Kaala scrutinized the man as he spoke, barely listening. Or, at least it seemed she wasn’t listening. As soon as he opened his mouth, it became clear that he was, in fact, her brother…but much had changed. People were always too quick to conclusions, including her siblings – they’d been the only elementals of their generation, but who was to say what had happened in the interim? Fire, flood, the complete loss of magic and its later restoration, sea monsters and feuding kings. A doppelgänger of her brother, setting up shop in the neighboring town, wouldn’t break the top fifty weird things Kaala had seen. But she mentioned none of this; let everyone think her train of thought had no rails. It was too taxing to explain herself.
“You are my favorite,” she finally replied, factually, her eyes cresting over the leaves on his head. It was true, although he had little competition; Kaala hadn’t seen her sisters since they were children. The years she had gone without seeing her brother were small by comparison. “You’ve been gone a very long time,” she observed without reproach, finally meeting his eyes. “You seem…different. And you’ve taken up the family business, I see. About time.” A small smile softened the corners of her mouth and eyes, and she reached for him, finally, a cool hand cupping his cheek before her arms folded around his shoulders. Her embrace was featherlight…which is to say, as much pressure as she could muster.
Kaala did not tell him she’d missed him, though she had, in her way. She’d wondered where he’d run off to, and what he was doing, and whether he was safe. She wondered the same thing about their sisters. But she did not worry – Kaala was not a worrier, in general. She’d trusted that he was alright, wherever he was, and that everything would turn out for the best, even if it did not go as planned. Things never went as planned, after all. It was best to live spontaneously, to avoid disappointment.
But Archimedes had fewer qualms about expressing himself. “Welcome home!” the hummingbird chimed in, buzzing around their heads excitedly. Kaala swatted at him playfully as she released her brother.
“Invite me in for tea, already. I’m your only customer.”
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