Too Old for Such Games

Writers: Noli
Date Posted: 29th May 2025

Characters: Sefanya, Sialla, Arnave, Nintur
Description: Sefanya's children struggle with sibling rivalry.
Location: Barrier Lake Weyr
Date: month 7, day 5 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: N'tur
Mentor Approved by Heather

Sefanya woke up suddenly to the sound of furious flit screams reverberating through her quarters. Jumping up, she searched for the source of the commotion and found it in the next room, where Alaynne, her firelizard was clutched furiously on her daughter Sialla's shoulder, screaming insults at Sefanya's two sons who stood a few feet in front of her. Both boys looked ashamed (and slightly frightened) at the little green's vehemence.

"What is going on here??" Sefanya allowed her voice to project more outrage than she actually felt. Though she had real concern about what antics the boys could have been engaged in that caused her sweet Alaynne so much distress, she couldn't help but be amused at the sight of her normally rambunctious sons stilled in the face of a creature no larger than a feline.

Her sons, Arnave and Nintur, glanced at each other and then at Sialla. Sefanya followed their gaze and peered at her eldest daughter curiously. She noticed that Sialla, in between stroking the still angry firelizard on her shoulder, was cradling her left arm carefully with her right hand. Crossing the short distance to her daughter's side, she guiltily realized that there was a noticeable bruise growing just above the elbow.

Rounding again on the teenage boys who still hadn't uttered a word, Sefanya's nostrils flared. Shards, why weren't they saying anything?

Finally, Arnave spoke up, his uncertain, almost quavering voice sounding much younger than his fourteen Turns. "It was my fault, Sefanya. Nin and I were only playing, and Sialla--"

"That's not true, Arn!" Her younger son interrupted, his voice small but his eyes flashing with indignation. "We weren't playing nothing! You were trying to take my reeds again." He looked uncertainly at his sister for confirmation.

"It's true, Sefanya. Arnave found Nintur's reeds and was holding them out of reach." The girls voice was calm and matter of fact. She continued stroking the little green on her shoulder, who had finally folded her wings and was now quiet, though her eyes where still whirling with angry red and orange hues. "I was just coming through the door when Nin jumped to reach them, and he knocked me into the wall pretty hard on accident. Alaynne was riding on my shoulder and I think she felt my pain." She touched her elbow gingerly, the ugly purple bruising now standing out viciously against her fair skin.

Sefanya glared at her oldest son, who was staring at the floor, shame now evident on his face.

"Arnave, you are much too old to be playing these kind of childish games. Shards, son, you're supposed to begin apprenticing soon. Why are you spending your morning torturing your siblings instead of studying?" Sefanya noticed the look of triumph on twelve-Turn Nintur's face at hearing his older brother and nemesis being scolded like a child. She shot him a glare, as well.

"Sorry, Nin." Arnave spoke glumly, still staring at the floor. "And I'm sorry, Si. How's your arm?"

Sialla gave both of her younger brothers a compassionate look. She knew they hadn't meant to hurt her. "It's fine, Arn. I think, though," and her eyes betrayed a glimmer of amusement, "that Alaynne deserves an apology as well."

Arnave finally looked up, startled, and gave the firelizard a sheepish glance. At that, everyone watching-- Sialla, Sefanya, even Nintur-- began to laugh. The tension was broken as Arnave gave Alaynne an apologetic headtilt and said formally, "I apologize, fair Alaynne, for hurting your lovely Sialla. Can I make it up to you?" The little green chittered, still sounding annoyed, but no longer angry. She rubbed her tiny head lovingly against Sialla's cheek and refused to acknowledge Arnave's attempts to coax her to his own arm, bringing another round of giggles from the humans in the room, including Arnave himself.

Nintur stooped to retrieve his reeds from where they had fallen to the floor during the commotion and placed them carefully back on the shelving unit where they normally resided. Arnave reached over an ruffled his hair as he straightened. "I'll leave your stuff alone from now on, brother. Sefanya's right, we're too big for such games. We're to both be apprentices soon. Come on now, I'll help you do your chores." And the two brothers disappeared together out of the room.

Sefanya checked her daughter's arm again, satisfied that it was only bruised, not broken. When Sialla reassured her that it really didn't hurt all that much, Sefanya breathed a sigh of relief. She was constantly stressed about her eldest son, Natur-- N'tur now, she corrected herself mentally-- being hurt during Threadfall, and hadn't often had cause to worry for the safety of her quiet, risk-adverse daughter. She was very glad, indeed, that the injury wasn't serious.

"Come on, Sefanya, let's go get a cup of klah and let the boys take care of some of the chores while they're feeling sufficiently motivated." Sialla winked at her mother with wisdom beyond her seventeen Turns. "It's actually quite handy to know that in the future, we can use Alaynne to keep them in line, eh?"

Sefanya laughed again, thanking the First Egg again for Sialla's good nature, and wrapped her arm carefully around her daughter, minding not to put too much pressure on the bruised arm. "Sure, love. Let's go get some." And together, they headed down to the Dining Cavern, Alaynne now chittering happily as she flew above the pair, eyes whirring a contented blue as her favorite humans smiled up at her.

Last updated on the June 8th 2025

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Too Old for Such Games