Called Home

[Kitari]

Waves surged towards the shoreline, skittering their way across the sand as far as possible before thinning out and being sucked back. Kitari felt its pull as the water withdrew from the land, but before it or she could get too far, the water would be pushed back in another wave against the land. A tangle of greens was as trapped as she, pulled back and forth in the shallow waters in a constant tease of escape, never breaking free from the pulse. Once she had lived on the sea, she could never escape its draw, even if she was stuck on land.

In defiance, Kitari stepped into the latest wave, feeling it swell around her ankles, then pull away. She waded deeper, closing her eyes against the bright light of day, picturing the hull of the ship around her. The water's surges were a poor reminder of the steady swaying of the ship, but it was a reminder. As terrible as it felt to be constantly on land, the girl was thankful for the fact that Araelen Weyr was located on an island. At least in her free time, she had the liberty to wander down to the beach and visit the sea once again. Free moments had been few, and she was sure even now that she was being monitored, but this was a time to call her own.

Any potential candidate was being taken from his/her home, by free will or not. It seemed that the Weyrwoman was determined to have plenty of choice for the dragonets. Although Kitari had not been forced to go to the Weyr, it had not been a choice either, though for different reasons than those forcefully Searched. Her time on the sea had ended, whether she'd been Searched or not. At least the girl had been able to take this path, rather than being Holdbound and landbound. Her parents certainly would have married her off by now, if not for Araelen.

Besides the lack of a ship in her life, Kitari was having the most difficult time adapting to the change in company. The ship had been full of men: boastful, reserved, or companionable. Her time on land had been plagued by her twittering mother and sisters, and Kitari had dreaded every fake conversation. Not that she revered men over women...she merely believed that most women were weak and misguided. Men had their faults as well, but at least they didn't insist on 'prettying her up'. Now she was stuck in the Girls' Barracks, although she frequently visited the lads'. Kitari was still waiting to meet a girl who possessed common sense.

[Shikai]

Curiosity and a faint sense of adventure lured Myra down the last rocky slopes toward the sea. Concentrating on keeping her footing, she had not yet really looked at the ocean, for she wanted her first look at the vast seas of Pern to be a memorable one, giving her time to really appreciate it. Myra had never, in her memory, been to the ocean; growing up in a land-bound hold and then apprenticed in the Beastcraft, working even further inland. She had seen rivers and lakes, but one could usually see the end of them. If you looked far enough, you could make out the land on the other side.

Not so with the ocean, she had heard. The ocean was the mother body of water, which fed or was fed by all rivers and lakes in some way. She had a vision of the ocean in her head, of water stretching in all directions, but she doubted that it could be like the real ocean. Everything had to have limits, didn’t it?

She knew she had reached the bottom when the texture changed dramatically beneath her boots. Suddenly, her feet did not meet the ground at a set place, which was firm and supportive as she was accustomed, but sank into the ground itself! It was startling, and she gasped in surprise. Hastily taking another step and pulling her boot out of the stuff. However, the other boot only sank as well! Myra was not the type to panic, and so she did not rush blindly along in this manner, but steeled herself, and waited in position to see what would happen. She found that, to her relief, she did not continue to sink after she took her step. Strange though it was, the strange ground wasn’t a danger to her. Carefully, she took step after step, observing the way the edges of her boots faded from sight each time.

However, she soon frowned when the earth’s light, tan color darkened, and was much easier to walk on. It glistened faintly, as though it was…wet? She gasped again as water suddenly surged toward her, passing over her boots and the ends of her pants. It was cold! Yet…it was also strangely soothing. Mindful of getting her boots even wetter, she took a few steps back and removed them, leaving them on the softer, lighter, dry earth, and rolled up the wet ends of her pants. Then, she followed her visible footsteps back, stood in place with her bare feet, somewhat pale from lack of sun exposure, planted in the sand. It was much nicer, she thought, without boots, for the sensation of the gritty stuff between her toes was strange, although not unpleasant. Realizing that she had not yet taken her first look at the ocean itself, other than the brief glimpse of its water over her feet, she raised her head and her eyes to see it.

