Unexpected Sibling Reunion

Writers: Miriah, Suzee
Date Posted: 26th March 2019

Characters: Jylanya, Enamra, Embly, Roblyna, Mornem, Clain
Description: Enamra is reunited with three siblings
Location: Dolphin Hall
Date: month 10, day 16 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: Thayde

Jylanya

Enamra

The wagon squeaked over the rough road, moving fast as it approached
the Dolphin Hall. The driver looked strained but determined, glancing
behind him at the what he carried. Three small children huddled
together, arms tight around each other, their gaunt faces numb and
past any fear or interest in their surroundings. A grimmer cargo lay
at their feet, two slightly larger bundles, firmly wrapped in canvas
and tarps and bound with heavy ropes to secure the coverings.

Coming up to the Hall's main doors, the driver called out as he
pulled his runner pair to a halt. "I need your Headwoman right away!"

When the apprentice came to get her, Jylana made her way up the walk
wiping her hands on her apron with a curious half smile. "Yes," she
called as she got closer, "I'm Headwoman Jylanya. They said you needed
to see me?"

The driver stepped off of the wagon and hurried forward. "I'm Hedrin,
begging your pardon, Headwoman." He spoke softly. "I found some poor
little tykes wandering the beach not two days ride to the west of
here. Said their father was a fisherman, but he didn't come home more
than a month ago. Two of 'em were sick with the firehead and the other
three were trying to eat raw fingerfish. They're in an awful bad
shape. I couldn't just leave 'em." He glanced at his wagon. "I tried
getting here quick, but the oldest two, well...they was too sick and
died this very mornin' on the way here. I was worried 'bout the
younger ones. They're in the back, Headwoman. Haven't said a word
since this morning. I didn't know where else to take 'em 'cept here
or the Weyr. You was closer."

She nodded and turned toward the drudge, "Go get Clain," she said sending
for the healer before she even looked into the back of the wagon. "Hey," she
said as she peeked over the side. She held her arms open to the
children "Are you hungry?"

The oldest girl was small, but her arms around the two other smaller
children tightened as Jylanya appeared over the side. The smallest, a
young boy, sucked at his fist while the other young girl pulled her
gaze from the wrapped bodies that lay near them. Three pairs of brown
eyes looked at the open arms, and the oldest slowly nodded. They
didn't move at first, not quite seeming to understand where they were
or what was happening. Then slowly, the oldest girl tried to lift the
little boy towards Jylanya, but couldn't quite bear his weight. The
boy began to cry, confused, and grasped at his sister.

Clain came running up the hill from the Hall and took one look into
the bed of the wagon then went to the driver. "I'm Healer Clain," he
said shrugging his shoulder with his Journeyman knots. "Percon told me
it was the firehead that took those two? Did you notice any symptoms
in the younger ones?"

Jylanya wasn't as concerned about their health but their rather
emaciated appearance told her they hadn't been eating much if at all
so she circled to the back of the wagon. "I have some nice hot soup on
the stove and some warm bread, if you'd like to have some," she
encouraged them and motioned them all to come toward the back of the
wagon. "You're safe here sweetings."

Hedrin turned to the Healer with visible worry, but relief as the
Headwoman took charge of the children. "No, I didn't. I gave 'em all
the food I had, but was just some travel bread and cheese. None of
'em got a fever or any headaches. The two girls, they was raving 'bout
their eyes and such and was red with the fever. That's how I knew."

The children slowly crept towards Jylanya, the oldest having to pull
the youngest after her. It was as though she was past the point of
tears, but her solemn red-rimmed eyes spoke of her grief and
exhaustion. Without words, she handed the weeping boy to Jylanya and
stumbled out, turning to help her sister climb out of the wagon once
she righted herself.

Clain nodded then and when the children were safe out of the wagon he
climbed up next to the driver. "Take that left fork there and we'll
bring them to the infirmary so I can do the necessary for them."

Seeing how the youngest couldn't let go of his sister, she picked up
the other girl and took the oldest's hand. "And what's your name," she
smiled as she led them toward the Hall and the smells of the warm
kitchen. "Enamra," she called as she came in the door. "Can you get
these poor babies some bowls of soup and a hot roll?"

The girls didn't answer, but as they entered the kitchens and Jylanya
called a familiar name, the oldest girl immediately stopped to stare
up with wide eyes at the Headwoman.

"What babies?"Enamra peered around a corner and stopped, her jaw
dropping open. "Embly? Roby?"

