I woke up the next morning yawning while rubbing my eyes. Sun shined from my window. Something felt off. I jumped out of my bed, “Where is the egg?” I started looking around, the window was opened. “Egg?” Nothing. I went looking under my bed and everywhere it may have gone, nothing. “Egg?!” I started panicking. Where was it? If I couldn’t find it I would be going against her wishes. Why do I care though?

A sugary sweet smell distracted me from my thoughts, I rushed downstairs, my mouth watering. The smell of Alba’s homemade cinnamon rolls filled the whole house. I sat down in our kitchen chair letting the scents fill my nose. “Oh! Moonshine, you are up!” She exclaimed as she hugged me. I smiled, letting her hug me. I felt a slight bump on her stomach, but thought nothing of it. She served me a plate with hot cinnamon rolls, fresh mango, and coconut milk. Sipping on the coconut milk I hear the door open suddenly.

Antolius came in and looked excited. He went up to Alba and whispered something in her ear. Alba nods and looks at me.

“Lunar, your father and I have something to tell you.”

“What is it..?” I panicked, slightly irritated from Alba calling Antolius my father. They smiled excitedly.

“I am pregnant.”

“What?!” I felt conflicted, on one hand, I wanted a sibling, on the other what would become of me wouldn’t they forget about me? They looked surprised by my response.

I stood up and walked towards the door. “Lunar! Wait-” I cut them off slamming the door. The last thing I heard was, “What happened to him? Why is he acting so irrational.” I ran to my hideout not looking back, a hurricane of thought rushed through my head. I don’t want to do this anymore. Things like this keep happening. Why? I just… I can’t. Finally, I stepped into my hideout and sat down.

Slowly, I took deep breaths. I tried to calm myself down. It didn’t work. I stood up and paced back and forth. Thinking out loud, “I want a sibling that sounds wonderful… But, what would happen to me? I’m not their biological kid. Wouldn’t the baby take my place? I don’t want it to. I… I don’t know what I want anymore.” As if on cue Amaria walked in and saw me.

“Uh? Lunar, are you okay?” I looked at her, tears filling my eyes, “No,” I sat down. I held my knees to my chest. She came up to me and gave me an awkward hug, I didn’t move. She stopped after a moment or two. In almost a whisper she said, “Would you like to talk about it?” I shook my head and turned around to look the opposite way.

“Are you sure?” Amaria asked.

“No,” I whispered.

“Talk to me.”

“Why? It’s not like you would care.”

“I don’t understand you, you always confuse me. I know you want to talk about this, why don't you just tell me?”

I could see the pleading in her eyes. She really does just want to be friends with me. Guilt crashes over me like a ship in a storm, “I’m a jerk,” I murmured. “What?” she asked. “I’m a jerk,” I said louder.

“Speak up Lunar.”

“I’m a jerk,” I practically yelled. “I’ve treated you like crap,” I cried out loud. “I-i’ve treated my p-parents like absolute crap. I’ve probably made them cry. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry. I need to change.” Amaria looked at me sympathetically and hugged me. I felt as if the weight had been lifted off my shoulders. “I have to apologize. Thank you, Amaria…”

When I got home, I rushed into my house. I heard arguing. There was a bag packed. Are they going to send me away? I thought to myself, suddenly in a panic, “Mum, Dad?!” The arguing paused, frantic footsteps came down the stairs. “What did you just call us..?”

I ignored their question, “Are you kicking me out?”

“What? No! Why would you think that?”

“T-the bag,” I stuttered

“What? No, Lunar, that isn’t your bag it is your father’s,” Mum explained. “He got an urgent call to report to the war. So, he is leaving. He doesn’t know how long he will be gone for.” Dad looked at his watch and exclaimed, “Ah! I have to go!” and ran out, saying, “I love you Lunar, I love you, Alba.” I chased after him, hugging him tight, “Wait! I love you too.” Caught off guard from the hug, he smiled and hugged me tighter, “Good luck dad. I am sorry.” He nodded and ran off. I went up to mum and hugged her

“I’m sorry, for everything.”

She smiled, “My moonshine, it’s ok.”

“Mum… I have a question. Where is dad going?”

“Oh, well to his post.”

“Post? What even is this war he is fighting in?”

“Moonshine, it’s the war of the many kingdoms. Attacking one another for power over all of them. You see, when our world was created there was one ruler. The gods themselves chose him.”

“Why just one?” I asked

“I’m not exactly positive, I think it was because of the god trust, they could only trust one person.”

“Oh, that kind of makes sense. Who is the man?”

“‘Cleanth’. He was pure and honest. It was rumored that when Cleanth was a young boy, he was very mischievous. So mischievous, that they hired a spirit. That can cast spells, an everlasting spell or some people call it a curse, onto him. As generations went on-”

“Let me guess, the children split into different kingdoms because of their views on different ways of ruling.

“Yes, exactly. Still, everyone got along. But, like usual, people get hungry with power. After centuries of this, people get so obsessed with it they start fighting.”

“That does make sense. But why did he get called into service?”

“Ah, you see he is the chief of the village. He needs to always be ready to be called in, to protect his people, us.”

“What about the baby?”

Mum looked at me, her eyes welling up with tears, “Well, for now, it’s up to me.” I hugged her tightly, “I’m sorry.” Smiling slightly she said, “It’s not your fault Moonshine.”