Introduction to the family

Runa is just riding her bike in the village. She has just returned from a hike in the mountains around the village.
On her way home, she visits her friend Kunna to play with her. But she doesn't have time.
She still has to clean up the apartment today. She thinks that soon she won't have time for that anymore.

So Runa gets back on her bike and rides home. Today, perhaps for once, she will be home before her sisters.
When she returns, her sister Iduna is already sitting on the sofa, drawing.

Runa slowly approaches her and secretly watches her.
When Iduna notices her, she immediately puts her drawing stuff away and then looks at her innocently.

Thought I'd be first for once.
What are you doing here already?

I haven't been out today at all.
Freya hasn't been available lately, and I don't know anyone else.

Oh yeah, that's right.
I really have to take you with me.
You meet the most interesting people on hikes.

It's fine. I like it here.

And is anyone else currently here?
So besides dad and Ferun?

I think Tyra should be here as well.
She must be with dad.
Can't you hear the rumbling in his room?

Now that you mention it.
But what are they doing?

Oh, you haven't noticed that yet, have you?
It's been going on for a while now.
Ever since Tyra figured out how to get dad to have sex with her, they've been doing it all the time while mom isn't around.

It's nice that I get to hear about it too.
If I had known about this before, I would have stayed away from Tyra a little bit.
She doesn't take hygiene very seriously. I'm sure she didn't wash afterwards.

Well, at least she doesn't go out into the wilderness through all that mud while sweating, like you.
You're often so exhausted that you don't wash anymore.
It was a good decision by dad to put you both in the same room.

Runa wants to counter with something, but she can't think of anything because she realizes that Iduna is right.
So she changes the subject.

How is Ferun doing, by the way?
I haven't seen her for weeks.
I guess she doesn't leave her room at all.

I don't know either.
Last time I checked, she was pretty busy.
She doesn't want to be disturbed.

Why is she even allowed to have her own room?
If someone disturbs me, no one cares either.

She's just one of the older ones.

But Faralda is older than her.
Shouldn't she have her own room?

She just likes it better to be with me than alone.

I'm going to see Ferun anyway.
Let's see if she's still alive.
Maybe she really is gone, then I'll just take the room.

I guess, it's possible. Dad has been wanting to eat meat again for a long time.
Good luck.

Runa visits Ferun in her room. She just opens the door without knocking.
The room is dark. There is only a dim light on the desk.
But no one is to be seen.

Then something moves and someone approaches Runa.
It is Ferun.

Hello, Runa, it's nice to see you too, for once.
Can I show you something right now?

Runa can't react fast enough, as Ferun has already fetched a book and holds it right in front of her face.
Runa can't make out anything.

You know how men are made, don't you?

Runa sighs. Ferun should know that she's not interested in topics like that.

All right, I'll explain it to you again.
Actually you have to know something like that.
If girls eat enough meat, they become women, right?

Yeah, I've heard about that before. So?

And when girls reach a certain age without eating meat, they can't become women anymore.
And instead they just become men. And you know what that means, right?

Men can make children, when they have a woman.
And they don't die and taste bad.

Exactly.
So it would be cool to be men ourselves. We agree on that already, right?

Well, I don't really care. I'm actually quite happy as a girl.
Is there anything you're getting at?

Well, I read that you become a man faster if you're athletic.
And as much as you are going outside, it should not take long for you.
And your also never eating meat, when we have some.
If you train purposefully now, you should not be able to become a woman anymore within a few weeks.
And after about half a year you will be a real man.
If you promise to protect me from other men, I'll help you.
What do you think?
Although, I'd also just help you like that, so....

Can we switch rooms then?

Sure. Anything you want.

Runa shakes her hand.

Deal!

Then suddenly the doorbell rings.

That should be mom.
I'm off again.
Are you coming? The others are starting to miss you too.

All right, I must not have been outside for several days.

Probably more like several weeks.

Both of them leave the room.

Iduna has already let mom in and is hugging her right now.
As the youngest here, she is also the most affectionate.

Mom first visits dad in their room.
Iduna follows her.