She was startled to see another girl only a few yards away from her. Myra had thought she was alone, so it was strange to realize that she had been so close to someone else the whole time! Yet the girl was but a small thing to take in compared to the ocean. The sea! It was incredible; stretching on and on, with absolutely no land in sight on the other side. Rather, there seemed to be a thin line, where light blue sky met dark, blue-green water. She was used to the line being obscured by land formations, such as hills, valleys, or even tall grass, bushes, or small trees on abnormally flat ground. But here, there was nothing but water and sky, as far as the eye could see. Myra swept her gaze across the line, as far as possible, but there was nothing but the island and the sea. Absolutely incredible! It was similar to the picture she had had in her mind, but its impression of vastness was what had been missing. Her flat mental picture was very dull in comparison to the real, swelling, crashing, rolling body of water that was here before her. Like it was alive!

Yet again she became aware of the other girl, and started to feel self-concious. She fought it though, and decided to try to be more friendly.

“Hello…” She began, somewhat uncertainly. “The ocean…it’s really something…”

[Kitari]

A cool breeze tugged at her loose clothing and tied back hair. Its soothing touch called to her, and she breathed deeply of its salt tinted air. In this place of solitude, free of the wherryheaded females back at the Weyr, Kitari decided to do something rare. She reached back and loosened the strip of cloth that held her curly black strands away from her face, which had been a necessity for work on a ship. Tucking the cloth in a pocket, she allowed the breath of the sea to brush against her face, running its fingers through her hair.

The dancing curls spun as Kitari turned, her attention drawn from the sea by an unexpected gasp. Her blue eyes locked upon a slender young girl, whose own eyes were fixed upon the swirling surf. The other candidate, one she'd not noticed much before, was surprisingly similar to Kitari in appearance. Short, black hair framed a slender face, and the girl stood at a height that surpassed even Kitari's own 'tall' build. As Kitari studied this sudden companion on the beach, she realized that she had seen the girl before. Myra was her name, though she kept mostly to the shadows and avoided drawing attention to herself, a trait that seemed the opposite of Kitari.

Myra still seemed unaware of her, even as she raised her eyes to examine the sea. Kitari studed the other's face, seeking the reaction there. By her response to the surging waves, the Fishergirl could tell this was the first time Myra had experienced the ocean up close, and Kitari was eager to delve the other girl's impression. The look of awe mingled with admiration on Myra's face was certainly satisfying enough, and the candidate decided that this girl may not be so wherryheaded as most.

Still waiting for Myra to acknowledge her, Kitari turned fully to face the new arrival. The dark haired girl finally spoke, though her tones were hesitant and lacking confidence. Even her speech was guarded, for she expressed little in her description of the sea. This was no matter to Kitari, for she felt more comfortable in this sort of situation, where her companion was not as brash and outspoken as she.

Smiling encouragingly, Kitari stepped forward to return the greeting. "Hello, Myra." Would the other know her name as well? At least the fact that Kitari knew Myra's name might reassure the girl somewhat. "This is your first time visiting the sea, then?" She paused only a moment before continuing. "I think it's marvelous." Kitari turned to view the beckoning horizon once more. "It is beauty and danger all intermingled, calm and inviting one moment, stormy and threatening the next. There is no woman as temperamental as the sea, or so the Fishermen always said." The girl grinned, turning back to Myra for her response.

[Shikai]

A slight frown blew over Myra’s face like a solitary cloud across an otherwise untainted sky, but it passed as quickly as it had come. The other girl knew her name. How? Most likely, Myra reasoned, she had simply picked it up since they were both candidates. Myra was worried, as she wasn’t sure that she knew the girl’s name, and it would be embarrassing and seem rude on her part if she could not return the greeting. Frantically, she searched her mind, ransacking it for any scrap of information that could lead her to finding out what the dark haired girl was called. And then, it came not from her mind, but her ears. Fishermen, the girl referred to. Ah, then perhaps this was Kitari, a Masterfisher’s daughter?

