How Are You Settling In?

Writers: Ames, Noli
Date Posted: 3rd October 2013

Characters: Nerylyn, Yewela
Description: Nerylyn and Yewela chat about the New hall, their lives and children.
Location: Seacraft Hall
Date: month 2, day 7 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Korkary, Uegot

Jory was being fussy again. Yewela tried to calm him, bouncing the
baby gently and making crooning noises as her eyes cast around
desperately for something to distract him. The temporary living
quarters they had been assigned did not contain much. Motioning for
Vetra to hand her the room's single rattle, she attempted to coax her
son into accepting the gift. He refused, scrunching up his tiny face
and releasing a series of keening cries.

Yewela felt ready to cry herself. This move had been more stressful
than any of the others, as Korkary worked diligently at preparing
himself for his new position, leaving the entire burden of packing,
organizing, and keeping up with their belongings entirely to her. On
top of that, she was of course responsible for their four children--
the oldest being only ten Turns meant that this was almost a fulltime
job in itself. And now the baby, who was generally sweet and quiet,
was fussing. Yewela didn't know what to do.

Maybe he was hungry. Yewela decided suddenly that this was probably
the case. Calling her brood to her, she gave them firm orders to
follow at her heels and to hold onto each others' hands at all time.
She knew that beyond their walls it was busy to the point of chaos,
and she did not intend for any of her girls to get lost. Opening and
closing the door, she reached down and took Halla's chubby little
fist. Then the whole party made for the dining hall.

"Gotner...." Nerylyn admonished the boy with a firm tone and a steely
gaze. "Put down that spoon _this_ instant." The boy looked at her,
spoon still firmly in place before finally lowering his hand and
turning his eyes to the table. He'd wanted to throw it. He hated the
food her. It tasted terrible.

Lyngot was getting fussy in his seat. Nerylyn cut up more of the meat
and placed it before him. She was thankful she'd brought the special
chair they'd had made when Gotner was just a babe. It kept the two
Turn old secure from falling and allowed her to focus her attentions
on the other children.

"Mama! I want a cookie," Nerue whined. "When can I have a cookie?"

Nerylyn looked at the girl and sighed. "Eat first, then everyone can
have _one_ cookie. If you don't eat, though, then that's a different
story." She reached a hand over and caught the food Lyngot was about
to throw across the room before he could. Sighing and shaking her
head, Nerylyn was still smiling. She loved her little family. She had
grown accustomed to handling them without Uegot around, but she
wouldn't fault the extra help he provided.

Yewela spotted Nerylyn across the dining hall, smiling as she watched
the other mother intercept a small boy's attempts to toss a meatroll.
With her family's foodtray on one hip and Jory on the other, she
slowly made her way towards her friend. Although the two had not known
each other prior to their arrival, they had quickly bonded over the
trials of motherhood. Ushering her girls into seats on the bench,
Yewela gave Nerylyn a broad wink. "That was impressive handiwork. You
should teach me the art." She settled the baby onto her lap and began
spooning some of the mush she had gotten for him into a broad, waiting
mouth. "How do you fair this lovely day?"

Nerylyn looked up a the greeting and smiled. "Good, Yewela. How are
you all today?" She looked around at the troupe of girls. "As for the
other," she gave Lyngot a glare, "it's taken many Turns of practice,
but I swear I can just sense when they are up to mischief, which," she
looked to Yewela this time, "seems to be all the time." Nerylyn gave a
chuckling sort of snort at that.

Yewela smiled affectionately as she watched Halla begin an animated
conversation with one of Nerylyn's daughters. The girl looked to be
about Halla's Turn. Yewela wondered if the two would become fast
friends. She then looked to her two older daughters. At nine and ten
Turns each, they were visibly competing for the older boy's attention,
though Yewela doubted they even realized it. She glanced finally at
the babe on her lap. Now that his mouth was full, Korjory had settled
down once more, and was peering with interest around the cavern.

She felt a sudden wave of love for her family. "They're wonderful,
aren't they?" Yewela gestured to include all of the children at the
table. Despite the mischief, she knew that Nerylyn shared her motherly
capacity for unconditional love.

"Yes, yes they are," Nerylyn replied, also smiling as she took in the
site of the children. "We should set up play dates for them to be
together all the time. Then we could also get to spend some time
together as well, especially with the men so busy getting the hall set
up and ready for operations." Nerylyn was used to that, being alone,
but this was a new place. It had been easier back at home, she'd known
people and had routines. Now, though, it was harder. She was rather
lonely. Having Yewela around would help that loneliness.

"How are you all settling in?" She asked.

"Well enough," Yewela stated. She felt better about the move already.
Just having someone to talk to helped. "I think playdates are a great
idea. The girls would love friends." She bounced the now-sated Jory on
her knee and reached out to tickle the chin of Nerylyn's boy. "How
about you?"

Nerylyn shrugged a bit, still smiling, "Settling in well. Moving is
hard, but the children are handling it well. It's nice to see Uegot
more often as well. He was often out to sea for such long stretches of
time. This is a nice change."

"Aye, that is certainly true." Yewela's eyes went vacant for a moment
as her mind drifted back over her family's life. They had spent so
much time between homes, spending a few months or a Turn in one place
before Korkary gathered them up and moved them again. The girls had
gotten used to the constant change in locale, but Yewela had been
Holdbred and found the constant shifting tiresome. She never
complained, however; she was nothing if not a supportive wife, and she
knew that her husband's status as a Master of the Craft meant that
they would never be able to actually settle permanently. It made for a
rather lonely life.

**But Korkary said we were here to stay,** she reminded herself
brightly. Even if it wasn't forever, the prospect of being able to
actually unpack all of their belongings (instead of leaving all but
the necessities stored, in preparation for the inevitable departure)
cheered her immensely. And she could make friends here. Nerylyn would
be a good start.

Realizing that the children-- having finished their meal some time
ago-- were getting restless, Yewela rose to her feet. Clucking at the
girls to say their goodbyes, she smiled at the other mother. "We must
get together again soon. This chat has been delightful."

Last updated on the October 5th 2013

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How Are You Settling In?