It was a beautiful day, and for once in what seemed like ages, Kitty had some time off between classes that wasn't filled with chores. It was a rare occurrence, especially as she seemed to have a habit of gaining extra chores. Why were old habits so hard to let go of? And it wasn't even that old of an habit, she had only been at the Black Tower for a year. But it was also the irritating part of the rule. She could understand the rule when it came to the young, new novices, who hadn't learned restraint yet. But she knew how to channel safely, knew that she mustn't pull in too much of the sweet Power. She had seen one of the Soldiers at the Black Tower burn herself out, and it was horrifying seeing how empty the girl was afterwards. So she knew not to do that, and she had enough self restraint to not do it. So why couldn't she channel when she wished? It made a lot of tasks so much easier!
She had tried to explain it to the Mistress of Novices one of the times she's been caught and sent there, but it had fallen for deaf ears. Thinking of it, it might actually have only gained her a larger penance. She also remembered the promise she'd given that Brown Sister that first day, that she wouldn't do it again. But old habits die hard, they say, and that was true. And it made life so much simpler!
Beautiful day or not, it wasn't with the best mood that Kitty walked across the Tower Grounds. Steering her path through the Gardens helped; the lush green had a calming feeling on her. She didn't take time to stop, though, but continued through and arrived shortly after at the Warder Yards.
She wasn't the only novice there, she noticed as she got closer to the Training Yard. Several other white-clad girls, her own age or younger, stood in twos and threes, gawking at the trainees. Everything was as it used to be, in other words. Kitty didn't stop by or join any of the groups, instead she stood a little distance away and scanned the dusty ground for a familiar face.
She wasn't hard to spot, height on par with most of the boys and a head taller than most of the girls. The red curls that had gotten loose from her braid swung around in the air like a fireplace as the Aiel drin'far'ji spun around with her spear, sparring with a boy half a head smaller who fought with a sword and shield. She had a small shield strapped to her arm as well, a buckler Kitty thought it was called.
Kitty found herself leaning on the fence, watching the spar until it finished suddenly, the boy the victorious one. Kitty could almost see the steam coming off the Aiel in her defeat, but she was surprisingly civil about it, congratulating the boy on his victory before stepping away. Kitty followed her with her eyes, trying to get her attention before the girl walked off. When she was spotted, she waved gently and smiled as the Aiel came closer.
Kitty's hands moved in a silent greeting, and the Aiel's hands flashed in return. They exchanged a few handmoves and walked off together, heading towards the Gardens. They walked in silence, not speaking as they followed a path. Kitty spent the time thinking back to a week before, when she'd met Miendha.
Kitty had hoped to find an Aiel around willing to teach her more of their hand language, as she knew they had a well versed silent language. But she also knew that they were quite restrictive teaching that away to Wetlanders, as they called everyone on this side of the Spine. And she knew that they had at least two languages, one that men, or everyone knew, and one that the Maidens knew. The latter was supposed to be even more developed. And also the most secretive. Which is why that was what she'd aimed for.
Miendha had been surprised at first at Kitty's greeting. She had learned a little of the Aiel hand talk from an Aiel Soldier at the Black Tower, and she'd used what little she knew to introduce herself to the drin'far'ji. When the initial surprise had passed, Miendha had been more reserved and unwilling to teach her anything at first, and nothing more than the basic when Kitty was persistent. The girl had even been rude enough to not look in her direction, not listen to her when she tried to speak. Kitty found it childish and had slapped Miendha to get her attention. In a strange way, they had hit it off quite well after that.
The pair of girls, one short and blonde, the other tall and fiery-haired, reached a slightly secluded part of the Gardens, where the bushes formed a kind of alcove with a soft patch of grass in between. The two of them settled down on the ground, facing each other, and started talking of their day. Miendha corrected Kitty when she used the wrong signs, or used her old ones, which Miendha called clumsy childish babble. Kitty watched Miendha's moves, not only her hands but her whole body, picking up every detail of the language that she could.
OOC: This thread is open if anyone wants to join. Otherwise I'll play with myself.