She had heard it mentioned by some of the other female candidates who were prone to gossip that Kitari, if that was indeed the identity of this young woman, had actually worked on a ship, like a man. If that really was true, and not simply silly gossip, then Kitari had Myra’s immense respect. It had been said by men and women alike in the holds that a woman couldn’t do the work of a man, but Kitari was an exception to the rule. That was Myra’s goal as well, for she found herself drawn to the hard, fulfilling work that was sometimes associated with men. She didn’t mind doing hard chores, shepherding herdbeasts about, and all sorts of physically challenging tasks involved with the beastcraft. In fact, she had loved it. And here, though she was female, she couldn’t help but feel out of place in the girls’ barracks, surrounded by their conversations she could not relate to completely.

Gold, gold, gold, that’s what they spoke of, in hushed voices overflowing with excitement. There was a chance of a gold in the clutch, as there was in any clutch, a gold; a dragon whose hide shown like the most precious of metals, a dragon who ranked above all others. Whichever lucky girl could catch the eye of the gold would be set for life, a life of privilege as a mother of the weyr. A life of birth, of baby dragons hatching from the precious eggs of the gold, a life of watching over all of them, of being ranked above all of them, all the others! The girls could and did speak of the gold constantly, just as long as none broke the unspoken rule and claimed that they would be the girl to impress the future mother-dragon. That would send them into endless, petty squabbling, in which nothing progressive would ever be accomplished.

Myra could understand why they would want such power, such prestige, but it wasn’t for her. It was a woman’s work, and she was undoubtedly a woman, but she couldn’t see herself being happy in such a position. No, Myra’s dreams had always been filled with fighting dragons, flying the ancient menace called Thread. She pictured herself seated on the back of a mighty blue or green, diving through the sky after their enemy, throwing firestone to her waiting dragon and watching the flame shoot from its mouth. Most of the girls couldn’t understand why any girl would want to dirty herself with smoke, and endanger herself by throwing her and her dragon into Threadfall. Why, when there were such better things they could have? Like golds?

It made Myra wrinkle her nose in distaste for the way they wished to live their lives. Anything she gained, she wanted to gain through her efforts alone, not by the color of her dragon’s hide. She wanted to work for her accomplishments, feel her body working, know that she was giving something to the world. All that she could. But no one understood. None of the girls who were always about, spouting gossip, at any rate. But this Kitari, she seemed different. Myra decided to relax a little around Kitari; open herself a little more. Perhaps this was someone who could understand her.

“Your name is Kitari, right? I’ve heard about you…” Myra broke off in her speech, because it didn’t seem…polite, somehow, to blatantly inform her that all she had heard were things the girls had thought bizarre qualities in a woman. However, she made herself continue.

“Yes, this is my first time to the ocean. It’s obvious, I suppose.” She said with a nervous chuckle. “But then, if what I heard was right…you would know, wouldn’t you? Living…and working with fishers? With men?”

Instead of the disgusted tones she had heard the girls use when saying such things, Myra’s voice was full of awe, and respect.

[Kitari]

((OOC: Wow....I so just smacked my head on the edge of a plate full of syrup. O.O))

As Kitari studied her fellow candidate, she picked up on a slight darkening of the other's features. The Fishergirl furrowed her brow in confusion, re-analyzing her own words in an effort to determine what may have caused such a reaction. Perhaps it was merely the fact that Kitari was speaking to her, for Myra seemed the reclusive type. Although she had spoken a greeting, it was possible that Myra had hoped for the interaction to end there and for the pair to go their separate ways. However, Kitari had not approached Myra in an overly intimidating manner, for she was attempting to be sensitive to the other girl's uncertainty.

The Fishergirl couldn't help but wonder at the cause of Myra's withdrawal from the rest of the girls. Even if she found the conversation bland, as Kitari did, it seemed strange that Myra purposely cloaked herself in a barrier of shadows and reticence. This mystery intrigued Kitari, for she'd come across few in life who held others at arm's length. On a ship, one simply couldn't cut himself off from the rest of the crew. If the ship didn't function as a single, breathing, unified unit, the crew might not make it home alive. Of course, there were always quiet ones, but they didn't usually look so...afraid.

