Popcorn Land (3)
Young Slug trains her army in the hopes of retaking the admin office.
Previously:
Young Slug
The rain finally lifted and the sun revealed itself behind silver clouds. There was a faint rainbow, but difficult to see.
“What is a rainbow?” One of the young’ns asked while squinting her eyes at the sky.
“A message from the Lords. A symbol of peace in times of war. At least, that’s what the books of old say.” Replied Young Slug, as she counted all seven kids to make sure nobody had wandered off.
“What do the Popcorn books say?” Another young’n asked in a soft voice.
“There are no Popcorn books.” Slug responded, kneeling down to their level. “But we don’t believe in the Lords up above. We hold ourselves accountable for our sins. We hold each other accountable. No one else will anymore… What does the rainbow mean to you, Lyla?”
“I like the colors. Red and blue and green and purple.”
“I hate purple.” Another young’n chimed in.
“I hate you!”
“Your mom’s a traitor!”
“Do we have any more snacks?”
“I’ll drown you in the river!”
“I think I need to go to the bathroom.”
“At least my mom’s alive, WHORE!”
“Children!” Young Slug grabbed the attention of all seven. “Settle.” She watched them use their breathing exercises as practiced until all they could hear were the birds coming out after the storm. “You can go to the bathroom, Bomb. Find a tree.”
“Thanks!”
“Listen close. Your mothers aren’t dead. Your mothers aren’t alive. They are not traitors and they are not loyalists. They aren’t your family anymore. This is. We are the last of the Slug clan. My si—Our sister, King Slug, was taken from us almost a year ago. The Leaders Three gave her a sham trial and a quick death to clean it up. To erase us. But we will not be erased. Are you with me, Slug Clan?”
“Yeah!”
“YEAH!!”
“Yes.”
“Do we have any snacks left?
“Slug CLAN!”
“Yuh!”
“Good. Practice your berry gathering. Meet back here in an hour. Lyla, would you mind staying behind, just for a moment?”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No sweetheart, of course not. I wanted to… I heard a rumor that at nightfall, there might be a confrontation tonight between the Leaders Three and… your father from the old world… Sir Matthis. I wanted you to hear from me because—”
“I have no father. Slug Clan is my family.” The twelve year old interrupted plainly.
“Yes. Atta girl. Go join your siblings.”
Young Slug watched her run to catch the group and smiled to herself. The sun was beaming now, and she reveled in the light