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“Iri,” Hadima scolded.

Iryana returned Hadima’s serious expression. “What?”

“Talk to me,” Hadima demanded in that way older siblings did.

She sighed, pushing her bowl away. “It’s just… everything. I can’t get anyone to work together. The new schedule was a mess and now everyone’s upset with me. I have to figure out how to convince two other clans and a number of brigades to work together… and I’m going to officially be Third at the end of the month.”

“We’re family. We piss each other off constantly.” Hadima smiled slightly. “I hate it when the others are upset with me too, but that’s how family works.”

But it didn’t feel like she was secure enough with them for that sort of thing. She didn’t have years of closeness and bonds to offset it.

“I suppose.”

“I can’t help with the meeting, and I can’t promise it will go well. But I know you have a better chance of making it happen than anyone else. You’ll do your best, and that’s all we can ask. The ceremony is just a formality. And don’t worry about the cousins, really. It will blow over soon, and they’ll find something or someone else to be annoyed at.”

“I hope so.”

“But Iryana?”

“Hmm?”

“It’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to be unsure of yourself. Things take time.” Hadima reached over with her free hand and grabbed Iryana’s. Her calloused hands were strong and warm. “But just remember that I’m here. I’m always here.”

Iryana chewed on her tongue, trying not to cry. But she squeezed her sister’s hand like a lifeline.

“Thank you,” she said weakly.

Hadima held on for a while, letting that warmth seep into Iryana, before offering her a smile and returning to crushing the leaves.

They sat in silence for a while, just listening to the scraping of Hadima’s forged tools and the crunching of leaves. It was soothing, reminding Iryana of when they were little and their mother would be working at the table after the girls had crawled above the oven for the night.

Hadima’s hands stilled. “I actually had an idea.”

Iryana raised her brows.

“I think we should celebrate the winter solstice. Like we used to.”

The winter solstice used to be a night when cities and villages would hold huge festivals, spending weeks beforehand making costumes and decorations and gifts, cooking enough food and sweets for everyone to stuff their bellies far past full.

They hadn’t held a winter solstice festival since the beasts came.

“I don’t know if I have time to put something like that together…”

“I will do it,” Hadima cut in. “It’ll be like the festivals before. We’ll have to be quieter, and obviously we don’t have as much to spare, but we need it. We could use something to bring us together, to give everyone something to look forward to during the long, dark days.”

It was an ambitious idea, but it was also exciting.

Iryana looked over her sister’s face carefully. Hadima was flushed and excited, her eyes wide with hope.

“Are you sure this isn’t too much?” She always worried about how hard Hadima pushed herself.

“I will get the others to help me. It’s fine, I promise.”

“I just don’t want you pushing yourself too much…”

“You may be Third, but I’m still your older sister.” Hadima waved her milky blue pestle at Iryana. “You need this too.”

She watched Hadima for a while longer before giving in. “Okay. Fine.”