Shady

“Because he’d do things like this,” she huffed.

“We’re not made for the wilderness, sir.” Tadaaki shook his head. “We didn’t know what was safe to eat up here. Figured we’d rather risk starving to being poisoned. Sir.”

“Because he doesn’t need to know.” She pulled her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “I’m alive. That’s good enough.”

“We didn’t have other food?” He looked at him with a worried brow. That was the point.

“We abandoned it once it was empty, sir.”

“Al got them, sir. Already had them before Ky and I got to him.”

“You’d have to ask him, sir,” Tadaaki said. “We were all cold and hungry and tired and in pain. I imagine he felt jealous, but he didn’t say and we ...

Ky nodded. It really, really wasn’t.

“Camaraderie and food sacrifice are different things… I feel like… sir. We gave him a fair portion, no more, no less. Sir.”

“It’s… correct?” he said hesitantly, feeling very stupid. “That he, uh, just… just Ky and I shared. We didn’t know him much at the time.”

“…I just don’t see how this is supposed to help,” she said after a moment. “He’s abandoning my siblings and my mother for two months because I like spending time ...

“No sir… yessir?” It was one of those questions you weren’t sure whether to say yes or no to. Too many negatives to keep straight. But he was right.

“Why does there have to be a reason beyond the obvious?” she countered. But thought about the question anyhow, in case Sara didn’t drop it. Because she didn’t have the ...

“… me, sir,” he corrected. “We divided by thirds, but Ky gave me some of his-hers.”

Ky glanced at her then dipped her head. What, exactly, was her question then? Why were we judging Ky, yet again, for having emotions? For being upset at things that ...