Mochi brings me live crickets as presents

"I'm never growing up."

"But everyone does--"

"I said, not! Me!" Charity stomped their foot in anger, "I'm never growing up, because unlike you, I'm not all alone! I have Mommy, and Faith, and no one can take them away from me. I don't have stupid fire. No one needs that. They have me!"

"Now hold up, fire can be very useful--"

Charlotte cut herself off to leap back as Charity snapped forwards, snarling in rage. The anthro tugged her tail close, just barely safe from it being lodged in the isoling's mouth. Her wings fluffed to flee.

"I don't care! Having fire is stupid, which is why you're alone! I'm not growing up and being alone like you!" Spit flew from the enraged statements, tail lashing behind them. Fire flashed in their eyes, and for once, Charlotte was afraid.

The silence expanded across the island, tears like the ocean. Charlotte took a deep breath, holding the rocks and mountains in her arms to arrange them to their proper residents. She folded the ocean, gently laying it back, away from her mountain.

She breathed once more.

"It's okay if you don't want to grow up." She stated, wings smoothed. "Now, I thought you wanted to get some pretty gems for mommy, yes?"

"... yes." Charity nodded, and Charlotte felt the fear scurry the furthest it'd been, keeping a wing's distance from it as well.