That 'motherly' instinct Kitari had worked so hard to deny was triggered by such a thought, and the girl decided to assauge Myra's needs. If something terrible had happened in Myra's past, Kitari would never inquire, unless the other decided to share. There must be some reason for the other's hesitation, but for now, the Fishergirl would be as accomodating as possible. Those wherryheads could fend for themselves; Myra seemed to need...protection, or at least acceptance.

As Myra began to speak, Kitari smiled genuinely, for the other girl had remembered her name. At the statement that Myra had 'heard about her', Kitari snorted in amusement, suddenly intrigued. Did those gossiping wherryheads use her for subject matter when she wasn't present, then? Well, of course, that was perfectly understandable. It seemed that as soon as a girl left the room, the speech would turn to her eccentricities. Some girls the conversation dwelled on longer than others, depending on the extent of her annoying behaviours. On the subject of Myra, most statements had merely been speculative and somewhat haughty about her 'strange silence'. It would be interesting to find out what they all thought about Kitari.

At Myra's next words, it became obvious what the speech had centred around. Kitari was a little deflated that it had merely regarded her previous career, for she shared that freely enough. Of course, there may have been more to it that Myra chose not to tell, in order to spare Kitari's feelings. Myra's tone was surprising though, for the reaction to such an announcement usually included a near fainting attack on some females' parts, accompanied by horror and utter confusion. Why would a girl ever choose such a role?

No, Myra's tone held something akin to respect, and it was difficult for Kitari to identify such a foreign note. The other candidate was certainly genuine; it was written on her features as well. This was so unexpected, the Fishergirl hardly knew how to react. Her mouth twitched a few times, and her eyes darted from the sand to Myra, trees to Myra, ocean to Myra. "Yes, I worked on a ship, the Dawn Star, for a decade or more, although my early years could hardly be counted as work," she smiled reflectively, the surprise still rather visible on her features.

"I lived with men, though that was hardly an enviable situation. Untidy creatures, to be sure, and they have the crudest tongues at times." This brought out a grin, for Kitari had shared in said joke-making many a time. "I had a bunk like the rest of them, swabbed the decks like the rest of them, repaired the nets, hoisted the sails, nearly got thrown overboard in gales." Kitari chuckled darkly. "I never would have left if it had been my choice, but my mother was forcing me to land. Araelen was the better option." She paused, guaging the other's reaction. "You're not going to faint in horror, are you?"

[Shikai]

Kitari’s smile brought relief to Myra, for she was glad to have done something right. It also meant that she had been correct in her assumption that this was the Kitari the other girls had spoken of before, so she did not embarrass herself further by showing that not only did she not know the other girl’s name, but that she had confused her with someone else! And if that someone had been a person Kitari hadn’t liked, things could easily spiral downward between them. No, this was a very good start for Myra. She could certainly use the social practice, by Faranth!

She was a little worried when Kitari snorted at the mention of what Myra had heard, but it seemed that she was insulting the gossiping female candidates, rather than Myra. Well, Myra couldn’t complain about that, for she had a few things she wouldn’t mind saying to them herself. Except that she would mind, because saying anything to anyone was a bit of a hassle, because it always came with the fear that she would say something wrong that would cause others to dislike her, judge her, that the inadequacies she was certain of possessing would be blatantly apparent. Whether or not she liked someone, she cared what they thought of her, wanted them to like her. Wanted to be accepted. It was very frustrating, because she kept quiet in order to prevent others from thinking her stupid, or offending them and setting them against her. However, her silence only annoyed them, and caused them to think her strange. How could she possibly win? Whether or not the opinions of others mattered, she cared, even if she didn’t want to.

But even more than the foolish other female candidates, Myra wanted Kitari to like her. Kitari was different: she was strong, unafraid of what others thought, wasn’t afraid to be herself. Myra didn’t even know for sure who ‘herself’ was, much less how to act it. To her knowledge, ‘Myra’ was a tall, awkward girl who was far too insecure and quiet for her own good. But she didn’t want to be. Did that mean she didn’t want to be herself? Why did everything have to be so confusing!

