Kali Belladonna, loving wife and mother, stood on the Beach just outside Kuo Kuana and took in the sight before her.
Often nicknamed 'The Princess of Menagerie' as a child, she was often seen as a more conciliatory member of the Menagarian Council. Whereas Taran Aprisum was as close to a warhawk as the Chieftain allowed, she preferred a more diplomatic approach. Admittedly, she only originally had a place on the council due to being the Chieftain's daughter. But she had kept her place due to her own political acumen.
Today though, it was not some protest or legal challenge she was dealing with, but the preparations for Harvest's End.
Whilst those that worshipped the Brothers merely saw the two Solstices as merely the longest and shortest days, to the Faunus, especially those that kept to their own ancient faith, they were perhaps the two holiest days of the year.
Following in precedence to the Solstices was Harvest's End, taking place on the night of the last full Moon in Autumn. Whilst often compared with the Brother's Reaping Day, Harvest's End was not split between daytime and nighttime. Instead, the community came together, bringing food and drink (along with alcohol) and fireworks all for one big night long celebration of the previous year.
Bonfires that were lit the moment that the sun sank beneath the horizon, and kept burning until sunrise. Throughout the night, attendees would dance and feast and laugh and mourn. Commemorating achievements and sharing sorrow for those they had lost.
The children, on the other hand, enjoyed staying up late. It was rare that they stayed awake all Festival, but it was practically part of childhood to attempt to do so. Kali herself had managed it at the age of eight.
It had taken a number of days to get things together. The few other settlements on Menagerie had emptied as they always did. Winter's were often harsh on Menagerie, and the population of Kuo Kuana more than doubled as families moved in with friends and distant kin within the walls of the closest thing the Chiefdom had to a Capital city.
Her attention turned, not to the long table growing ever more full with food and drink, but to the quartet of children now running across the sands. Affectionate amusement crossed her face as she watched the group, with her daughter at their head.
That in itself was unusual. Her little Blake hadn't had many friends at all, save perhaps for Trifa. But now, it seemed she had three.
Trifa Aprisum was the niece-slash-adopted daughter of another council member. Her Father had died in an 'incident' with the AVF whilst on a diplomatic mission to Vacuo. Aside from obviously feigned condolences from the four kingdoms and a reiteration that the AVF was a
threat to the world, nothing had been done. She and Blake, most people in Kuo Kuana said, were as close as sisters.
Adam Taurus was the eldest of the small group, but only by a year or so, and had only arrived on Menagerie during the summer after what Kali could only describe as horrific treatment in an SDC mine. The poor boy's eye had been a complete loss, but the rest of the brand would apparently heal with time now.
And by the Mother above, hadn't the sight of that brand scar sent her Love into a rage. He had still been grappling with his fury when he launched his complaint to the International Court on Vytal…a week after the boy's arrival.
Even Jacques Schnee himself had testified against the man that did it, in a move that was obviously made purely to cover his own ass. Not even the SDC was above the Vytal Peace Accords. She supposed that Schnee judged the futility of trying to defend his company when his Foreman was obviously guilty as sin and threw a 'rotten apple' under the bus, as it were.
He had even sworn to update the rules regarding safety and security at all his mines.
The man had even been telling the truth. The ensuing overhaul of safety protocols that the SDC had made was made public and invited international press and organisations to inspect the mines after they had been implemented. Even the Menagarian Outreach Group had attended, and concluded (albeit grudgingly) that they were now at least close to what the human miners enjoyed.
Alas, it had all come too late for the parents of the last of the group. Ilia Amitola had lost both her Mother and Father, along with an uncle and cousin all in the same mine collapse. Were it not for the fact that her Aunt lived on Menagerie, she would likely have ended up in the Atlesian foster system. Or more likely, dead in an alley in Mantle.
She had arrived barely a fortnight ago, and Adam of all people had been the one to bring her into the group. Likely guessing that the girl really could use friends right now.
Her daughter had friends, but it had come at cost. Kali knew what she'd celebrate, and who she'd mourn, amusing herself in the moment with the thought of the four of them being on the Menagarian Council, leading the nation into being the fifth Kingdom of Remnant.
….She would not need to wait that long.