Kaya Sees the World, Chapter 21
This chapter is dedicated to one very special reviewer, meyojojo-is your name really Momo? That was my name for a long while before I got a legal name change! Anyway, thanks for reviewing, and I'm really glad you like it!
Time passed slowly for the young girl who sat under the slim tree. The problem of the absence of a ruler had touched every topic in Irontown. With little rice left now (no one had managed to retrieve the rice that had mysteriously disappeared), another expedition was clearly needed, but who was to lead it? The women's vote had obviously gone to Kaya, with much disapproval for her hesitation on accepting the role as leader of Irontown. Ashitaka had suggested that perhaps he ought to lead the men. The men themselves were not interested in making the trip at all; most believed the rice was still stored somewhere secretly close. Worst of all, suspicious were aroused, breaking close friendships that had lasted for decades.
Then, in a recent storm, the roof of one of the unoccupied houses had been blown off. Indecision swirled around this as well: should it quickly be rebuilt, ignoring the pressing need for rice first, or should it be left alone for now, seeing as it was unoccupied? Those who believed in the latter were challenged by those who pointed out that winter was quickly settling in and they would need every house to be stored full of rice.
The result was that nothing happened, save for a heated discussion which left everyone infuriated.
Was this all her fault? thought Kaya dispiritedly, then came to the decision that yes, most of the troubles of Irontown could have been avoided, had she not come.
Then slowly in Kaya's mind formed the idea that she had never dared to think before. Would she have been happier as a mother and respected young woman in her hometown?
She'd spent too much time dawdling. Quickly Kaya came to her senses and hurried back towards the gate. If she stayed outside the town for too long, the villagers were sure to think that she had been with the wolf girl again.
= = = = = =
At that moment, Ashitaka was trying to organize a party to get more rice, while trying to avoid rousing more angry opinions. The men were either being sluggishly unreactive to his suggestions, or shouting out angry insults. Ashitaka's patience was wearing thin at a rapid rate.
In the corner of his eye he saw Kaya enter. Part of him wanted to call out to her and apologize for the earlier events, but he knew that the best thing to do was to avoid raising the subject of his sister again. He turned back to the villagers. They were all muttering darkly again.
Suddenly, a significantly shorter figure stepped out, shouting, "We'll go!"
Ashitaka stared in surprise. It was Toki, that defiant trademark glare of hers written on every line on her face. "We women will go! We told you men that you couldn't be trusted!"
As the men continued to stare wide-eyed at this proclamation-the women had never made a trip to fetch rice before-they began to object.
"You don't even know the way!"
"You'll never be able to carry all that rice back!"
"Probably drop it over the edge of the mountain," snickered another, and some chuckled heartily at this. Kia stepped out from behind Toki.
"We are ready," she proclaimed, more to Ashitaka than anyone else. "When do we leave?"
Ashitaka glanced in the direction of his sister. She was gone, probably having disappeared into her cabin.
"Soon," he heard himself saying faintly. "As soon as possible."
This chapter is dedicated to one very special reviewer, meyojojo-is your name really Momo? That was my name for a long while before I got a legal name change! Anyway, thanks for reviewing, and I'm really glad you like it!
Time passed slowly for the young girl who sat under the slim tree. The problem of the absence of a ruler had touched every topic in Irontown. With little rice left now (no one had managed to retrieve the rice that had mysteriously disappeared), another expedition was clearly needed, but who was to lead it? The women's vote had obviously gone to Kaya, with much disapproval for her hesitation on accepting the role as leader of Irontown. Ashitaka had suggested that perhaps he ought to lead the men. The men themselves were not interested in making the trip at all; most believed the rice was still stored somewhere secretly close. Worst of all, suspicious were aroused, breaking close friendships that had lasted for decades.
Then, in a recent storm, the roof of one of the unoccupied houses had been blown off. Indecision swirled around this as well: should it quickly be rebuilt, ignoring the pressing need for rice first, or should it be left alone for now, seeing as it was unoccupied? Those who believed in the latter were challenged by those who pointed out that winter was quickly settling in and they would need every house to be stored full of rice.
The result was that nothing happened, save for a heated discussion which left everyone infuriated.
Was this all her fault? thought Kaya dispiritedly, then came to the decision that yes, most of the troubles of Irontown could have been avoided, had she not come.
Then slowly in Kaya's mind formed the idea that she had never dared to think before. Would she have been happier as a mother and respected young woman in her hometown?
She'd spent too much time dawdling. Quickly Kaya came to her senses and hurried back towards the gate. If she stayed outside the town for too long, the villagers were sure to think that she had been with the wolf girl again.
= = = = = =
At that moment, Ashitaka was trying to organize a party to get more rice, while trying to avoid rousing more angry opinions. The men were either being sluggishly unreactive to his suggestions, or shouting out angry insults. Ashitaka's patience was wearing thin at a rapid rate.
In the corner of his eye he saw Kaya enter. Part of him wanted to call out to her and apologize for the earlier events, but he knew that the best thing to do was to avoid raising the subject of his sister again. He turned back to the villagers. They were all muttering darkly again.
Suddenly, a significantly shorter figure stepped out, shouting, "We'll go!"
Ashitaka stared in surprise. It was Toki, that defiant trademark glare of hers written on every line on her face. "We women will go! We told you men that you couldn't be trusted!"
As the men continued to stare wide-eyed at this proclamation-the women had never made a trip to fetch rice before-they began to object.
"You don't even know the way!"
"You'll never be able to carry all that rice back!"
"Probably drop it over the edge of the mountain," snickered another, and some chuckled heartily at this. Kia stepped out from behind Toki.
"We are ready," she proclaimed, more to Ashitaka than anyone else. "When do we leave?"
Ashitaka glanced in the direction of his sister. She was gone, probably having disappeared into her cabin.
"Soon," he heard himself saying faintly. "As soon as possible."