Wheeling Gull Isle Bring them home

His eyes bulge at the thunder of Mal’s voice. His twin wilts into a pitiful puddle at his paws, tail tucked tightly against tender belly flesh and eyes not daring to seek higher than Malakai’s sharp-cast shadow. Had Mom sinned? She loved them. She tried her best, truly, in his heart, he believed this!

But his brother speaks with the authority of a preacher. His brother, who was here, who had returned, who promised to never again leave Judah, as his mother had.

And in his mind Judah was not sure if he heard the voice of God, or Malakai.

Mom’s blood is their blood. Her sins are their sins. God knew their evil, and would punish them into eternity! Would they be barred from Heaven? He flounders in a stream of fear and uncertainty, aching inside, not knowing who or what he was, or if he had the right to be living on an earth God reserved for those born without sin! He had lost his father and his life and in a way had lost God, too.

He whips his head and watches Mal retreat with tearful eyes.

It wasn’t fair for God to keep an ever watchful eye on orphaned children when outside in the world others were doing so much worse! If Judah had God’s all-seeing perspective, he wouldn’t waste his time on fatherless children! He’d be staring at something far more compelling! Besides, Dad was up there- he’d make God see they weren’t so bad, he’d overlook their mistakes!

“I HATE YOU FOR TAKING HIM!” Judah thrusts his screams into the sky and veers off into the trees before John can stop him.