All Jacob wanted was sleep. Just barely returned from the night watch, he’d not even had a chance to sit on his bed.

“C’mon boys, you know what today is!” He heard Mother call from the front room.

Sighing raggedly, Jacob turned from the temptation of his bed. He grabbed a jacket and stumbled toward the living space.

The others had already gathered around the table, except for Brother.

Fumbling tiredly with his zipper, he managed to get the jacket on his shoulders correctly.

“Good morning, Son. Have you heard from Brother yet?” Mother asked as she grabbed breakfast from the shelves.

“I haven’t seen him since he left the Hill last night, Mother. Not surprised he slept in, though.”

The last part he mumbled mostly to himself.

Keeping an eye on Sister, who was tottering slightly too close to the fire, Jacob walked toward Brother's room.

A slight chuckle left his mouth at the sight of Brother. The man was well over six feet tall. He was hanging half over the side of his bed. Drool was dribbling from the side of his mouth onto his blanket.

Quietly Jacob slipped over to the side of the bed. Taking a deep breath, Jacob took a hold of the bed and heaved as hard as he could.

With a yelp and a thunderous crash, Brother sprawled across the floor.

The look of bewilderment on his face was too much for Jacob. He clutched his sides as laughter spilled from his mouth.

Brother was still trying to gather his wits. He looked at Jacob, then the bed, then back to Jacob. He slowly started to scowl.

“Asshole,” Brother sneered as he shakily got to his feet, fixing his tattered shorts and scarf.

“Your fault for sleeping past dawn,” Jacob answered.

He walked back toward the group. “It’s the first of Mid-Season today,” he casually threw over his shoulder.

The slight choking sound from behind him was Brother's only response.

When dawn had risen over the Hill this morning, Jacob had already been preparing his pack. Then he was able to settle down and watch the muddy, burgundy clouds out his single window.

He knew that Brother wouldn’t have even looked at his pack yet, let alone started preparing.

Returning to the dining area, Jacob scooped Sister up from her perch near the fire and tossed her into the air.

Her joyous giggling brought a soft smile to his lips. But his smile was touched with a hint of melancholy, making him slightly sad.

At only three years old, this life was the only one Sister had known. He couldn’t decide if that made her luckier than the rest of them or not.

Mother started arranging their bowls into a circle at the table. Across the room, Grandfather slowly rose from his seat.

The patriarch of their group and the eldest was remarkably fit at eighty-two. Still, Jacob could not help but cringe at the slight limp in Grandfather’s leg as he walked to the table.

Sister squirmed in Jacob's arms, so he set her down. She ran to sit beside Grandfather.

Mother smiled at the pair as they began to whisper between themselves.

No one could quite explain the bond between these two. Perhaps it was that they were the last to join and at roughly the same time.

“I pray for the day I never have to see one of these monstrosities again,” Grandfather cursed as he tore open the plastic coating around those godforsaken sweets and handed it to the toddler beside him.

Sister took the treat and began happily munching. Grandfather was less enthusiastic, but nevertheless took a bite.

Mother carefully poured the dry oatmeal into everyone’s bowl, only a third of a packet for each person.

Brother made his way to the table and sat down with a huff.

Glaring down at the small bit of dry oatmeal and sugar wrapped in cellophane, he turned to Mother. “Why so little? We can’t be that low on supplies?”

Mother just shrugged her shoulders in explanation.

She turned to settle down next to Sister as Brother continued to glare.

Jacob couldn’t help the flare of protectiveness that consumed him. He hated when Brother looked at Mother like everything was her fault.

She was doing her best. That’s all any of them were doing.

They settled at the table and tucked into their meager breakfasts.

“I think Mother should stay behind with Sister and Grandfather today,” Jacob said, picking at his oatmeal.

Mother, who was wiping Sister’s face, froze and turned to look at him. Brother slowly started to grin.

Mother wiped the last bit of frosting from Sister’s face and turned to him. “Why? You know it’s safer in groups.”

“I know, I just worry about Grandfather all alone here with Sister for such a long time.”

He glanced at Brother, meeting his dark eyes and urging him to stay quiet.

“It’s not more than a few hours. They will be fine,” Mother argued.

“It’s taking longer with every Mid-Season and you know it," Jacob answered her. "It took us nearly seven hours last time.

"What happens when it takes thirteen this time, or twenty? It’s getting harder and harder to find usable materials. Not to mention more dangerous," Jacob added.

"It’s not fair to expect Grandfather to watch Sister that long. And what about when something happens to all three of us when we are out?” he finished, crossing his arms and staring her down.

“Nothing is going to happen!” Mother was casting anxious glances at Sister.

“You can’t know that!”