Oden by Jessica Frances

of Mattie’s lack of dating history. I know humans are a lot more open about dating in their culture. Mattie is my first everything, and I like that it feels a little bit like she was waiting for the right person and decided that person is me.
    Once they begin speaking of their parents, though, my heart squeezes painfully in my chest. Mattie’s inner strength is so strong I sometimes forget she’s gone through so much already.
    When I hear them crying, it feels painful to not go to her and offer her comfort. However, this is something she needs to get out, and I know her sister and her need this time alone together.
    I shift Logan’s sleeping form in my arms, feeling right having him back with us. As much as I feel protective over Mattie, I have the same protective instincts for him, too. I feel responsible for him, and even though I told Mattie back on Roth that we might have to leave him behind, I know now that it would have been a mistake.
    “What part of… this tunnel will be filling up with… water at any moment did they not understand?” Ival growls from next to me.
    I know his voice carries back to the girls and interrupts their moment. I punch him in the arm, glaring at him, and stand my ground when he turns his annoyance back to me. I didn’t really hit him hard enough to cause him any pain. However, it’s difficult to put any strength behind it when Logan is asleep in my arms.
    “We shouldn’t have brought them… with us. They are already slowing us down.”
    “Leave them alone. They have all gone through a lot in the past few months. Give them some time to grieve.”
    “How about they grieve after… we are sure we won’t drown?”
    “Give them some leeway here, Ival,” I beg.
    “Humans are too emotional. We aren’t like them, Marduke. Whatever… you’re feeling for the human, it’s not normal.”
    “Just because we’ve been taught not to feel love our whole lives, doesn’t mean we’re not capable of it.”
    “So you’re an expert on this now, are you?”
    “I’ll admit that I’m still learning some things, but it’s mostly just instinct. I sense when to leave things alone, when to let things go, and when to push. Mattie is incredibly strong, and I’m proud of her, but sometimes, I think she’s too strong. She needs to learn to put herself first sometimes.”
    “Her bravery might come out from her inability… to separate her emotions, but it is a quality that I… can almost admire. She is willing to sacrifice. Sometimes, I believe… it is more than you are willing to do,” he sneers at me.
    “I love her, and I will do anything for her, even if that means leaving Oden behind.”
    “That, to me, just sounds like a coward speaking.”
    I grind my jaw, refusing to get into a fight with him.
    “So what do you plan to do once we make it to the tunnels under our home in Jyin?”
    “We need to find our guards and figure… out where our defences are at. The hinemas are obviously fighting, but what about… our soldiers? What situation are our people in? Why can’t… we bypass their systems and get our spaceships in the air?” He takes a sharp breath. “I tried to use a tamdet portal earlier, but they have managed to disable that as well.”
    “What about what he said about our mother? Do you really think she is dead?”
    “I don’t see why he would lie.” He shrugs, not displaying any grief or concern, only a wince when it jars his ribs.
    “And our father?”
    “Getting Father out will be a priority, but if it… endangers getting the upper hand in the war, then he… would not want us to risk it. We all know, as… leader, you take an oath to protect our people and put… them first. He will do what he has to do with… Jeprow, and we will do the same.”
    “As the oldest child, you will become leader if he is dead. You might already be our leader.”
    “I’m aware of that. I realise how… important my role is and how much weight is… on my shoulders for me to