Caring, as she did, what Kitari thought of her, Myra was very worried and unsettled when, after she had spoken, Kitari began to act strangely. She cast almost nervous glances about her, at the trees and ocean, almost as though she were searching desperately for escape. Myra’s mind raced. What had she said to upset Kitari so? How could she have made such a blunder? Frantic, Myra searched her mind for the exact things she had said. Perhaps Kitari hadn’t liked working with men, or was somehow embarrassed by her past? Maybe she thought Myra was strange for speaking of working with men with such awe, when women were not supposed to do such things, and want such things? Oh, what had she done wrong?

She was about to open her mouth and apologize, although what for, she was still uncertain, because she hadn’t figured out exactly what part of her speech had erred. But before she could get the words out, Kitari was speaking again, seeming more surprised than unsettled. Myra relaxed considerably, for maybe, she thought, Kitari was simply surprised to hear her time with men spoken of so?

Myra’s eyes widened as Kitari described her past life, and glazed over slightly as she envisioned it. Puzzled, she frowned slightly when Kitari asked if she was going to faint in horror.

“Of course not! That sounds…wonderful. Working on a ship? Sailing…out there?” Myra asked in wonder, her gaze sweeping out to the ocean. “What’s it like? Being out there, with just the sea?” Sheer awe and amazement were woven through her tone.

“No, I think you’re lucky, actually. How were you ever accepted, being…well…a girl? I was a beastcrafter, apprentice rank. I really liked it; being with the animals, and with so much…room.” She spread her arms out to her sides in demonstration. “But I wasn’t really just like the boys, either. The more challenging tasks, both physically and mentally, always went to them. I thought that maybe, here…I could be an equal.”

[Kitari]

The candidate dearly loved speaking of her past, and Myra seemed an avid listener. Although at Kitari's first words the other had seemed rather disturbed about something, the look was fading now. The Fishergirl was unused to receiving someone's undivided attention, and she warmed considerably to her dark-haired fellow as a result. Conversations had never run very deep on the ship. In the evening, sometimes, when the sun was setting on the horizon and the sea was calm, the men would speak of their girls back home, but the topics often shifted to the more physical aspects of love. This philosophical discussion, thus, was new to the girl.

It was surprising and heartening to realize that Myra seemed to be opening up to her. The other candidate's eyes were vivid with her emotions, and she seemed to see through Kitari for a time. The Fishergirl wondered if she was dazing out from boredom or interest, and the other girl's frown increased this uncertainty.

However, Myra's exclamation certainly contradicted Kitari's doubts. The girl couldn't help but feel satisfied at Myra's tone and queries. As much as the candidate would have loved to spend the next few hours describing every aspect of ship life, she doubted the other's enthusiasm would prevail that long. Nonetheless, Myra's outburst made her smile even more, and the tugging of the water at her legs became less insistent.

"What it's like?" Kitari paused, glancing back out at the horizon. "It's freedom." Her eyes returned to Myra's. "You have to do your chores, of course, to keep the ship sailing, but the rest of the time is yours. The salt water splashes up, refreshing you in the heat of the sun. The breeze dances across your skin, and there is no one but you and the sea. Endless waves on the horizon, a myriad of blues and greens, sunsets more spectacular than any seen on Pern..." She trailed off, fighting herself not to drift back into sorrow and away from the present again.

"A beastcrafter?" The girl grinned appreciatively, clapping Myra on the shoulder. "No knitting then? Spectacular! Must have been a lot of work." This was followed by a respectful nod. "I was accepted through perseverance, hard work, and stunning good looks." Kitari tossed her hair playfully, then grinned. "No, actually...as the Turns wore on, I became more and more of a bother. 'It's not proper,' they said. I was lucky. Lucky that my father ignored them for as long as he did. But even he couldn't ignore his own wife..."

At Myra's last, meekly expressed hope, Kitari bristled. Her eyes flashed, and her stance stiffened. Although it may have looked aggressive and rather intimidating, this sudden hostility was not directed at the other girl, but at Pernese society. "An equal," she grated, glaring furiously at no one in particular. "We shouldn't have to escape our lives to find equality." Kitari's grey eyes found Myra's once again. "They think they are so much better than us: stronger, smarter, faster! But we'll show them."

