View source for Ava's Chronicle - Firsts

{{PCF|This was originally written by the player of [[Ava Starfire (Character)|Ava Starfire]] and is not official canon.}}
{{Consider OOC}}

On the gently rolling tundra of northern [[Matar#Mikramurka|Mikramurka]], the only plants to be found are stubborn grasses and a few wildflowers that might grow to a height of thirty or forty centimeters before the brief summer gives way to winter; only in the shelter of a few fjords, along the coast, do any small bushes or trees manage to take root at all. Thus, the sight of a roaring bonfire, many tens of kilometers away from the nearest forest, would give anyone a reason to pause and scratch their head, wondering if it was an illusion brought on by exposure to the summer's perpetual sunlight.

The sun hung low in the sky to the southwest, reddish against the deep blue sky, and [[Matar]]'s moon shone brilliantly, nearing its full phase, as the Clans of the peninsula celebrated the final night of Midsummer in wild fashion. Drinking, singing, dancing, music, the sounds of laughter and fun, filled the cool air as the [[Matari]] enjoyed such a fire, a towering, roaring fire fueled with wood, brought by members of all the Clans from their wintering grounds, for this very purpose.

The final night was the night for couples; whether they be a new couple, such as Avlynka and Uro, an established couple, long married, such as Tarja and Olno, or even a couple for that one night, as was the case with Kyllsa and her companion, a man from the Late-Rise clan named Euja, it was their night. Some danced, some talked and laughed, some stole away to seek quieter locations to enjoy one another's company more intimately, but all knew the night would end the same way; when the fire died down, it was the signal for everyone to return to their homes, new homes, in many cases, and spend the night together.

Avlynka and Uro danced around the fire, circling around one another, first her in a circle around him, and then him in a circle around her; dozens of other couples also participated in the dance, and the whole ring of them slowly moved around the fire.

The dance ended, and the musicians, Sukki among them, announced that they were going to take a short break, to drink their fill and have a bit of fun of their own. Uro took the opportunity to tickle Avlynka's ribs and then run away, leading her on a merry chase around the fire a few times. She finally gave up and shrugged, and walked with him, shaking her head and laughing quietly, over to talk to another couple.

Avlynka and Uro walked, hand in hand, over to a longtime friend and age-group-mate of Avlynka's, a young woman named Makyii, and her husband to be, Fero of the Deep-Moon.

“Congratulations.” Makyii said to Avlynka, smiling as Fero stood behind her, his arms around her waist. “It's great, we both found husbands from the same Clan.”

Avlynka nodded. “It is!” She turned her attention to Fero for a moment; “Welcome to our Clan, Fero.” She grinned at Makyii for a moment. “I hope you have some idea how lucky you are.”

Fero laughed. “I do. I do indeed.” Makyii was one of the most beautiful women in the Star-Fire clan, a skilled leather worker and from a respected family. As she looked up and smiled at Fero who was leaning over her shoulder to kiss her, the slight bulge of her Adam's apple could be seen.

Sukki sat in the grass nearby, taking a drink of water, with Jonn sitting next to her, scribbling madly in his notebook. Sukki had decided that someone had to teach this anthropotamous what it meant to live among her clan, and had decided that she was best fit to do just that, answering his endless barrage of questions with equal parts wit and patience.

Jonn, as clueless as he could be at times, also rarely missed any detail. When he saw Makyii turn her head, he looked over at Sukki, somewhat confused. “Is... that young woman, in the brown and red dress... yes, her. What's her name?” he asked.

“Makyii Illmaryi.” Sukki replied. “She and Avlynka have been friends... well, forever.”

Jonn watched Makyii for a moment more, and then turned to Sukki. “Um... is she, um, transgendered?”

Sukki shook her head. “No. She is woman-spirit.”

Jonn quickly took a few notes. “Really... woman-spirit? Tell me about that, please?” he asked.

“Well,” Sukki shrugged, “The [[Matari Shamanism|Spirits]] picked a special path for her. Women are closer to the [[Matari Shamanism|Spirits]] than men, and she is close with the Spirits. So, she has a woman's Spirit.”

“So... she was born, um... as a boy?” Jonn asked, realizing he was venturing into potentially sensitive cultural territory. “How did she figure out, um, that the Spirits chose this path for her?”

Sukki laughed. “She just knew. When she was little, she wanted to dress like the girls, like Avlynka. She wanted to wear beads in her hair, and get her nose pierced. When she grew a little older... well, she just knew.”

Jonn's pencil was a blur. “And... she is treated as a woman? As any other?” he asked excitedly.

“Why wouldn't she be?” Sukki replied, a confused look on her face.

Jonn smiled and shook his head. “I don't know, Sukki. So... that young man, he chose her? Um... she cannot bear children... um, unless there is some ritual for...”

