Don't Forget to Write

Writers: Paula, Suzee
Date Posted: 12th April 2012

Characters: Arippa, Yanley, Zelanka
Description: Arippa prepares to leave for Emerald Falls Hold
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 7, day 5 of Turn 6
Notes: Mentioned: Faldrimme, Corowal, Felyna, Namrien

Arippa

Yanley

Packing was a pain and Faldrimme wasn't talking to her so she
certainly wasn't helping. Topping that off she hadn't seen her flit
all day. For some reason he was probably not talking to her either.

She sighed heavily, folded another dress and tucked it into one of her
packs. What was wrong with them anyway? She was going to Emerald Falls
under the protection of Lord Corowal and Lady Felyna while Namrien and
she got better acquainted with a view toward a marriage alliance. It
was a normal and natural thing for her to do and she didn't understand
why they were taking it so hard.

Yanley looked in. "Do you need help?" she asked with warm tone. Bram
and Thi added their chirrups. She had been in her nieces shoes once,
and know how she must felt right now.

"Aunt Yanley! Yes please," she smiled. "Thank you," she said. She
didn't want to complain about feeling alone right now and she really
was happy her Aunt had come to help. She pointed to the open door to
her wardrobe. "I still need to pack those."

"All right," Yanley walked over to the wardrobe and pulled out first
dress. "These have to be folded so they don't wrinkle," she said. "Do
you have a large travel trunk?"

"I asked Zelanka to have one sent up," she said. "They should be here
soon." She continued folding her clothing. But finally she had to ask
the question that was on her mind. "Aunt Yanley, what was it like when
you left Amber Hills? Were you scared?"

"Scared, oh yes, I was," Yanley replied. Putting the dress to bed to
wait for the trunk, she turned to look her niece. "I was as nervous as
herdbeast among pack of wild felines. And excited too. First time of
my life I was going somewhere all by myself."

"Oh there you are," she said as the drudge came in carrying a rather
large trunk. "Just put it here," she said. He hefted it to where she
pointed and then left. Arippa went to opened it up but she stopped to
look at her aunt. "That's the way I feel too." She took a deep breath.

Yanley nodded with understanding.

Zelanka followed in the drudge. "Everything all right here, Arippa?"
she asked, bringing with her a tray. "You might need little
refreshments," she continued.

"Oh thank you Zelanka," she said with a smile. The headwoman always
thought of everything. "I think we're good now that we have the trunk.
I think it's big enough."

"It should be, you need two men to carry it when it's full," Zelanka
said with a gentle smile. She was going to miss Arippa!

"Is it same battered old monster I used?" Yanley asked and looked over
the trunk.

"Might be," Zelanka replied with a shrug.

Arippa looked at the two older women and knew how much she was going
to miss them. Zelanka probably most of all. How many hours had she
spent at what she knew now was probably pestering the Headwoman. Yet
as much as she made them all behave she also made them feel loved. Not
only that but Zelanka had taught her how to manage a hold and all that
went with it.

Yanley she was just getting to know but she felt a closeness with her
kinswoman that was just a little mysterious to her. One thing she
_did_ know about her aunt, she had a big heart.

"I'm going to miss you," she said to both of them.

"We are going to miss you too," Zelanka said with a choked tone.

"Aww, sweetheart," Yanley said and folded her into a warm embrace.

Arippa hugged her aunt back for all she was worth. Who knew when she'd
have the chance again and she wanted to store them up for a rainy day.
"I'll have Mystery bring letters often," she promised.

"And I have Thi and Bram who can take our letters to you. Well, mostly
Bram, since Thi tends to get distracted too easily," Yanley said.

She chuckled, "yes. But I'm going to miss Zelanka's rest day stew."

"Don't forget her desserts," Yanley added.

"Oh, I could never forget those," she said smiling at the headwoman.
"May I have a hug Zelanka?" She knew tomorrow would be a rush getting
her baggage loaded and the family would be all around. She didn't want
to miss this opportunity to let the woman know how very much she
cared.

"Of course you can," The headwoman was more than happy to give her the hug.

She smiled and moved into the headwoman's arms. "I'll miss you Zelanka."

Last updated on the April 30th 2012

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