Suddenly, the possibility that Myra's uncertainty may have stemmed from these past difficulties blossomed in Kitari's mind. "What was it like?" she asked, her voice more calm and quiet. She studied the other, wondering if the girl would be willing to share.

[Shikai]

Myra’s eyes glowed with wonder as her eyes followed Kitari’s out to sea. Freedom? Myra couldn’t honestly say that she had found freedom, true freedom. There was always deadweight on her shoulders. Expectations, mainly those of her parents, were inescapable. Shame, that she was unable to meet them. Again, Myra’s eyes glazed over slightly as she withdrew into her mind, imagining everything Kitari described. Yes, so close to the ocean, as she was, she could feel the breeze, taste the salty brine as it was splashed into her mouth, and feel it against her skin, cooling her. It was wonderful…but she was not swept away completely in the fantasy, for she knew it wasn’t real. She wasn’t really there. Freedom…it was, for now, unattainable.

“I…I would like to experience that. It sounds wonderful…” Myra said softly, appreciatively.

Myra smiled somewhat sheepishly as she was clapped on the shoulder, and her work in the beastcraft appreciated. However, her face fell again slightly when the truth of it came out, and Kitari revealed that, as she grew older, she had been more or less pushed out. It wasn’t wholly unexpected, for there were old suspicions in all crafts, it seemed. Some were accepting of women in the work force…but many were not. The fishercraft, it seemed, was one of those that was even more limiting to women than the beastcraft. Granted, Myra hadn’t experienced all that much prejudice there, nothing like what Kitari had been through. She had not been forced to leave the craft. Myra was not given equal opportunity, that was for certain, but at least she was allowed to stay.

She looked up in surprise at Kitari’s sudden change in manner, shifting as quickly as the mood of the ocean. Myra was startled by the harsh anger in Kitari’s voice, but placated when she quickly realized that she was not at fault. Rather, Kitari seemed to be criticizing society, because of something Myra had said. What was it? Ah…her wish for equality. Kitari’s anger, plus her sad revelation that she had had to leave her craft, sparked a sudden change in Myra’s manner and mood as well. Anger swept through her, and a steel glint took over her usually worried, anxious eyes.

“You’re right. And you shouldn’t have been pushed out of your own craft! It sounds so wonderful, being out there on the sea, with just the ocean, and your shipmates, and your vessel, just…floating, with the wind…And you had to leave! Why? You shouldn’t…have had to go! There’s no reason! What is proper, anyway? We always have to be proper, but who decided what’s proper and what isn’t?”

She spouted, exasperated. It had all seemed perfect, the ship, fishing, the sunsets, nature…but, of course, it couldn’t stay that way. Nothing perfect could. But it should have, Myra’s mind nagged.

Myra sighed at the mention of her own history. Nothing particularly bad had happened to her…but neither had much good, for that matter. Except, she supposed, going to Araelen. But before that, there hadn’t been much.

“Well…” She began, her nervousness quickly taking hold of her again as her anger subsided somewhat. “I…” Where to begin? Myra was at a loss for words. That was hardly surprising, because this was the most she had spoken to anyone in quite a while. But she felt that, after all Kitari had said, that she owed the other girl something.

“I enjoyed working with the animals…because they don’t, oh…they don’t judge you. They see you differently. If you’re strong and confident, they’ll listen to you. But if you’re afraid, then they’ll be afraid too, and they won’t do what you want. It’s different, working with them. To them, it didn’t matter whether I was a man or a woman. I’m not confident, that’s for sure, but around them…I could be. Maybe they were just a stupid bunch of herdbeasts and runners, but I knew they wouldn’t judge me. They didn’t expect anything. They couldn’t be disappointed. I couldn’t let them down. It was just…easier, that way, to work. Around animals, I could be confident, and I am strong, so they listen to me as well as any boy. They don’t care, it makes no difference to them. Why can’t people be that way, too?”

