19.Feb.21, 01:48 PM
Pursed lips drew into a frown as he nodded at her, his face more sadness than anger now. He watched her disappear out the door, and he was pretty sure he heard her sniffling outside. The slight feeling of satisfaction that he had earlier, knowing she felt bad, too, didn’t feel as good, now. His stomach hurt, but not like it did earlier. He moved to curl up on the couch, drawing his knees to his chest and holding them against him, hoping it would make him feel better.
But no, this was a different hurt. This was the kind of hurt, like when he did something he knew he wasn’t supposed to do…which didn’t happen often now, because he had to be good if he was ever going to Stand at a Hatching, but he still knew the feeling. But…he hadn’t done anything wrong! He had every right to yell! And to make her leave! She took his firelizard! Right…?
But she hadn’t meant to do that. And she had been trying to help, to bring the egg to him, and she hadn’t meant for the stupid thing to hatch in her arms. It wasn’t on purpose. It was just an accident. A really, really dumb accident.
His lip quivered again, but he wasn’t sure now if it was out of feeling mad, or sad…or guilty. Maybe he shouldn’t have yelled. Not wanting to think about that, still upset and embarrassed by the whole thing, he stood with a huff and started to pick up the mess they’d made. A few meat morsels were still scattered around, slimy and gross. And the bowl. And pieces of eggshell. T’pel and Kyrionth would be home soon, and he knew his brother didn’t like big messes. He’d hate it if he stepped on a piece of meat barefoot…
He’d have to explain what happened, too. Grrrr… Well, he was in the bathroom and it hatched and he didn’t impress. Plain and simple. Maybe he’d explain the whole thing later, after this other hurting feeling went away. If it went away.
But no, this was a different hurt. This was the kind of hurt, like when he did something he knew he wasn’t supposed to do…which didn’t happen often now, because he had to be good if he was ever going to Stand at a Hatching, but he still knew the feeling. But…he hadn’t done anything wrong! He had every right to yell! And to make her leave! She took his firelizard! Right…?
But she hadn’t meant to do that. And she had been trying to help, to bring the egg to him, and she hadn’t meant for the stupid thing to hatch in her arms. It wasn’t on purpose. It was just an accident. A really, really dumb accident.
His lip quivered again, but he wasn’t sure now if it was out of feeling mad, or sad…or guilty. Maybe he shouldn’t have yelled. Not wanting to think about that, still upset and embarrassed by the whole thing, he stood with a huff and started to pick up the mess they’d made. A few meat morsels were still scattered around, slimy and gross. And the bowl. And pieces of eggshell. T’pel and Kyrionth would be home soon, and he knew his brother didn’t like big messes. He’d hate it if he stepped on a piece of meat barefoot…
He’d have to explain what happened, too. Grrrr… Well, he was in the bathroom and it hatched and he didn’t impress. Plain and simple. Maybe he’d explain the whole thing later, after this other hurting feeling went away. If it went away.