Just Another Day

Despite not being allowed to spend as much time with Eru and Kadin as she would have liked, she did have ample time to visit with Rajé and Kya, both of which happily invited her on their own gathering trips and other household chores. They were a few years older than Shanku, and most of their conversation was filled with their upcoming courtships.

"So, let me get this straight, the dams own the houses and pretty much run everything, but the sires have to do all the courting?" Shanku asked.

"Well, of course!" Rajé laughed. "We can be expected to do it all, they have to do some of the work, and if they want to live under our roof, they must be prepared to please us."

"Catching horses sounds like an awful bit of work," Shanku said. "What do you even do with that many beasts?"

"Breeding, mostly," Rajé replied. "Some are kept for work, the others are carefully released into our herds as brood stock. But, still, a hopeful sire must prove he's capable of handling them by capturing a few and presenting them."

"Where are the herds now?" Shanku asked curiously.

"They stay behind in the grasses, sometimes seeking shelter under what few trees they can find," Rajé said. "If they can survive the winter out there, they are worthy to be our companions."

"Why don't you stay out there?" Shanku asked innocently. "Not that we Scissortails mind, we enjoy the company and trade."

"There are a lot of plants we rely on in the Nyre," Rajé explained. "We come in to harvest them, and also gather other supplies we can't find out on the plains."

"Fair enough," Shanku shrugged. "So, can I expect to find you two married off the next time I pass through then?"

"Highly doubtful," Rajé giggled. "A proper courtship takes at least four years! What of you? Do you have plans between now and then?"

"Not really," Shanku mumbled as she scratched the back of her head. "I'm not even sure how the Sylvans go about it, to be honest. I haven't really asked."

"An adventure for another day then," Rajé teased. "Until then, we'll catch you up on how us Red Wings manage it."

They told Shanku tales of how their mothers and fathers got together, with grand stories of archery competitions, hunting expeditions, races, dances, musical performances, and, of course, getting to stand under a blanket for hours at a time to do all the plotting, planning, and talking otherwise not allowed due to the chaperones keeping them separated.

"No wonder Maheke yanked me from Katari and Eru!" Shanku exclaimed. "If Sylvans do all that too, I reckon Hilael will be single forever, unless they manage a healing competition."

"Your brother is a healer, then?" Rajé asked curiously.

"Well on his way to being one. When we were going up to the Fernwick lands, I got a good scratch off a yamaer, and he made this horribly stinkin' concoction that drew the poison out. I don't know what shape I would have been in otherwise."

"Dead. You would be dead," Kya said flatly. "Those cave lizards are highly toxic. It's a miracle he saved you, even if it was just a scratch."

"Like I said, he's good at what he does," Shanku grinned. The young dams finished their gathering as Rajé and Kya questioned Shanku about her brother's skills, and she in turn asked questions on how to properly flirt.