An alliance was formed for Yuris Island's birds to be safe, and within that camaraderie, a friendship blooms, starting at first with a chance and trust. And Kihal wasn't expecting all that she'd learn later or the fact that they will stay in touch for months and months, edging closer to years than the mere months it started as.
Kihal was cautious and wary of nobles, and yet she befriends a future noblewoman. Shirayuki is more like Kihal than a noblewoman to the islander. Just somehow here's Shirayuki, who is at home in marketplaces, who can laugh so easily without any veneers of sophistication. Shirayuki is Shirayuki. She is herself.
And Kihal found herself rooting for Shirayuki as she heard of the later job placements, of the difficulties, thoughts and concerns that Shirayuki had. And maybe one day they will see each other in person again, with a host of experiences and memories to share, with a chance to sit down and talk for hours, a chance for another hug, a moment to just be around each other.
Friendship is precious, and Kihal has never had a long distance friendship before, where all correspondence is that of letters, of a wish to see each other again, and happy memories, sometimes silly ones, written down, muffled complaints about the spice that Obi insists is necessary, Shirayuki not letting him cook for her again, the fact that Kihal knows her friend, Obi will cook for Shirayuki again. Kihal's sure of it.
Shirayuki is too sweet to actually not let someone be a friend to her in a way that the person can do so concretely. Instead, there's a touch of lightheartedness, a touch of humor.
And Kihal does her best to share about the long hours training people to work with the messenger birds, the friends Kihal does have on the island, her responsibilities, the silly moments with her family. Especially because it offers something back to Shirayuki, a little hint that all will be okay.
Kihal doesn't consider herself particularly gifted with words nor does she think she's great at reading people. Instead all she knows is that Kihal doesn't back down on important issues, that she's willing to stand up to people, that even her pessimism gets a breath of fresh air every now and again.
And somehow this camaraderie blooms even at a distance, as they exchange letters that almost make the distance shrink between them.
