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"Mmm? Vigilia...can...you give that back? ...Please? I'm cold..." Canace said, trying to curl up. Vigilia shook her head. "Nope. You should get up. You have to pick your job, sleepy." "...Just for a bit?" "Canace!" "Okay...I-I'm sorry..." Canace replied, sitting up and rubbing sleeping sand out of her eyes. "C'mon. The littluns are already up and tethered," and with that last comment, Vagilia tossed a cream tunic, leggings, and a red cord right at Canace, then left the hut. Canace shucked off her sleeping dress, and quickly got into her tunic and leggings. It was a little chilly this morning, but she knew it would warm up later, like it always did. Canace tied the bright, crimson cord around her small waist, and then fixed her hair back into her two buns, while walking outside. Canace looked off to her left and saw that Vigilia was right. The littluns were tethered, while the older ones sat around nearby, playing with spinners, and being watched by Ina and Zaci, the usual "sitters". Canace blinked off to her right and saw half of the clan, waiting for her, or going about their usual morning tasks. The eldest member of the clan, Eldon, called the folk of Half Cliff to order. His old, yet steady voice was heard by all who were standing outside. "Today is the day that the young Sister Canace shall choose her profession. Let us all show her what we do best!" and he bowed his head to Canace, and extended his gnarled hands to the workstations that were so familiar to her. Her first stop took her to the oils station, where Moswen was waiting. He not only fished, but with those fish, he took oils, and not to mention, from other animals and plants as well. Moswen showed her how to, what he put as, ruthlessly squeeze all the fats off of the fish. Canace just laughed at him, and her fish slipped right out of her hands and landed in the small grasses nearby. Halfway through the demonstration, Canace had to stop, for the fish oil was making her hand begin to break out, and she shyly confessed to Moswen that maybe oils wasn't her thing. Moswen chuckled, patted an oily hand on her back, and handed her a damp skin to wipe all the fishie goo and oil off her hands. Mela, the gatherer, waddled her way over to Canace and took her off of Moswen's hands. Mela was a rather plump woman, with rosy cheeks and thick, red hair, tied back with a thong. Mela showed her the interesting facts of different plants nearby the clan territory. Canace enjoyed this demonstration for the most part, except the needleweed seemed to make her hands worse. Mela smiled her best when Canace wandered off to Ferran. Canace did not want to gather. Ferran was waiting by the main fire pit, a small pot hanging over an equally small fire. He was a good set man, with a larger gut, and pinkish skin, from standing by the fire for a while. He tried to share the joy of cooking through his eyes. Canace watched him intently as he showed her how to make a quick pastry snack. She thanked him when his time was done, and moved to her final station, munching on the small pastry. A bird like woman, with her hair tied in a knot, high on her head waited for her by lines of drying hides, cords, skins, and other such material. The lady's name was Ianthe, and she was the one chosen to show, in more detail, just how tanning was done. She first talked rather fast, and then let Canace follow her in the steps of dying a cord. Canace's turned out to be yellow, while Ianthe did a lavender color. Time passed, the cords dried, and it was soon the afternoon. The entire clan smiled along with Canace as Ianthe slipped on the bright yellow bead, down the cord, letting it rest against her tenth age bead. Half Cliff Clan had a new tanner, and the winds blew in their good fortune.  |