| Who | Kyara |
|---|---|
| What | The news that girls won't be allowed to Stand for the newest clutch really doesn't sit will with Kyara. |
| When | Early evening. There is 1 Turn, 2 months, and 15 days until the 12th Pass. |
| Where | Liareth's Ledge, Igen Weyr |
Liareth's Ledge
A wide, flat ledge, edges gouged from centuries of taloned feet gripping it to land, faces west near the apex of the caldera that is Igen Weyr. Sand fills a dragon-sized spot worn into the surface near the southern edge. The back half is sheltered by weathered, rusty-hued stone - deep enough to provide a haven during inclement weather. Around the outside edges of the cave, a few smaller shelves of rock jut out - deep enough to allow firelizards to lounge, should they wish to. Beyond a stone platform lies the entrance to Kyara's weyr, cut off from the ledge by a heavy, sapphire-hued hanging edged with a simple blocked spiral pattern in gold thread. Two sand-filled cylindrical striking bags hang in the back left corner of the sheltered space. Just to the left of the entrance is a shelf holding pots of oil and salve, beneath which is a yet-to-be-filled row of hooks for fighting straps.
Thump. Thump.
Measured, deliberate punches. Liareth has gone off to hunt, and Kyara is alone with her thoughts - and her striking bags - for the moment. She sighs, frowning at the impact marks she just made and shaking her head in subdued anger. No girls. None.
Thump. THUMP. Thump.
Shardit, she’d wanted to like Corelle. As expected, there’s still part of her wanting to give the Senior Weyrwoman the benefit of the doubt. But this is right up there with the prejudices against women in some of the Crafts, in terms of what Kyara finds most infuriatingly ridiculous about Nowtimer traditions. What was it Sienna said? You can like a person without liking their policies?
WHUMP.
This is one policy she isn’t sure she can separate from her opinion of the person, honestly. It isn’t fair, to any capable girls or the dragons that burst from those shells in search of their matches. It isn’t right; it doesn’t make sense. She finds herself thanking Faranth she was Searched under N’thu’s leadership. He’d allowed her, Vashae, and the other girls to Stand. Vergora had, at the time, been too infirm to have a say, she supposes. What would the former Senior Weyrwoman have allowed, if she’d been able to voice an opinion on the matter? Would it have changed where Kyara is now? Lia would have found me anyway! Wouldn’t she have? She knew!
THUMP. Thump-WHUMP-thump.
There’s a sense of helplessness Kyara has over this whole business. Nothing she can do or say; it isn’t her place, as much as she wants to go into convince-and-meddle mode. She's certain her words would fall on deaf ears. (Did she have that mode before? Maybe without the meddling part - which she hasn’t really exercised, honestly.) She had hoped, so very, very deeply, that what she and the women of their weyrling class persevered through and accomplished would set a certain standard and change a few minds. But with this new Senior not having witnessed any of it, operating only on reports… Would it have changed anything, if she had, though? None to follow in our wake! What example have we set, then? None? Still they don’t see that women can be competent and capable riders, too! I know we’re still coming into our own, but Faranth! What MORE needs to be sharding proven to these people?”
WHUMP. WHUMP. WHUMP.
Kyara growls and then makes a concerted effort to just keep herself in check as she swoops up a towel and scrubs at her face with it. Then she flings it at the bag with a sharp thwack - a parting shot as she stomps out to the unsheltered half of the ledge to sit for a moment. Time to cool her head. Plopping down in the sandy spot Liareth sleeps in when it’s warmer, she folds her legs, half-lotus style, and rests her hands on her knees, measuring her breathing as she stares out across the Bowl. Her thoughts keep threatening to be only angry - which may not be unwarranted, but it’s not a place she wants to stay. She’s got to get her mind calmed, and she asks Liareth for help. Her lifemate is half asleep on the Lake Shore, but she lovingly obliges, lending her calming, refreshing steam and humidity to help Kyara along the path to the meditative place she’s trying to reach.
No - the best Kyara can do right now is just to be the level-headed, determined, able woman Sienna and K’ane saw as the best choice for the position she now holds (even if it's for just a few more sevens). If there is anything she can do or say about this at some point, she will watch and listen, discerning the right time with a clear mind. She can’t see herself not being frustrated, though.
Maybe frustration can be a good aid for clarity and perspective…if it’s used the right way.
Awesome vig! :D
Thank you XD
I really enjoyed this! Very nicely written.