She zipped her small duffle bag, struggling at the end as she always had, the zipper getting caught in the fabric. She lets out a low growl of frustration and forced it shut, nearly ripping the bag in the process. She had asked Mother and Father for a new bag time after time, only to get denied anew. After all the money she brought back to them, all the help she's offered them, they would hardly stop to care enough to remember to put food on her plate.The only one they truly cared about was Kattie, their perfect daughter, the one who would bring their name honour and riches. To Zenna, everything they said was a hunk of horse crap. If nothing she did mattered, why did she bother anyway? Was she so caught up in trying to impress people she didn't even like that she forgot where her true loyalties lie? She was Zenna Martets, she needn't impress anyone but herself. And, well, maybe her brother.

He walked in just then, as if he appeared just by her merely thinking of him. Cale tugged on her jet-black ponytail, his fingers then moving to pinch at her nose. Without hesitation, she snatched his hand off her face and tightened her grip, her grin meeting his. "Ready to go, Rabbit?" he raised an eyebrow, hoping to get a rise out of her by using the nickname he gave her as a child because her hair would always stick up, making it look like she had rabbit ears. The nickname had always irritated her, of course, but she found it rather comic to hear him use it every now and then.

"You know, it's bad to provoke someone when they have a bag full of lethal weapons," she threatened, clicking her tongue at him. "You of all people should know better."

"While I do partly agree with you, I'm fairly certain you wouldn't get very far in those skirts," he countered, pointing at her worn out rags that Mother usually forced her to wear when she wants Zenna to play maid "like a normal young girl should" or whatever. "Where are the pants I got you? You know they're not easy to come by. Seeing a girl in pants out here would be like catching a man fancying himself in a dress, even if it were just to hunt."

"I understand, Cale, but she took them away the minute she found them, so I haven't really any other choice, considering what happened when I tried wearing yours," she winced, remembering the amount of times she tripped over them or had the waist fall to her knees. Her rag of a skirt would have to suffice.

Cale sighed, debating if he should just leave her home, but he knew that would never settle with her. She was as stubborn as daylight and he could tell by her face that he already lost the argument, as he usually did. "God, fine. I'll get your pants back from mum. For now, we have game to hunt," he nodded his head at the door and I started to follow him when a quiet voice stopped me, one so low I almost swore I imagined it.

Cale and I both whirled at the same time to find Kattie, our youngest sister, standing in the doorway, smaller than ever even though she was already eleven. Her chestnut hair was tied into two plaits and she wore her outdoor dress, her fingers dangling awkwardly at her sides. "I want to come with you," she said again, her voice more audible this time, courage forcing its way into her words. She was anxious, as she usually was, only this time there was something different about her that Zenna simply couldn't put her finger on.

"Kattie," Cale blinked, thinking of what to say. He couldn't say she was too young, because Zenna started hunting at the age of nine and Cale at eight. Even now Zenna was only fifteen. "You know you can't come with us, it's simply too dangerous. Our parents would never allow it without taking both our heads first. Stay home and take care of the dog," he said as gently as he could without feeling too guilty.

"I'm tired of staying home and taking care of the dog," she pouted, crossing her arms over her chest. "I want to go out with you lot and learn how to hunt, to do something useful."

"Listen to your brother," said Zenna, already opening to door leading outside. Cale followed along and propped the duffel bag on his good shoulder. "We all have our duty to fulfill. And besides, it's very unladylike to hunt; better for you to stay home. Mother said you're almost old enough to start meeting with suitors, and she's quite eager too. Anything to help the family, yeah?"

Cale shot Zenna a warning glance and she knew she was going too far, but it was hard to keep her spite hidden when it was almost all she could feel anymore.

Anger flashed behind Kattie's eyes--perhaps she was like her sister after all--but it was short-lived, the usual softness returning as fast as it had gone. She let out a disappointed sigh and exited the room, which they knew meant she was going to her room to cry and she didn't want anyone to see.

On that note, Zenna let Cale follow her out to the woods.