Indeed, Ophelia acted this way with everyone who dared slight her or those she loved. She had torn down mountains for Ktulu and fought Mauja based on her own emotions. More than once she had demanded honesty with rage and a lethal gaze, so Nymeria was no different than all the other fools who used their desires instead of their brains. The Amaranthine was being kinder to Nymeria now than she would have been otherwise. Not so long ago, she had attacked the girl’s mother without waiting to hear the entire story – not that Phi would have believed it anyway. And that was the crux of the problem here.

Volterra had been upfront and honest. He had spoken to her with maturity and confidence, approached on his own and battled side by side without contest. Never once did he challenge her, so there were no arguments. The colt went on his merry way and Ophelia watched with pride, but Nymeria had slunk around like a spy, choosing instead to steal from her rather than speak up. She had a good set of lungs now – argumentative and bratty – that she could have easily used earlier.

Nothing added up, and Phi wouldn’t be condescendingly talked down to by a child with no parents to teach her how to behave. Had she even dared speak this way to her father, there would have been hell to pay. You are treated how you choose to act according to your status and relationship. Ophelia and Gaucho had a good working relationship now after a very rocky start, so she was comfortable enough to steal him and play with his herd. But, she knew that he could get angry and battle her; she would take her beating and learn.

The sign of a brat was getting yourself stuck in a situation and trying to weasel your way out without owning up to your own actions. You cannot blame others for your own faults and Ophelia was well within her right to her anger given Nymeria’s snide tone.

Ophelia laughed when she spoke, amazed at the self-absorption of this child. “You are blaming me for not seeing that you needed my help when you said nothing? Take responsibility for your own inaction and perhaps I will treat you like an adult,” she growled. “And do not dare use the excuse that I was too intimidating because I am standing before you now prepared turn your hide raw and you have enough gall to give me a snotty tone in return.” She stilled her hooves into the soft earth, the warm daybreak a contrast to her stormy mood.

She peered into the child’s mind. “This has nothing to do with the marking on your face. I’ve known many with skull markings before your mother and I am sure I will meet many more. What I have a problem with is your attitude and the fact that your story does not add up at all,” she replied, her tone strong and unyielding but no longer festering with rage. “If you want my help, ask for it. If you want to prove yourself to me, ask first how to earn my approval. You have a healthy set of lungs on you from the bratty tone you’ve given so far, so I know you are perfectly capable of speaking up.”

Ophelia lifted her head. “You are not special until you prove that you are. No one gives a damn about what you look like or your bloodline. You think anyone cares that Paladin the Valiant was my father? No. He is but a memory in the minds of those who knew him – just as your mother will be. You determine your own fate by your actions and your words, and you have to be willing to face the consequences of those actions.”

She sighed, her coat slowly beginning to turn white once more. “My actions from this point forward are determined by you. Continue to act a brat, and I will fight you as I intended to show that I will not be pushed around simply because you are distant family. Apologize now and come to me later with a frank request of what you want from me, and we can discuss mentorship then. Or, you can run away and be labeled a coward. The choice is yours.”


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