Iduna probably likes catching her dad and her sister Tyra having sex.
Mom probably doesn't like it very much.

Now Runa and Ferun are still all together.

They sit down on the sofa.

What are you doing in your room for so long anyway?
Did it take you that long to learn about biology?

I don't know how time goes by so fast either.
I start reading one book, then I get bored, then I read the next one, then I make my own notes, then....

Whatever.
Look, Iduna left her drawings.
Should we look at them secretly? She put them away as soon as I wanted to look at them.
Probably something embarrassing. Maybe Tyra having sex?

Runa is already taking the drawings.

What, who is supposed to be Iduna?
None of us, right?

Yes, of course she is. Our very little one.

Mom and Tyra come out of the room.

Hello Ferun. Long time no see. You look pale.
Come over here.

Ferun stands up and gives her a quick hug.

Runa stands up too and Tyra rushes toward her.
She gives Runa a tight hug.

Runa doesn't feel so comfortable.
Now that she pays attention as she looks at Tyra, her face seems very shiny and a bit sticky where they touch.
Trya is hugging Runa longer than Runa would like.

Dad and Iduna come out now, too.

So, did I do a good job?

Yes, super.
Do you want to tell the others the surprise?
Well, I've been chatting away.

Good. But not everyone is here yet.

At least wait until Rinelda gets here. She should be here any minute.
I don't know where Faralda is. Usually she's already here at this time.
She's just too sweet. I hope she hasn't given herself away.

The doorbell rings. Iduna already opens again and Rinelda comes in.

May I say it now, dad?

With pleasure!

Dad has invited us to a party.
His friends will be there and other children, too.
And dad would be happy if we all came.
I'll definitely be there.

Sure, me too.

But that's only because dad has some friends there, right?
Admit it!

Sure.
I was the only one of us at the party Halvor was.
There was really good food.

I'd be fine with staying at home as well...

Your friend Kunna will be there, too.

Oh, that's why she didn't have time.
She could have told me.

She didn't know you would be coming.

All right, then I'll just come with you.

Rinelda looks rather skeptical.

Ferun has already disappeared again.
So Runa goes to her new room, turns on the light and lies down in the bed next to her.

Hey, what are you doing?

This is my room now, isn't it?

I thought we weren't going to do that until tomorrow. Or next week.

We shook hands on it.

I still have all my stuff there. At least let me put it away.

You're welcome to stay too, as long as you don't bother me.
As long as I don't

Mom and dad have meanwhile retired to their room.

The other three, Iduna, Tyra and Rinelda are now sitting on the sofa.

Rinelda, you haven't even said if you're coming yet.

I probably don't have a choice.
But I can already guess what's coming up.

What do you mean?

I work at the factory, after all, and parents often come by there to drop off their children as raw material, with the excuse of surprising them.

So you think he wants to make meat out of us?

Iduna is not entirely comfortable with the idea.

That would be obvious, at least.

Now don't scare Iduna.
I've been to a party before.
Dad wouldn't lie to us.

I'm just saying what I think.
Maybe you were just lucky.
Were there any other kids there?

I don't know. Can only remember his dear friends.
It was a really funny evening.

Faralda comes in now, too.

Sorry I'm so late, got....

Hey, party tonight?

What do you talk about?

Dad invited us to a party.
Are you going to be there?

Sure, I can definitely be a help to dad.

Uh, Faralda, you're missing half an arm again.

Oh, oh well, I helped out at a snack bar for a friend.
And then they didn't have enough meat, you know how it always is.

You're the only person I know who just sacrifices her arm for strangers.

For a friend.
Are we even going to have dinner tonight if we're at a party?

We'll have dinner at the party.

Good, I was afraid I wouldn't get here in time to help with cooking.
Then I'll rest a little bit for now, else I won't be able to stay for long.

Faralda goes to her room.
Rinelda and Tyra also get up and go to their rooms.
Iduna is the only one who stays and draws a bit more.

When Tyra comes into her room, she is almost a bit sad that Runa is not there.
She always gets on her nerves in the long run, but this way it is a bit quiet.
But at least she can then get naked while she relaxes without Runa being bothered.