“Good morning, Neela,” Rina greeted her friend warmly when the other woman approached. The two girls who had accompanied her were among the first to arrive, and Viru, a younger trainer who often aided her with corralling and teaching the children, quickly collected Nara and Finny. Turning away from where she had watched Viru begin helping the two newcomers prepare for their lesson, the Cambrian offered her friend a smile that softened as her gaze shifted to Lum’e. “She looks very happy with you. You’ve got a talent.”

Ferra, Rina’s own daughter, had reached her fourth year of life and started testing her boundaries with a fierce independence that would undoubtedly suit her later in life. Although she occasionally wished that Ferra would use it less on her own mother, Rina had seen - and taught, in the loosest sense of the word - enough girls to know that it came with the age. The young girl was off with a group of other children of similar ages, learning about the animals and plants around the village in a manner that would hopefully burn through some of her infinite energy.

Smile fading somewhat, Rina followed Neela’ shade across the fields to where the Nevermereans walked by like a little pack of dogs and made a noise of agreement with her observation. “I always thought they switch out who stays here because no one wants to be away from their home all the time.” The words came thoughtful, for Rina couldn’t imagine leaving Cambria and her sisters behind for any significant amount of time. Even though she didn’t always agree with what some of the others did or said or believed, she and all of her sisters were still family. “The soldiers must have people they’ve left behind to be here.” Though, of course, some of them left daughters behind here, too. “What do you think, Neela?”