Kintla Flatlands a tender history in rust

“Why?” was her first burning question. It leapt like an ember from her tongue, begging immediate answers. She couldn't piece together what might have coaxed Junior away from the plateau and father she so desperately loved, or at least Saēna'd thought she did. It had to be something of great importance, she decided, but before she could say anything else, Junior put forth her invitation.

“Pura can come,” Saēna countered, even though the word "sisterhood" fully implied the opposite. “He does anything he's told. He's never sad, he told me so. Not even about mom.” She hadn't spoken to Junior before about knowing who Pied was, and she hadn't been sad about it either, but it seemed like an important point to make, nevermind how confusing it was. “But what about da—uncle Peregrine? Won't he be sad?”

She didn't know much about Peregrine anymore, except that he had some special friends that he did special things with. She suspected, however, that he would be sad if Junior left. She somehow doubted he would be sad if she left, too, though that was born mainly of low self worth after discovering that she wasn't his true daughter.