Current mood:	tired
Entry tags:	kernezelda

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260+ words


“Son of a hezmot!” She shook her finger, then stuck it in her mouth, trying to stop the bleeding.

“Ruth, what has your father told you about using that kind of language?”

She froze, then stood and turned around, curling her finger inside a fist. The toe of one shoe traced the other’s instep. “Said not to. Said he’d ground me next time.”

She peeked through dark bangs, light blue eyes wide. “You won’t tell, will ya, Uncle Harvey?”

The usual wide smile had vanished from her father’s face. “Are you injured?” He held out a hand. “Let me see.”

She slowly uncurled her fist.

“How did you cut yourself?”

“Lookin’ at a DRD.”

Uncle Harvey rested a hand on her shoulder, kneeling down so they were face-to-face. “Next time you are curious, ask. Beyul’s DRDs will defend themselves. Now go back to the common area and stay with the other children. Remember, we are guests aboard this Leviathan.”

“I wasn’t hurting anything!” Ruth kicked the floor, barely missing his knees.

“Ruth Cassidy, your father is having one of his bad days. He does not need you to add to his aggravation.” Uncle Harvey shook his head.

The look of disappointment stung. Ruth stuck out her bottom lip and pushed a hard breath through her nose, then turned and ran. It wasn’t her fault Daddy got sick sometimes. She wiped her face hard. It was the cut finger making her cry, that’s all. She ran harder.

By the time she reached the guest tiers, her finger had stopped bleeding and her face was dry.