“You know, I like being here, at the weyr…but sometimes, I would like to, you know, get away for a little while. I don’t get along so well with all the female candidates…Freedom…I want to know what that’s like. I want to experience it myself.” She said, looking Kitari straight in the eye, an intense look upon her face. “I want to…I want to go sailing. On a boat. Except, we don’t have a boat…do you know…how to make one?” Myra asked, fearful of the other girl’s reaction. “I can do the hard work, of course, like, the carrying, and the lifting, and all the things that involve strength…but I don’t know…how to build one.” Myra broke eye contact, and stared furiously at the ground instead, feeling heat rise in her face. It was very unusual for her to suggest something like this, to ask someone to do something with her. Normally she was afraid to reach out so, and she still was. However, it said something that she was comfortable enough to even try.

[Kitari]

Myra's blue eyes flashed and a thunderous expression swept across her face, causing Kitari to take a step back in surprise. Where moments before a meek, uncertain girl had stood, now erupted a flurry of pent-up anger and frustration, stunning Kitari with its force. The Fishergirl was perfectly used to her own sudden changes of mood, but she hadn't expected such a drastic alteration in her quiet companion. True, she hadn't known the girl for more than the short time they had been standing here, but, in her own self-assuredness, she had pinned Myra with the personality type she believed the other to have.

Once Kitari had overcome her immediate shock at the righteous anger Myra was expressing, she began to nod in appreciation of the other's words. Who had decided that propreity demanded only men to perform strenuous, physical, and risky tasks? Whoever it was must have been a fool, the girl decided, because she had been far more apt in her eager willingness to excel than the lazy boys who had complained about menial tasks.

The Weyr was different, in that way. It seemed Weyrfolk must be the only enlightened people on Pern. Women were allowed to fight thread, in the old ballads, when riding green and blue dragons. Goldriders had even contributed, though gold dragons could not spout flame. In a Weyr, the women held positions as high or higher than men. And just look how they prospered! Crafts were always squabbling over internal affairs, unable to solve lasting problems. The Weyr was strong and united. Well, at least as far as Kitari had seen.

The initial outburst over, Myra paused, suddenly uncertain again. Kitari furrowed her brow in confused concern. She had thought the girl was warming up to her, sharing such heated feelings so freely. However, she had reclaimed that wary expression, unable to meet Kitari's eyes. For a moment, the candidate feared Myra would say no more.

The other girl assuaged this doubt, for Myra, tentatively at first, began to speak of her Craft. As the words began to come more easily, Kitari shuddered slightly at the guilt that welled up in her gut, freezing her insides. 'They don't judge you.' After all of her talk of equality and fairness, Kitari had done just that. She had judged Myra before become better acquainted with her, pegging the other girl as quiet, withdrawn, and afraid. The fierce exclamation of anger and frustration just moments before had proved that restricted image wrong. She must not make such assumptions, she realized, for it wasn't fair to do so.

Kitari opened her mouth to speak, prepared to apologize and voice her own agreement, when Myra's gaze met her own once more. The intensity in the other's eyes snapped her jaw shut and held her like a fist, their plea resonating in her soul. This was obviously a girl who didn't ask for much in life, which was what made this hope all the more undeniable. She started in a strong, determined tone, but this strength began to dwindle until she finally dropped her eyes once more. Kitari felt rather uncomfortable at the heat that rose in the other's face, unsure as to the reason for it. The request was far from unreasonable. This merely reiterated the other's seeming familiarity with rejection of her ideas and hopes.

Wishing to respond first to Myra's statements about her Craft and Pernese society, Kitari began in a soothing, though not demeaning, voice, "Your craft sounds lovely. I've never had much time to spend with animals, besides the fish we caught in the sea. But to experience that kind of acceptance...regardless of gender, appearance, or wits...that must have been wonderful. I'm sure you miss it." As Kitari missed the sea. "The Weyr does have herdbeasts; I'm sure you'd be allowed to visit them. Although they are all destined for a dragon's gullet." The girl shrugged, smiling weakly.

"I don't know why things are the way they are. It's true that many women are fools, unable to put in a hard day's work if it doesn't involve sitting for much of it, but so are many of the men I've met. There are strong individuals in each gender. And if I have anything to say about it, with a dragon at my side, I will alter the misconceptions on the Continent. How could they say no with a dragon glaring down at them?" She chortled thoughtfully, imagining the men groveling before her and her future dragon. If she Impressed.

