lunged at me, trying to take me down, yet I stood firm on the ground. He was far too thin to overpower me.
“Do you know how to play it, Eralla?”
Gibralla asked.
I huffed.
“Of course. I played it far more than you did.”
Cheeky brats. Thinking they could beat me.
“But wait — we need one more person to play with us.”
Gibralla added.
“We will be fine.”
I said.
“No, Fattaralla, go find someone else!”
They insisted.
Fattaralla had no choice but to run off and find someone.
I crossed my arms, waiting for her to return with a lonely kid.
???
Txetia Glossary
Monomitt (Mo-no-mith) — a game similar to “tag”.
Tettara (Tet-ta-ra) — means Mushroom. They are long, tube-like slimy with a thick brown shell. The only source of food found in 317.
