Evaluations of the Tribe - Prossia Book 0 : A Coming of Age Space Opera Page 9
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Catty was still in her room when her parents came back from Shanvi’s that evening. One of the two maids in her household left dinner outside her door, since part of her punishment included staying in her room. Quongun also took whatever toys she had and placed them downstairs before he and Cattalice the Elder left for Shanvi’s hut.
When her parents knocked and walked into her room, Catty turned as stiff as green oak wood. By their initial reaction to hearing what she had done that morning, the Little One hoped she wouldn’t have to see her folks for the rest of the day. Now, as far as she could tell, they were ready to lay out some more limitations on her.
However, Cattalice and Quongun didn’t look anywhere near as enraged as before. So, the Little One didn’t feel as nervous when her mammai sat on her bed and her pappai pulled up a seat. Then again, the silence between the two wasn’t too reassuring, either. Her parents looked at each other, as if they were both cueing the other one to say something first, but neither of them wanted to initiate.
“Cattalice,” her mother eventually said. “You bring great shame to our family name. Why has this one done such a thing, let alone to one whom you call a friend? Surely your pappai and I have taught you better than this, yes?”
“Truly, you have. Yet, if I may?”
“You may.”
“Aly saw to embarrassing me in front of the entire class and my friends. Should she not know better than to do this?”
“Ah, so I see it, then,” Quongun said, leaning back in his seat. “I suppose you were to remind her who the one in charge is.”
Catty was going to protest that choice of words, but she kept quiet when she couldn’t think of anything to counter that allegation.
“This one should not suffer hubris, Little One,” her pappai added.
“What be a ‘hubris’?”
“In simple terms, it is too much blind pride for one’s own good. That is not the way of our people, dearest. You are hailed in high regards due to the hopes of what you may provide the village when you are of age. Thus, being considered the highest ranked in the tribe is not a mere sign given for you to boast about. We understand the new rules with your class now. That be a great honor, yet there are great expectations of you lot as well. Perhaps more so than what was placed on us when we were your age.”
“What is more,” Cattalice cut in. “This one may have high standards today, yet anyone may boot you off your stump in the morrow. Why, Aly may even be the one to do so.”
Catty tried not to laugh. “If I may, I surely doubt such a thing.”
Her parents looked even more uncomfortable as they fidgeted. Catty stopped smiling and scooted closer to her mother, who didn’t even look her in the face. The Little One tugged on her mammai’s fabric as her ears twitched.
“I merely joke,” Catty said. “Truly, I regret what I did. I shall not do so again.”
“Nay, that is well and all, dearest.” Cattalice moved Catty’s hand away. “Yet I fear your pappai and I need to tell...”
The mastra paused and bit a finger.
“Tell me what?” Catty asked.
Her mammai looked at her pappai. Quongun shook his head, and Cattalice nodded, as if agreeing on some secret code that only mated couples could understand. The older mastra smiled, and patted Catty’s thigh.
“Nay. We shall explain when you are of a more proper age, very good?”
Catty groaned; she hated secrets. “I – very good, Mammai.”
Cattalice shook the Little One’s leg before extending her pinky. Catty sighed aloud through her nose, but still grabbed her mother’s finger with her own and shook. Cattalice winked and walked out the room. Quongun got up, stretched, and followed after her.
“If I may, how long shall I bear this punishment, Pappai?”
“As long as I feel the need. Now, off to bed, Mastra.”
Catty puffed out her bottom lip and crossed her arms when her pappai turned back around.
Cattalice waited for Quongun from the other end of the hallway and walked with him down the stairs to their own room.
“What are we to do if Teacher’s hypothesis of Aly is valid?” she asked.
“I shall worry over those matters if they are to arrive.”
“You may not have to wait long. Perhaps it be best to tell Catty of such possibilities now.”
Quongun stopped when he made it to the bottom floor. He rubbed his smooth chin, pondering. One of the maids came into the walkway, but Cattalice held up a finger, signaling the mastra to wait a moment. When the maid bowed and left, Quongun shook his head and kept moving.
“Truly, she is not ready to hear of such things,” Quongun said. “Why, we were but nine when we were told of those capabilities.”
“That was to be the case for us, yet these Little Ones may very well be going to school with one of them,” Cattalice insisted as she followed. “The circumstances are truly different, and dare I say, truly more dire if this be so. Quongun, Catty and her classmates are to take part in the Evaluations, and one of them being sent into the wilderness alongside them may very well be a––”
“Catty is too young, love. What if she is to tell the news to others? For Truth’s Grace, the Little One is but five. Beyond this, do we wish to stir commotion about the entire village over a thing that is not yet definite?”
The mistress sighed as she rubbed her mate’s back. “Very well, then, if that be your wish. And even so, it may be as you say. Perhaps we are merely overreacting in all of this anyways, yes? Truly, perhaps Aly merely delays in her inner being.”
“I pray it be.” Quongun folded his hands behind his back. “By Truth’s Grace, I pray it be.”
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