32nd Summer 509
Merevaika squirmed in the shirt she had been forced into. It was tighter than she was used to, hugging to the curves that had started to appear. It was sleeveless too, her windmarks trailing down her arm in clear view. "Stay still," her mother urged, snatching up another handful of her hair. The sharp movement stung, Merevaika blinking away balls of salty water. While Danika didn't mean to be rough, she had to tug Merevaika's wild and unruly hair, first attacking it with a brush to loosen the knots, then wrapping it sharply into a hairstyle. At first, the girl had protested, but eventually, her mother had beaten her. Now she was forced through this process just to see her aunt and whoever was in that pavilion.
There was another tug, then Merevaika could feel something slip by her skin, cold and metallic. "Done," her mother smiled, finally letting her get up, "What do you think?" Despite her annoyance at having it done, the girl peered into the mirror, curious. Like in the traditional style, it was all wrapped in strange knots and braids, a complex nonsense she didn't believe in. Before her mother could protest, Merevaika tugged down a little from the sides, pulling it to frame her face. That was better - without some hair in her eyes, she didn't feel right.
Getting up, her mother put the mirror away in her yvas bag, before turning back to Merevaika, who looked at her sharply. "Why couldn't I stay with the others, go hunting with the boys?" she demanded, face in a scowl. Danika didn't speak, turning away as she gathered the rest of the things. This stop was only for Merevaika - to make her look presentable. The girl knew that. She had to look nice, even if they were just visiting family. "None of the others had to go!"
"None of the others were available to go. They're too young to take alone out on the Sea of Grass, I believe," she sighed, eventually speaking. Merevaika didn't want to listen.
"Maya's eleven, she can ride. And To'res and Ywana are older than me!" she protested, but still made her way over to her horse, a young mare she rode until Eryunt became strong enough, large enough. The horse nickered, Merevaika scratching her along her neck before mounting. The horse began to move almost instantly, simply following the one in front. It was a while before her mother replied.
"Maya is still too young and To'res and Ywana are hunting. We've gone over this," came the reply, sighing once more.
"And can't I hunt? Or am I too young for that, but not too young to go with you?"
"Listen," Danika almost snapped, then returned to a calm tone, "I wanted you to come with me. You have a cousin, remember? I just thought it would be important for you to get to know her, a little. I just wanted to see my sister, okay?"
Merevaika didn't reply, clicking her tongue to speed the horse she rode up. She moved next to her mother, then further, fighting a smile. Danika saw the attempt to overtake and nudged her own strider forward, leaning with the movement. The two raced across fields, wind swirling around them. She didn't forgive her, but the race was fun, and by the time they reached the other pavilion, Merevaika was smiling.
Then she realised where she was and the smile disappeared. Reluctantly, she dismounted, hand trailing along the horse. Once she reached the yvas, she grabbed hold of it, leading the mare further into the tents. With the great horse with her, it wouldn't be too bad, would it?
"Merevaika, leave her here. She'll be fine." The order came from her mother, strict and clear and she did so, rolling her eyes as she moved into a position by Danika. "It won't be that bad, will it?" Merevaika thought it would be, but remained silent. There was no way this was going to be fun.
Merevaika squirmed in the shirt she had been forced into. It was tighter than she was used to, hugging to the curves that had started to appear. It was sleeveless too, her windmarks trailing down her arm in clear view. "Stay still," her mother urged, snatching up another handful of her hair. The sharp movement stung, Merevaika blinking away balls of salty water. While Danika didn't mean to be rough, she had to tug Merevaika's wild and unruly hair, first attacking it with a brush to loosen the knots, then wrapping it sharply into a hairstyle. At first, the girl had protested, but eventually, her mother had beaten her. Now she was forced through this process just to see her aunt and whoever was in that pavilion.
There was another tug, then Merevaika could feel something slip by her skin, cold and metallic. "Done," her mother smiled, finally letting her get up, "What do you think?" Despite her annoyance at having it done, the girl peered into the mirror, curious. Like in the traditional style, it was all wrapped in strange knots and braids, a complex nonsense she didn't believe in. Before her mother could protest, Merevaika tugged down a little from the sides, pulling it to frame her face. That was better - without some hair in her eyes, she didn't feel right.
Getting up, her mother put the mirror away in her yvas bag, before turning back to Merevaika, who looked at her sharply. "Why couldn't I stay with the others, go hunting with the boys?" she demanded, face in a scowl. Danika didn't speak, turning away as she gathered the rest of the things. This stop was only for Merevaika - to make her look presentable. The girl knew that. She had to look nice, even if they were just visiting family. "None of the others had to go!"
"None of the others were available to go. They're too young to take alone out on the Sea of Grass, I believe," she sighed, eventually speaking. Merevaika didn't want to listen.
"Maya's eleven, she can ride. And To'res and Ywana are older than me!" she protested, but still made her way over to her horse, a young mare she rode until Eryunt became strong enough, large enough. The horse nickered, Merevaika scratching her along her neck before mounting. The horse began to move almost instantly, simply following the one in front. It was a while before her mother replied.
"Maya is still too young and To'res and Ywana are hunting. We've gone over this," came the reply, sighing once more.
"And can't I hunt? Or am I too young for that, but not too young to go with you?"
"Listen," Danika almost snapped, then returned to a calm tone, "I wanted you to come with me. You have a cousin, remember? I just thought it would be important for you to get to know her, a little. I just wanted to see my sister, okay?"
Merevaika didn't reply, clicking her tongue to speed the horse she rode up. She moved next to her mother, then further, fighting a smile. Danika saw the attempt to overtake and nudged her own strider forward, leaning with the movement. The two raced across fields, wind swirling around them. She didn't forgive her, but the race was fun, and by the time they reached the other pavilion, Merevaika was smiling.
Then she realised where she was and the smile disappeared. Reluctantly, she dismounted, hand trailing along the horse. Once she reached the yvas, she grabbed hold of it, leading the mare further into the tents. With the great horse with her, it wouldn't be too bad, would it?
"Merevaika, leave her here. She'll be fine." The order came from her mother, strict and clear and she did so, rolling her eyes as she moved into a position by Danika. "It won't be that bad, will it?" Merevaika thought it would be, but remained silent. There was no way this was going to be fun.