“They must do stuff a lot different, where you are from.” Sukki teased. “They will adopt, Jonn, there are plenty of children who need good parents.”

Jonn sketched a picture of Makyii and Fero, nodding, while Sukki sat next to him, watching. He was an incredible artist, and his drawings had become immensely popular with the Star-Fire. Sukki watched as he selected a few colored pencils and added color, here and there; the dark red in Makyii's dress, the deep black of Fero's hair, the dyed blue and green beads on their necklaces.

“You are amazing.” Sukki said quietly as she picked up her flute and resumed playing.



Avlynka and Uro danced close together, enjoying one of the last dances of the festival as the fire began to die. They danced slowly, rhythmically, moving in slow circles around one another. They both hated to see the fire go out, to end the moment, but both looked forward to the moment to come.

That would be the first night they would spend together.

Kyllsa said a final blessing, sending off a chant to the sky as the people of the Clans watched and listened, and then announced that Midsummer had ended. People said their goodbyes, shared a few final jokes and tall tales, and headed to their [[Kenkii|kenkii]]. In the morning, the Clans would all pack up their small homes, their tools and clothes and supplies, and disperse. They wouldn't see each other again until next Midsummer, 1,352 days away.

The various couples headed towards their homes; Tarja and Olno to their family's home, Makyii and Fero to their small tent, Kyllsa and Euja towards the Shaman's abode, Ava and Uro to their temporary tent, leaving a few behind, like Jonn and Sukki.
“Meh.” Sukki said quietly as she watched her parents walk, hand in hand, towards their [[Kenkii|kenkii]]. “Guess I'll sleep out here, tonight. They deserve a night alone.”

“Suppose I'll sleep here, too.” Jonn replied, smiling. “So, Midsummer is over, then?”

“Midsummer is over.”

“And they're all going home to, um... kindle the spark, so to speak?” Jonn said, grinning.

Sukki giggled. “Yeah.”

Sukki lay down on the blanket she had been sitting on, smoothed her robe here and there, and smiled as Jonn lay down a few meters away, doing the same. “Goodnight, Jonn.” she called softly. “Happy Midsummer.”

Jonn nodded, setting his notebook and pencils close by, lest they be needed in the middle of the night. “Goodnight, Sukki. Happy Midsummer to you.”



Avlynka and Uro had no [[Kenkii|kenkii]] of their own yet, so, for now, they would stay in a smaller, simpler tent, perhaps three meters square. Their parents had each given them equal money and materials to start their own life, a good start, and they would be able to purchase the canvas for their [[Kenkii|kenkii]] in a few weeks, when the Star-Fire clan returned to their wintering grounds, closer to [[White Point]]. Uro opened the flap of their small home and held it for Avlynka, following her and tying it closed as she knelt to remove her boots.

“Well. Welcome home.” Uro said jokingly.

Avlynka stood up and patiently waited for Uro to remove his boots, before wrapping him in a hug and kissing him for several moments. “Welcome home.” she replied quietly.

The small tent had room for a fusion stove, a small table, and their sleeping area, where their blankets lay waiting. Avlynka retrieved a bottle of water and took a few swallows, then walked over and knelt next to her bed. She lit a small oil burning lamp and said a short prayer, asking the [[Matari Shamanism|Spirits]] to bless their bed, their new family, asking the [[Matari Shamanism|Spirits]] to guard their sleep and dreams:


Kina anarek'i, kina vuuk'i<br/>
Kina cenerk'i, kina vasortek'i<br/>
Varla mei yunuki, ienka mei tache<br/>
Katrea mei [[Kenkii|kenkii]],neka, iei ma evai're.<br/>

While we dream, while we sleep<br/>
While we work, while we play<br/>
Guard our love, guide our path<br/>
Bless our home, [[Matari Shamanism|Spirits]], please hear me.<br/>

When she had finished the short blessing, she blew the small lamp out and sat down nervously on the blankets, next to Uro. They sat in awkward, anticipatory silence for a couple minutes, before Avlynka unbuckled the top clasp on the front of her dress. Uro followed suit, loosening the clasps on his tunic, and pulling it off over his head. Avlynka slid her dress off of her shoulders and laughed.

“I'm nervous.” she said quietly, brushing her hair out of her eyes.

“Me too.” Uro replied.

Avlynka shrugged. “I guess at some point, everyone else went through this, right?”

Uro nodded. “I imagine so. And hey, we're here... they must have figured it out.”

Avlynka stood up, sliding her dress past her hips and stepping out of it, and carefully placing it out of the way, next to the bed. She climbed under the blankets and watched as Uro removed his pants, tossed them on the floor, and lay down in bed next to her, as the two clumsily took yet another first step in their new life together.