19th Day of Spring, 511 AV
It had been almost a year since Kashik had last laid eyes on Eldon - almost exactly a year, and so much had changed in that time that it was hard for her to really grasp how she felt. Guilt, of course, and some amount of regret. Only a year, but in that year she'd learned some measure about herself, and about what a foolish girl she'd been. Still was, in many ways, but she was learning to recognize it in herself.
Eldon, though, had been her friend. Her best friend for most of her life, and it pained her to think of all she'd gone through without him. Now, as she stood in front of the Sunkiss Pavilion, she wondered what he'd gone through without her, and whether or not they would be able to forgive each other that absence.
She waited a few moments, collecting herself, and her hands rested on her bulging stomach. The pregnancy was the most obvious change about her - for she was only a few weeks from giving birth, and she was a small woman carrying a warrior's child. But despite the size, she glowed with it - her dark skin was soft and bright, riotous black curls of her hair being tugged by the fitful breeze. Her smile, though, was hidden now as she fidgeted and wondered if this were the best idea.
She looked down at the long-legged Silkena that stood beside her, who bore the exact same coloring as the dog she'd had as a child - and should, since this was one of her pups. "Go on," she murmured, pointing her towards the tent. "Go find Eldon and say hi." The dog gave a short bark, and padded forward to obey her master's bidding - though she slowed as she stuck her head into the tent and investigated, smelling several other dogs and whining lowly as if unsure how she would be received.
It had been almost a year since Kashik had last laid eyes on Eldon - almost exactly a year, and so much had changed in that time that it was hard for her to really grasp how she felt. Guilt, of course, and some amount of regret. Only a year, but in that year she'd learned some measure about herself, and about what a foolish girl she'd been. Still was, in many ways, but she was learning to recognize it in herself.
Eldon, though, had been her friend. Her best friend for most of her life, and it pained her to think of all she'd gone through without him. Now, as she stood in front of the Sunkiss Pavilion, she wondered what he'd gone through without her, and whether or not they would be able to forgive each other that absence.
She waited a few moments, collecting herself, and her hands rested on her bulging stomach. The pregnancy was the most obvious change about her - for she was only a few weeks from giving birth, and she was a small woman carrying a warrior's child. But despite the size, she glowed with it - her dark skin was soft and bright, riotous black curls of her hair being tugged by the fitful breeze. Her smile, though, was hidden now as she fidgeted and wondered if this were the best idea.
She looked down at the long-legged Silkena that stood beside her, who bore the exact same coloring as the dog she'd had as a child - and should, since this was one of her pups. "Go on," she murmured, pointing her towards the tent. "Go find Eldon and say hi." The dog gave a short bark, and padded forward to obey her master's bidding - though she slowed as she stuck her head into the tent and investigated, smelling several other dogs and whining lowly as if unsure how she would be received.