"For the present, however, I would love to apply my energy elsewhere, and building a boat of some kind sounds like an exemplary use of my skills." Kitari was extremely pleased to hear Myra's enthusiasm in learning of the Fishcraft. The idea of building a boat was also perfect for quenching the candidate's need to be on the sea once more, at least until she adjusted more thoroughly to being landbound. "And don't worry, I'm used to physical labour myself. It will take some time, though, with all of our obligations to the Weyr." The dancing excitement in her eyes belied this more serious tone. "And we shall need to steal some sheets for sails...I would be fine sleeping a little chillier at night."

[Shikai]

((It's not great, but it's a reply, I guess. ^^;;)

As Myra ceased speaking entirely and waited for Kitari’s response, a strange feeling slowly took hold of her. Or, she should say, two feelings. The first was cold dread, as she realized that she had just erupted into righteous fury in front of a girl she had only just met! In an instant she had changed from her usual cold, nervous exterior, to revealing her innermost frustrations and views on society, followed by telling Kitari of the wonders of not being judged by animals such as herdbeasts, possibly the stupidest creatures on Pern, or given the stigma of being so, anyway. Yes, she must look like some kind of raving lunatic! Her hopes of building a boat with the girl nearly evaporated.

Would it not be better to just make an excuse for herself and turn and run back to the weyr, she wondered? Better to bow out herself than be scorned and rejected by Kitari, who seemed so nice and who she felt she could relate to. But she wouldn’t, or perhaps couldn’t, because she remained rooted to the spot, a slight blush creeping over her face, unable to move or speak.

But when Kitari’s response did come a moment later, it was completely different than what Myra had expected and feared. Her tone was kind, but not as though she were talking to a young child or insane person. Rather, she almost seemed to sense Myra’s fear and discomfort, Myra thought, and was trying to say both through her tone and the words she spoke that what she said was genuine, and she did not think less of Myra for having shared her true feelings on society and her craft.

Of tone and words, the former was more effective with Myra, for she was a bit like an animal herself in that respect. How things were said to her were vastly more influential than the specific words used to say them, for Myra had never been one for fancy words or speeches. To her, they only confused people, and could hide the truth of what was being said. Tone, unless one was intentionally making an effort to produce one different from what they really felt, revealed more about the person’s emotions regarding the subject and their audience. Myra found it much more revealing.

Awkwardly, she smiled back at Kitari. She wasn’t all that interested, herdbeasts not being her favorite creatures anyway. Really, she had gone to the weyr looking for the ultimate acceptance: that of a dragon, a completely different kind of creature than the animals she was used to working with. All the honesty and sincerity of animals, with a close to human intelligence! What could be better?

Finally knowing that Kitari empathized with her statements, and was willing to listen to her as a human being and let her share her opinions and feelings whether she agreed with them or not was a vast relief to Myra. A second emotion, which had been creeping slowly over her, masked by the more dominant fear, was now apparent as the fear evaporated. It was a lightness, a happiness to have shared her feelings with someone, to have reached out and successfully connected. Terrified as she had been just moments before, now she was glad of what she had done.

Her eyes shown with admiration for Kitari as she shared her own views, much in agreement with Myra’s, and her plan to change Pern’s views on women. Her respect only grew as Kitari, this amazing girl who not only listened to her, but was going to change the world, agreed to create a boat with her! Imagine! She could not remember a time when she had been so happy before, and so pleasantly surprised.

“I want…to help, if you’ll have me. Changing Pern’s views. I don’t think it’s fair, or right, and it needs to be changed…and I’d like to help you.” She said, somewhat unsteadily, but with an underlying resolution and passion.

“And oh, thank you very much! Yes, we’ll have to try to fit it in with chores and such…but I’m sure I – we can manage! And I don’t mind sacrificing my sheets. It’s not like they fit me anyway! I’m sort of…too tall.” Myra replied, with a sort of grimace, which lacked its full effect because a smile was plastered on her face, and had been since Kitari had agreed to build the boat together.