There was a sudden sob from the oldest girl, who immediately broke
free of Jylanya's grip and ran forward, flinging herself forward.
Enamra knelt and caught her, a mixture confusion and joy on her face
as she clasped the little girl to her. The other girl squirmed down
and away, following her sister to lunge at Enamra, also bursting into
tears as she too was clasped. The little boy, seeing someone familiar,
held out his arms and wailed, "Mamra! "

Both girls began to cry and talk at once, further confusing the
situation."You're not dead! Papa said you was!" "Papa didn't come
home!" "Mamne and Remna got sick. " "We missed you! Why didn't you
come back?"

"I'm guessing they know you," Jylanya said with dry humor.

"They're my sisters and brother." She held the children against her as
they wept. "Jylanya, what's going on? How did they get here?" Not
quite grasping the situation, she felt their limbs. "They're so
thin..."

The little boy crawled up in her lap, burying his head in her
shoulder. "Mamra...Mani and Remi died. I was scared and I wanted you."
The other two girls pressed against her sides, huddling as close as
they could.

"What?" Enamra's stricken face looked up at Jylanya. "I don't
understand..." She licked her lips and struggled to her feet, the two
girls clinging to her skirt as the little boy tried to wrap arms and
legs around her. "Uhm..food. They need food. Soup, right?" She
remembered how she too had needed food and the soup had been hot and
nourishing. "I uh...I just finished the rolls and..." She floundered,
still in shock. "I'll get them the rolls."

Jylanya's mouth opened and closed as she processed the stunning
information. But then she blinked back to life. "Alright children,s'
she said. "Up to the table. Your sister will bring you bread." She
began ladling small amounts of the healthy hot broth into bowls for
them to drink. They were filthy but she didn't care. Food first, baths
and explanations later.

Despite the months of not caring for them, old habits swarmed up and
locked into place; she acted on instinct born from turns of being the
only mother that three really knew or remembered. Enamra placed each
of the children at the table and bustled towards the kitchens to
gather the hot rolls that had just come from the oven. She was
grateful for Jylanya for teaching her how, especially now. She
gathered several rolls on a plate, burning her fingers a little, but
not caring about the slight jolt of pain. She also grabbed a cloth,
wet it in a warm basin and hurried out, placing the rolls near the
bowls of broth that Jylanya prepared.

She didn't let herself think; there was too much for her to process.
The smell of the broth drew the children quickly and they began
spooning the mixture rapidly into their mouths, eager for anything to
fill empty bellies. Enamra murmured for them to slow down, then began
wiping their faces between spoonfuls of their meal. The children
accepted the treatment without complaint, the familiar action visibly
relaxing them. The young boy spilled more than he managed to get in
his mouth. "Mornem, it's not going anywhere. It's okay." She wiped at
his face and then scooted between the girls, placing him on her lap
and then carefully helped him to bring to spoon to his lips.He nestled
against her shoulder and the other two girls drew close to her as
well, pressing tightly against her sides as they ate.

Jylanya watched and thought. Finally, after about half a candlemark
she cleared her throat. "You know that empty room at the top of the
stairs up to the third floor? Enamra had helped her clean out that
room of storage and scrub it down. It had yet to be painted after the
fire, but it was clean. "We'll move two big beds in there for you and
your brother and sisters."

As the children finally filled their bellies, Enamra introduced them
to Jylanya: Embly, the oldest little girl, Roblyna the next, then
little Mornem. The offer made Enamra lift her head, eyes filled with
gratitude and moisture, but no tears fell. Not yet. She was still
wrapped in grief, shock, and joy at the reunion. "Thank you, Jylanya.
I'll work extra hard to make up for it, I promise. They won't be any
trouble." Mornem had already fallen asleep against her shoulder,
exhausted, and the two girls that leaned against her were close to
doing the same. She looked down at them. "How could this have
happened..." She struggled for just a moment, then took a deep breath.
"I'll take good care of them. You won't get any complaints. They're
good, I swear. "

"Enamra," she said softly. "We can talk about all that later. You
don't have to do it all. This is a Hall and everyone takes care of
everyone. We all have jobs and we have foster mothers who can help
with the little ones. The older ones should probably go to Harper
classes."

"I've always taken care of them." Responsibility for the other
children had been beaten into her after their mother had died. A
further protest died on her lips as she looked down at her siblings
again, then back up. "Harper classes? They can go? They'll be able to
learn to read and..." She remembered what Master Thayde had said about girls
Crafting, "...Craft, if they want?" She held on to her younger
brother tightly for just a moment. "Can they stay with me? At least at
night?"

Enamra was certainly a contradiction but Jylanya simply nodded. "Yes,
to all of that." She smiled not quite knowing what to make of a girl
who didn't want to even look at her own baby but leaped to care for
her younger siblings.

Relief flooded her face and she relaxed, placing a kiss on Mornem's
crown. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

Last updated on the April 4th 2019

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Unexpected Sibling Reunion